osx turn off built in mic

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Level 1

44 points

osx turn off built in mic

Anyone who knows how I can TURN PERMANENTLY OFF the built-in mic and line-in?

I'm doing high quality recordings over USB but a few times already OSX decided that the internal mic is better and switched to that without asking.

To stop this erratic behaviour, I want to permanently disable all access to the built in audio so that OSX will never be able to switch again.

I'd rather see some error messages than screwing up my recording again.

If possible, I'd leave the hardware where it is and use a software solution. I'm thinking unmounting something in a startup script or so, or removing a driver?

USB should stay working of course.

Playback may stay, I don't really care as long as the recording is OK

Posted on Apr 28, 2013 11:30 AM

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Answer 1

w.pasman Author

Level 1

44 points

May 10, 2013 7:54 AM in response to w.pasman

There are a number of other threads with same question, also without answer...

This thread

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1834593?answerId=8667284022#8667284022

has an answer but the pdf file supposedly explaining

http://images.apple.com/server/macosx/docs/LeopardSecurity_Config20080530.pdf

it is dead and I get to the main site of osx server...

Does anybody have a copy of that document?

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Answer 2

db24401

Level 4

1,564 points

May 10, 2013 8:58 AM in response to w.pasman

result from a google search --

http://images.apple.com/support/security/guides/docs/Leopard_Security_Config_2nd _Ed.pdf

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Answer 3

w.pasman Author

Level 1

44 points

May 10, 2013 1:11 PM in response to db24401

Ah, thanks for finding the pdf!

The page you show is not exactly what I was looking for, I then still run the risk that OSX switches the input to the internal mic. But I guess I would notice the lack of sound

But this looks promising on p.46:

Removing Audio Support Software

Use the following instructions to remove support for the microphone and audio subsystem. This may disable audio playback.

You can also have an Apple Authorized Technician remove the built-in microphone hardware from your Apple computer.

Important: Repeat these instructions every time a system update is installed. To remove kernel extensions for audio hardware:

Open the /System/Library/Extensions folder.

To remove support for audio components such as the microphone, drag the following files to the Trash:

AppleOnboardAudio.kext AppleUSBAudio.kext AudioDeviceTreeUpdater.kext IOAudioFamily.kext VirtualAudioDriver.kext

Open Terminal and enter the following command:

$ sudo touch /System/Library/Extensions The touch command changes the modified date of the /System/Library/Extensions folder. When the folder has a new modified date, the Extension cache files (located in /System/Library/) are deleted and rebuilt by Mac OS X.

Choose Finder > Secure Empty Trash to delete the file. Restart the system.

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