Microphones & Accessories for the Macintosh User
Macintosh computers have traditionally used a different microphone input jack than IBM-type personal computers. Macs use a "Line In" jack which does not provide enough power to the usual microphone element. As a result, most ordinary headset microphones are incompatible with Macintosh computers when plugged into the microphone input jack. With a little ingenuity, however, most microphones can be used with a Mac. Strategies include:
- Using a microphone which includes its own power supply (battery powered)
- Using a small pre-amplifier such as the Andrea APS-100 Auxiliary Power Supply. In this situation the microphone is plugged into the pre-amplifier which in turn is plugged into the mic input jack
- Using a traditional microphone with a USB sound adapter such as those made by Andrea, Buddy and VXI. In this scenario the microphone in plugged into the adapter which in tern is plugged into a USB port on the computer.
We offer a variety of microphones that can be used with the MacIntosh, virtually all sharing the characteristic of either 1) being manufactured such that it attaches to your Mac with a USB port or 2) being packaged with a separate USB Sound adapter. For each microphone or product listed below, we will let you know if anything added is needed to use it with a Mac, and if so, offer a combination product in which the microphone is bundled with whatever you need.
For more information on Macintosh microphone compatibility, please visit our Microphone Compatibility Chart. |
Microphones
Fully Compatible Microphones: The microphones shown below can be used with a Macintosh without further equipment or alterations:
 Andrea NC 71
This is a simple Apple compatible monaural noise canceling microphone. It's sturdy and comfortable. Designed for use with older Power Macs and I-Mac requiring a "PlainTalk" microphone.
Price: $
19.95
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 VXI TalkPro USB-100
This full featured monaural USB microphone is compatible with all operating systems and voice recognition products. Includes a sophisticated noise canceling element. Learn more ...
Price: $
83.95
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 Andrea NC 7100
This is a good quality monaural noise canceling microphone with included USB sound adapter. Works with any computer having a USB port.
Price: $
44.95
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 VXI TalkPro USB-200
Full featured binaural USB microphone with VXI's Gentex element. Compatible with all operating systems and speech recognition products. Learn more ...
Price: $
85.95
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Microphones Useable with a USB Sound Adapter: Microphones which work with a Mac when used with a separately purchased external USB sound adapter:
Andrea NC91
Simple, inexpensive microphone. Learn more ...
Price:$
21.95
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Andrea ANC 700
High Quality monaural microphone with active noise canceling system. Learn more ...
Price: $
46.95
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Andrea ANC 750
High Quality binaural microphone with active noise cancellation. Learn more ...
Price: $
55.95
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Plantronics CS55 with SeleCT Switch
A very high quality wireless microphone useful with both speech recognition and your telephone. Learn more ...
Price: $
269.00
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Radio Shack "Sennheiser Knock-off"
A Radio Shack microphone very similar to the Sennheiser ME3. Learn more ....
Price:
Order |
Sennheiser ME3
Professional quality speech recognition microphone with outstanding accuracy and noise cancellation. Learn more ...
Price: $
Order |
TheBoom "O"
A very high quality monaural headset microphone with excellent accuracy and noise cancellation. Learn more ...
Price: $
105.00
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TheBoom V4
Similar to the "O" but ear mounted and highly comfortable. Learn more ...
Price: $
149.95
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TheBoom Quiet
A high quality active noise canceling headset microphone useful to both the audiophile and speech recognition software user. Learn more ...
Price: $
275.00
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VXI TalkPro Express
A simple, inexpensive headset microphone. Learn more ...
Price: $
42.00
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VXI TalkPro
A simple, inexpensive monaural headset microphone with VXI's translator technology. Learn more ...
Price: $
46.00
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Sound Adapters:
If you already have a microphone and are having troubles using it with your Mac or if you prefer to accomplish the analog to digital conversion outside of your computer, the use of one of these USB Adapters is ideal. Each plugs into any available USB port and accepts the standard 3.5 mm audio plugs for mic in and sound out associated with standard headset microphones
Andrea USB Sound Adapter
 THIS IS THE PREFERRED SOUND ADAPTER TO USE WITH THE SENNHEISER ME3, BUT WORKS WITH ALL ANALOG MICROPHONES SOLD ON THIS SITE
This is a sound adapter to use when you have concerns about whether your computer's internal sound card is adequate for the task. When using this adapter the analog to digital conversion occurs outside of your computer and the digital signal enters your computer through a USB slot.
This is our preferred sound adapter as it works with all microphones sold on our site, including the Sennheiser ME3.
Instructions for using a USB sound adapter
Andrea USB Sound Adapter
Usual Retail: $49.95 Our Price: $
35.00
Buddy 5G USB Sound Adapter
 This is InSync Speech Technologies' 5th generation USB adapter that has an inbuilt high-quality sound card, which replaces a desktop or laptop computer’s sound card for high performance speech sound input and output. It offers full duplex operation for connection with microphone and speakers that is especially well suited to speech recognition applications, and includes a mute switch and indicator lights for power and mute status. Speech Recognition applications on the PC rely on good quality sound input to maintain good performance. The input sound quality is achieved through a combination of a high-quality sound card such as Buddy USB 5G and a good microphone. Buddy USB 5G enables your speech recognition applications to perform equally well on all compatible computing platforms, since the sound card is included on it. Most PCs today have a built in sound card (or chipset), that are often placed close to high electrical noise circuitry like the power supply or other chips working at very high frequencies. This is particularly a problem with most laptop computers. Buddy USB 5G has the unique advantage of being largely immune to those noises as it is external to the computer chassis.
 Buddy USB 5G is a Plug & Play device, which uses standard Windows® and Macintosh® drivers. It works with Windows® 98SE, Windows® 2000, Windows® ME, Windows® XP, Windows® 2003, Windows® Vista. It has been tested to work well with Dragon NaturallySpeaking®, Microsoft Speech in Windows, and IBM ViaVoice®.
This USB adapter works well with any microphone sold at Speech Recognition Solutions, excepting the Sennheiser ME 3. We have also seen some unusual behavior when this adapter is used with the UmeVoice theBoom "O". For the Sennheiser microphone we recommend the Andrea USB sound adapter (see above).
Visit the manufacturer's web page
View Manufacturer's Specification Sheet
Instructions for using a USB sound adapter
Buddy 5G USB Sound Adapter
Usual Retail:$49.95 Our Price: $
38.00
VXI Duplex USB Sound Adapter
 If you are using an analog microphone plugged directly into your computer's sound card and are not getting the results you expect, it might be that the sound card is not up to the task or performance is being harmed by electrical interference. This is particularly possible in laptops, where the sound card is generally integrated into the motherboard. An external sound adapter does the analog to digital conversion outside of the computer and brings it to your software via an available USB port.
This duplex adapter works with virtually all microphones except the Sennheiser ME3 (for the Sennheiser ME3 we recommend the Andrea USB adapter).
Visit the Manufacturer's Web Site
View instructions for using a USB sound adapter
VXI Duplex USB Adapter
Usual Retail: $49.95 Our Price: $
36.95
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