I need a mic
Comments: 8
I was very disappointed to discover a while back that the Apple PlainTalk microphones no longer plug in to PowerBooks. This seems like a huge loss: they were terrific mics. A yaki-imo van came by tonight playing a variation of the song that I hadn’t heard before, a couple of nights ago leaving the office I heard the mournful heating oil truck for the first tme this year (a PlainTalk might have have helped me then: I had a PowerBook with me), and just now explosive-like flare-less fireworks are being detonated nearby to announce the end of the end-of-year Setagaya boro-ichi.
So I need a new mic, and wondering what’s as cheap and easy and crisp as a PlainTalk. How’s everybody else recording audio into their machines?
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Posted to Audio • 2004.12.16 (Thu) • 22:10
Comments
Posted by dr Dave 2004.12.16, 23:05
If they are the ones I’m thinking about, the reason they do not work any more is probably their longer than standard jack, that provided power to the mic itself. Most likely, it was also one of the reason it had such a good quality… I am not a specialist in low-end mics, but I think any self-powered stereo mic (or maybe a USB one) ought to have a sound at least comparable to the old Plaintalk…
And btw, I am sure you know that your PB has a built-in microphone: certainly not the best quality (especially if catching ambient sounds), but decent enough if you are desperate.
Posted by motionross 2004.12.17, 00:01
I too was going to state that your PB has a built-in. You may (or may not) be surprised by the results. I have used mine to record audio in a clutch quite a few times with great results.
Posted by Richard Earney 2004.12.17, 00:05
Don’t Griffin do an iMic?
Posted by jh 2004.12.17, 00:06
The internal mic has a show-stopping disadvantage: you can’t hang it out the window. But the good doctor is right —- pretty much any halfway decent replacement these days would equal or better the PlainTalk. I can’t really go wrong.
Kristen, thanks for the offer, but the iMics don’t handle PlainTalk mics, or so I believe (although the company did at one point make an adapter, whose name I cannot remember, that would work with it but which has been discontinued now). Just time for a new mic, I guess.
Posted by Kristen 2004.12.17, 00:31
iMic is not a mic iteslef, but a connector that allows you to take a bog-standard audio plug mic and get it into the USB port. I have one; I’ll loan it to you to play with.
Posted by Jesper 2004.12.17, 02:37
The new PowerBooks already accept mic-in if I’m not mistaken. To your left. :P
Posted by Phil Dokas 2004.12.17, 02:47
They also don’t fit into PowerMac G5’s. Found this out the hard way last year when I wanted to run a private little radio show with the wonder that is Nicecast.
Posted by Frank Bisono 2004.12.21, 08:21
I would highly recommend the Plantronics DSP-400 digital headeset. It is a USB powered, portable folding headset with noise-cancelling mic. VERY NICE and I use it for everything from VoIP to PodCasting. The prices are all over the map, but I got the best price from Mac Mall corporate. Call (800) 555-6255 x8838 and ask for Bryan Daley, tell him I sent you and he will hook you up!
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