Need a mic to dictate with MacBook Air closed?

[Expidia]

I always use my 15 inch new MacBook with the cover closed and it’s connected to a Samsung S32D850 external display. But in order to dictate a text, email etc I need a microphone. I only have two usb 2 ports on the MacBook and 1 is always used for the display. I do have a usb adapter in the other one, but I want to keep stat open. So if I do a BT mic it still needs a usb port for the receiver. There are 4 usb ports on the Samsung, but I turned them on in the display setup (I think they are just for charging) and I don’t think they are active. There is an RCA in and an out port, but I don’t know if it is active as I don’t want to order a mic off amazon and find it is not active either. Any ideas on how to get a mic set up to work?
Thx

 

[wonderings]

Why do you need a receiver? The MacBook will have Bluetooth built in.

 

[Expidia]

Why do you need a receiver? The MacBook will have Bluetooth built in.

That's what I thought. But most of the mics I see on Amazon use the small usb receiver. Can you point me to a small BT one that would work without the receiver.

 

[wonderings]

Any bluetooth will. They do that for the Windows laptops, not sure why as most of them seem to have bluetooth as well. They are dirt cheap so they toss them in and their product will work with any laptop. The receiver is basically a bluetooth dongle and that is it. I found this one, but never used it so can't comment on quality. https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09WQZSW4F...1d1-fdfc-42df-80aa-01c48c9770ef&pd_rd_plhdr=t

 

[Expidia]

Any bluetooth will. They do that for the Windows laptops, not sure why as most of them seem to have bluetooth as well. They are dirt cheap so they toss them in and their product will work with any laptop. The receiver is basically a bluetooth dongle and that is it. I found this one, but never used it so can't comment on quality. https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09WQZSW4F/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B09WQZSW4F&ref_=sbv_search_btf&qid=&pd_rd_w=3h9JT&content-id=amzn1.sym.c9b687cd-8856-439c-ac9e-dffc009d2fe2:amzn1.sym.c9b687cd-8856-439c-ac9e-dffc009d2fe2&pf_rd_p=c9b687cd-8856-439c-ac9e-dffc009d2fe2&pf_rd_r=V7MZHXZAQX2901WANFTD&pd_rd_wg=LXt53&pd_rd_r=0f3dd1d1-fdfc-42df-80aa-01c48c9770ef&pd_rd_plhdr=t

Thanks. They are proably using the USB for charging it. I'm trying to avoid using any USB port. I have an old 5 port hub that i could hook up to create more ports but I was also trying to avoid that setup too.

 

[wonderings]

Thanks. They are proably using the USB for charging it. I'm trying to avoid using any USB port. I have an old 5 port hub that i could hook up to create more ports but I was also trying to avoid that setup too.

so how do you want to charge it? It is battery powered so you run it on battery and when you need to charge you plug it into your computer or a dongle and wall outlet. Not sure how you can do this any other way.

 

[Expidia]

Thanks for that reponse. It's not the charging that bothers me. I have to charge the magic mouse and the Apple keyboard every few months. I guess BT is not the way to go because I don't want to spen $50 to $100 for a bt mic.
Would be simple if i could just use the RCA line in port on back of the display. But I'm trying to figure out how to test it and then just find a cheap wired mic. My son suggested a camera with a mic built in but then again seems the external usb ports on the display are not active.

I'll try calling Apple C/S as there might be a setting that activates the Macbook's internal mic when the cover is closed then I would be all set.

 

[Expidia]

I googled this phrase: mac book air turn mic on cover closed

The are some Youtubes up there which i'm looking though now.

 

[wonderings]

The mic in the lid is not going to work as the microphone is in the bezel. So imagine a speaker and then you cover it, the sound quality is diminished significantly. It is going to be the same with a microphone. If you are working at a desk anyways just leave your screen open, seems like you are trying to make this more difficult than it has to be.

 

[Expidia]

This Youtube shows a splitter. Max needs a 4 band RCA and then it gets split into 2- 3 band RCA’s . One for the headphone jack (I use a Bose Companion 3 satellite speakers system for the headphone jack now ) the other to a wired RCA type mic: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=h_&q=mac+...i=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwaMVTDFjJc

 

[Expidia]

The mic in the lid is not going to work as the microphone is in the bezel. So imagine a speaker and then you cover it, the sound quality is diminished significantly. It is going to be the same with a microphone. If you are working at a desk anyways just leave your screen open, seems like you are trying to make this more difficult than it has to be.

The Mac Air replaced a 9 year old iMac. It sits closed on my small desk all the time unless I take the Macbook to a hotel, front porc etc. The 6 speakers play fine through the closed macbook but I choose to use the Bose system with it's woofer for background music while on the macbook.

What I'm trying to accomplish is to mimic the 27 inch iMac that now sits in my kitchen. imac does not have a 27 inch anymore. They only offer their 24 inch studio monitor and a mac mini which I rejected, so I went with the 15 inch Macbook and a 32 inch Samsung I still had. The only thing I'm missing is the mic part, so I can dictate texts, email etc. without opening the cover.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

The ports on your display aren’t working because HDMI doesn’t carry the usb signal, you need a separate USB-B to USB A or C cable connected to the left most port in the video connectors photo.
I was surprised by a dearth of quality Bluetooth options for mics; most seem to be intended for mobile use. What USB adaptor is in use by your other usb port?

