microphone prob

My iMac g3 400mhz DV Blue, 512MB ram, 10Gig HardDrive, running Mac OS 10.3.9. also has its microphone input spiked to the highest level continuously. The computer has a new battery in it. And is up to date software-update wise. This happened out of the blue. Went to use it for iChat audio chat and the receiver listened to nothing but loud noise. It Worked many time before without this trouble. So yes we have a common problem and I am not sure what might be causing it?

Simple restarts do not fix it...

I am going to try:
1. A permissions repair in the Disk Utility
2. Restart resetting the PRAM Command option+RP keys held down, until computer chimes 3 times.
3. Other than that an External Microphone might be the only cheap fix if it is a hardware problem.

Does anyone know what kind of microphone can be used on the audio line-in port on the iMacs? I know other mic's build for PC's were not compatible with the Audio line-in port on my G4 Sawtooth 500mhz. So I am skeptical on what works. I got only an old Apple Plaintalk microphone to work there. So is that the only microphone there is to use?

The biggest frustration about this is that it works perfectly some of the time. I've had many Skype conversations with perfect sound quality both ways, and on other days (such as today) I've had the full-bar microphone buzz that just won't go away. The computer doesn't sound any different from outside, though. Maybe it's some vibration propagating through the frame. Lifting the iMac off the table doesn't help, so it's not exterior.

I'd really like a solution to this problem, since that would allow me to speak to my girlfriend who's currently in Croatia. :P I might just end up buying a headset for this specific purpose.

Daniel, did any of your fixing attempts do the trick?

Daniel,

The Apple Plain Talk mic works because it's internally pre-amped to line level. You can actually use any mic with Macs ... as long as it (the mic) is pre-amped to line level. As cheap mic pre-amp or mixer board will do the trick.

My problem just got weirder. I bought a cheap headset for skyping in order to bypass the malfunctioning internal microphone. When I tried it out yesterday, it worked flawlessly, and provided much better speech quality than what the internal mike used to do. At that time, the internal mike was NOT buzzing.

Today, the internal is malfunctioning again -- constant buzzing at full volume -- and guess what: The headset also doesn't work! No buzz, but ZERO response. Interestingly, I do get a response in the control panels when I plug in the cables wrongly and talk into the EARPHONES!

I don't think my headset is a problem; it worked both at the institute (PC laptop) and yesterday on my home Mac. I guess there's just something broken deep inside the computer. :((

Mac Obsessed: I haven't tried the low-gain relaxation time, but I will. I doubt it will work, though. My guess is that the problem comes and goes on a whim.

Does anyone from Apple read this forum?

Does anyone from Apple read this forum?
Maybe. But, they will not jump in & respond if that is what you really want to know because................

This forum is a user to user discussion area (Mac Community) for ordinary folks to help each other out *FOR FREE*.

You want Apple to listen or know about something, click on the Contact Us link below to find the various Feedback links.

I now have a similar problem if I blow in the mic I do hear it but it still buzzes line in works with the stereo fine but that mic is not easy to find. I have an
iMac DV SE 400 so you are defiantly not the only one. Just replaced the battery.
tried resenting the P-ram 3 times no improvement you can use any amplified mic in iChat but not to chat with your computer I think.
You can use head phones as a mic it is just quiet.

Hi all:

I have a old iMAC. I am trying to record my voice on an iMovie. The internal MIC works but is very noisy. I have to talk right next to the mike above the screen. I have tried to use a headset with a external mic in the side the headset works fine by there is no response to the mic. I have switched the source of the sound input to external mic/line in and I get no response. Is there a setting I am missing or is my external mic jack dead. Any ideas?

iMAC CRT 350MHz Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Hi Gen

No your mic input is not faulty. As pointed out higher up, the mic input on an iMac is actually a line input, and as such needs a line level input signal to make it work. Normal mics do not provide this signal. Apple Plaintalk Mics (of the last generation) are internally amplified to provide this.

You will need an external microphone pre-amp in order to get your mic to work.

Hi Donna:

Thanks for letting me know the scoop. I have since used the mic in a USB webcam that I have. It works pretty good.

Regards,

Gen

I'm suffering the same proble 😟
Did anyone provide a fix? and if so what?
Thanks.