Built-in microphone of a usb webcam in snow leopard

Hi,
This is probably a bug in snow leopard. Not sure if anyone has this issue.
I've tested 3 different webcam on this operating system. One is Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 (Mine's called Webcam Pro 9000, according to Logitech customer service, they are exactly the same products with different name on the box.), one is Logitech Mac Fusion, and the last one is Microsoft VX-5500.
All works under snow leopard except sometimes after wake from sleep or restart, the built-in microphone doesn't work anymore.
If I go System > Preferences > Sound and choose Input, the built-in microphone shows as "Unknown Audio Devices" on all three cameras, but there's no "bars" in the sound indicator below the volume control. Sound doesn't work in Quicktime X nor any other applications, but the video works perfectly all the time.
Chi

Just want to add to this post:
The USB webcam's built-in mic that doesn't work seems to be magic mouse related. (Possible drivers or bluetooth related)
If I use a PC USB wireless mouse, after wake from sleep or a fresh restart, the usb webcam's built-in microphone works as charm. If I turn on magic mouse to wake the mac, the usb webcam's built-in microphone doesn't work. However, the video works just fine.
Another interesting discovery is that when I change the display resolution to 1080p (my mac's running on a tv), there seems to be flicker problem with the mouse pointer. The screen is just fine but the magic mouse pointer seems to jump around the screen. It doesn't happen when I use the standard PC USB wireless mouse.
Also, when the usb webcam's built-in mic stops working, the two-finger swipe function of the magic mouse doesn't work sometimes.
I'm not sure if anybody have the same issue but I hope this would help somebody troubleshooting the problem. I'm currently switching to a usb wireless mouse instead of the magic mouse and everything is now working just fine, even the built-in microphone.
Chi

Similar Messages

Apple USB modem and snow leopard = kernel panic !