 

[Expidia]

Great info Mr B. This is why I included the shots of the back ports. I figured someone would know.

The unused port is a usb to usb-c adapter that I plug my USB Magic Jack adapter into so I can send a fax or a scan from my printer.

Any other suggestions besides moving to a hub? Is there a way to activate the Macbook mic when the cover is closed?

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Hardware microphone disconnect

Supported Mac computers and iPad devices have a hardware disconnect that helps ensure that the microphone is disabled whenever the lid is closed.

support.apple.com

It’s a hardware feature that you aren’t going to be able to get around.
If you get a USB-C to B cable (USB-C to printer cable will likely yield the right results too) you can connect your printer and a USB mic to the display at all times, making it a hub for the cost of a cable.
I recommend the Blue Yeti for the mic.

 

[wonderings]

The Mac Air replaced a 9 year old iMac. It sits closed on my small desk all the time unless I take the Macbook to a hotel, front porc etc. The 6 speakers play fine through the closed macbook but I choose to use the Bose system with it's woofer for background music while on the macbook.

What I'm trying to accomplish is to mimic the 27 inch iMac that now sits in my kitchen. imac does not have a 27 inch anymore. They only offer their 24 inch studio monitor and a mac mini which I rejected, so I went with the 15 inch Macbook and a 32 inch Samsung I still had. The only thing I'm missing is the mic part, so I can dictate texts, email etc. without opening the cover.

What is still stopping you from leaving the screen open? You can with 2 monitors, the external and the laptop. With this you can can then use the built in mic. So end of the day you end up with more screen real estate and a microphone and zero dollars spent.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

What is still stopping you from leaving the screen open? You can with 2 monitors, the external and the laptop. With this you can can then use the built in mic. So end of the day you end up with more screen real estate and a microphone and zero dollars spent.

Based on the photo, I’m guessing space is an issue.

 

[Expidia]

Hardware microphone disconnect

Supported Mac computers and iPad devices have a hardware disconnect that helps ensure that the microphone is disabled whenever the lid is closed.

support.apple.com

It’s a hardware feature that you aren’t going to be able to get around.
If you get a USB-C to B cable (USB-C to printer cable will likely yield the right results too) you can connect your printer and a USB mic to the display at all times, making it a hub for the cost of a cable.
I recommend the Blue Yeti for the mic.

Now that you have pointed me to a USB mic I think I'll be ok to just find a small one (that Yeti is cool but I'm not starting a podcast 😆) and just plug it into the open USB port on the Mac. I can always just unplug it to plug in the Magic Jack when I need an infrequent fax or scan to an email.
Not really clear on what you suggested above. But there is also this option to give me more ports:

 

[Expidia]

Based on the photo, I’m guessing space is an issue.

Ya, before I retired I had two screens on my desk. Then I went to a 32 inch monitor and used a split screen on it. That's how I wound up with the 32 inch monitor. Now I'm just using a metal rack for a desk. Also, since I have no camera without opening the Mac I might go with a camera with a mic. But I really don't need a camera. I could always open the Macbook for it's camera or use another device. But the mic I use constantly to dictate texts.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Now that you have pointed me to a USB mic I think I'll be ok to just find a small one (that Yeti is cool but I'm not starting a podcast 😆) and just plug it into the open USB port on the Mac. I can always just unplug it to plug in the Magic Jack when I need an infrequent fax or scan to an email.
Not really clear on what you suggested above. But there is also this option to give me more ports:

I’m saying you don’t need this because your display already has a hub.

 

[Expidia]

I’m saying you don’t need this because your display already has a hub.

Coiuld you elaborate on how you suggested I get those 4 USB ports on the back of the display actived. To send a fax I was plugging in the Magic Jack to the lap top and running a telephone wire from the printer to the Magic Jack.
Still not clear how I get the USB ports active?

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Buy a USB-C to B cable
Connect C to Mac
Connect B to back of display
Now all the display usb a ports will be recognized by the Mac and can be used for magic jack and mic

 

[Expidia]

Buy a USB-C to B cable
Connect C to Mac
Connect B to back of display
Now all the display usb a ports will be recognized by the Mac and can be used for magic jack and mic

Is this the cable you mean. The printer is already wireless. I would still have to connect the telephone cable to send a fax which is no biggy.

Update. You Da Man Mr B. It worked. I just tried a wireless USB mouse in a display port and they are now active.
Now all I have to buy is a tiny wired usb mic that I can stick onto the display.

 

[Expidia]

Is this the cable you mean. The printer is already wireless. I would still have to connect the telephone cable to send a fax which is no biggy.

Update. You Da Man Mr B. It worked. I just tried a wireless USB mouse in a display port and they are now active.
Now all I have to buy is a tiny wired usb mic that I can stick onto the display.

So the mouse worked. But before I order the usb mic . . . these ports will also cary sound right?

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

So the mouse worked. But before I order the usb mic . . . these ports will also cary sound right?

Yeah. USB is USB.

 

[Expidia]

Ordered this $16 mic off of Amazon on Monday, came next day (works perfect). I'm dictating this email on it now. And thanks for the help getting those 4 USB's active on the back of my display.