Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Mac Pro 2013 - No Audio Line In?!

V

Vic-Viper

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 1, 2010
177
2
I've checked every corner of the net, but it seems the new Mac Pro doesn't have an audio line in option. My MacBook has a hybrid port, but this doesn't seem to.

What are my alternatives? I need audio in.
 
I assume Apple figured professionals who needed audio capture would be using an external audio interface of some type for high-quality input.
 
i think the headphone intput jack simultaneously serves as an audio microphone input
 
Vic-Viper said:
I've checked every corner of the net, but it seems the new Mac Pro doesn't have an audio line in option. My MacBook has a hybrid port, but this doesn't seem to.

What are my alternatives? I need audio in.
Click to expand...

Tons of audio interfaces/Mics out there.

Cheap - Griffin iMic/USB $40 (A/D only...you supply Mic or audio in)
Medium - Apogee MiC/USB $199 (Mic and A/D all in one...just plug it in and start recording)
and they go up from there....
 
DPUser said:
That's a headphone output jack, so, not too likely.
Click to expand...

Well, the "headphone out" port on my 2011 MBP 13" uses a "headphones" glyph and it's a hybrid port you can set for either line-out or line-in. I guess the only real way to find out is to have someone who owns an nMP check his/her System Preferences to see if it's switchable in the same way.
 
Apple haven't been including a line-in on their products for years now.
It's a real problem with their notebooks, as you don't want to be carrying around an external audio interface.
Even the old plastic MacBooks used to have a line-in jack, which is something the Retina MacBook Pros are lacking.
 
ozbimmer said:
Sorry no audio in http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6024
Click to expand...

There's microphone input at "Headphone" port. But it is not like stereo line input.

Headphone port: The right audio port with a headset icon is a 1/8" stereo minijack for headphones. When you plug in headphones to this port, sound is redirected from the internal speakers to the headphones. Headphones will appear in System Preferences > Sound > Output. If the headset contains a microphone, it will appear in System Preferences > Sound > Input. iPhone headsets including mic and inline controls are supported. Digital output devices are not supported on this port.
Click to expand...
 
I don't see an issue really, if you're about quality audio you'll most likely get an Audio interface. Why deal with onboard DAC's when you can get something much better for all sorts of price ranges.
 
This really bugged me too when I got my 2012 iMac. My 2011 MBP had it then, all-of-a-sudden, gone. I know you can buy A/D converters for not too much money, but we hate loosing functionality. Especially if you only use something occasionally. Then it seems like a frustrating waste to buy yet another (if you're a nMP owner) external attachment just to get something done.
 
satcomer said:
I was thinking for the nMP of the CalDigit Thunderbolt station.
Click to expand...

The CalDigit calls it a "microphone" input, not a line input. So I'm not sure how well it would function for line input. If what's needed is a simple microphone input, just get a USB mic. There are many on the market and most are decent quality.

I'm waiting for this beast to become available:

http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echo15thunderboltdock.html

There's still no word on when (if ever) it will ship. But it has two separate audio input jacks.
 
satcomer said:
I was thinking for the nMP of the CalDigit Thunderbolt station.
Click to expand...

THANK YOU for posting that!

While I already have USB audio gear, I also have a MacBook Pro 17" Late 2011, which does not have HDMI or USB 3.0. My work-around was a PCI Express card for the USB 3.0, and putting my external monitor on the end of a chain of Thunderbolt drives... which tied up my last port, preventing me from using a bus-powered Seagate GoFlex Thunderbolt adapter.

Now, I can plug everything into one port, and still have the last Thunderbolt port open whenever I want to swap GoFlex (now called Backup Plus) drives.
 
jayducharme said:
The CalDigit calls it a "microphone" input, not a line input. So I'm not sure how well it would function for line input. If what's needed is a simple microphone input, just get a USB mic. There are many on the market and most are decent quality.

I'm waiting for this beast to become available:

http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echo15thunderboltdock.html

There's still no word on when (if ever) it will ship. But it has two separate audio input jacks.
Click to expand...

Then how about the Griffen iMic?
 
So, what about users that do casual recording and don't need a dedicated external audio interface ? Is there an adapter or something that won't get in the way too much ?
 
There are many A/D converters at just about every price range, some which have optical outputs, some S/PDIF and some even have USB connections (which is what you want). This is the one I use in my home studio (usually just me recording). I recommend it only if you want the highest-possibly audio quality with no compromises. I link it here mostly to show off (we all do that here from time to time, right?).

http://www.lavryengineering.com/products/pro-audio/ad11.html

However, if I just needed a basic usb-ready A/D input for use with a standard XLR-connected microphone, I'd probably choose something like this:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MTrack.html

If I was using a very cheap microphone, one with a 1/8" mini-plug, I'd probably choose something like this:

http://store.griffintechnology.com/catalog/product/view/id/623/s/imic/category/62/
 
I use the iMic on my 2012 13 inch MacBook pro with great results. We run line level out of a mixer into the iMic and use it for broadcasting. IMic has selectable line our Mic level input. Fwiw, my 2012 MacBook's headphone jack is not an input. But the 15 inch MacBook had a separate input...
 
I ended up getting one of these

http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-M-Track-2-Channel-Portable-Interface/dp/B00BQ6KSN6

61URbQkl6QL._SL1500_.jpg


Works great. Still surprised that I even need it.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back