[LCA2015-Chat] TRRS microphone adapter (was OpenRadio Miniconf Requirements, Program and Lightning talks)

[Ewen McNeill]

On 8/01/15 14:56, Marc MERLIN wrote:
> Thanks, although the thing I really need is this
> http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-headsets-separate-headphone-microphone/dp/B004SP0WAQ

I see someone else has offered to lend you something similar, but in 
case it helps anyone...

 From some hunting around the 4-part 3.5mm plug is called a TRRS plug:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_%28audio%29#TRRS_standards

(TRRS == Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve), and there a couple of pinouts 
(basically whether the sleeve or second ring is the microphone).  The 
one Apple picked (microphone on the sleeve) seems to be more common in 
recent equipment.

Armed with that name, searching for adapters in New Zealand turns up:

http://www.rubbermonkey.co.nz/Rubber-Monkey/PC-Headset-to-Smart-phone-Adapter
http://www.rubbermonkey.co.nz/Rubber-Monkey/PC-Headset-to-Smart-phone-Adapter-iPhone

which according to the pinout information on those pages covers the two 
different pinouts (in addition to having different plastic moulding) -- 
the iPhone one obviously being Apple's chosen pinout.

I've not dealt with Rubber Monkey before, but they seem to have a bunch 
of parts like that.  AFAICT they based in Wellington, but would ship 
(overnight at a guess, given they claim to have stock in Wellington) to 
Auckland.

If you only want the Microphone input to work, there's also something 
like the Rode SC4 which is a TRS female to TRRS male adapter 
(http://www.rodemic.com/accessories/sc4), which seems to be sold through 
the RockShop in New Zealand (http://www.rockshop.co.nz/) and may even be 
stocked in one of their Auckland stores.  (Skiming the datasheet for the 
Rode SC4 it looks like it's the Apple pinout.)

Ewen