Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Second Edition

Recording Sound

If you hope to record new sounds, you’ll need a microphone. Your microphone situation depends on the kind of Mac you have:

• iMac, eMac, PowerBook, white iBook. You have a built-in microphone, usually a tiny hole just above or below the screen. This microphone couldn’t be more convenient: it’s always with you, and always turned on.

• Original iBook, Cube, recent Power Macs. You can plug in an external USB microphone (the Apple Products Guide at http://www.guide.apple.com offers a list) or use an adapter (such as the iMic, http://www.griffintechnology.com) that accommodates a standard microphone.

• Older Power Macs. These models came with a gray, half-cone-shaped microphone called the PlainTalk microphone. You’ll find a corresponding miniplug jack for it on the back. Note, however, that the PlainTalk mike’s pin is slightly longer than a standard miniplug. Standard microphones don’t work in a Mac without an adapter like the NE Mic from http://www.griffintechnology.com.

In Mac OS X 10.2, for the first time, the Sound panel of System Preferences lets you choose which sound source you want the Mac to listen to. Click the Input tab, and then click the sound source you want: external USB microphone, external analog microphone (that is, something plugged into the microphone or Line In jacks of Macs that have them), built-in microphone, or whatever.

Making the Recording

Once you’ve got your microphone situation taken care of, you need to get your hands on some sound-recording software. ...