Connecting and Using a Microphone
You can use the Apple PlainTalk Microphonethat comes with some Macintosh computers (or
a compatible line-level microphone) to give spoken commands to your Macintosh and to
record your voice or other sounds. (The illustration of your computer in Chapter 1 shows
the Apple PlainTalk microphone.)
Note: Do not use the Apple Omni microphone (the round microphone supplied with some
older Macintosh models) or the attenuated RCA adapter provided with some Macintosh computers.
If your monitor has a built-in microphone that you want to use, see the information that
came with the monitor to connect the microphone.
To connect and position an external microphone, follow these steps:
1Shut down the computer and plug the microphone’s connector into the sound input port
(≈) on the back of the computer.
2Place an Apple PlainTalk Microphone at the top center of the monitor, so that the
microphone’s Apple (K) icon faces you.
If you’re using a different microphone, position it according to these guidelines:
mThe microphone should be between 1 and 3 feet away from you.
mThe microphone should be directly in front of you to minimize the effect of background noises.
3Turn on the computer.
4Open the Monitors & Sound control panel, click the Sound button, and make sure that the
microphone is the selected sound input source.
Click the button labeled hfor help.
Using Your Macintosh and Connecting Additional Equipment 23