Hi, I'm trying to connect my guitar to mac. I have "jack to small plug" lead which plugs into mic port on rear of screen. All advice i can find says go to system prefs, input, then select input wanted (i.e. ext mic in) - problem is there is no other selection for me to make. Only the "internal mic" which is already selected, obviously.
Can anyone advise? Cheers.
Full Version: Trying To Connect Guitar To Mac
Here's a link that describes the "Mic In" jack in the back of the Apple or Mac computers-
http://www.apple.com/pro/techniques/microphones101/
It is a 1/8" mini jack, and it is meant for "line level" input from line level sound sources. "Line level sources include some microphones & most tape or cd players. Line level does not include record players or most electric guitars. Most electric guitars don't have a preamp built into them, nor do LP or record players, so what I'm saying is, these devices would require a preamplifier either built into them, or an external preamp connected in between the sound source and the computer jack.
If you decide to poke and hope with the output plug of your electric guitar & try connecting it to the computer Mic Jack, please do turn all the volume controls down on the guitar first & turn them up gradually as your find some sound coming through. And yes, under System Preferences & then Sound, you should choose the computer's built in Mic Jack.
Because you mention that you have a "jack to small plug" lead and IF it came with your guitar, then your guitar may have been built with a preamp already in it.
You could read up on this by checking the guitar's owner manual.
Sound quality is the major problem. But if you just want to hear yourself for practicing or whatever, this hook up might meet minimal quality needs.
And "poke & hope" is just an old term that we used in my field of work which means,... "I don't have time to figure this out, I just want to see if ......" (& hopefully nothing blows up & no sparks fly)
Good luck and I hope it works and meets your needs. If not, consider an audio interface as is mentioned at the web link above.
http://www.apple.com/pro/techniques/microphones101/
It is a 1/8" mini jack, and it is meant for "line level" input from line level sound sources. "Line level sources include some microphones & most tape or cd players. Line level does not include record players or most electric guitars. Most electric guitars don't have a preamp built into them, nor do LP or record players, so what I'm saying is, these devices would require a preamplifier either built into them, or an external preamp connected in between the sound source and the computer jack.
If you decide to poke and hope with the output plug of your electric guitar & try connecting it to the computer Mic Jack, please do turn all the volume controls down on the guitar first & turn them up gradually as your find some sound coming through. And yes, under System Preferences & then Sound, you should choose the computer's built in Mic Jack.
Because you mention that you have a "jack to small plug" lead and IF it came with your guitar, then your guitar may have been built with a preamp already in it.
You could read up on this by checking the guitar's owner manual.
Sound quality is the major problem. But if you just want to hear yourself for practicing or whatever, this hook up might meet minimal quality needs.
And "poke & hope" is just an old term that we used in my field of work which means,... "I don't have time to figure this out, I just want to see if ......" (& hopefully nothing blows up & no sparks fly)
Good luck and I hope it works and meets your needs. If not, consider an audio interface as is mentioned at the web link above.
i'm going to weigh in on this too.
while i've had some luck with using an adapter 1/4' to 1/8' into the "mic in" input of my laptops, it's not always worked for others.
one thing to consider is the mono to stereo fold down. only one of your sides will work, left or right.
additionally, the quality is going to be pretty low.
i recommend an easy, inexpensive, audio interface, one that's designed for guitar levels input, like the Line 6/Pod farm boxes. they come with some useful virtual amps and effects, and have serviceable output jacks as well.
while i've had some luck with using an adapter 1/4' to 1/8' into the "mic in" input of my laptops, it's not always worked for others.
one thing to consider is the mono to stereo fold down. only one of your sides will work, left or right.
additionally, the quality is going to be pretty low.
i recommend an easy, inexpensive, audio interface, one that's designed for guitar levels input, like the Line 6/Pod farm boxes. they come with some useful virtual amps and effects, and have serviceable output jacks as well.
You might invest in an interface. The options are growing constantly. For a quick start, you could pick up a 1/4" to USB cable such as the Stealth Plug or the LightSnake or the GuitarLink. This is what they are made for.
