Using the line in port on my G5 with a headset mic...no audio

[Huntr777]

Hi there, I just purchased a stereo headset with boom mic to do some voice overs to a project I am finishing on Final Cut Pro. I plugged the 3.5 mm jack into the line port but I am getting no sound in. I have used the line in before when I took a line out of my tuner and recorded some vinyl to my Mac so I know the port is good.

I have seen in some forums that the headset needs to have a pre-amp or else the Mac won't have a chance of hearing it...not sure how true that is because as I have said before I was able to get a signal from my tuner...

so is there something I am doing wrong here? It seems to me plugging in a 3.5 mm jack and getting audio out of it should be pretty easy... Do I have something that just will not work as is?

I am using an old G5 and Leopard OS. thanks!

Tom

[edDV]

Tuners output line level. Microphones output very small levels.

Headset mics come in various types and mic levels. All require amplification to work with your Mac.

1. Pro audio mic levels at 600 ohm unbalanced. These are -40 to -50 dB down from line level.
2. PC audio card mic level (Hi impedance about -20 to -30dB down from line level)
3. Telephone levels (e.g. Plantronics)

Some pre-amps that will work with type 1 and maybe type 2.
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/AudioBuddy.html
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MAI5M8/ref=asc_df_B000MAI5M8959107?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag...SIN=B000MAI5M8
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ARTTMPPS

All will require mini jack adapters and output cables to miniplug.

[Huntr777]

Interesting, would something like this work?

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_250USBDONGLE0001P?keyword=usb

I would hook up the mic to the input, and the USB port would bring in the audio to the Mac...what do you think?

T

[edDV]

Is your headset compatible?

Not enough info on the site.
http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/p?openform&pc%5Eac%5EUSB_Dongle

[terryj]

The best thing I have found that helps with what your trying to do
Huntrr is this little device right here:
Griffin iMic
microphone or headset goes in, imic goes into USB port.
Works in QT Pro, Audio Hijack, Amadeus,etc.

[rumplestiltskin]

The iMic is wonderful. Good suggestion!

[terryj]

rumple, it's one of my top 5 favorite accessories for the mac.