Official documentation
Change the sound input settings on Mac
Apple Inc., Apple Support, macOS User Guide, n.d.
Read the originalRead on October 17, 2026
- What it is
- Apple's Mac User Guide page on sound input settings. It explains which microphones a Mac can use, including an external microphone plugged into the sound port, and how to choose an input device and adjust its input volume in Sound settings.
- How much weight it carries
- Official Apple documentation. It is a living page that is not tied to one macOS version, so menu names may change. It does not say which third-party microphones work best with Dictation.
Facts taken from this source
- Apple says a Mac's sound port supports stereo output and mono input, and gives a headset with a built-in microphone as its example of mono input.
“This sound port supports stereo output and mono input (such as a headset with a built-in microphone).” (First paragraph, Change the sound input settings on Mac)