iPhone: Muffled and Noisy Audio During Video Recording in Camera App

Dear Apple Community,

I'm experiencing an issue with muffled and noisy audio when recording videos using the Camera app on my iPhone. Interestingly, the audio quality is fine when using the Voice Memos app or third-party video recorders like Instagram.

The input quality of each microphone varies depending on which camera lens is used. Below is a detailed description of my tests and results for each microphone in different modes.

Problem Description:

• The microphones work fine in other applications, suggesting that the issue is specific to the Camera app.
• Deactivating "Record Stereo Sound" did not resolve the problem for the rear cameras. For the front camera, this setting helps, but for the back cameras, it makes the sound completely inaudible.

Despite searching for solutions, I haven't found any fixes, though it seems this issue has come up for others as well. I hope someone can help figure out what's going on based on my test results.

Microphone Test Results (Stereo Sound ON):

Rear Camera:

• Lens 1x:
  • Earpiece mic: Dominant, bad quality
  • L/R bottom mic: Inaudible, mainly noise
  • Rear mic: Inaudible, mainly noise

• Lens 0.5x:
  • Earpiece mic: Dominant, bad quality
  • L/R bottom mic: Inaudible, mainly noise
  • Rear mic: Inaudible, mainly noise

• Lens 2x:
  • Earpiece mic: Inaudible, mainly noise
  • L/R bottom mic: Inaudible, mainly noise
  • Rear mic: Inaudible, mainly noise

Front Camera:

• Lens 1x:
  • Earpiece mic: Inaudible, mainly noise
  • L/R bottom mic: Inaudible, mainly noise
  • Rear mic: Dominant, bad quality

Microphone Test Results (Stereo Sound OFF):

Rear Camera:

• Lens 1x, 0.5x, 2x:
  • Earpiece mic: Inaudible, mainly noise
  • L/R bottom mic: Inaudible, mainly noise
  • Rear mic: Inaudible, mainly noise

Front Camera:

• Lens 1x:
  • Earpiece mic: Dominant, OK
  • L/R bottom mic: OK
  • Rear mic: OK

Voice Memos/Instagram:

• The sound was clear for each microphone, with the L/R bottom microphone being the dominant one in use.

Device Data:

• iPhone 12 Pro
• iOS 17.4.1

If anyone has encountered this issue and found a solution, or has any insights based on the provided test results, your help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Analytica