Sound Input problem (external microphone)

Hi. My external mike (Samson C01U, USB connection) isn't working; there's no input sound coming through.
I'm certain it's not a hardware problem with the mike.
On preferences > sound, there's no sign of any input (with input volume level turned right up). Trying to record on Camtasia / Audacity / Quicktime also isn't giving any input.
Any suggestions?
Thank you so much
Daniel

Did you try to reboot? Smc reset?

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I am not getting any sound input on my microphone. There is no microphone input on my new macbook pro, so I am using my old one. Is this a problem with the new operating system? Did they simply remove any microphone software?

I am not getting any sound input on my microphone. There is no microphone input on my new macbook pro, so I am using my old one. Is this a problem with the new operating system? Did they simply remove any microphone software?

Check System Preferences > Sound > Output
Make sure the correct device is selected.

Audio input through external microphone not 'heard' by computer

I can record audio with any app through the builtin mic. And I know the system 'hears' sound through the builtin mic when I go to SystemPreferences->Sound->Input.
I have an external microphone that I want to record through. I went to SystemPreferences->Sound->Input and chose 'Line In' and plugged in the microphone's lead into the 'in' jack. However the SystemPreferences->Sound->Input Input Level sensor/detector is dead -- it shows no audio input. Nor does iMovie pick up any audio input when the mic is plugged in.
I know the input jack works by plugging in the output pin from a cassette-player, choosing 'Line In', and playing a cassette. The Input Level sensor/detector comes on and the sound is available to apps.
I know the external microphone works by plugging it into the cassette-player and recording from it and tapping and rubbing on its pick-up. The sounds are captured on cassette tape.
So why is audio input through external microphone not 'heard' by the computer? Is there some trick to making it work?

There are a few possibilities, but the most likely is that your microphone does not produce enough signal to be "heard" through the Mac line input. Usually this is normal, with most microphones producing perhaps 1/100th of the signal needed, which would be called "mic level".
You cassette deck probably outputs "line level", much stronger and strong enough to register in the Mac Line input. Similarly, the cassette deck microphone input is probably "mic level" and much more sensitive than the Mac line input.
There are other possibilities, such as a powered microphone, but you have not provided any model numbers or specifications to analyze.
Try this: plug in the microphone like you did before, and make a really loud sound right in front of the mike, like clapping hands. You may see or hear a faint sound register on the Mac.
The usual cure is to buy a microphone preamplifer. You can also buy a new microphone with a built-in preamplifier. You can also buy a USB microphone or preamplifier device that bypasses the analog Line input entirely.

Sound Input Problems Using iChat..Inadvertent Loss of Microphone?

My father-in-law just bought a new 17 inch iMac with an Intel dual core, whole ten yards. Great machine. However, when using iChat with his family he's noticed the the sound input goes dead and then he's constantly searching around with on screen controls to get it back again. I thought it might have something to do with his mighty mouse being that you can sync applications with it. I've walked him through the system preferences to get the sound back, but its seems to be a niggling weird type of issue. Any suggestions?
iMac G4 Flat Screen Mac OS X (10.4.1)

Hi Phillip,
Selelcting mute is normally a mouse and click item or from the Video menu of iChat (It does not seem to have a keyboard short cut).
The Mighty Mouse does seem to be the bset place to look.
4:15 PM Friday; February 2, 2007

Sound input problem

I have a weird problem: in using a headset to make calls using Skype or iChat I cannot get the headset microphone to work, though the earphones work fine. Everything is plugged in correctly. Have selected the Line-In option in the Sound panel of System Preferences, but the Input Level indicator shows no sign of life. Have selected the same option in Skype. Have also tried a 2nd headset, with the same result. For reference the built-in microphone works fine.
We have 2 iMacs here displaying the same symptoms; what's happening? The headset worked just fine prior to upgrading to OS 10.6.6; is there a link here?

