iStir

Q: Microphone Through TRRS Jack Not Detected in Windows

The problem has been around for quite some time now, i.e., since the so-called TRRS jacks were introduced in MacBooks. In these, a single 3.5 mm jack connector is used to combine a stereo pair OUT with a mono microphone IN.

People are frustrated by the fact that the microphone on their headset is properly detected in OS X, but not in Windows/Bootcamp.

 

It appears that the problem stems from Microsoft's HDAudio.sys driver:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/jj123860.aspx#jack

 

The workaround mentioned in the article above does not work due to the particular way the TRRS jack and the audio chip (cs4206, cs4207 and cs4208) are wired in the MacBooks: only a single jack detection event is possible, and if one is detected, a value is set in the chip, which reports the presence of a microphone. In this configuration, HDAudio.sys sees only one detection event associated with the headphones, and there is no way a second event associated with the microphone can be triggered physically.

 

So, it would seem that Microsoft has to rectify the way their HDAudio.sys behaves with respect to these TRRS jacks.

 

That being said, Apple provides a driver for the cs420x chips in their BootCamp packages. Assuming that it reads the status of the audio chip and transmits both the jack detection event and the associated values to the HDAudio.sys driver, it should be possible for the BootCamp driver to emulate those two trigger events slightly spaced in time that HDAudio.sys needs for now.

 

Does anyone know whether Apple, Microsoft, or both, are working on this particular issue?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014), Windows 8, null

Posted on Jan 8, 2015 2:24 PM

Close

Q: Microphone Through TRRS Jack Not Detected in Windows

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 3 of 4 last Next
  • by Tinglay,

    Tinglay Tinglay Oct 2, 2015 10:56 AM in response to PICKLEB0Y
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2015 10:56 AM in response to PICKLEB0Y

    Also getting same issue as you guys. I have a MacbookPro mid 2012 retina.

    Apparently it's working correctly for Mid 2013 models of the MBP onwards, but i can't seem to get it to work either.

    Works perfectly on the OSX side.

    Frustrating is definitely the word for it.

  • by PICKLEB0Y,

    PICKLEB0Y PICKLEB0Y Nov 5, 2015 7:07 AM in response to iStir
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 5, 2015 7:07 AM in response to iStir

    I take it no one has come up with a solution to get it working on a 2012 Macbook Pro Retina 15"? Works on OS X, not Windows 10. Would love to actually be able to use my gaming headset in Windows...

     

    I wish the Apple developers knew about this issue, it stinks that we have the hardware, but not the supporting software in Windows

  • by mthorade,

    mthorade mthorade Dec 7, 2015 8:17 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Dec 7, 2015 8:17 AM in response to Loner T

    I just updated my iMac (27", late 2013) to Windows 10 with Bootcamp 6 (build 6133), but it still does not work, no matter how slow I insert the jack. Does it work for you if you insert the TRRS jack while the computer is off and boot with the jack inserted?

     

    I wish Apple would just use two separate ports! This audio combo port is almost as silly as a laptop with one single USB C port...

  • by jasonyongw,

    jasonyongw jasonyongw Jan 10, 2016 2:21 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 10, 2016 2:21 AM in response to Loner T

    Hi Loner T,  I saw your screen capture has CS4206B mic recognized.  Is it on Mac Mini or some other PC?  How you manually modified the driver inf file of Mac bootcamp?   Thanks

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jan 10, 2016 11:47 AM in response to jasonyongw
    Level 7 (24,012 points)
    Safari
    Jan 10, 2016 11:47 AM in response to jasonyongw

    It is a 2012 13-in MBP.

  • by justin.gengo,

    justin.gengo justin.gengo Feb 13, 2016 10:37 AM in response to iStir
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 13, 2016 10:37 AM in response to iStir

    Here is something interesting that I've found - MacBook Pro 15" 2015:

     

    • If I use my apple headphones which came with my iPhone 6s then the headphone microphone is NOT detected (as reported here).
    • But if I use my Beats over-ear, noise cancelling headphones (self powered) the headset microphone IS detected.
    • After plugging in the Beats and unplugging again the microphone input IS properly returned to the internal microphone
    • Now, as long as I haven't restarted the machine, plugging in my apple headphones the headset microphone IS now properly detected in these too!
    • If I then unplug the Apple headphones and plug them back in again the headset microphone is NOT detected again
    • Repeating plugging in the Beats headphones allows me to repeat the process over again

     

    Perhaps this all has something to do with using powered headphones first?

