T42 audio line-in ???

[fje]

Hi, I searched for "line-in" in the T4x forum, but "no result", so, I put my question here:

My T42p has the "microphone input" connector, question is: Is it possible to have it as a "line-in" input? If the answer is yes, how should I do it? Simply working with the audio input control and unchecking the microphone input and checking the line input?

I'm also trying to find any T42p guide that would describe the characteristics of all the connectors, but I'm not able to find it. I already have the hardware maintenance and the users' manual, but nothing about the line-in (for instance) on them, when could I find such kind of guides?

Thanks and kind regards.

[skam]

There isn`t "line-in" in T4x series.Microphone input is for microphone only.You can buy a PCMCIA sound card if you need these conection.

like this:


un saludo

[Paul Pennington]

Also, all the docks and port replicators have line in and line out jacks on them, I think. I know the "ThinkPad Mini Dock" has them, as I'm using one on my T42. Also handy for cable management: you don't have to plug and unplug cables all the time.

[fje]

There isn`t "line-in" in T4x series.Microphone input is for microphone only.You can buy a PCMCIA sound card if you need these conection.

un saludo

Skam, thanks (gracias)...

Question is, in the PCMCIA you put the image, the connector say "optical", I'm not sure it is valid for any cable connection of it has to be used with optical fiber as the used for CD players....

Additionally, why the volume control has the "line in" option enabled even if there is no line-in hardware connected?

Paul, you are also very right in the "cable management" point. Could you give me the p/n of the mini-dock you are using? Might be if it is not too expensive it could be a good solution.... And, as I'm also planning to upgrade from my current T42p to a 400/600 probably mid next year, do you know if that mini-dock is also compatible with the 400/600 series?

Thanks !

Saludos.

[dr_st]

Paul, you are also very right in the "cable management" point. Could you give me the p/n of the mini-dock you are using? Might be if it is not too expensive it could be a good solution.... And, as I'm also planning to upgrade from my current T42p to a 400/600 probably mid next year, do you know if that mini-dock is also compatible with the 400/600 series?

This is the Thinkpad Mini-dock for T4x:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 45932.html

Unfortunately it is not compatible with anything newer, and the newer docks don't have line-in.

[skam]

Question is, in the PCMCIA you put the image, the connector say "optical", I'm not sure it is valid for any cable connection of it has to be used with optical fiber as the used for CD players....

Line in conector say optical,microphone and analogic.I am sure,i have this sound card.Anyway you can check here:

http://es.creative.com/products/product ... =0&listby=

Additionally, why the volume control has the "line in" option enabled even if there is no line-in hardware connected?

I guess is to operate with ThinkPad Mini Dock

[poshgeordie]

Hi Fje again and hope you're keeping well.

It's possible to make a simple line to mic input converter circuit which only needs a couple of resistors - the circuit I'd recommend is the 50db pad as here

The mic input is a stereo mini jack plug, so you'd need to make up two of these resistor networks for the left and right line inputs which to to the tip and first ring of the mini jack plug. The larger metal part of the jack is the earth / ground. Each left and right line input lead then goes to the appropriate plug, e.g phono, jack etc.

Each resistor network could be built into each of the left and right line input plug to keep it all neat.

Hope that makes sense and it's not too difficult to build with a few soldering skills.

I may be able to build some of these if there's any demand - should be quite cheap as well.

[fje]

Hi, thanks to all of you for your help and suggestions.

I plan to renew my old viniles and convert them in new CDs, time ago I used my very old 600E to do it, using an small preamp between my vinil player (magnet head) and the 600E, I feel 600E had line-in, and of course audio software to "clean" the vinil noise.

Now, my 600E almost dead (display not working at all and a similar 600X same problem), so, I was looking to do the same thing with my T42.

I'll do some tests with the same vinil player (same magnet head) and the T42 microphone input and will decide what to finally do.

Thanks again.

Javier

P.S. Hi Nick, very happy to read you again... how is your health going on ? and the weather in your area ? How is going the T42 graphics card work going on?

[poshgeordie]

Hi Javier - great to hear from you and are you still sunbathing on the beach?! Oh what a great life!!

I'll send you a PM.

If you are wanting to connect your vinyl turntable pickup to the T42 audio input, you will have to use a pre-amp with a resistor network on each of the left and right outputs, to connect into the left and right microphone inputs - yes I believe the mic input is/are stereo.

I'll look into this for you and get a circuit worked out for you but it would have to be at the weekend.

Something you might want to think about is to buy a turntable with a USB output which may be easier - sorry not got a Spanish equivalent link.