Having banged head against wall for too long I finally took my computer to Apple, where it was determined that there’s nothing wrong with the microphone port; however, the Radioshack headset does NOT work with the sound input device set to Line-in; input device MUST be set to internal microphone, after which the headset microphone AND the internal microphone will BOTH pick up sound simultaneously. Go figure.
May have something to do with the audio-in port requiring an externally powered microphone as per users manual. From MacWorld: If you have experience with multimedia headsets and the Mac, you know that Apple equips Macs with a line-level audio-input jack—one that doesn’t work with microphone-level audio sources without amplification.

975x Sound Input problems

I recently build a new computer using the MSI 975x mobo. The only problem is, I seem to have some issues reguarding sound input.
All the sound features seem to be working except for sound input. In Sounds and Audio Devices, I have full access to sound output and all the different volume controls and advanced features. All is well here. But when I change it to sound input I run into my problem. In the Master Volume Control on Input all volume controls except Master are greyed out to me and can not be changed.
In properties, the advanced button for input (where you can find the useful feature of mic boost) is also greyed out.
I am running the bios off the CD and the latest sound drivers. Is this a known issue and does it have a fix?

Quote from: Yoshiro on 31-August-06, 13:20:15
I recently build a new computer using the MSI 975x mobo. The only problem is, I seem to have some issues reguarding sound input.
All the sound features seem to be working except for sound input. In Sounds and Audio Devices, I have full access to sound output and all the different volume controls and advanced features. All is well here. But when I change it to sound input I run into my problem. In the Master Volume Control on Input all volume controls except Master are greyed out to me and can not be changed.
In properties, the advanced button for input (where you can find the useful feature of mic boost) is also greyed out.
I am running the bios off the CD and the latest sound drivers. Is this a known issue and does it have a fix?
Are you wanting Sound Capture via CD/DVD or Mic? Are you running 6.1 or 8.1 Speaker setup?

Sound input problem with Skype earbud

Just trying out Skype, and using a wired earbud I got free. The earbud is Skype branded, and has 2 minijacks - one is headphone and one is microphone.
When it's plugged in, if I go into Sound preferences there is no input if I choose Line In (rather than built in microphone). I have made sure the input level is turned up.
Any ideas? I will check if the earbud works with any other devices, as I suspect they're quite cheaply produced!
Update: just checked another headset that's the same and it doesn't work either. Neither work with our iMac. It's interesting that they seem to be incompatible.

Did you get this problem resolved?
I am having the same problem: unable to input sound....

Sound input problems - No sound

My wife and I bought two Macbooks last week and we installed Skype. We tried it for the first time today, she could hear me but I couldn't hear her. The Skype audio settings were fine, as were the sound settings under System Preferences.
However, although internal microphone was selected as the input device, the input level bar doesn't move at all, therefore isn't picking up any sound.
Any ideas? Is it likely to be a hardware fault that means returning the Macbook?

The input level bar you're referring to, is it the one in Sound in System Preferences? If it's not picking up there, you probably won't get it to pick up in any other OSX program.
It's possible that your sound preferences are corrupt. Try deleting this file & emptying the trash.
/Home/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist (Create a backup if you wish.)
Unfortunately the sound settings resides in a file that controls many other settings like energy management, so you'll have to reconfigure some things when you're done.