Hello,
With Snow (10.6.1) I encounter very often a kernel panic when I turn off the
Mac.
When I check the console I have this:
Interval Since Last Panic Report: 670049 sec
Panics Since Last Report: 1
Anonymous UUID: F080CD9F-6604-4AF2-82F1-D43BE33F40C5
Tue Oct 6 07:38:13 2009
panic(cpu 1 caller 0x2a6ac2): Kernel trap at 0x08090001, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0x00000000, CR3: 0x00100000, CR4: 0x00000660
EAX: 0x089ec400, EBX: 0x08e51000, ECX: 0x08e51004, EDX: 0x0145aff1
CR2: 0x00000000, EBP: 0x4c1ebc88, ESI: 0x087cd800, EDI: 0x00000000
EFL: 0x00010246, EIP: 0x08090001, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x00030010
Error code: 0x00000002
Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x4c1eba78 : 0x21acfa (0x5ce650 0x4c1ebaac 0x223156 0x0)
0x4c1ebac8 : 0x2a6ac2 (0x590a50 0x8090001 0xe 0x590c1a)
0x4c1ebba8 : 0x29c968 (0x4c1ebbc0 0x8c7c9e0 0x4c1ebc88 0x8090001)
0x4c1ebbb8 : 0x8090001 (0xe 0x48 0x4c1e0010 0x4f0010)
0x4c1ebc88 : 0x1333880 (0x8e51000 0x8e51000 0x0 0x8e6b400)
0x4c1ebca8 : 0x133269d (0x8e72280 0x0 0x0 0x1)
0x4c1ebce8 : 0x133277c (0x8e6b400 0xb000001 0x3 0x2000)
0x4c1ebd28 : 0x3064df (0xb000001 0x3 0x2000 0x8dfad20)
0x4c1ebd68 : 0x30cedb (0x4c1ebdb0 0x0 0x4000000 0x0)
0x4c1ebd98 : 0x2f8b48 (0x4c1ebdb0 0x246 0x4c1ebe08 0xa80d6f0)
0x4c1ebdd8 : 0x2ee35c (0xa80d6f0 0x3 0x4c1ebed8 0x0)
0x4c1ebe28 : 0x2ee422 (0xa80d6f0 0x3 0x4c1ebed8 0x0)
0x4c1ebe88 : 0x469be6 (0x92634e0 0x4c1ebed8 0x4c1ebeb8 0x3007dc)
0x4c1ebef8 : 0x46b9dc (0x865b280 0x92634e0 0x8dfad20 0x0)
0x4c1ebf38 : 0x46baad (0x0 0xa 0x4c1ebf5c 0x1)
0x4c1ebf78 : 0x4ed85f (0x8dfad20 0x9811ee8 0x9fa62a4 0x0)
0x4c1ebfc8 : 0x29d3fd (0x9811ee4 0x2 0x10 0x82d32a4)
Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily(10.0.2)@0x132e000->0x1336fff
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: pppd
Mac OS version:
10B504
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0: Fri Jul 31 22:47:34 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1456.1.25~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: Macmini3,1 (Mac-F22C86C8)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 5693599172824
unloaded kexts:
com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 2.0 (addr 0x105c000, size 0x12288) - last unloaded 98582035842
loaded kexts:
com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver 3.1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.2d0
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 2.1.0
com.apple.driver.MotorolaSM56KUSB 1.5.10
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 1.7.4a1
com.apple.driver.ApplePlatformEnabler 2.0.0d2
com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.8.15
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.0.5
com.apple.driver.NVSMU 1.1.7
com.apple.DontSteal_Mac_OSX 7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver 1.1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 161
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPenrynProfile 17
com.apple.driver.ACPISMCPlatformPlugin 3.4.0a20
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.4.6
com.apple.GeForce 6.0.2
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard 1.1.5f1
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 1.5.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.3.4
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43xx 410.91.20
com.apple.BootCache 31
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 3.7.8
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.0.0
com.apple.nvenet 1.0.58
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBOHCI 3.7.5
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.3.0
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 3.7.5
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 90.0.0
com.apple.security.sandbox 0
com.apple.security.quarantine 0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 2.0.11
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 90.0.0
com.apple.nke.ppp 1.5 - last loaded 158842070257
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 2.2.1f7
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.2
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction 17
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 1.7.4a1
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileTimestampAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileThreadInfoAction 14
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileRegisterStateAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileKEventAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileCallstackAction 20
com.apple.driver.AppleSM56KUSBModemFamily 1.1.12
com.apple.driver.AppleSM56KUSBAudio 1.9.16
com.apple.iokit.SM56KUSBAudioFamily 1.6.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.0.3
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 73.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.7.0fc16
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.3
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 1.7.4a1
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 1.7.4a1
com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily 40
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.0.1d2
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 3.4.0a20
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal 6.0.2
com.apple.NVDAResman 6.0.2
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.0
com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.2.1f7
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.2.1f7
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 2.2.1f7
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 3.7.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 2.5.1
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 3.7.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 3.7.5
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 1.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 2.5.1
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 402.1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.1.7
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 300.20
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 3.7.5
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 3.7.8
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.6.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 6
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 281
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.3
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.3.0
Model: Macmini3,1, BootROM MM31.0081.B00, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.26 GHz, 4 GB, SMC 1.35f0
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9400, NVIDIA GeForce 9400, PCI, 256 MB
Memory Module: global_name
AirPort: spairportwireless_card_type_airportextreme (0x14E4, 0x90), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.91.19)
Modem:
Bluetooth: Version 2.2.1f7, 2 service, 0 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: External Modem, PPP (PPPSerial), ppp0
Network Service: Ethernet, Ethernet, en0
Serial ATA Device: HTS721010G9SA00, 93,16 GB
Serial ATA Device: PIONEER DVD-RW DVRTS08
USB Device: Hub, 0x050d (Belkin Corporation), 0x0264, 0x24700000
USB Device: EyeTV Diversity, 0x0fd9, 0x0011, 0x24730000
USB Device: Keyboard Hub, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x1006, 0x24100000
USB Device: USB Receiver, 0x046d (Logitech Inc.), 0xc50e, 0x24110000
USB Device: Apple Keyboard, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x0221, 0x24120000
USB Device: IR Receiver, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8242, 0x04500000
USB Device: Apple USB Modem, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x1401, 0x06400000
USB Device: BRCM2046 Hub, 0x0a5c (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0x06100000
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8216, 0x06110000
We can see the following information:
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: pppd
so this is a bug with the Apple USB modem and snow leopard !
you know what to do?
Thank you very much for your help

