No digital audio in jack on new 13" MBP

[smadder]

I don't know if anyone noticed, but one of the audio ports has gone away on the new 13" MBP. I checked the specs on the Apple site and it says that the single audio jack serves as digital/analog audio out and as a user selectable analog audio in. I'm assuming that the "switch" for the port to audio in is controlled via software, although it could be a combo jack... it's not clear. But not having digital audio in is kind of a bite in the ass. If you don't have an external audio interface, the digital audio input was a great feature - something that is rare on any laptop that isn't a Mac. I am grateful that firewire has returned and that an SD slot has been added. I just wish the engineers could have figured out a way to squeeze in one little extra hole on the side. They kept it in the 15" models.

For a lot of audio professionals who have outboard interfaces it probably won't be missed, but for those who used it, it's absence sucks. Plus, if you want to run a mic and headphones at the same time, what do you do now?

If anyone knows what's up or if there is some kind of workaround I'm not noticing, I'd be curious to hear.

 

[NewMacbookPlz]

There have been a couple threads on this already.

It's a combo jack, most likely toggled by software, but we won't know until people start getting their units.

On the upside though, you may be able to use your iPhone type headsets with your macbook now, to talk and listen if you're using Skype or something similar

 

[xraydoc]

On the upside though, you may be able to use your iPhone type headsets with your macbook now, to talk and listen if you're using Skype or something similar

You could do that on the unibody MacBooks already. The headphone jack supports the iPhone headphone & mic (I've used it for video iChats), plus the button on the headset works for iTunes as it does on the iPod/iPhone.

 

[NewMacbookPlz]

You could do that on the unibody MacBooks already. The headphone jack supports the iPhone headphone & mic (I've used it for video iChats), plus the button on the headset works for iTunes as it does on the iPod/iPhone.

This....is news to me!

 

[localoid]

...For a lot of audio professionals who have outboard interfaces it probably won't be missed, but for those who used it, it's absence sucks. Plus, if you want to run a mic and headphones at the same time, what do you do now?

Buy an external sound device with digital I/O. They're cheap, small and portable these days, and many can be powered off the bus. Go for an external with analog balanced line I/O with XLR/TRS connectors and phantom power for using condenser mics and you'll have something far superior to recording with some crappy mic with a 1/8" phone plug. But then using a cheap USB mic would be an improvement over the typical $5 mic that features a 1/8" phone plug.