EXTERNAL microphone not working on T61, Colleagues with T61s having same problem

I am unable to get any external micophone to work with my T61. A colleague of mine spent hours with Lenovo support trying to get his to work but was never able to. The internal microphone works but the quality is low. I have tried several external microphones (3). I verified the external microphones work with other systems.
As for drivers, here is what I have tried so far:
SoundMAX driver uninstall
Installed Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for HD Audio
Installed SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio driver (5.10.1.5520)
None of this made any difference. When I plug in an external mic, all applications, including the SoundMAX Control Panel > Microphone > Setup Wizard, detect zero sound from the external microphone. I have muted/unmuted the external microphone, muted/unmuted the microphone in Windows, boosted/decreased the volume, used the Microsoft microphone troubleshooting wizard, etc., etc.
Please help! Using an external microphone is very important for my work (speech recognition) and for several of my colleagues. If we would have known external microphone do not work with T61s, my company would not have purchased these. Now we are all stuck until we get new laptops again (2 more years)!
P.S. One strange thing I noticed while plugging and unplugging is that if I plug in headphones to the external microphone jack, one of the headphones (R, I think) becomes an "external microphone." The quality is terrible but applications register sounds coming through the external headphones. Why then have none of the 3 different external microphones I've plugged into the mic jack worked?!?!
System:
SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio (Driver 5.10.1.5520, Location 65535, C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\ADIHdAud.sys is 5.10.01.5520)
Windows XP Pro Version 2002 SP2
Intel Core2 Duo CPU
T7300 @ 2.00GHz
2.99 GB of RAM

I am having this same problem and am also using voice recognition software. Have you found a resolution yet to this problem? I have not. Please share if you have.
Thanks!

Using an external microphone with a Mac Pro Tower

I have a Mac Pro tower with OS 10.4.11 and I have a question regarding recording sound through an external microphone.
I own a microphone with a 1/4" jack and when I plug it into the designated input on the back of my tower, I'm not getting any sound. I've troubleshooted with a couple different microphones and none seem to work. Am I doing something wrong? Is there some sort of configuration that I have to do when using a mic?
Please help!

I'm sorry, but that's not really my area of expertise. If you are planning to use this for simple voice-recording you could try the Griffin iMic device which helps provide both pre-amplification and impedance matching between a mini-plug mic and a USB port for sound input. I've used it recording music from a boom-box to a MacBook.
The tech specs state that the audio line-level in port is:
Input impedance greater than 20,000 ohms
Input level: Max 2 V rms (+8.2 dbµ)
I would look for a mic that meets those specifications. MacSpeech.com has several microphone/headset recommendations for use with their Dictate and iListen voice recognition software. I would think that their suggestions would be useful.

External Microphone Recommendations For Canon Vixia HF M50

Hello:
I have reviewed the microphone options for the mini-advanced shoe, and they don't work for my application. I need an external condenser microphone that can be on a wire 50 feet away from the camera. I tried a dynamic microphone but voices were much too soft.
Does anyone have a recommendation on what will work on a 50 foot wire, but provide good sound from an external microphone?
Regards,
Rich Locus

Nevermind, I got tired of waiting for some help and found one that will work perfect for what I need at campbell cameras..
Pretty neat wrap around alum. mount that will work perfect..

Lion / External Microphone problem on Line-In port

I am having a problem with an external microphone on the line-in port on side .
I now have tried two mics: 1) Logitech and 2) Gear-Head
I can't get it to be seen on the system preferences nevermind any applications.
Hardware: MacBook Pro AND iMac (purchased only 3 weeks ago).
Software: Mac OS X Lion 10.7 (Build 11A511 from developer seed)
The USB Mic works fine.
Headphone works fine on same head set.
Any help would be appreciated.
Patrick
Keywords: mic, "no sound bars", linein, ext microphone, Lion, Screenflow, Screen Flow,

OK, here is the deal!
The audio input on the side or back of the Mac is not for passive non-amplified microphones. You need a microphone with a pre-amp or put one in-line between the mic jack (male) and the computer (female) audio port.
Watch this External Mic Issue Video for more specifics.
This is more of a general hardware issue and not that of OS X Lion.
Patrick
ExpertWitness.com
PatrickOLeary.com
Social.net

