Hi there,
So, most of it is in the title, can I use the jack of my M3 macbook pro as an output for a gig ?
I have other options (such as Zoom L6 as an interface) but the idea here is that I’m trying to make my set up as light as possible, and I was wondering what would be the inconvenients/no go to using the mac jack with a split out cable to connect to a big sound system ?
Cheers
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Short answer: No
Long answer: No
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If you’re doing a gig, I wouldn’t take shortcuts.
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I’m curious about this too.
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I’ve always done this. I don’t really see it any different to using any other hardware with a minijack output
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Yes, you should be able to. The Apple Silicon Macs have an impedance sensing output, which is great for headphones (I think it is a solid headphone amp), but also, should detect line level as well. Now, I have not tested this myself, so I would absoluletely test it first, and I would probably A/B it with an interface just to check the sound quality.
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An audio interface will generally improve audio quality, whether or not that matters is subjective. If you are running processor intensive duties, an audio interface can also lighten the load on the CPU, but in standard digital to analog signal conversion this likely won’t matter. With audio production it might.
So, I’d say it depends on your Mac and what you’re using it for, but I probably wouldn’t have any kind of good idea of where to draw the line.
Will it physically work? sure. Is it a good idea? Who knows. Try it out, if there is latency or other flagrant issues then I’d imagine that it’s not going to do the trick. If this is how you normally use it, just with headphones, then it will probably be business as usual.
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If you mean the headphone output, I’ve used it for open mics before without an issue. That said, there was somebody manning the mixer to deal with sound levels, so that might have been a factor.
Edit: to clarify, I was also using a splitter, just like OP asked
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…for inbetween quick and dirty, in smaller venues, on medium sized soundsystems, sure…
pull ur macbook out full up, turn one tick back to not drive that internal tiny little headphone amp too “hot”…use a decent mini stereo jack cable on two big mono jacks that will feed any di stagebox that leads to some proper gainstaging and ur oooookaaay to go…
but u carry some unprestine muddyness, added by that little headphone amping, always with u…
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Although the sound quality of a Macbook built-in audio interface nowadays is good enough there are some reasons why you shouldn’t connect your mac directly to a big sound system:
- The output is unbalanced, so it’s not suitable for traveling long distances (read: long cables). Nor will all sound dude(tte)s be happy with it and will use a DI or something else to make it balanced when the mixer is not on stage (or not a DJ mixer). These DI’s could degrade your sound so better have a proper balanced output yourself.
- A mini jack connection is not a robust connection. Minor cable movements can cause huge sound plops or distorted sounds which can damage the sound system. It’s not locked either so it can easily be pulled out.
- The output level is not a “proper” line level which most professional sound systems work with so it might need amplification (which can cause noise).
- You can’t monitor your sound with headphones during soundcheck yourself in a convenient way.
I’d buy a small audio interface for this which has both balanced (for regular mixing consoles) and unbalanced outputs (for dj mixers), like the Motu M2. You probably will have better sound too!
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Well thanks everyone,
It seems like the sum of your answers makes the answer “it should work but don’t risk it”, so I guess I won’t 
might try it during balances though just to see how it goes, I’ll keep this updated !
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And don’t forget to turn off your notifications, we don’t want to know when your buddy is texting you! 
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There’s no problem with doing it and there is going to be next to zero difference to using an external interface quality-wise. The only potential issue is that the output is unbalanced so more susceptible to noise. If you do go with the built-in output, just make sure to use a shortish cable (less than 3 metres), or go into a line isolator like this to balance the signal if the run to FOH mixer is going to be longer, which is preferable to using a DI that requires amplification at the other end to bring the signal back to line level and can therefore increase the noise floor. There will be a phase shift in the low frequencies when using either of these balancing methods (though you can use an active DI to avoid this), but it shouldn’t cause any serious problems to the sound unless you’re doing something odd in the sub-100hz area. If you’re lucky there will be a decent sound man at the venue who can deal with it.
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Sure. Just ask the FOH guy for a stereo DI at the venue and the jobs a good un.
Mac headphone outputs have very good quality conversion AFAIK. Better than entry level focusrite anyways
I think many people underestimate the performance of modern digital audio systems, and overestimate venue sound (many have subpar PAs and piss poor room acoustics). Just because a PA system can output kilowatts of power doesnt mean it actually sounds good in the sense of “fidelity”
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Balanced vs unbalanced
Fine if running into a mixer beside you but I wouldn’t be running it few metres across a stage into house PA
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This. End of thread. 
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Happened to me once during a DJ set, at a huge volume. Scared the shit out of all of us
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Never count on the sound guy to supply you with a DI. Always bring your own.
this is what technical riders are for
if its a lowkey/self hosted party then sure, bring everything
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without that or any other prearrangements, it can become a problem.