Hi Folks

I have a Mac Performa 580 CD - with the Apple external Microphone. I
have an idea to adapt the Apple Microphone plug in order to accommodate
plugging in other sound sources directly into the computer.

My idea: simply cut the microphone wire halfway and insert a female
stereo mini inline plug and also add to the remaining end (with the
microphone) a male stereo mini.

This way I can use the usual mic as well as swapping for other sound
sources when I want to - all they need to do is to end in the stereo
mini male.

Does anyone have any information as to why Apple made their mic plug
such that one cannot plug in any device? Is it impedance of the input?
Is there any chance that the small microphone is powered? Any ideas,
observations or suggestions, (even not to attempt this at all) are most
welcome!

Thank you for your help!

Cheers

Brian McGugan

On 2006-06-06 21:17:19 -0400, goog@QLink.ca (Brian McGugan) said:

> Hi Folks
>
> I have a Mac Performa 580 CD - with the Apple external Microphone. I
> have an idea to adapt the Apple Microphone plug in order to accommodate
> plugging in other sound sources directly into the computer.
> My idea: simply cut the microphone wire halfway and insert a female
> stereo mini inline plug and also add to the remaining end (with the
> microphone) a male stereo mini.
> This way I can use the usual mic as well as swapping for other sound
> sources when I want to - all they need to do is to end in the stereo
> mini male.
>
> Does anyone have any information as to why Apple made their mic plug
> such that one cannot plug in any device? Is it impedance of the input?
> Is there any chance that the small microphone is powered? Any ideas,
> observations or suggestions, (even not to attempt this at all) are most
> welcome!
> Thank you for your help!
>
> Cheers
>
> Brian McGugan

If this is the Apple mic plug that is longer than a standard audio
mini-plug, you can plug in a standard audio mini-plug for stereo line
level audio in. The extra long Apple plug tip is to connect to a
contact that provides power to a pre-amp built into the Apple mic. If
you need to use a microphone, get one with a built-in pre-amp (with a
battery for power), or use an external pre-amp.

On 2006-06-06 21:17:19 -0400, goog@QLink.ca (Brian McGugan) said:

> Hi Folks
>
> I have a Mac Performa 580 CD - with the Apple external Microphone. I
> have an idea to adapt the Apple Microphone plug in order to accommodate
> plugging in other sound sources directly into the computer.
> My idea: simply cut the microphone wire halfway and insert a female
> stereo mini inline plug and also add to the remaining end (with the
> microphone) a male stereo mini.
> This way I can use the usual mic as well as swapping for other sound
> sources when I want to - all they need to do is to end in the stereo
> mini male.
>
> Does anyone have any information as to why Apple made their mic plug
> such that one cannot plug in any device? Is it impedance of the input?
> Is there any chance that the small microphone is powered? Any ideas,
> observations or suggestions, (even not to attempt this at all) are most
> welcome!
> Thank you for your help!
>
> Cheers
>
> Brian McGugan

If this is the Apple mic plug that is longer than a standard audio
mini-plug, you can plug in a standard audio mini-plug for stereo line
level audio in. The extra long Apple plug tip is to connect to a
contact that provides power to a pre-amp built into the Apple mic. If
you need to use a microphone, get one with a built-in pre-amp (with a
battery for power), or use an external pre-amp.

Malcolm <malcolm@invalid> wrote:

> On 2006-06-06 21:17:19 -0400, goog@QLink.ca (Brian McGugan) said:
>
> > Hi Folks
> >
> > I have a Mac Performa 580 CD - with the Apple external Microphone. I
> > have an idea to adapt the Apple Microphone plug in order to accommodate
> > plugging in other sound sources directly into the computer.
> > My idea: simply cut the microphone wire halfway and insert a female
> > stereo mini inline plug and also add to the remaining end (with the
> > microphone) a male stereo mini.
> > This way I can use the usual mic as well as swapping for other sound
> > sources when I want to - all they need to do is to end in the stereo
> > mini male.
> >
> > Does anyone have any information as to why Apple made their mic plug
> > such that one cannot plug in any device? Is it impedance of the input?
> > Is there any chance that the small microphone is powered? Any ideas,
> > observations or suggestions, (even not to attempt this at all) are most
> > welcome!
> > Thank you for your help!
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Brian McGugan
>
> If this is the Apple mic plug that is longer than a standard audio
> mini-plug, you can plug in a standard audio mini-plug for stereo line
> level audio in. The extra long Apple plug tip is to connect to a
> contact that provides power to a pre-amp built into the Apple mic. If
> you need to use a microphone, get one with a built-in pre-amp (with a
> battery for power), or use an external pre-amp.

