[Macpartners] headset use on a G4 powerbook

[Douglas Alan]

Kerem B Limon <k_limon at MIT.EDU> wrote:

> Quoting Rachel Morton <rachel at MIT.EDU>:

> > It seems that I should be able to use a standard headset with a
> > Powerbook G4 (15") which has a line-in audio port. The manual refers
> > to 'line-level ' microphone. Is that different from cheapo headset
> > technology?  thanks for your help Rachel M.

> It means an unamplified microphone. El-cheapo headsets with mics on the swing
> arm from somwhere like MicroCenter should be fine.

> -Kerem

I have no idea what the Powerbook G4 wants as input, but you have your
terminology precisely backwards.  A "line-level microphone" is one that
has been amplified to the level expected at the inputs of a power
amplifier, while an unamplified microphone needs to be fed into a
preamp.

>From http://staff.ace.ac.nz/Centres/Technology/BruceWeb/Video%20in%20the%20classroom/linemic.htm :

     A line level output is normally in the range of .7 to 1 volt while
     a microphone level is considerably lower depending on the type of
     microphone used. If a line level output was connected directly to a
     microphone socket on a camcorder the audio circuits in the
     camcorder would be considerably overloaded. This could damage the
     camcorder and lead to distorted audio. The line level -microphone
     adapter reduces the output from a line level source to a level
     which is acceptable to a microphone level socket.

|>oug