up !
the problem is still there

Can't boot USB to upgrade Snow Leopard to Mavericks

I want to install fresh Mavericks on Mac #1 (w/ Snow Leopard). Created bootable USB on Mac #2 (runs Mavericks). Mac #1 will not boot it, tried using option key at boot; tried setting as startup disk in preferenes but preferences does not see it as a boot disk; booted the Snow Leopard install disk and used its startup disk utility, it does not see the USB as bootable. Mac #2 boots the Mavericks Install Utility from this USB device just fine (so I am confident that the USB device was configured and loaded correctly), but Mac #1 will not. I have repaired the USB drive and permissions on the Mac #1 hard disk in DIsk Utiity.
Any suggestions???
Frustrated!!!
GR

Tnx E.R. I am trying to install a fresh Mavericks (vs. upgrading Snow Lep), that's why I built the boot disk on the USB drive.
I did try upgrading my Snow Lep to Mavericks, THEN tried to boot from the USB to do a fresh install, but that did not help... same behavior. So it's not a Snow Lep / Mavericks issue.
I guess the gist of my problem is, my USB drive configured with Mavericks installer boots on one machine just fine, but it is not recognized as a boot drive on the other.
GR

Droid Charge to USB to Mac (Snow Leopard)

I've trying desperately to connect my Charge to a 2010 iMac (snow leopard) and the device does not seem to ever boot. All it does it "charge" (haha..) through the USB and does nothing else. Tried restarting both Mac and Device, tried every imaginable combination of USB setting with debugging on/off, the device does pick up on bluetooth, not that it helps me any. Disk Utility shows no other devices, and there are no USB on/off notifications found on my pull down menu as decribed on other forums discussing the same topic.
I've installed iTuneMyWalkman and Salling Media Sync in hopes that the device would sync and pick up on my computer. No luck finding drivers online in case that was the problem as well.
All I want is some music that I already own to listen to on my Droid, I'm not asking for much....

I have a 2010 iMac formerly running SL. There is only 1 USB port that will properly recognize the phone. Try the USB port right next to the firewire port on the back of the iMac. If that one doesn't work try the others. It won't work thru the keyboard or a USB hub. Also, make sure you use a good USB cable. Mine works perfectly and has worked consistently since I figured out the port.

External USB HD w/ Snow Leopard - boot from Windows machine

Is there a way for me to install Snow Leopard on an external USB or Firewire so that I can plug it in and boot it up from a PC?
Thanks,

Nope. And if you could, it would be a violation of the license to OSX.

How do I create a bootable usb copy of snow leopard

The problem is I only have an external hd that is my time machine backup, and the internal hd that I erased everything off of due to "verify disk" problem in disc utility... Even then, can I make a copy of 10.6?
i don't have the original OS cd which is tiger.
macbook 2007

You need a retail Mac OS X 10.6 DVD; if needed, click here and buy one.
(108725)

HP Deluxe Webcam not working with Snow Leopard

All links to lists of webcams recommended for Mac OS X seem to be from the pre-Snow Leopard era, including the Mac Compatible Webcams site often recommended on these forums: http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com/
The Mac Compatible Webcams site above recommends the HP Deluxe Webcam (KQ246AA#ABA), a UVC compliant model.
However, I can say from long and painful experience that the HP Deluxe Webcam does not work on my Mac Mini (2009 edition) running Mac OS X 10.6.1. I've tried many things to get it working, based on info in these forums and elsewhere, but with no success. Some apps detect and can use its built-in microphone, but none have been able to use the camera itself, including Skype, iChat, Photo Booth, macam, meebo.com, and probably others I can't remember.
If anyone has been able to get the HP Deluxe Webcam to work under Mac OS X 10.6, particularly on a Mac Mini, I'd love to hear about it.
For that matter, there is very little online generally about getting any external usb webcam to work under Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard).
However, today in a Mac-oriented computer store, before my very eyes the salesperson plugged a Macally IceCam2 webcam fresh out of the box into a USB port on a Mac Mini running Snow Leopard, and the IceCam2 worked perfectly and instantly. It really did plug and play. So unless I get enlightenment from this or other online sources in the next day or 2, I'm going to exchange the HP Deluxe Webcam for a Macally IceCam2. If nothing else, seeing whether it works equally well on my Mac Mini will be a good diagnostic measure.

