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[SabithaSuki]

Title says it all, I am looking to re-work a project, and while I have an M-Audio USB sound card as is, it sometimes cuts out and doesn't transmit the sound on boot to OS 9. I hear rumors that you can just get any generic USB to 3.5mm adapter to get sound out of the G4 Mac Mini but that seems conflicting. Can anyone clear this up on if I can just go to amazon and purchase a generic USB to 3.5mm jack, or could someone point me to an amazon one that may work, or if I need a specific one like the M-Audio I already have?

[Front 424]

I must say I am almost shocked that no one has responded yet.  Just browsing the site yesterday and came across this.  I feel I should respond.

I have a Quicksilver with OS 9/X.  I have a Behringer UCA202 that miraculously is plug and play no extra drivers for OS9 etc.

https://www.behringer.com/product.html?modelCode=P0484

Have it hooked up to a mini bose device that is very adequate for my normal sound output that doesn't involve protools.  plug it in and Sound Manager recognizes it no trouble.
And they ain't expensive, though I don't know if.. whoa!  They do still sell it, and you can get one for about 20$.   
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UCA202--behringer-u-control-uca202-usb-audio-interface

Not sure if that helps you, seems you are actually wanting something simpler than that.  I think i have seen what you are asking about, but for $20, i can tell you this thing has been reliable for me, if you don't want to mess with any generic gambles.  I'm surprised it's as cheap as it is.  I think they used to go for double that?  I got mine as a hand me down so I wasn't involved in the purchase!

Hope that helps somewhat 

[SabithaSuki]

To be honest I was hoping to find a direct amazon link, but I will take what I can get. Thank you!
I suppose I have to wonder if this is better than the M-Audio when I comes to reliably starting on bootup without having to do another reset cycle.

Food for a later thought me thinks.

[Guspaz]

Is a USB audio adapter actually useful, though? If you plug a 3.5mm audio device directly into the mac mini, you'll get line-level audio with no software volume control. If you plug a 3.5mm audio device into a USB adapter, you'll get max volume audio with no software volume control. This, at least, is the experience with mine. In both cases, the audio volume is not usable as-is and requires powered speakers. I just use a Bluetooth speaker with an aux jack and plug it directly into the mac.

[zefrenchtoon]

Hi!

Because of their low price, I bought 2 USB Audio devices on Amazon to try to get some sound on my mini.

So … it did not work with:

https://www.amazon.fr/JSAUX-Adaptateur-Compatible-Microphone-Raspberry/dp/B0885WGX89

and

https://www.amazon.fr/Sabrent-adaptateur-n%C3%A9cessite-drivers-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8

It is quite strange because they are recognised as "USB Audio" devices in System Profiler and when connecting the first one while Sound control panel opened, the control panel GUI reflect that an audio device is connected but still unselectable as an output

I will continue to "play" with them to understand how to make them work.
I will try also on my old Yikes to check if it is a "mini" problem or not.

[Rosetta]

Frankly I'm shocked that there are any "plug and play" audio devices for OS 9 at all. When I got my G4 it didn't even dawn on me that my USB MIDI controller wouldn't work for example.

Golden rule for OS 9 and earlier: unless there's a specific driver for it, it probably won't work.

Hi!

Because of their low price, I bought 2 USB Audio devices on Amazon to try to get some sound on my mini.

So … it did not work with:

https://www.amazon.fr/JSAUX-Adaptateur-Compatible-Microphone-Raspberry/dp/B0885WGX89

and

https://www.amazon.fr/Sabrent-adaptateur-n%C3%A9cessite-drivers-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8

It is quite strange because they are recognised as "USB Audio" devices in System Profiler and when connecting the first one while Sound control panel opened, the control panel GUI reflect that an audio device is connected but still unselectable as an output

I will continue to "play" with them to understand how to make them work.
I will try also on my old Yikes to check if it is a "mini" problem or not.

Refer to the golden rule above. "USB Audio" is probably just the name that the device is reporting to the machine; it's unlikely that any audio device being sold on Amazon in 2021 will work on OS 9.