Problems with microphone sound in iChat

Hello Ralph,
(I already thought I sent this but I didn't see it as a new topic, so I am trying again). I'm new to this discussion thing, it's my first time so I hope I've submitted this correctly.
I have similar, but extended and more complicated problems with "microphone sound in iChat". (Sorry, this email is a bit lenghty becuase I have already done a lot of my homework on trouble shooting this.)
I began by using iChat with a high impedance microphone (from an old 1970'scassette player) PLUGGED DIERCTLY IN THE THE MICROPHONE INPUT on the back of my G4 tower. (I DO NOT have a video camera). My Mom in Canada can hear me okay on it, only if I "eat" the microphone. (My Mom DOES have a video camera).
SO I BOUGHT AN iMic. I also bought a new condenser mic to go with my new iMic. I plugged iMic in and adjusted the sound preferences selection. I switched the iMic to "Mic". It did not work. The old cassette mic did not work at all with iMic either. My Mom could not hear me, and my "VU METER bar levels" on my iChat were not registering. (If I plug the condenser mic directly into the tower, Mom can hear me only if I "eat" the condenser microphone).
Next, with iMic, I wanted to try my Shure 58 microphone instead. My friend (who is an audio tech) made me a 1/8" to XLR (sheilded) cable. I made sure I had adjusted the sound preferences and switched the iMic to "Mic". The Shure 58 did not work with iMic. It also did not work plugging directly into the tower.
Next, with iMic, I wanted to try my "Plantronics telephone headset". My friend (the audio tech) then made me a 1/8"male to 1/8"mini feamle (sheilded) cable. My headset did not work with iMic. It also did not work plugging directly into the tower.
My friend, the audio tech, then made me second cable 1/8"male to 1/8"female (sheilded) cable. This cable I had him make 50 feet long so I could move to other areas in my home while audio chatting - so I don't have to be trapped in my office while talking. We ran the cable from iMic to the Old cassette mic and the new condenser mic. They did not work with iMic.
We also tried plugging the new 50ft cable directly into the back of the G4 Tower and it worked with the old cassette mic and the new condenser mic, BUT the volume was reduced and there was a loud baseball game being broadcast through the cable - according to my Mom. I could not hear anything from my end - not my own voice and not the baseball game! IS THERE A WAY FOR ME TO MONITOR (actually hear) THE SOUND THAT SHOULD BE COMING THROUGH THE MIC?
I have tried to trouble shoot these issues on line, but can't seem to find the right solutions. In one of your discussions I read that you suggested to select the iChat preference for Video and select microphone. I CANNOT SEE THE FULL WINDOW UNDER iChat Video Preferences!!!! All I can see is the top half of a large empty box that says "There is no camera attached to this computer". (That's because I have no camera, but I DO HAVE a microphone).
I also found some support about adjusting microphone levels using iMovie. I do not have iMovie on my Mac.
Yes, I have already adjusted the AUDIO MIDI SETUP settings.
My audio tech friend and I are both baffled. iMic is useless to me so far - perhaps you can help to get me up and chatting properly? Do I really need iMovie and/or a video camera to fix this???
BY THE WAY: When I plug my external speakers into iMic and select iMic in preferences for output, my speakers and sound is very inferior to the using the speaker terminal on my tower. i Mic is supposed to better???????
Thanking you for your help in advance,
Marlene
(Please could you, would you, email a copy of your answer to me at [email protected])
G4, 450Mhz Mac OS X (10.4.6)
G4, 450Mhz Mac OS X (10.4.6)
G4, 450Mhz Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Hi Ralph,
A funny thing just happened...
The iChat prefernce window for "VIDEO" finally opened (!!) all the way, so for the FIRST TIME EVER and I was able to see the microphone setting at the bottom of the window. (Because I have NO CAMERA, the window would never fully open before during the 100 or so times I tried to get it to open before. This must've been a fluke because now it won't fully open again).
While it was open I set the microphone setting to iMic, plugged my condenser mic into iMic and IT WORKED. Then I tried the long (baseball game) extension cord in the iMic (attached to the condenser mic) and IT WORKED TOO - with NO BASEBALL GAME!
I still have to have the condenser mic right up to my mouth, which shouldn't be - but considering I have spent a few weeks trying to troubleshoot this, "eating the mic" is only a minor annoyance at this point.
I just plugged my speakers into iMic and THEY WORK GREAT!
SO ALL MY PROBLEMS WERE BECAUSE: I could not set the microphone under Video in iChat preferences because the VIDEO PREFERENCE WINDOW DOES NOT FULLY OPEN WITHOUT A CAMERA ATTACHED. If it hadn't opened by fluke my iMic would still not be working.
I guess I'm all set now. Unless you have a suggestion why the condenser mic isn't picking up my voice from other than right by my mouth? It should be able to be a foot or two away at least.
Thanks Ralph,
Marlene
(By the way, I never did trash the com.apple.ichat.plist)
G4, 450Mhz Mac OS X (10.4.6)

