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Transferring analog audio to iMac
#59974 11/18/21 11:57 AM
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ryck Offline OP
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I have a 21" iMac that still has the TRS audio input. I use it to record analog audio, which I feed into Amadeus and then send to my 27" iMac via Bluetooth. It is a decidedly cumbersome and time-consuming process.

Does anyone have experience with any devices that would allow audio to be transferred directly from the analog device using a TRS or TRRS connector to a USB input?


ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

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Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
ryck #59986 11/19/21 12:43 PM
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I have two USB audio inputs for my iMac: an external CD/DVD burner and a Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 DAC. I use the DAC for output to an amplifier and speakers, but I guess I could plug a tuner or other device to the amp and play it via the dac. There are cheaper DACs, that's for sure.


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Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
freelance #59988 11/19/21 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by freelance
I have two USB audio inputs for my iMac: an external CD/DVD burner and a Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 DAC.
That DacMagic is quite an impressive device but it has the audio going the wrong way for me. I should have explained better. My challenge is that, like many other iMac users, I cannot send analog audio into the 27" iMac via a 1/8" plug-in on the back of the machine because Apple stopped providing that kind of input. I'm forced to send it into a 21" machine (which has an 1/8" plug-in) for digitization and then re-send the product to the 27" via Bluetooth.

Therefore, what I'd like to do is: Plug my analog output (on a 1/8" plug) into a device that would digitize the signal. That device would have an output acceptable to an input on the 27" iMac, like a USB.

Last edited by ryck; 11/19/21 03:27 PM.

ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

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Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
ryck #59989 11/19/21 05:12 PM
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Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
freelance #59994 11/20/21 01:33 AM
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Thanks for looking around but I don't think this one addresses my issue.. This device talks about "(integrated audio OUT & mic IN" when I want to send audio into the machine. This device appears to be for gamers who have a bad audio card in their machine.


ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020), 3.8 GHz 8 Core Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 2667 MHz DDR4
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Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
freelance #59999 11/22/21 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by freelance
This sort of thing?
Or, perhaps this sort. Your suggestion got me thinking, maybe I should drop the obsession with being attached by a wire. Perhaps going in via Bluetooth is just as good, and less messy. And, who knows? As a bonus, if I can locate a female to female adapter, I can probably make my old AKG K240 headset mobile.

Thanks for the nudge.

Last edited by ryck; 11/22/21 02:51 PM.

ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020), 3.8 GHz 8 Core Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 2667 MHz DDR4
OS Ventura 13.6.3
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Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
ryck #60000 11/22/21 03:39 PM
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Ha! All this tech out there we didn't know we needed!


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Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
freelance #60008 11/24/21 10:29 PM
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ryck Offline OP
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Well, the device arrived quickly enough. Now all I need is to be able to get it to work. The extremely spare instructions are not at all helpful but, with something as simple as choosing between transmit or receive and automaticity with Bluetooth connecting, it should be a cakewalk. After an hour of attempts I finally thought that my iMac may have an issue with receiving Bluetooth signals, so I checked with a wireless keyboard. It connected in a flash.

Rats.


ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

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Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
ryck #60010 11/25/21 05:32 PM
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I looked at the reviews for this product and in some of them there is a problem with connecting. crazy

There was also a suggestion to press and hold the Bluetooth connection button for 7 seconds to reset it, then try again.


On a Mac since 1984.
Currently: 24" M1 iMac, M2 Pro Mac mini with 27" BenQ monitor, M2 Macbook Air, MacOS 14.x; iPhones, iPods (yes, still) and iPads.
Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
ryck #60011 11/25/21 11:49 PM
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Since I first saw your post, I've been on a mission to find out if there's a replacement for the venerable Griffin iMic (which isn't supported past Sierra), and I fiiinally found
Behringer UCA202/
BEHRINGER 2 in/2 Out USB Audio Interface with Digital Output, 2 x RCA Phono

which LOOKS TO ME like it's what you're looking for.

There may be other solutions, but I've spent so much time finding this one that I'm beat from searching.


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
Ira L #60012 11/26/21 12:03 AM
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ryck Offline OP
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Originally Posted by Ira L
I looked at the reviews for this product and in some of them there is a problem with connecting. crazy
I can attest to that. I never did get it to transmit to the iMac and I once got it to receive from the iMac. Other than that, a lot of trying this, trying that.....to no avail. I have since got my money back.


ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

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Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
artie505 #60013 11/26/21 12:08 AM
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Originally Posted by artie505
Since I first saw your post, I've been on a mission to find out if there's a replacement for the venerable Griffin iMic (which isn't supported past Sierra), and I fiiinally found
Behringer UCA202/BEHRINGER 2 in/2 Out USB Audio Interface with Digital Output, 2 x RCA Phono which LOOKS TO ME like it's what you're looking for.
Hot damn...that looks perfect. I've already put one in my cart....and I've got the adapters to go from the RCA to 1/8" TRS. Perfect. And the USB connection is icing on the cake. No, wait, more icing....it's six bucks cheaper that the Bluetooth unit that doesn't work.
Originally Posted by artie505
There may be other solutions, but I've spent so much time finding this one that I'm beat from searching.
Well, if we ever meet I'll buy you a beer or two. Thanks very much.

Last edited by ryck; 11/26/21 12:12 AM.

ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

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Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
ryck #60014 11/26/21 12:35 AM
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This was one of the most exhausting Google searches I've ever embarked on. Google has, indeed, got all the answers, but ONLY if you ask it the precise right questions.

Thanks for the beer offer, but if I visit my daughter in Tacoma - much closer to Okanagan Valley than Brooklyn - to split the distance difference we'll be stuck meeting in Idaho, and I wouldn't set foot in Idaho for the last beer on Earth.

Originally Posted by ryck
...I've got the adapters to go from the RCA to 1/8" TRS.
That got me thinking... I suspect that you may need some sort of preamp functionality to go from RCA to TRS, so you may need to cable up to your preamp or, as the case may be, stereo rather than directly to your turntable. (That's how the iMic worked, anyhow.)


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
artie505 #60017 11/26/21 05:25 AM
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Originally Posted by artie505
Originally Posted by ryck
...I've got the adapters to go from the RCA to 1/8" TRS.
That got me thinking... I suspect that you may need some sort of preamp functionality to go from RCA to TRS, so you may need to cable up to your preamp or, as the case may be, stereo rather than directly to your turntable. (That's how the iMic worked, anyhow.)
I just looked again and realized that the UCA 202 has got RCA ports, so now I'm not sure what's up. I guess I read your response backwards.

The Griffin had 1/8" ports.


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
artie505 #60018 11/26/21 09:41 AM
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Griffin iMic

I bought a Griffin iMic in 2009. It was an excellent product. I used it to transfer 300 90-minutes audio tape cassettes to mp3 files. I loaned it to my brother-in-law and never saw it again.

I have no more audio tapes to convert, not even a cassette player to play them on, so no need any more. Still, I'd like to know what he did with it...

Side bar: two audio software products I can recommend: Audio Hijack and Amadeus Pro


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Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
freelance #60019 11/26/21 11:28 AM
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I got a ton of use out of my iMic. It was a great product.

I started out with Griffin's proprietary Final Vinyl software, but was much happier after I switched to the Audio Hijack (Pro, at the time)/Fission combo. I looked at Amadeus, but it seemed like it would have been redundant.

I've still got vinyl that I never imported, and now that I've learned that it's easily done with the UCA 202 I can feel even worse about not having done/doing it. (My Dual 1249 still runs after ~50 years, and its built in strobe indicates that the [once replaced] drive belt is still functional, but I think my cartridge has disintegrated after all those years. Can such a thing happen?)


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
artie505 #60020 11/26/21 03:26 PM
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Originally Posted by artie505
I've still got vinyl that I never imported, and now that I've learned that it's easily done with the UCA 202 I can feel even worse about not having done/doing it. (My Dual 1249 still runs after ~50 years, and its built in strobe indicates that the [once replaced] drive belt is still functional, but I think my cartridge has disintegrated after all those years. Can such a thing happen?)
I had that turntable at one time! As to the cartridge, the stylus should not wear out from age, just from use. But, the glues that hold the parts together might be susceptible to age-related deterioration (just a guess).


Jon

macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
artie505 #60021 11/26/21 04:37 PM
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Originally Posted by artie505
I looked at Amadeus, but it seemed like it would have been redundant.
I use Audio Hijack to record the source, usually tunes from the internet. Then I open the file in Amadeus Pro and chop it into tracks. You can save the new files in any number of formats, any kind of quality.

I like to record Wally Whyton's Country Music Hour (now Bob Harris) from the BBC. Chop out the tracks that I like and create hi-res mp3 files for the car. If the announcer talks over the end of the track, you can chop it at the voiceover, then create a gradual fade out for, say, five seconds. I find Amadeus really useful. I think if you want to edit tracks in Audio Hijack, you have to buy their Fission app.