I, personally, wouldn't use the mic input.
I, personally, wouldn't use the mic input.
QUOTE (azkid @ Fri 1 Oct 2010, 21:10) 
Here's a link that describes the "Mic In" jack in the back of the Apple or Mac computers-
http://www.apple.com/pro/techniques/microphones101/
It is a 1/8" mini jack, and it is meant for "line level" input from line level sound sources. "Line level sources include some microphones & most tape or cd players. Line level does not include record players or most electric guitars. Most electric guitars don't have a preamp built into them, nor do LP or record players, so what I'm saying is, these devices would require a preamplifier either built into them, or an external preamp connected in between the sound source and the computer jack.
If you decide to poke and hope with the output plug of your electric guitar & try connecting it to the computer Mic Jack, please do turn all the volume controls down on the guitar first & turn them up gradually as your find some sound coming through. And yes, under System Preferences & then Sound, you should choose the computer's built in Mic Jack.
Because you mention that you have a "jack to small plug" lead and IF it came with your guitar, then your guitar may have been built with a preamp already in it.
You could read up on this by checking the guitar's owner manual.
Sound quality is the major problem. But if you just want to hear yourself for practicing or whatever, this hook up might meet minimal quality needs.
And "poke & hope" is just an old term that we used in my field of work which means,... "I don't have time to figure this out, I just want to see if ......" (& hopefully nothing blows up & no sparks fly)
Good luck and I hope it works and meets your needs. If not, consider an audio interface as is mentioned at the web link above.
http://www.apple.com/pro/techniques/microphones101/
It is a 1/8" mini jack, and it is meant for "line level" input from line level sound sources. "Line level sources include some microphones & most tape or cd players. Line level does not include record players or most electric guitars. Most electric guitars don't have a preamp built into them, nor do LP or record players, so what I'm saying is, these devices would require a preamplifier either built into them, or an external preamp connected in between the sound source and the computer jack.
If you decide to poke and hope with the output plug of your electric guitar & try connecting it to the computer Mic Jack, please do turn all the volume controls down on the guitar first & turn them up gradually as your find some sound coming through. And yes, under System Preferences & then Sound, you should choose the computer's built in Mic Jack.
Because you mention that you have a "jack to small plug" lead and IF it came with your guitar, then your guitar may have been built with a preamp already in it.
You could read up on this by checking the guitar's owner manual.
Sound quality is the major problem. But if you just want to hear yourself for practicing or whatever, this hook up might meet minimal quality needs.
And "poke & hope" is just an old term that we used in my field of work which means,... "I don't have time to figure this out, I just want to see if ......" (& hopefully nothing blows up & no sparks fly)
Good luck and I hope it works and meets your needs. If not, consider an audio interface as is mentioned at the web link above.
Very helpful, thanks for your time. I'm just trying to get to "garageband". "Poke and hope" is something I've always tied to live by
Thanks again.
QUOTE (houstonmusic @ Sat 2 Oct 2010, 15:27)
i'm going to weigh in on this too.
while i've had some luck with using an adapter 1/4' to 1/8' into the "mic in" input of my laptops, it's not always worked for others.
one thing to consider is the mono to stereo fold down. only one of your sides will work, left or right.
additionally, the quality is going to be pretty low.
i recommend an easy, inexpensive, audio interface, one that's designed for guitar levels input, like the Line 6/Pod farm boxes. they come with some useful virtual amps and effects, and have serviceable output jacks as well.
while i've had some luck with using an adapter 1/4' to 1/8' into the "mic in" input of my laptops, it's not always worked for others.
one thing to consider is the mono to stereo fold down. only one of your sides will work, left or right.
additionally, the quality is going to be pretty low.
i recommend an easy, inexpensive, audio interface, one that's designed for guitar levels input, like the Line 6/Pod farm boxes. they come with some useful virtual amps and effects, and have serviceable output jacks as well.
Thanks all you guys - sorted!!!
I'll get an interface - that makes sense.
Maybe any pedal would work, too...
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