How to Use Internal Mic with Headphones Mac (Easy Guide!)

Is there a way to use the internal mic with Headphones Mac while using my Apple “Earpods” for sound? When I look at the Sound Preferences without my earbuds plugged in, the internal microphone option is present, but when I plug in my earbuds with a microphone, it disappears.

How to Use Mac Headphones as a Mic

If you need to record audio for your business on your Mac but don't have a built-in microphone or an external microphone, you can use headphones as an input device. For example, you might want to record a quick voice memo for your assistant or create a sound bite about a new product to post on your company's website. Microphones and headphones both use vibrating membranes to convert sound into electrical signals and vice versa, so you can record audio by speaking into your headphones in a pinch. To fit into the Mac's “Line-in” port, your headphones must have a 3.5mm plug.

How to Change the Audio Input on a Macbook Pro

Whether you're using an external microphone to record a business meeting or the built-in microphone to capture casual audio around the office, the Sound Preferences dialog on your MacBook Pro lets you easily switch between audio inputs. The built-in stereo microphone on the MacBook Pro is always available for use, and the computer detects external microphones as soon as they are connected.

• Click the Apple menu icon in the top right corner of your MacBook Pro's screen, then select “System Preferences,” followed by “Sound.”

• In the Sound preferences window, click the “Input” tab.

• Choose “Input” from the “Use audio port for” pull-down menu.

• Select the audio input device you want to use by clicking its name. The available devices are listed under the “Select a device for sound input” heading.

Alternative Video: MacBook Internal Mic vs iPhone Headset Mic

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Connecting a Microphone and Headset to a Computer

Previously, business professionals would use telephones to conference with customers or employees, but applications such as Skype have made it simple for all users to voice and video chat with one another over long distances. A good audio configuration is essential for workers who frequently need to communicate with clients or other business professionals. 

Headsets allow users to listen to and talk to others hands-free, but the mouthpieces that come with them aren't always of the highest quality. You can connect the headset's speakers to the computer, but you must also connect a separate microphone to the PC to use instead of the headset's mouthpiece.

• Connect the headset's headphone connector to the green-colored jack on the back of the desktop PC or the headphone jack on the right or left side of the laptop or netbook.

• Connect the microphone to the pink jack on the back of the desktop computer or the microphone jack on the right or left side of the laptop or netbook.

• To use the headset instead of the computer speakers, go to “Start | Control Panel | Hardware and Sound | Sound.” Select the headset on the Playback tab and then click “Set Default.” “OK” will be displayed.

Connecting a Panasonic Universal iPod Dock to a Receiver

Panasonic sells iPod docking stations, which enable you to charge and listen to music from your iPod device. These Panasonic iPod docking stations can also be connected to your stereo receiver via a mini stereo to RCA adapter cable. Connecting your docking station to your receiver allows you to listen to music from your iPod through the speakers on your stereo, which generally provides better sound reproduction than using the docking station's built-in speakers.

• Locate the Panasonic docking station's mini stereo output. This mini stereo output resembles a headphone jack and is typically found on the docking station's front.
• Connect the adapter cable's mini stereo end to the docking station's mini stereo output.

• Connect the adapter cable's other end to an input on your stereo receiver. Match the colors on the RCA cables to the colors on the inputs on your receiver.

• On your iPod, press the “Play” button.

• Press the “Input” button on your receiver until you hear sound from your iPod playing through the speakers of your stereo.

How to Connect Speakers to Gateway Computers

Your Gateway computer provides the tools you need to make phone calls, listen to music, and watch videos, but you must connect speakers to hear audio. A good set of speakers allows you to add audio to your presentations and amplify your voice during business meetings.

Speakers without a subwoofer connect to the audio jack on the back of your Gateway computer. Some systems include multiple speakers as well as a subwoofer. Connect all of the pieces if you have this type of set to hear audio through each speaker.

Subwoofer-less speakers

• Connect the light green 3.5 mm audio cable from the speaker to the light green audio port on the back of your Gateway computer. When connecting to a Gateway laptop, look for the audio port on the computer's side.
• Place the speakers to the left and right of your computer monitor.
• Connect the power cable's round end to the power connector on the back of either the left or right speaker. Connect the power cable's other end to an electrical outlet.
• To turn on the speakers, press the “Power” button.

Subwoofer-equipped speakers

• Connect the color-coded speaker cables to the subwoofer's matching color-coded ports.
• Connect the two ends of the subwoofer cable to the subwoofer's “Out of PC” connectors. Connect the green and pink connectors on the other end of the subwoofer cable to the computer's matching color-coded jacks.
• Place the front right and left speakers at ear height to the right and left of the computer monitor. Attach the center channel speaker to the monitor's top.
• Place surround back right and left speakers at ear level several feet behind your seating position.
• Place the subwoofer under your computer desk on the floor.
• Connect the power cable to the subwoofer's power connector on the back. Connect the power cable to a power outlet. To turn on the speakers, press the “Power” button on the subwoofer or speaker remote control.

Restarting a Sound Driver

Windows 7 relies on drivers to communicate with the computer's installed hardware. A device cannot receive instructions from the operating system unless it has a working driver. The Device Manager, which can be accessed via the Control Panel, allows users to manage the drivers installed on their computer.

The sound driver may be disabled if the audio output or input on the PC stops working, preventing you from giving a video presentation to potential customers or participating in a conference call with employees. To restore sound card functionality, restart the device in Device Manager.

• Click “Start | Control Panel | Hardware and Sound | Device Manager,” or click “Start,” type “device manager” into the Search field, and press “Enter.”
• Right-click the sound driver and select “Enable” to restart the device.
• If prompted, restart the computer to re-enable the sound card.

How to Connect an Android Phone Running Froyo to a USB Port

Google's Android mobile operating system uses catchy names like Froyo and Honeycomb to distinguish between different versions of the OS, making it difficult to tell which is which. If you have an Android phone that is running Froyo, it means it is running Android OS 2.2. Simply use the USB connection cable that came with it to connect this device to a computer via USB.

• Connect the Android phone to the computer using the USB connection cable that came with the device.
• Tap the “USB Connected” option that appears on the device's screen.
• Tap the “Mount” button to connect the device to the computer via USB.

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