RCA to 3.5MM Input on 14" M1 MacBook Pro?

[adcx64]

Hi Everyone,

I am having some trouble here with a RCA 3.5mm adaptor and my MPB. I want to digitize some old records on a turn table, however the MBP does not "see" the 3.5mm to RCA cables I'm using. It normally triggers Siri.

The computer does "see" and work when using a 3.5mm cable, but its noisy.

Why wouldn't an RCA to 3.5mm cable be detected but a straight through 3.5mm cable (noisy) be detected?

 

[McScooby]

Could be because technically there’s no audio in via the headphone jack.
I’d guess the rca cable is just a standard 3.5mm jack, but the direct jack cable has the extra connector/line on the plug so the mb thinks it’s connecting to a headset.

 

[adcx64]

Could be because technically there’s no audio in via the headphone jack.
I’d guess the rca cable is just a standard 3.5mm jack, but the direct jack cable has the extra connector/line on the plug so the mb thinks it’s connecting to a headset.

What’s weird is depending on the source input it will recognize it as a microphone input. Idk why Apple doesn’t recognize it as an input

 

[J.Gallardo]

What’s weird is depending on the source input it will recognize it as a microphone input. Idk why Apple doesn’t recognize it as an input

Your cable it’s just a cable to drive stereo sound. If you plug it in a “sound out” socket, it takes sound out. If you plug it in an “aux. in” , it sends sound TO the socket.
MBP has a combined out/in socket, and it begs for a 4 pole 3.5 plug (like in earpods or other combined in/out devices). Plugging-in a 3 connector normal stereo cable tends to work, but just to drive sound out, for normal earphones or audio out devices. Partial working is due to partial unintended connection; perhaps you can find a stable mic contact by fiddling with the plugging position (but I doubt it).
Seek for a special male 3.5 jack with 4 connections to drive sound into MBP.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:
"I want to digitize some old records on a turn table, however the MBP does not "see" the 3.5mm to RCA cables I'm using."

I think you'd do much better to get a small, inexpensive analog-to-digital converter that plugs into the USB port.

Some examples:

Amazon.com: Usb Analog To Digital Audio Converter

Amazon.com: usb analog to digital audio converter

www.amazon.com

This one might do:

Behringer U-PHONO UFO202 Audiophile USB/Audio Interface with Built-in Phono Preamp for Digitalizing Your Tapes and Vinyl Records

www.amazon.com

Another website to check (where the audio guys hang out):

Gearspace.com - Gearspace.com - The No. 1 Website for Pro Audio

Forum for professional and amateur recording engineers to share techniques and advice.

www.gearspace.com

Probably more there than you need to know on this particular subject!

 

[adcx64]

OP:
"I want to digitize some old records on a turn table, however the MBP does not "see" the 3.5mm to RCA cables I'm using."

I think you'd do much better to get a small, inexpensive analog-to-digital converter that plugs into the USB port.

Some examples:

Amazon.com: Usb Analog To Digital Audio Converter

Amazon.com: usb analog to digital audio converter

www.amazon.com

This one might do:

Behringer U-PHONO UFO202 Audiophile USB/Audio Interface with Built-in Phono Preamp for Digitalizing Your Tapes and Vinyl Records

www.amazon.com

Another website to check (where the audio guys hang out):

Gearspace.com - Gearspace.com - The No. 1 Website for Pro Audio

Forum for professional and amateur recording engineers to share techniques and advice.

www.gearspace.com

Probably more there than you need to know on this particular subject!

Thank you for all of that. I bought this: https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Exter...75&sprefix=usb+sound+card,aps,116&sr=8-3&th=1

I should be able to use the mic input to get stereo out of the turntable now. The built in Mic port on the MBP is just two channels of mono.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

When you get the adapter, how about a follow-up post to let us know if it worked for you...?

 

[adcx64]

OP:
"I want to digitize some old records on a turn table, however the MBP does not "see" the 3.5mm to RCA cables I'm using."

I think you'd do much better to get a small, inexpensive analog-to-digital converter that plugs into the USB port.

Some examples:

Amazon.com: Usb Analog To Digital Audio Converter

Amazon.com: usb analog to digital audio converter

www.amazon.com

This one might do:

Behringer U-PHONO UFO202 Audiophile USB/Audio Interface with Built-in Phono Preamp for Digitalizing Your Tapes and Vinyl Records

www.amazon.com

Another website to check (where the audio guys hang out):

Gearspace.com - Gearspace.com - The No. 1 Website for Pro Audio

Forum for professional and amateur recording engineers to share techniques and advice.

www.gearspace.com

Probably more there than you need to know on this particular subject!

NVM, that's mono too. I just got the PreAmp one you mentioned. Thanks a ton. No I can use RCA right into this PreAmp, and USB to the MacBook Pro.

 

[adcx64]

OP:

When you get the adapter, how about a follow-up post to let us know if it worked for you...?

Totally.

 

[adcx64]

OP:

When you get the adapter, how about a follow-up post to let us know if it worked for you...?

Works flawlessly in stereo. Thanks a ton.

 

[bill-p]

Why wouldn't an RCA to 3.5mm cable be detected but a straight through 3.5mm cable (noisy) be detected?

Because the 3.5mm port is TRRS and only supports a single channel for mic input. Most RCA to 3.5mm cables connect to the output pins instead of the one single input pin. In any case, even if you have the right cable, you would not have been able to get stereo audio into the MacBook via the one port.

So yeah, going with an external sound interface is the way to go.