Griffin Technology Imic Audio Adapter

iMic USB Audio Interface The iMic™ universal audio adapter is aUSB device that adds stereo input and output to your Mac or PC.Connect virtually any microphone or sound input device to your iBook,PowerBook, PowerMac or other Mac or PC with a USB port. Yes, iMicsupports both Mic level and line level input. It also supports linelevel output for connecting speakers or an external recording device. iMic's audio is superior to your computer’s built-in soundcardbecause it uses USB for the audio signal. USB isolates the audio signal from the noisyelectronics in your computer, giving you higher-quality sound when you record andhigher-quality sound for external speakers. The iMic is a must-have device for people who are seriousabout high quality audio in their computer. But don’t take our word for it. Checkout some of its reviews to see what others are saying about iMic at the bottomof this page. Then get iMic forremarkable audio performance over USB.

MacUser UK- iMicReview Vol. 17 Issue 4 Pros Provides high-quality audio input for USBMacs + Inexpensive Cons None ...just plug a microphone or any other audio device, such as atape deck or MiniDisc player, into the iMic's microphone port andstart recording... We compared input from the iMic with audio recorded using an iMac'sbuilt-in microphone as well as its external microphone socket. Griffinclaims the iMic produces better results than Apple's built-in audio,and we were surprised to find this was true. Sound recorded fromthe iMic was louder and clearer than the other two... Read more iMic reviews at the bottom of this page.

iMic Why iMic There are a variety of reasons why iMic is preferable to the built-in audioon existing PCs or Macs. The inside of your computer is electrically verynoisy. High frequency noise from many sources can degrade a computer's audioinput and output quality. USB audio provides a far cleaner and moreeffective way of getting sound in and out of the computer. The audio A/D andD/A circuitry is external from the computer away from noise that degradesaudio performance. All signals are carried to and from your computerdigitally through the USB connection. The net effect is audio quality thatis far superior to what people have become accustomed to from theircomputers. The Griffin iMic builds upon this advantage using the best USB audio codec(compressor/de-compressor) available. The iMic uses the identical codec usedin the professional USB audio solutions that cost 5-10x as much. In factmost users and reviewers agree that the iMic provides superior audio inputand output quality to these professional adapters. Further, softwareavailable only for the iMic allows you to customize your audio input andoutput far beyond what can be done with any of these high end products. Some of the other advantages of the iMic include: 24bit Internal Audio Processing Most built-in computer audio supports a maximum of 16bit sampling, while theiMic hardware samples internally at 24bit. This means that the iMic has amuch larger potential signal to noise (S/N) ratio, a wider dynamic range andsuperior high-end frequency response. Combine that potential with one of theaudio programs and drivers that can take advantage of that capability andyou're on your way to superior fidelity. Isolates internal electrical computer noise The power supplies are full of transient noise from the CPU, hard drives, CDdrives and other computer components. Built-in computer audio hardware cantransfer that noise into the audio I/O. The iMic stays outside of your noisycomputer system, attaching via the external USB interface. Eliminates "Ground-loop hum" Ground loops usually manifest themselves as a humming noise, often directlyrelated to the frequency of the electrical system being used. In the UnitedStates, the hum is typically at 60Hz or a near harmonic, while in manyEuropean countries the hum is 50Hz (or a near harmonic). In addition, thenature of the electrical connections may also greatly exacerbate anypossible radio frequency interference (RFI) that may be in the area. A"ground loop" can occur when at least two devices are connected to a commonground through different electrical outlets. Typically, audio/video signals use zero volts (0v) as the point around whichall signals are compared and contrasted, with any appreciable voltage eitherpositive or negative, representing the information being carried. This "zerolevel" is often called "ground", despite the fact that it rarely refers to aphysical connection to the earth. The problem is that a piece of equipment plugged in to one outlet willprobably have a slightly different "ground potential" than another piece ofequipment plugged in to an outlet on a different house circuit. To preventground loops, all electrical grounds must be connected together. If you mustconnect your peripherals to two different power outlets that are on separategrounds, then you should use some method of isolating the signals andgrounds from each other. There is a case to be made that a lot of the quality problems affectingaudio or video electronic devices can be traced back to ground loops. Utilize industry-standard connections iMic incorporates standard 1/8" stereo connections, which eliminatespotential problems caused by outdated proprietary hardware such as the olderMacintosh PlainTalk design. By adhering to the world wide computer standard1/8" port, iMic guarantees you'll be able to connect peripherals from aroundthe globe. In addition, there is no commercially available PlainTalkextension cable, since it's an interface used only by Apple for its oldermicrophones. With iMic, you can use practically every kind of extensioncable on the market. Not only can you extend the audio connections, but youcan also extend the USB cables for even more flexibility in usage andplacement. Hassle-free expansion Many new Mac and PC desktop and portable computers are shipping withoutaudio inputs. With iMic you can easily move one piece of equipment betweentwo or more computers with no hassles at all. Simply unplug iMic from yourdesktop machine and plug it in your laptop; no drivers to install, no lossof expansion ports, no time wasted prying open the case and swapping cardsin and out, and perhaps most significantly - no additional expense.

iMic Getting Started Getting started with iMic couldn’t be easier. You’re going to love what youcan do with this little device, and how easy it will be. With very littleeffort, you’ll be able to: Turn old records and tapes into CDs Transform your Mac or PC into a recording studio Create MP3s Add soundtracks to home movies Become a DJ with your laptop But that’s just the beginning. How about recording“Happy Birthday” and emailing it to Dad, dictating notes in the field,recording lectures, using language learning or voice activated programs? Didyou know you could use iMic as a cue device and DJ with your laptop? Thelist is limited only by your imagination. iMic is the perfect portableInput/Output device for computers with native USB support. And it’s so easyto install, setup, and use that you’ll be up and running in no time. Howeasy? What if we tell you exactly how to do it? When you’re ready, help is just a click away ... Plug iMic into a USB slot on your computer – it’s installed!  Now youcan select it for sound Input and Output, and you can check this at thebottom of this page. Now, you can find step by step instructions at thebottom of this page on how to: Record your old records (OS9, OS X,PC) Record cassettes or mini disks (OS9, OS X,PC) Record your voice and instrument (OS9, OS X,PC) SOFTWARE What software is required for iMic to work? None. That’s right, there’s nosoftware required for iMic to run on Macs or PCs.