K T wrote:
the IceCam2 worked perfectly and instantly
Why wait....go for it.
Good question. Two reasons: the store where I bought the HP Deluxe Webcam charges a 15% restocking fee on opened returns.
But more significantly, the HP Deluxe Webcam has received very good reviews and user comments online, whereas the Macally IceCam2 has received very mixed reviews, with more bad than good. Several reviewers and users raise the same negatives about the IceCam2: poor light sensitivity, bad colour distortion, and bad audio quality on its built-in microphone. And both webcams cost about the same.
So I've posted this question to a few forums and will wait a couple days to see if anyone can help me get the HP Deluxe Webcam working on my Mac Mini under Snow Leopard. If not, it's IceCam2 for me!

Using USB drive between Leopard and Snow Leopard

I have 2 USB drives that were formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) on a Leopard Macbook Pro. I have had no troubles when using these drives between Leopard OS machines however when i try to copy files to them from a Snow Leopard machine an error message appears.
Secondly when i tried to copy files from the USB onto the Snow Leopard (Macbook Pro) only the folders were visible and not their content. When I "Got Info" on the USB via Snow Leopard it showed that data space was being used.
Can anyone tell me if Mac OS Extended is the standard Mac format type then why this might occur and hopefully a solution? I would like to upgrade to Snow Leopard but do not want to lose the data on my external drives formatted on Leopard.
I appreciate the brains trust!!

Was the computer that didn't work logged on to the "owner' of the images own account, or were you using a 'guest" log-in, kicks?
If the different computers were set up in a different fashion for such things then it might explain the different behaviour.
Another thing that could prevent a Mac writing to an external drive would be if the external drive itself is formatted with the NTFS file system (common on many windows drives). Unless the mac concerned has additional software installed then it can't write to an NTFS drive. Perhaps the ones that could write have the necessary patches installed?
A final issue may be power. Was this a self powered drive or a bus powered drive? Computers that follow very closely the official USB specs often have trouble powering a "bus powered" drive effectively from a single port. In this case trying a "Y" cable, letting you connect to two USB ports on the same computer, will usually get things working. Some Macs seem better than others in this situation, and even the actual USB port used may make some difference.
Cheers
Rod
Message was edited by: Rod Hagen

Mac Pro not Detecting Bootable USB Drive to Install Snow Leopard 10.6

Hi
I have to Mac Pro 2 x 2.8 GHz Intel Xeon. I have been running Leopard on them. I wish to install snow leopard, so i took out my USB HDD where I have made a Bootable Partition with snow leopard. I have used this in the past on all my machines to install snow leopard. Now when I try to install Snow Leopard from this on my mac pro, it does not detect in the "Option Boot" start up menu, it only shows my leopard disk. If I got to start up disk in system preference, then it shows my Snow Leopard disk, but when i select that as start up, it still boots to my Leopard..
Since I am doing a fresh Install , I have another HDD installed, formatted for snow leopard. When I launch snow leopard installer from Leopard and select install in the new drive, it does some installation , but when restarting it goes to my leopard again.
This is the case on both the Mac Pro;s, but not on my laptops, I tried on my air and my macbook pro, and my friends mac book pro, it instantly boots up to the usb drive with snow leopard.
So is there anything im missing ? Or is there something wrong with my Mac Pro's?
I dont have the snow leopard DVD, else I would have tried that too..
Please advice asap!!
Thanks
Sa1