Malcolm <malcolm@invalid> wrote:

> On 2006-06-06 21:17:19 -0400, goog@QLink.ca (Brian McGugan) said:
>
> > Hi Folks
> >
> > I have a Mac Performa 580 CD - with the Apple external Microphone. I
> > have an idea to adapt the Apple Microphone plug in order to accommodate
> > plugging in other sound sources directly into the computer.
> > My idea: simply cut the microphone wire halfway and insert a female
> > stereo mini inline plug and also add to the remaining end (with the
> > microphone) a male stereo mini.
> > This way I can use the usual mic as well as swapping for other sound
> > sources when I want to - all they need to do is to end in the stereo
> > mini male.
> >
> > Does anyone have any information as to why Apple made their mic plug
> > such that one cannot plug in any device? Is it impedance of the input?
> > Is there any chance that the small microphone is powered? Any ideas,
> > observations or suggestions, (even not to attempt this at all) are most
> > welcome!
> > Thank you for your help!
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Brian McGugan
>
> If this is the Apple mic plug that is longer than a standard audio
> mini-plug, you can plug in a standard audio mini-plug for stereo line
> level audio in. The extra long Apple plug tip is to connect to a
> contact that provides power to a pre-amp built into the Apple mic. If
> you need to use a microphone, get one with a built-in pre-amp (with a
> battery for power), or use an external pre-amp.

Malcolm <malcolm@invalid> wrote:

> On 2006-06-06 21:17:19 -0400, goog@QLink.ca (Brian McGugan) said:
>
> > Hi Folks
> >
> > I have a Mac Performa 580 CD - with the Apple external Microphone. I
> > have an idea to adapt the Apple Microphone plug in order to accommodate
> > plugging in other sound sources directly into the computer.
> > My idea: simply cut the microphone wire halfway and insert a female
> > stereo mini inline plug and also add to the remaining end (with the
> > microphone) a male stereo mini.
> > This way I can use the usual mic as well as swapping for other sound
> > sources when I want to - all they need to do is to end in the stereo
> > mini male.
> >
> > Does anyone have any information as to why Apple made their mic plug
> > such that one cannot plug in any device? Is it impedance of the input?
> > Is there any chance that the small microphone is powered? Any ideas,
> > observations or suggestions, (even not to attempt this at all) are most
> > welcome!
> > Thank you for your help!
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Brian McGugan
>
> If this is the Apple mic plug that is longer than a standard audio
> mini-plug, you can plug in a standard audio mini-plug for stereo line
> level audio in. The extra long Apple plug tip is to connect to a
> contact that provides power to a pre-amp built into the Apple mic. If
> you need to use a microphone, get one with a built-in pre-amp (with a
> battery for power), or use an external pre-amp.

Thank you for your input above, re: the mike.

It works just as you said it would! That information saved me the
time and effort of all the wire cutting and stuff! You really helped,
mso I thank you again!

Cheers!

Brian

Malcolm <malcolm@invalid> wrote:

> On 2006-06-06 21:17:19 -0400, goog@QLink.ca (Brian McGugan) said:
>
> > Hi Folks
> >
> > I have a Mac Performa 580 CD - with the Apple external Microphone. I
> > have an idea to adapt the Apple Microphone plug in order to accommodate
> > plugging in other sound sources directly into the computer.
> > My idea: simply cut the microphone wire halfway and insert a female
> > stereo mini inline plug and also add to the remaining end (with the
> > microphone) a male stereo mini.
> > This way I can use the usual mic as well as swapping for other sound
> > sources when I want to - all they need to do is to end in the stereo
> > mini male.
> >
> > Does anyone have any information as to why Apple made their mic plug
> > such that one cannot plug in any device? Is it impedance of the input?
> > Is there any chance that the small microphone is powered? Any ideas,
> > observations or suggestions, (even not to attempt this at all) are most
> > welcome!
> > Thank you for your help!
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Brian McGugan
>
> If this is the Apple mic plug that is longer than a standard audio
> mini-plug, you can plug in a standard audio mini-plug for stereo line
> level audio in. The extra long Apple plug tip is to connect to a
> contact that provides power to a pre-amp built into the Apple mic. If
> you need to use a microphone, get one with a built-in pre-amp (with a
> battery for power), or use an external pre-amp.

Thank you for your input above, re: the mike.

It works just as you said it would! That information saved me the
time and effort of all the wire cutting and stuff! You really helped,
mso I thank you again!

Cheers!

Brian