Is there a stereo input USB C ‘dongle’ yet, or anything really small?

Gunark · 2024-05-10T14:14:19.138Z

Got the Sonos USB C line in today, works great, and for the money it’s a bit of a bargain. Class compliant, so it was plug and play for me and, I imagine, pretty much everything else, making ideal to carry with a phone for line in sampling for something like Koala. It’s 16 bit but has sample rates up to 96khz.

Mistercharlie · 2024-05-10T16:39:34.737Z

Koala does 16 bit anyway, iirc.

4Litre · 2024-05-10T19:11:59.233Z

It is a USB to headset jack, so the analogue end is audio out + audio in. You just further split that analogue signal.

jemmons · 2024-05-10T20:28:33.736Z

Again, the Apple USB-C to 3.5 dongle you suggest only supports TRRS. TRRS has left-out on the tip, right-out on the first ring, and a single audio-in on the last ring.

That’s only a single channel in. No stereo.

So it doesn’t provide any advantage over the built-in headphone port of the OP’s MacBook. That supports TRRS already on its own.

ene · 2024-05-12T08:34:11.120Z

No it hasn’t, it just swaps ur input and output automatically to the newest audio device you plugged in, you can just disable the ones u dont need or just swap the default for input and output.

alexbuga · 2024-05-12T17:26:23.691Z

Nice. I found this locally at an ok price. I was wondering if it’s class compliant

Elijah · 2024-05-13T03:27:34.618Z

handed:

Might have similar issues on iOS as well.

On iOS, the built-in speaker still works when a 2-in-0-out audio device is connected.

handed · 2024-05-13T05:25:00.985Z

That makes sense, good to know

grosun · 2024-07-26T11:16:37.295Z

This looks amazing. Saw it and immediately thought of this thread.

SYNTHERNET

AIF22 - USB-C Audio Interface | SYNTHERNET

USB-C接続のとにかく小さなステレオライン入出力オーディオインターフェイスです。This is a compact stereo line input/output audio interface with a USB-C connection.

Price: JPY 14000

Shame it costs $60 to ship from Japan (also, no idea how good it would be, but it does look great)

touchy · 2024-11-20T07:21:11.869Z

Thanks a lot for the Sonos recommendation! Works great, perfect tiny companion to record the Octatrack.
Unfortunately it seems to drain the battery on my Macbook if left plugged in, something to watch out for.

Zincqk · 2025-04-26T16:57:23.502Z

Picked up the new apple usb c to trs cable yesterday

Apple

USB-C to 3.5 mm Audio Cable (1.2 m)

Connect to 3.5 mm audio sources on your Mac, in cars, on airplanes, and more. It also enables ultra-low latency with AirPods Max.

and can unfortunately confirm that it does NOT show up as an input device at least on mac. It does have an ADC and DAC and says it’s ‘bidirectional’ however…

lerba · 2025-04-27T01:51:34.930Z

I’m also voting for the sonos adapter. Great value and I have zero complaints so far after almost a year.
edit: I’m a mac user (M1 15.4.1)

Katmat · 2025-04-27T05:27:55.852Z

I use these, dead cheap works a treat: Amazon.co.uk

neilbaldwin · 2025-04-27T06:11:46.258Z

I use one of these: AMS-22. Not tiny but pocket-sized with some really handy features.

zoomcorp.com

AMS Series

AMS Series Audio Interfaces

jemmons · 2025-04-27T10:36:32.004Z

Zincqk:

It does have an ADC and DAC and says it’s ‘bidirectional’ however…

Isn’t this for TRRS operation to support cellphone earbuds and gamer headsets with a built-in mic?

Zincqk · 2025-04-27T14:13:29.957Z

it’s trs for sure and now I’m seeing that sonos makes the same cable with the same ‘bidirectional’ specification. Kind of tempted to try that one but I expect it will also just show up as an output only.

Elijah · 2025-04-27T14:36:53.825Z

Those usb-3.5mm cables might only enable input functionality when connected to certain headphones like AirPods Max or Sonos Ace.

jemmons · 2025-04-27T14:44:39.635Z

If you’re talking the “Sonos Line-In Adapter” posted above, it is neither bidirectional nor does it show up as output only. It’s a line-in device. It shows up as input only.

jemmons · 2025-04-27T14:50:18.571Z

There is no specific headphone requirement. It just has to have a standard TRRS jack with the second ring wired to a mono mic. Unless you have a “call center” headset with independent plugs for mic and audio, this is how basically all wired headphones with integrated mics work. It’s very common.

Elijah · 2025-04-27T14:56:31.408Z

Here are the USB-3.5mm cables we are talking about:

Sonos

Sonos Ace Headphones Aux Cable (USB-C to 3.5mm)

An additional or replacement USB-C to 3.5 mm auxiliary cable for your Sonos Ace headphones.

Price: 19

Apple

USB-C to 3.5 mm Audio Cable (1.2 m)

Connect to 3.5 mm audio sources on your Mac, in cars, on airplanes, and more. It also enables ultra-low latency with AirPods Max.

These have 3.5mm TRS plugs. (It’s not the Sonos Line-In Adapter.)