Hey
Thanks for the reply!
I have two USB HDD, with the copy from snow leopard dvd, and both are formatted in GUID, they work fine on my laptops and even the old mac mini, just not working on two identical Mac Pros.. Its very strange, as it keeps booting to leopard, and if I remove leopard Disk, and just put the new one and connect the USB dive, its shows a folder with a "?" mark sign!
And the USB just works fine after its booted to leopard, it even starts installing snow leopard to the disk i assign, but it does not complete the installation as it boots to main leopard drive..
I have tried to reset PRAM on both machine, I have changed usb slot..
I dont know what to do!

Some webcam drivers (Quicktime Components) no longer work in Snow Leopard

I have two webcams, both of which worked before the update to Snow Leopard, both of which no longer work.
They are recognised by their own utility applications and I can see the video, but the QuickTime components used to transport this video to other programs eg Skype, simply do not work.
Does anyone know why this is? Is there anything that can be done about it?
Is it something about QuickTime that got removed or changed in the update? Can this be rectified? Does it require the vendors of these webcams to rewrite their drivers (I can't see why they should)?
The webcams in question are:
Microsoft LifeCam VX-1000, previously working via a Sonix driver for the chipset it uses, that was modified to recognise the product ID of the device. Partially working with Macam.
Creative PD1000, previously working with the Macam component.
Macam works, just not the QuickTime component.
Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

K T wrote:
Have you updated Skype to the snow leopard compatible version?
Yes. Nothing to do with Skype, although latest version of Skype has huge problems on it's own anyway.
Many plug-ins need to be updated, and I wouldn't be surprised if you had a codec involved that might need updating as well...
Well that does seem to be the case, although I can't see webcam manufacturers updating their legacy products' drivers just for SL.
Does it require the vendors of these webcams to rewrite their drivers (I can't see why they should)?
You don't? Do you know about the 64-bit capabilities that are now part of Snow Leopard?
Uh, yes, but surely 32-bit plugins still work? System Preferences does just fine with 32-bit preference panes.. surely they wouldn't just yank out support for hundreds of old webcams without saying anything?
I'd really like to get Apple's official take on what's going on here. in the Macam forums, soo many people are reporting broken webcams under Snow Leopard.

Installing Snow Leopard from USB to MacBook

I managed to create a bootable USB pendrive of Snow Leopard from my Retail DVD, and I'd like to re-install it on my MacBook (not using the DVD). The pendrive is not recognized by the Mac at the boot (keeping option pressed), but Finder does. I also tryed to launch the installation process directly from Finder, but it doesn't work.

I just noticed your macbook is running 10.4.11. 10.4 does not support usb booting out of the box. Follow these steps HERE .
How did you clone a 10.6 on your macbook if you are running 10.4?

Snow Leopard & Airdisk (shared USB drive) HELP!

How do I mount a shared USB drive in Snow Leopard? There used to be a menu item, and it used to mount automatically, but now there is nothing. Am I missing something? Thank you!

Normally, if you do command-shift-K (which is the Network item in the Go menu of the finder ), your airport station should apear there as an available mound. Just connect and the share will appear.

USB webcam microphone not working with Starcraft 2 voice chat

=USB webcam microphone not working with Starcraft 2 voice chat?Windows 7, X-fi Fatalty Pro
I have a webcam with ?a built in microphone (Ps3 eye). ?It is connected by USB. ?The drivers are the CL-Eye drivers; a third party driver set since Sony does not directly support the eye for PC.
in the windows audio device management, the microphone appears as normal and is set as the default device. ?I can use the windows sound recorder to record me speaking just fine. ?However if I use any other applications it doesn't seem to work at all. ?I can select the device as the default recording device in Starcraft 2 as well as Teamspeak 3 but no sound is detected. ?The USB microphone does not show up as a selectable device in recording options in my Creative Control Panel. ?Disabling the default creative microphone does nothing.
I think the problem is in that windows can directly detect the microphone and so software that uses the windows audio device manager works fine, but anything that talks directly with my sound card software does not properly detect the microphone. ?Basically, I can select the device as a default device but it does not work.
Any thoughts on this or am I SOL and have to find myself a shiny new headset?

