m0thr4

Q: Siri not able to hear me

I have MacOs Sierra on my iMac 5K 2014.... Siri is enabled and launches when I press the key combination.  However, when I speak, the voice "graph" does not respond and Siri does not give any indication of having heard me.

 

In System Preferences > Siri, the Mic Input is set to Internal Microphone.

 

I checked in System Preferences > Sound > Input and the Internal Microphone level responds to my voice.

 

I also opened Notes and am able to use the Dictation feature.

 

Anyone else had this problem?

iMac with Retina 5K display, macOS Sierra (10.12), 4GHz Intel i7, 32GB RAM, 3TB Fusion

Posted on Sep 23, 2016 1:04 PM

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Q: Siri not able to hear me

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  • by FXMoovee,

    FXMoovee FXMoovee Sep 25, 2016 9:03 AM in response to m0thr4
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 25, 2016 9:03 AM in response to m0thr4

    I have the same problem in a late model 2012 Macbook Pro Retina.  It works with alternate inputs (USB, etc.), but not when set Siri's input is set to Automatic or Internal Microphone.  The sound control panel shows input on the internal microphone, but Siri doesn't show any input in the popup when set to internal.

     

    I disconnected the USB input (A Lexicon Alpha), went back into the Sound control panel, toggled a second USB input (that it sees from a Thunderbolt connection even though there is no mic), then went back into the Siri control panel and did the same thing and closed the preferences.  After that, Siri could here me with the internal mic.  I then plugged the Lexicon back in and the Internal speaker still worked with Siri.

  • by CCS-Ben,

    CCS-Ben CCS-Ben Sep 27, 2016 2:52 PM in response to FXMoovee
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2016 2:52 PM in response to FXMoovee

    I'm having the same issue. I'm using a 2015 MacBook Pro, connected to an OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock. Connected to the dock are two monitors and a pair of external speakers.

     

    When I'm not connected to the dock, Siri works fine. When I connect to the dock, Siri doesn't hear me anymore. I've checked the sound and Siri settings, and they're both set to the internal microphone.

     

    I tried your solution above, but when I plugged my OWC back into the thunderbolt Siri couldn't hear me. The internal microphone hears me for all other "apps" (FaceTime, Voice Recording, etc)...but not with Siri.

     

    Siri 1.jpg

     

    Siri 2.jpg

  • by FXMoovee,

    FXMoovee FXMoovee Sep 27, 2016 8:24 PM in response to CCS-Ben
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 27, 2016 8:24 PM in response to CCS-Ben

    It was pretty hit or miss for me.  I toggled the phantom USB port on in the input panel but did not disconnect Thunderbolt.  I also toggled the inputs for Siri and exited.  I wish I could replicate the way I did this but it's working now.  Clearly something is broken when other inputs are available.

  • by BigglesDog,

    BigglesDog BigglesDog Sep 28, 2016 11:01 AM in response to m0thr4
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 11:01 AM in response to m0thr4

    I have the same issue. It doesn't listen to the internal mic if there are any other audio interfaces active. I have an external Focusrite firewire interface with a microphone attached, Siri responds to it even though it is set for internal microphone, if I power the Focusrite off, then the internal mic starts to work

  • by CCS-Ben,

    CCS-Ben CCS-Ben Oct 4, 2016 2:01 PM in response to m0thr4
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 4, 2016 2:01 PM in response to m0thr4

    I think I solved this for my issue. You can find more background at Siri not working on Sierra.

     

    Siri appears to be working now. Here's what I did...

     

    1. I unplugged my OWC dock from my MacBook, and unplugged all accessory cables from my OWC dock.
    2. I then plugged in my OWC dock to my MacBook (no accessories plugged into OWC dock).
      1. Siri worked.
    3. I then proceeded to plug each accessory into the OWC dock, and tested Siri after each step.
      1. Siri would stop working after plugging in a certain accessory.
    4. Each time Siri stopped working I started over (back to step 1).
    5. After the third time (or so) of Siri not working after a certain point, I turned Siri off and on again via System Preferences.
      1. After doing this, Siri has now been working consistently.

     

    I don't know if the key was unplugging/plugging in the dock/accessories, or if the solution was turning Siri on/off (I had previously tried turning Siri on/off but it didn't fix it).

     

    I've shut-down and restarted several times now and Siri continues to work without any interaction from me.