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Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
jchuzi #60022 11/27/21 01:32 AM
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Originally Posted by jchuzi
Originally Posted by artie505
...I think my cartridge has disintegrated after all those years. Can such a thing happen?)
...the stylus should not wear out from age, just from use. But, the glues that hold the parts together might be susceptible to age-related deterioration (just a guess).
The stylus is either sapphire or diamond, neither of which is susceptible to deterioration, but, as you've said, the guts of the cartridge itself are a-whole-nother matter.


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
freelance #60024 11/27/21 09:26 AM
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Originally Posted by freelance
Originally Posted by artie505
I looked at Amadeus, but it seemed like it would have been redundant.
I use Audio Hijack to record the source, usually tunes from the internet. Then I open the file in Amadeus Pro and chop it into tracks. You can save the new files in any number of formats, any kind of quality.

I like to record Wally Whyton's Country Music Hour (now Bob Harris) from the BBC. Chop out the tracks that I like and create hi-res mp3 files for the car. If the announcer talks over the end of the track, you can chop it at the voiceover, then create a gradual fade out for, say, five seconds. I find Amadeus really useful. I think if you want to edit tracks in Audio Hijack, you have to buy their Fission app.
I went for the AHP/Fission package because AHP has got the wonderful feature that allows recording from multiple sources at the same time. I can record a stream on Safari, another on Firefox, a piece from Amazon music, the conversation in my room, et al, all at once.

I'm with you on country music for driving! smile


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
artie505 #60158 12/15/21 01:52 PM
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ryck Offline OP
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Originally Posted by artie505
Since I first saw your post, I've been on a mission to find out if there's a replacement for the venerable Griffin iMic (which isn't supported past Sierra), and I fiiinally found
Behringer UCA202/
BEHRINGER 2 in/2 Out USB Audio Interface with Digital Output, 2 x RCA Phono

which LOOKS TO ME like it's what you're looking for.

There may be other solutions, but I've spent so much time finding this one that I'm beat from searching.
The device has arrived and it works like a 'hot damn'. It is currently transferring audio from a voice recorder directly into my 27" iMac, which does not have an audio input. It is vastly superior to the first device I tried - the bluetooth 1Mii Wireless Transponder. Three cheers for wired connections.


ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020), 3.8 GHz 8 Core Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 2667 MHz DDR4
OS Ventura 13.6.3
Canon Pixma TR 8520 Printer
Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner c/w VueScan software
TM on 1TB LaCie USB-C
Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
ryck #60160 12/15/21 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by ryck
The device has arrived and it works like a 'hot damn'.
YAAAY! smile


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Transferring analog audio to iMac
artie505 #60198 12/18/21 04:17 PM
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ryck Offline OP
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There’s an interesting thing that happens with the sound inputs and outputs. Normally my computer’s Sound Prefs Input screen shows:

Internal Microphone Built-in
USB AUDIO CODEC USB

However with the Behringer device plugged in, there is a second CODEC, auto-selected with 'audio' in lower case.

USB Audio CODEC USB

Correspondingly, Sound Prefs Output shows:

Internal Speakers Built-in
USB Audio CODEC USB
USB AUDIO CODEC USB

I didn’t touch any of the above, figuring the iMac and the device probably know what they’re doing, so I let them be. My Amadeus prefs were different than normal with the lnput showing something new and quite different - “System Default” in bold lettering, auto-selected.

To record an on-line meeting, my signal path was iPad headset out (TRS connector) - to Behringer input (RCA phono plugs) - to iMac USB (on the back of the Mac, not a hub) - and everything appeared as expected in Amadeus Pro. I could monitor either by the iMac speakers or a headset output on the device. No need for extra software, new drivers, nada. It just worked.

After the session, my computer’s Input and Output screens in Sound Prefs reverted to normal settings.

One hint for anyone else who wants to get this device (which I heartily endorse) and who uses similar routing as me, you will not have input level controls in Amadeus. You will have the Amadeus VU meters showing what is incoming, but the controls will be locked. Your input level control will be the headset volume control on the originating machine.

Extras: For those with broader needs than mine (e.g. musicians) the Behringer device has additional outputs for other distribution….RCA phono and Optical. Nice.

Last edited by ryck; 12/18/21 04:26 PM.

ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020), 3.8 GHz 8 Core Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 2667 MHz DDR4
OS Ventura 13.6.3
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TM on 1TB LaCie USB-C

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