[RealBlackStuff]

An alternative from the UK: http://www.magix.com/uk/rescue-your-vinyl-tapes/

[fje]

An alternative from the UK: http://www.magix.com/uk/rescue-your-vinyl-tapes/

Thanks, RealBlackStuff.... That preamp is similar to the one I have and it seems to have output ready for mic-in (blue connector in the PC). Now I have the doubt if mine has the output for mic-in or for line-in, I don't remember (more than 5 years not using it) and I have to look further for the user guide to find it. What I'm sure is that it has two or three output levels, so if I don't find the user guide I'll have to do test with the different levels.

Nick, thanks for your offer. Let me do some try and test with my pre-amp before doing any additional circuit. On the other hand, the same people that used to build and sell the preamp I have today have an USB version of it, but they bundle it with software and sell them much more expensive (100euros). http://www.terratec.net/en/products/Pho ... _2064.html

I'll update this thread when I find time to do the tests...

Regards.

[fje]

Found it !

The user guide clearly states that the output is "line"

But as I said in the previous post, there are three output levels:

0.3V/0.7V/1.2V (5mV/1kHz)

Would the lowest level work with the T42 input as it used to do with the one of the 600E ?

Regards.

P.S.: Question for forum admin... I marked to get email when an answer is posted in this thread... but I don't get them, I have to come and see in order to know if there is any new answer. What could be the problem?

[RealBlackStuff]

If you would use a Port Replicator II, that has a line-in.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 45922.html

And there's a problem with email notifications (has been for a long time, no solution in sight ).

[fje]

Thanks,

btw, I discovered that the blue colored audio-in that i referred to in my previous post referring the pre-amp you suggested is also line-in , microphone is usually pink colored... so, it seems I would have same problem with the pre-amp you suggested.

Mightbe if my preamp doesn't work with my T42 audio input I would have to use either the resistor circuit Nick suggest (very easy to do, I can do myself) or the mini-dock.

Rgds.

[fje]

Found the USB version of my Terratec pre-amp "before-the-last" and much cheaper (37€), including some basic recording software.... SO, I'll be buying tomorrow. Hope they will still have, because it was announced as a "sale".

Rgds.

[fje]

Found the USB version of my Terratec pre-amp "before-the-last" and much cheaper (37€), including some basic recording software.... SO, I'll be buying tomorrow. Hope they will still have, because it was announced as a "sale".

Rgds.

No stock in the shop ... waiting ... Maybe too cheap ? I'll try to update when I'll get and test it...

[rumpelpudding]

Hello everyone,

I know this is an old thread, but maybe helpful for somebody sometime.
In fact it is possible to have a full stereo line-in on the T40(+) without the need for a docking station, using some dirty hack. I actually registered in this forum many months ago with intention to post some results on this 'hack'. Here they are, in case anyone is interested.
The onboard audio codec chip by Analog Devices built into the T4x is imho quite usable (compared to other notebook onboard codecs) for measuring and recording.
Ah, and it can do s/pdif output now, too.

This assumes a T4x motherboard with the AD1981B located in the upper left corner, below the bluetooth module (wich i removed completely for space reasons). Afaik this is the case for the T40,T41 and T42.

The ad1981b codec chip has 2 line-level-inputs called AUX, wich are floating/not connected to anything on the pcb. Soldering thin copper wire to both pins makes these AUX-Inputs available. Regarding to application notes of Analog Devices, no input resistance is needed, but a 1yF coupling capacitor in series to block dc on every input.

Same is for s/pdif-output, wich is floating on the motherboard and can be connected like this. It's locked to 48khz but works like a charm.

"Going out" to some sort of headphone jack is a matter of space and dexterity.. i simply drew a well shielded cable directly from the chip out through the unused battery slot. Being directly soldered and shielded 'off' the chip gives a great deal of noise performance (at least i assume that). That >90db snr stated in the ad981b's datasheet is actually achievable.

All was tested using linux with alsa, jack and baudline.
It requires soldering skills, a calm hand, lenses, good light. I did'nt do the wire-to-pin-soldering myself, either
But it's possible, and could yield a basis for a very capable mobile audioanalyser with decent performance (compared to some usb/pcmcia external stuff) for almost nothing.

So, in the hope that this might be interesting for someone after all the time, at least it would have for me back then
Greetings, and keep it up, this forum is a great resource.
/k.


a note on s/pdif output (Pin 48)
According to AD1981b datasheet, s/pdif output is enabled only when Pin48 is held down (gnd) during power up.
Wich is perfectly true and means that an open/floating output (no s/pdif device connected), during the very moment of powering up or hw-resetting the thinkpad, renders s/pdif inoperable for the whole session. It is not possible for the driver to enable it later.
To have s/pdif 'always on' some pull-down resistor is needed. It has not been tested by me, but other codec's datasheets with similar autodetection on s/pdif-output suggest 10kohm.

http://www.analog.com/en/audiovideo-pro ... oduct.html
http://www.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-p ... 1981B.html

[malch]

Very good!
Aux R pin 15
Aux L pin 14