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User profile for user: FTLOSM
FTLOSM Author
User level: Level 1
11 points

Mac Mini Late 2014, problem with mic input

I have a late 2014 Mac Mini and I am trying to hook up a microphone to it so I can do some voiceover work in imovie. I have a TRRS Mic I use with a lightning adapter for iphone, I tried plugging that into the 3.5 jack on the back but in SystemPreferences/Sound I am showing no input.


Same with imovie, I go to do voice over and choose line input as device but when I try to record i just get blank sound clips.


I have a 3.5 TRS to 3.5 TRRS adapter I use when I use this microphone with my DSLR camera, so I thought I would try that in the mac mini input, feeding it a trs plug adapter to my trrs mic, but still no input in sound area or in imovie trying to do a voice over.


Should I buy a straight dedicated TRS mic to plug into this or possibly look into a usb based mic?


I guess I thought the TRS to TRRS adapter would work when the straight in TRRS didn't work, but so far I haven't figured it out and was looking for some help.


I don't know if this matters or not but on sound output I have it set to HDMI/SAMSUNG as I use the mac mini connected to my tv, but as for input I assumed I could plug something into the back and set up in imovie the use of that microphone.


Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Mar 13, 2022 10:38 PM

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User profile for user: den.thed
den.thed
User level: Level 10
82,570 points

Posted on Mar 14, 2022 10:42 AM

hcsitas wrote:

You can’t connect a mic directly to the headphone port.

That’s what the headphone out on the extreme right of your picture is for dear den.thed, a TRRS splitter on it will happily provide mic.


That will not work for several reasons.

  1. The 2014 Mac has a Stereo Headphone Output port and a Stereo Audio Input port.
  2. The Headphone port is for output only and the Audio-in port is for Input.
  3. The microphone input must be amp'ed up to line level.


Mac mini (Late 2014) - Technical Specifications


Audio

  • Audio line in minijack (digital/analog)
  • Audio line out/3.5 mm headphone jack (digital/analog)
  • HDMI port supports multichannel audio output
  • Support for Apple iPhone headset with microphone
  • Built-in speaker


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User profile for user: den.thed
den.thed
User level: Level 10
82,570 points

Mar 14, 2022 10:42 AM in response to hcsitas

hcsitas wrote:

You can’t connect a mic directly to the headphone port.

That’s what the headphone out on the extreme right of your picture is for dear den.thed, a TRRS splitter on it will happily provide mic.


That will not work for several reasons.

  1. The 2014 Mac has a Stereo Headphone Output port and a Stereo Audio Input port.
  2. The Headphone port is for output only and the Audio-in port is for Input.
  3. The microphone input must be amp'ed up to line level.


Mac mini (Late 2014) - Technical Specifications


Audio

  • Audio line in minijack (digital/analog)
  • Audio line out/3.5 mm headphone jack (digital/analog)
  • HDMI port supports multichannel audio output
  • Support for Apple iPhone headset with microphone
  • Built-in speaker


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User profile for user: den.thed
den.thed
User level: Level 10
82,570 points

Mar 14, 2022 8:08 AM in response to FTLOSM

The 2014 Mac Mini's audio input port is line-level and requires a pre-amp or line-level audio input.



TRRS jacks are intended for systems that have a single input/output port. (ie the iPhone and later Mac's)


I'd be more inclined to get and use a USB audio adapter to plug the Mic into.



for example the

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Adapter-Windows-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=asc_df_B00IRVQ0F8/?

or

https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Headphone-Microphone-Aluminum-Compatible/dp/B00NMXY2MO/ref=rtpb_sp_bmx_dp_e04ynwco_4/147-0127975-1712435?

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Mac Mini Late 2014, problem with mic input

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