Topic: Easiest solution to record mic-in minijack to Apple Laptop?

[BayTaynt3d]

I've got a friend who's not too technical that needs to record audio into her mac laptop (I'm a PC guy, so I'm clueless on this). She's got a cheesy Sony stereo mic with a minijack. What's the easiest free solution/software for her to record audio with that setup? Is there anything already on her Mac that can do it? Something in iLife or ?

[hummat]

Garageband will work and has come standard on all macs for a few years now. 

As for connecting a mic, I can;t remember if there is a mic in or if the audio out can double as an in.

-jay

[mikesalvo]

not sure what the deal is with the newer macs, but my old G4 (4 years old) does not have a stock audio inout of any kind. However, Im not sure exactly what she is trying to do, but most macs do have a built in microphone that often gets overlooked. If she is trying to record a hit record, probably not her best solution, but if she is using it for work,notetaking,etc...it could be an easy solution...

[nic]

not sure what the deal is with the newer macs, but my old G4 (4 years old) does not have a stock audio inout of any kind.

  what do you have?
every Apple laptop I've seen since back in 2000 (old iBook and TiBook) have had 1/8" I/O.

[Krispy D]

it has an audio in, it's a mac.  Go to system preferences, click sound, tab over to input, select your input of choice.

[Jamos]

it has an audio in, it's a mac.  Go to system preferences, click sound, tab over to input, select your input of choice.

Yes but will it power a sony mic that needs plug-in power?  I don't think so.
If the sony mic takes a battery, then you should be able to plug it right in...

but if not, the easiest thing would be to get a battery box for the mic, and then run line-in to the macbook.

or...

just use the built-in mic and record that way, depending on what your friend wants to record.

[mikesalvo]

it has an audio in, it's a mac.  Go to system preferences, click sound, tab over to input, select your input of choice.

appears not to have it like I thought. Only option for audio in is internal microphone..

[bluntforcetrauma]

Nest to the headphone jack on the MAC should be another 1/8 input jack.

I use Shure SM58>sonosax pre amp>1/8 to MAC go into preferences and click " sound" and you should be able to choose " external"

I record voice overs into iMOVIE.

[sunjan]

it has an audio in, it's a mac. 

You guys make the wrong assumptions! Not all iBooks had audio in jacks:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ibook/faq/ibook-irda-airport-wireless-bluetooth-modem-microphone.html#microphone

I used to work as a tester for Apple, with exactly these models. So make sure you find out which model the chick has, before sending her on a wild goose chase...

[Krispy D]

my bad, you can all stone me now.

[willndmb]

it has an audio in, it's a mac. 

You guys make the wrong assumptions! Not all iBooks had audio in jacks:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ibook/faq/ibook-irda-airport-wireless-bluetooth-modem-microphone.html#microphone

I used to work as a tester for Apple, with exactly these models. So make sure you find out which model the chick has, before sending her on a wild goose chase...

he said its a g4 thats 4 yrs old so unless its one of the powerbooks it will NOT have a audio in jack
if its a powerbook it MIGHT depending on the model