  • by mthorade,

    mthorade mthorade Mar 10, 2016 4:44 AM in response to PICKLEB0Y
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 10, 2016 4:44 AM in response to PICKLEB0Y

    PICKLEB0Y wrote:

     

    I wish there was a way to unpack the Cirrus Logic 2408 .exe found in the drivers folder

     

    You can open the file using any advanced zip program.

    I use 7zip (open-source, from http://www.7-zip.org/ ) and it can open these exe files without problem,

    e.g. the file BootCamp\Drivers\Cirrus\CirrusAudioCS4206x64.exe

  • by Fatcat118,

    Fatcat118 Fatcat118 Mar 30, 2016 5:26 PM in response to mthorade
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Windows Software
    Mar 30, 2016 5:26 PM in response to mthorade

    I'm just jumping in here to say that I have the same issue.  I have a macbook pro mid 2012 and only see Cirrus Logic CS4206B (AB40) for a microphone when my earbuds with an inline mic are plugged in.  Is there any way to send Apple details about this issue and get some sort of response? 

  • by Fatcat118,

    Fatcat118 Fatcat118 Mar 31, 2016 2:31 PM in response to Fatcat118
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Windows Software
    Mar 31, 2016 2:31 PM in response to Fatcat118

    So I see at the top of this page that this has "branched to a new discussion" yet when I click on that link I get an "Unauthorized: Access to this place or content is restricted."

     

    Anyone know what this message means or how to get around this?  I'm new to this website so not sure how to get to the new discussion.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Mar 31, 2016 3:28 PM in response to Fatcat118
    Level 7 (24,012 points)
    Safari
    Mar 31, 2016 3:28 PM in response to Fatcat118

    Does it work correctly in OSX?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Mar 31, 2016 3:30 PM in response to Fatcat118
    Level 7 (24,012 points)
    Safari
    Mar 31, 2016 3:30 PM in response to Fatcat118

    If you click on Latest Reply, it should show you the last page.

  • by Fatcat118,

    Fatcat118 Fatcat118 Apr 16, 2016 9:03 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Windows Software
    Apr 16, 2016 9:03 AM in response to Loner T

    Yeah the mic/earbud combo works perfectly in OSX.  When I play CSS my voice comes in loud in clear, i just hate using OSX to play games.  The end up crashing or have other issues that you dont find in Windows 10. 

     

    As for clicking Latest Reply, that ends up bringing me to the last post on this thread, but doesnt show me if this discussion has really branched to a different discussion as indicated at the top.  What do you see as the last post, this one?

  • by Fatcat118,

    Fatcat118 Fatcat118 Apr 16, 2016 9:08 AM in response to Fatcat118
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Windows Software
    Apr 16, 2016 9:08 AM in response to Fatcat118

    This is to anyone reading this, is there no place to submit a question to Apple support so that they are aware of this problem?  Obviously my warranty for my computer is expired, and it seems like you need that to be current to "contact support".  I dont want to just ask them to fix my computer, I want to send a comment to them somehow that this issue still exists, and for many computers, not just my own.  Are their forum moderators that we can message or something? 

  • by mthorade,

    mthorade mthorade Apr 18, 2016 12:07 AM in response to Fatcat118
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 18, 2016 12:07 AM in response to Fatcat118

    The link "Branched to a new discussion" points to this page:

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7241954

    If I try to open it, I get a message "Unauthorized. Access to this place or content is restricted."

    So, you are not alone.

     

    I called Apple Support quite a while ago, when my iMac (27", late 2013) still had support. But they are not interested in helping, because in their view, the operating system is responsible for hardware drivers (as in the Apple world). So they say, one should contact Microsoft. But Microsoft says, drivers are the responsibility of the hardware manufacturer. So, both claim not to be responsible, and both are somewhat right and wrong at the same time. Apple does deliver some drivers via the Bootcamp installer, but in the case of the sound card the Windows default driver seems to be used (the HDAudio.sys driver).

     

    There are some more cases like this, for example Bluetooth stack under Windows 7 (Apple says should be part of OS, but Win7 just doesnt include a full Bluetooth stack). Or Ethernet drivers, it just is not possible to enable Wake-On-Lan.

    This will not get fixed, because Apple does not want to fix it. They do not care for Bootcamp users.

     

    Hate to say it, but if you want a quick solution, buy a USB sound card for 5$. I'd be happy if someone proves me wrong.

  • by Fatcat118,

    Fatcat118 Fatcat118 May 18, 2016 7:23 PM in response to mthorade
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Windows Software
    May 18, 2016 7:23 PM in response to mthorade

    So wait, if I get like a 5 dollar usb soundcard, plug that in, and then plug in my headphones, my mic should be detected?  , but if this will fix it, ill bite the bullet and buy one.

     

    <Edited by Host>

first Previous Page 3 of 4 last Next