Techsurvivors

Archives => 2008 => Topic started by: Gregg on January 22, 2008, 07:23:57 AM

Title: Sound controls
Post by: Gregg on January 22, 2008, 07:23:57 AM

QUOTE

Look in System Preferences in Sound for Output choices.

iMic is for input of audio:

http://www.ncmug.org/reviews/iMic.html

That iMic USB audio system thing was in both input and output, along with the built-in speakers. Those were the only choices. I picked it just to see, but didn't hear anything from the speakers. Funny, I swear the first sound that came out of the new setup came from the speakers!

Title: Sound controls
Post by: Xairbusdriver on January 22, 2008, 09:43:21 AM

There wasn't any sound because you probably don't have anything connected to any USB port that can use audio.

I have an iMic, but never tried using it for output, didn't even know it was capable of that.

I just use the Optical/Analog Audio jack to input the sound from our mixer at church. Output is through the headphone jack to a tape recorder for making the cassette tape. The iMic seemed to introduce a slight delay which makes live recording more difficult.

I believe there is only one very small speaker in the mini, not what I would call an 'audiophile experience.'

Title: Sound controls
Post by: Gregg on January 22, 2008, 12:12:27 PM

I have an RCA-type plug from my speakers connected to the Mini. (I think.) I'll have to check to see if that's just a mic port or what. I obviously didn't spend much time looking when I connected it up. I was too eager to get it booted up. I haven't taken the time to look again.

Title: Sound controls
Post by: Gregg on January 22, 2008, 09:20:15 PM

Ok, it has one "socket" with a headphone icon, and the another one with a speaker icon. The second one is where my "mini-RCA" speaker thing is plugged in.

Title: Sound controls
Post by: Gregg on January 24, 2008, 07:25:39 AM

QUOTE(Gregg @ Jan 22 2008, 09:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok, it has one "socket" with a headphone icon, and the another one with a speaker icon. The second one is where my "mini-RCA" speaker thing is plugged in.

And so I still don't understand why no sound comes out of the speakers when I turn them on...

Title: Sound controls
Post by: Paddy on January 24, 2008, 08:49:06 AM

Gregg, I'm a little confused - do you have an iMic?

Are your speakers powered? They'd need to be with an iMic - it doesn't have enough juice to drive unpowered speakers. Nor does your Mac. But the fact that you reference turning the speakers on makes me think they're powered.

What have you got for your Preferences->Sound output setting? It should be "Line Out Built-in Audio" or similar.

What are your volume levels? There are a number of places to set them - the preference panel for Sound, the top menu bar, the speakers themselves. Check them all.

I have my mini RCA to regular RCA (single plug to double output) line out from the speaker port, going to my stereo's auxiliary line in - the speakers aren't powered and therefore need the stereo's amplifier.

Title: Sound controls
Post by: Gregg on January 24, 2008, 08:21:24 PM

QUOTE(Gregg @ Jan 22 2008, 07:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That iMic USB audio system thing was in both input and output, along with the built-in speakers. Those were the only choices.

That was your first clue. Pretty good detective work, I must say.

QUOTE(Paddy @ Jan 24 2008, 08:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Gregg, I'm a little confused - do you have an iMic?

Are your speakers powered?

What have you got for your Preferences->Sound output setting? It should be "Line Out Built-in Audio" or similar.

What are your volume levels? There are a number of places to set them - the preference panel for Sound, the top menu bar, the speakers themselves. Check them all.

So, yes, I do have an iMic. The purpose for it is to get music from my stereo to the computer. After setting up the Mini, I connected the iMic to a USB port in order to see if the RCA cables I have would reach to the stereo. (Previously, the iMic was used with my sons' iBooks at closer range.) I just left the iMic plugged in.

So, after our exchange on the other thread at lunch, I went for my noontime walk (it was only 6 below zero, so I headed over to the downtown mall!). Thinking about your response in this thread, I realized the above and wondered what would happen if I unplugged the iMic. Well, the only thing that  seems to have happened is that iMic USB audio system is no longer a choice in the Sound control panel.

Yes, the speakers are powered. The power supply is plugged in to a wall outlet, and the mini-RCA cable is plugged into the Mini.

My volume levels in the Sound control panel, and the menu bar are all at about halfway. The on/off knob on one speaker is also the volume adjustment. When hooked up to the old G3, it didn't take much of a "turn" to get a decent amount of volume.

Something is still missing. I don't get sound out of the speakers. I was puzzled that I couldn't test alert sounds yesterday, but that appears to be a volume issue. At 50%, it's very faint, but it's there.

Title: Sound controls
Post by: Paddy on January 24, 2008, 08:53:23 PM

Oops - you've got the darn things plugged into the wrong port, from the sounds of it:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?m...70&#6145870

(use the port with the headphones symbol)

Title: Sound controls
Post by: Gregg on January 25, 2008, 07:26:24 AM

Now that's counter-intuitive! But, there is another jack on one of the speakers for headphones, so I guess they were thinking.

Title: Sound controls
Post by: Xairbusdriver on January 25, 2008, 03:59:33 PM

I'll have to look next time I get in front of the mini at church. But I seem to think there are only two audio jacks back there. I think they are both Optical/Analog, but that may only be for the Input jack (the one nearest the middle of the box). That's the one we use with the feed from our mixer board. The other is where we plug in our headset. We also use that one to feed a tape recorder if someone wants a tape instead of a CD. But as far as I know, there are only two jacks, one Input and one Output. Speakers/headphones/tape recorders/etc. should all use the Output jack as nothing would/should be coming OUT if the Input jack. Of course, using the iMic could be different if it is capable of also being used for output. As I said earlier, the only reason I've hear to have/use an iMic is that it bypasses the 'normal,' internal audio circuitry. I don't remember anything about using it for output.

Title: Sound controls
Post by: Gregg on January 25, 2008, 08:40:18 PM

My speakers are sounding off again.

I guess I must have had the jack plugged into the mic socket on the G3 before.