Three concise questions about headphone socket dual functionality

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Veerstryngh Thynner

Three concise questions about headphone socket dual functionality

Post by Veerstryngh Thynner »

OS: KDE Mint 17.3 "Rosa"
Laptop: Lenovo G585

Hi all,

There was I, assuming, until very recently, that my laptop's headphones socket is invariably just for plugging in a headset. But not so, it seems. Or not always so, at any rate, as has just transpired.

I have been reliably informed that on current generation laptops (those with usually just one single headphones socket and three to four USB ports on board) the headphones mini-jack OUTput is sometimes (or often?) doubling as mic/line mini-jack INput. This dual functionality is commonly referred to as 'combo jack', in YouTube tutorials I watched on researching this subject further.

1) How best to find out whether or not the headphone socket of my Lenovo G585 laptop is just such a combo jack?
2) If indeed so, I now assume that signal coming in, in this fashion, may initially be distorted. What steps should be taken (if at all necessary) to rectify this, in KDE Mint 17.3?
3) Might that same mic/line-in functionality/capability also serve playing and recording electric guitar (with some preamp in-between, naturally)? I'm especially keen to hear from musicians with practical experience in this matter.

Thanks very much in advance for your help and advice.

Veerstryngh Thynner
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
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ZedeN

Re: Three concise questions about headphone socket dual functionality

Post by ZedeN »

I can help with first question, based of your user guide (pages 7-8), it is indeed a combo jack.
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Veerstryngh Thynner

Re: Three concise questions about headphone socket dual functionality

Post by Veerstryngh Thynner »

Thanks, ZedeN, for your kind help.

Any takers for questions 2 & 3? Please?

Veerstryngh Thynner
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Veerstryngh Thynner

Re: Three concise questions about headphone socket dual functionality

Post by Veerstryngh Thynner »

Hi all,

Question 1 has now been solved. Thanks again, ZedeN! And the solution to Question 3 I just found myself, pleasingly :) :

If your laptop has been equipped with a combo jack as well - then, yes, you, too, may now be able play/record your electric guitar in Mint!

Read here how:

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-Yog ... -p/2041993

In case this spectacular outcome does indeed encourage a little experimentation, it would be very nice if someone were to share their experience of it. Especially in relation with Question 2.

And after that we'd be "done. Probably....

Veerstryngh Thynner
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