S10-2 external microphone problem

Hello!
My problem is that I can't seem to make my external microphone work on my S10-2. The microphone can be detected by my laptop (because a pop-up from the taskbar appears indicating this), but I don't know how to switch from the built-in mic to the external mic. I've tried changing the default voice recording device in the Sounds and Audio Devices section of the Control Panel, but there is no other option other than the Realtek HD Audio Input. I've also downloaded and installed the audio driver from the Lenovo website already.
How may I go about this issue?
Thanks and God bless!
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Sorry for this late update, but the problem was solved when I downloaded and installed an audio driver from this website.

External Microphone problem not working.

I am trying to get a Sony ECM-DS70P Condenser Stereo Microphone with a 3.5mm stereo male plug to work on my MacBook Pro with a Behringer UCA222 USB Audio Interface and I am having no joy at all.
Summary of Problem
The Microphone will not work when plugged directly into the Line-in jack on the MacBook Pro because the Audio Line-In input on the MacBook is line level -10dB to+4dB and microphones are generally around -40dB. So, I need either a line level preamp or a usb audio interface.
I decided on a USB Audio Interface (Behringer UCA222).
The Microphone is plugged into a 3.5mm stereo to RCA L & R cable which is plugged into the L/R RCA inputs on the Behringer UCA222. The Behringer UCA222's USB Cable is plugged into a USB port on the MacBook Pro.
On the Macbook Pro in System Preferences > Sound > the output is set to Internal Speakers and the input is set to the USB Codec (Which showed up when the Behringer UCA222 was plugged in).
But it doesn't work!
Any help from anyone would be very much appreciated.
Here are all the specs:
Sony ECM-DS70P Microphone
Frequency Response : 100-15,000Hz
Maximum Input Level : 110dB SPL (THD 1% @ 1kHz)
Noise Level : 34dB SPL
Plug : L-shaped gold-plated mini plug, 3.5mm
Sensitivity : -38dBV, ±3.5dB
Type : Electret condenser microphone
Behringer UCA222 USB Audio Interface
Link to Specs:
http://www.behringer.com/assets/UCA222_P0A31_M_EN.pdf
MacBook Pro running   OSX Lion 10.7.2
MacBook Pro
15" Early 2008
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Model Identifier:          MacBookPro4,1
Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:          2.4 GHz
Number of Processors:          1
Total Number of Cores:          2
L2 Cache:          3 MB
Memory:          2 GB
Bus Speed:          800 MHz
Boot ROM Version:          MBP41.00C1.B03
SMC Version (system):          1.27f3
Serial Number (system):          W88********
Hardware UUID:          298BAA49-A3B8-549F-8A3C-************
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State:          Enabled

Zyriab wrote:
Glad you got to the root of your problem. I've also been looking at USB microphones and am considering this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Microphones-Yeti-USB-Microphone/dp/B002VA464S/ref=w l_it_dp_o_pd_T1?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2CTU5Q76JN7AW&colid=CCYZRSRZM3G
I haven't actually tried it myself but it has a good reputation and gets very good reviews.
I have used many (most) of the Blue microphone range, especially the blueberry and the woodpecker (fabulous mic) these are xlr balanced rather than USB but the build quailty and diaphragm/enclosure design is first rate. Not quite Neumann standard but, not at all Neumann prices. Good choice.

Sound Input problem (external microphone)

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