I had the same problem. You need to check the device index of your USB mic.
In my case. I'm on a Mac OSX 10.6 system. I had four devices cataloged. With the last one being the USB mic.
Then set like so in your AS code audioPub.microphoneManager.micIndex = 3;
Remember, that the indexing is 0 based.
The sound framework make the assumption that the index is 0.
Hope that helps.

Re: Portege R700-184 - Built in microphone not working

I can't seem to get the built in microphone to work. However, it works fine with an external usb microphone.
Have tried changing the settings in the control panel called 'Sound' where I click on the 'Recording Tab'. 'Microphone' shows a green tick as the default device. Strangly, the graduated bar to the right of the microphone, sometimes shows random green activity, but nothing which relates to any sounds I make at the time. Driver is working and up to date.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Hey,
>Driver is working and up to date.
What driver you mean exactly? Hopefully not the sound driver because it has nothing to do with internal microphone. It belongs to webcam so you should reinstall/update the webcam driver.
Check this!!!

B520 Built-in Microphone Problem

We recently got a B520 77452MU All In One. It includes a built-in webcam & microphone, and since right out of the box the microphone has recorded horribly. It has very high background noise, kind of like a whirring static-y fan, so high that one might say the talking is actually the "background" noise. We've tried updating the drivers and adjusting the microphone settings in the sound section of the control panel. After troubleshooting extensively with the warranty tech support, they said it wasn't a normal problem and had us ship it in to try replacing the microphone (the particular model # we bought was not available to order by the time we received ours - it took a month to ship - so the sales rep couldn't just exchange it). That did not resolve the poor recording quality, even though the repair slip said the webcam/mic unit was replaced and passed the test, so we're thinking this must really be a normal weakness of the system. Does anyone else have this problem? Has anyone figured out a solution?
We like the features of the computer otherwise, so we're thinking about just buying an external microphone, but it is very annoying to have an "all-in-one computer" mounted to our wall with accessories hanging off it because it isn't really "all-in-one".

I have more info on my own situation (with a USB connected head set.) Net: the Rosetta Stone suggestions seem to have worked. I've listed the steps they supplied for Windows 7. I made two changes from what I had been recently using, highlighted in red under "Editorial Comments" in steps 9 and 12. That combination seemed to stop the background noise (feedback from a device?) in my talking during voice recognition.
I realize this doesn't directly address the original post about "B520 Built-in Microphone Problem" since i wasn't doing the same thing. The original symptom, though, seemed to be related.
The suggested steps with a USB headset for voice recognition with my annotations:
1. Plug your headset into an available USB-Port.
2. Open the Start menu.
3. Click on the Control Panel.
start menu
4. If you're viewing the Control Panel by Category, click Hardware and Sound and then Sound. If you're viewing by Large or Small icons, click Sound.
open sound menu
5. On the Playback tab, highlight your device by clicking on it. Your device may be listed as C-Media USB Audio Device, USB VoIP Device or Other USB Device. (Editorial comment: my only USB choice was "USB VoIP Device", which was what I was already using.)
6. Click the Set Default button. If there's a green checkmark next to your preferred device, it's already set as the Default Device.
Set Default
7. Click the Properties button.
click properties button
8. Click the Levels tab.
9. Adjust the Speakers to 30. (Editorial comment: mine had been set to 67.)
10. Click OK.
11. Click the Recording tab.
12. Highlight your device by clicking on it. It should have the same name as the device that you selected in the Playback tab. (Editorial comment: my microphone highlighted had a different name, "Lenovo USB 2.0 Audio", though I had nothing else audio but my headset plugged into a USB connection. I highlighted the "USB VoIP Device" name used in step 5.)
13. Click the Set Default button. If there's a green checkmark next to your preferred device, it's already set as the Default Device.
14. Click OK.

Built-in microphone of a usb webcam in snow leopard

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