Originally Posted by
einstein_007
If you are using a standard mini-stereo plug for the microphone, and it is plugging into the line-in port on your XP, then it is not going to work.
The line-in port is specifically a "line-in" port. It accepts "line level" audio inputs only.
Such inputs would be from the back of your component stereo's tape deck, a component type (as in not built-in) stereo CD-Player's RCA jacks, etc.
Record Players / Turn-Tables and Microphones require a pre-amp if you intend to use them with a line-in jack.
Some microphones claim to be amplified. But, if there is no source of power between the microphone and the computer, you can pretty much forget it.
Does the microphone have a battery? Or, any other form of external power? If not, then you'll need a pre-amp. Usually, it's just cheaper to buy a USB Microphone than a pre-amp.
Myself, I just use a mixer (like a live D.J. would use) with a built-in pre-amp.
Now, if you are using a USB microphone, then you shouldn't be having any trouble.
If you are using a standard microphone, then you'll need a pre-amp.
As for why it works with your desktop, I can offer two possible explanations.
1) Almost all PC's have a Microphone specific jack that has a pre-amp circuit. But, none of the modern XP's do.
2) Many older XP's do have a Microphone jack. I don't know exactly when it was removed from their systems, but I do know that the old iMac G3 I have has one, and my old PowerMac G3 had one. My newer G4 systems do not, but some of the G4 towers may have (I don't know).
Hope this helps.
Source: Macrumors
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