Conversely, my modern USB headphone amp/DAC works perfectly on my G4, even via USB 1.1... but only in OS X. USB MIDI keyboard does too... because of Core Audio and Core MIDI, which OS 9 lacks.

[teroyk]

Frankly I'm shocked that there are any "plug and play" audio devices for OS 9 at all. When I got my G4 it didn't even dawn on me that my USB MIDI controller wouldn't work for example.
Golden rule for OS 9 and earlier: unless there's a specific driver for it, it probably won't work.

Refer to the golden rule above. "USB Audio" is probably just the name that the device is reporting to the machine; it's unlikely that any audio device being sold on Amazon in 2021 will work on OS 9.

Conversely, my modern USB headphone amp/DAC works perfectly on my G4, even via USB 1.1... but only in OS X. USB MIDI keyboard does too... because of Core Audio and Core MIDI, which OS 9 lacks.

I have say opposite. all fully USB class compliant Audio devices should work wtih sound manager, because that driver comes with MacOS 9.1-9.2.2. It is just like USB-thumb drives works.
But there is not USB class compliant MIDI driver, so that's why your controller doesn't work.

But..
- Driver is not ASIO-driver. You can play games and play iTunes, but with professional software you need ASIO-driver.
- not all "USB Audio"-devices are USB class compliant
- device has to support USB audio device class v1.0
- have to be USB 1.1 compatible (many USB 2.0 actually are also USB 1.1 compatible)
- driver is mainly for 2 channel playback (input is sometimes harder to get work)
- There is even 7.1-surround sound devices to tested to work, but only 2 channel.
- low price china devices many times work.
this is one that I am not sure:
- device has to support at least 16bit/44.1khz and 16bit/48khz (although, I am not sure is sound manager only use 16khz/44.1khz)

EDIT: I fixed typo about USB MIDI

[zefrenchtoon]

Frankly I'm shocked that there are any "plug and play" audio devices for OS 9 at all. When I got my G4 it didn't even dawn on me that my USB MIDI controller wouldn't work for example.

Golden rule for OS 9 and earlier: unless there's a specific driver for it, it probably won't work.

Hi!

Because of their low price, I bought 2 USB Audio devices on Amazon to try to get some sound on my mini.

So … it did not work with:

https://www.amazon.fr/JSAUX-Adaptateur-Compatible-Microphone-Raspberry/dp/B0885WGX89

and

https://www.amazon.fr/Sabrent-adaptateur-n%C3%A9cessite-drivers-AU-MMSA/dp/B00IRVQ0F8

It is quite strange because they are recognised as "USB Audio" devices in System Profiler and when connecting the first one while Sound control panel opened, the control panel GUI reflect that an audio device is connected but still unselectable as an output

I will continue to "play" with them to understand how to make them work.
I will try also on my old Yikes to check if it is a "mini" problem or not.

Refer to the golden rule above. "USB Audio" is probably just the name that the device is reporting to the machine; it's unlikely that any audio device being sold on Amazon in 2021 will work on OS 9.

Conversely, my modern USB headphone amp/DAC works perfectly on my G4, even via USB 1.1... but only in OS X. USB MIDI keyboard does too... because of Core Audio and Core MIDI, which OS 9 lacks.

My apologize … I forgot to mention that I got one of them to work one time but I don't remember which one and in which configuration (mini/yikes, homemade os9/os9 from here …)   

[zefrenchtoon]

Got THEM 2 to works on Yikes !!!

More details as soon as I have time to tell you the story with screenshots of sound control panel.

Long story short:  they are working like plug-n-play 
Will have to retest on my mini …

[zefrenchtoon]

So, here is the "test story" on my Yikes G4.

