The infamous "line-in" on MBP can easily work as a mic-in

[agent42b]

So... I'm probably the millionth person to discover this... when buying a MBP the "line-in" can't work with regular headsets because it doesn't give any power (aka like a mic-in port).

Then...hilariously I installed windows via bootcamp, and Apple's own windows driver allowed me to use a microphone in that port. That's right... I can use skype, play games, all with a microphone plugged into that port. The same mic that won't work under OSX, and it works just peachy.

So... this proves it's NOT a hardware issue, it's a driver issue. The soundcard is perfectly capable of using a microphone through that port. The same mics that don't work under OSX.

I love my MBP but that is just stupid. C'mon apple, enough with the oddities I'm sure it's not that hard to auto-detect the type of device and give it some amperage (like it does in Windows, using the driver that YOU supplied).

/end of rant

Now if anyone knew of a software patch, add-on, etc, that fixes the issue under OSX, that would be a godsend. I already bought a USB headset to use under OSX, but it really bothers me (out of principal) to need to use it after discovering this.

 

[sycho]

So... I'm probably the millionth person to discover this... when buying a MBP the "line-in" can't work with regular headsets because it doesn't give any power (aka like a mic-in port).

<snip>

I love my MBP but that is just stupid. C'mon apple, enough with the oddities I'm sure it's not that hard to auto-detect the type of device and give it some amperage (like it does in Windows, using the driver that YOU supplied).

Ummmm, that software switch just adds more amplification to the input.
Computer microphones are passive. The port will not supply power.

 

[anirban]

So... I'm probably the millionth person to discover this... when buying a MBP the "line-in" can't work with regular headsets because it doesn't give any power (aka like a mic-in port).

The MBP's audio input port is a line level port- which is not amplified. You need to use a line level microphone with it. You have to use a USB based microphone.

 

[iToaster]

If it's not powered, how does it power my electric guitar?

 

[sycho]

If it's not powered, how does it power my electric guitar?

Electric guitars don't need power, unless you have active pickups, which would then typically have batteries within the guitar it's self.