Below you will find some screenshots made to illustrate my writing.
Sorry, my MacOS 9 is in french so the screenshots are too…  :-/

Screenshot 1 : nothing is connected to the mac
Screenshot 2 : when I connect earphones on my mac, the last tab became available
Screenshot 3 : if I click on it very quickly after connecting the earphones, I can see during few milliseconds these pictures of speakers   
Screenshot 4 : then the tab content switch itself to this  
Screenshot 5 : then I connect the USB Audio adapter (does the same which the 2 I have bought) and the tab content switch to this   
Screenshot 6 : here is the Apple System Profiler of this mac; you can check the USB drivers version => 1.5.6

In the output tab, I still have only one choice which is "Integrated" even with the USB adapter connected and working

after a very quick check, my mini is using the 1.5.9 …
I have to do more tests now on the mini by replacing drivers with the ones from my Yikes to see if it changes something

[zefrenchtoon]

I'm back from my tests on my mini …

Long story short: It works almost perfectly   

Like I did for the Yikes, here are some screenshots I will comment:

Screenshot 4 : Nothing connected, no sound
Screenshot 5 : As soon as I connect the JSAUX, this appears … and sound is WORKING !! it is a bit different from the Yikes one … It seems to detect the adapter as a "7.1" sound card 
Screenshot 6 : Still no "usb audio" output detected
Screenshot 7 : Wanted to check the "Sabrent USB Audio" one too …  it seems to work but the control panel becomes weird
Screenshot 8 : I reconnected the JSAUX, the same 
Screenshot 9 : Checking drivers version …  it is a bit different; As I said previoously, 1.5.9 for USB and now 1.5.6 on USB Audio driver ! (1.4.3f on Yikes)

If I was saying that it did not work before it is because of 2 things:
- I am unable to play Audio CD using the Apple CD Player (the time does not increase when "reading" the CD)
- I am still unable to control the volume so it seems that it only redirects the sound from internal sound card to USB one   

[zefrenchtoon]

Hi there !

Some more news from my tests …

Now I'm booting always from Ross v9 install.
I got the two of them working but I have to boot with them attached at cold boot. They seem to be not plug-n-play friendly.

Here are some screenshots of the Apple System Profiler showing versions. Sometimes the JSAUX is detected in "Outputs" tab of Sound control panel but not always. 

Finally, I bought a pair of used Apple USB Pro Speakers and when I connect them, they are recognised (even the pictures that represent the speakers are specific) but still nothing in "Output" tab and still unable to control volume.
The thing that is strange is the different "Driver Names" used when connecting them.
I know the problem about the 4Amp needs for Pro Speakers, I will tinker a cable to resolve this.

I've just found a M-Audio Transit for 5€ on a french website (leboncoin) … I hope that it will be better.

I clearly don't understand why Apple Pro Speakers don't work as they should. If someone has an idea …

[SabithaSuki]

Zefrenchtoon , good GOD you have taken over this thread for the better!

I just switched out USB cables and swapped my M-Audio to being my Headphone out and speakers to the headphone Line-In.

Kudos for solving it in your own special way, I'll keep that in mind once I get everything set back up!

[SabithaSuki]

Sorry about the bonafide necrobump again, but after some IRL issues, I recently got back into tinkering with my G4 Cube mac mod, and I am down to just the sound card. I took a cue from ZeFrenchToon and a comment by Hrutkay Mods up on The House of Moth's Youtube video and purchased a Syba USB 2.0 (SD-CM-UAUD) Sound Card, which is USB 1.1. compatible. 10.5.9 (Sorbet Leopard a 10.5.8. PowerPC build) Finds it without any hassle, but OS 9 I'm getting blanks using the Mac Mini G4 Build V9. I'm getting mixed signals on this forum postings - what driver (if any) Is needed for this, or if it doesn't come with a driver, does it just not work period.

[zefrenchtoon]

Sorry SabithaSuki I can't tell you … but you adapter seems to be very close to my Sabrent one which works rarely …
The JSAUX works great but … no volume control.

I did another test with … the official Apple USB-C / Jack adapter (through a USB-A to USB-C adapter of course) and …  it did not work. It is not an USB Audio class adapter. 

Ironically, MacOS 9 tried to look for a driver on the net.   

[IIO]

Is a USB audio adapter actually useful, though?

an interface (and so its gain knob) can be placed somewhere else than the speakers?

[pfuentes69]

Hello,
I'm using this cheap USB adapter: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001111644497.html

It works quite well. The volume can't be adjusted from the control panel, but it does work and the volume can be controlled from inside the applications or games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kb5qpE-E6w

[youtube]5Kb5qpE-E6w[/youtube]