Volume changes automatically in iChat

Score!!!! Had a really good chat with an Apple Tech called Roberto. He says there is an Automatic Clip detection system built into iChat, this is what is lowering the volume all the time when things get loud. This is causing a problem as the overall level between the new iChat and previous versions is lower due to a new codec they are using. This is why it seems worst on laptop or computers with bad speakers.

We agreed to keep in contact via email, and will do follow up iChats in the future.

He's now going back to wherever to report the finding of our chat.

Hope this helps, soon.

Nate

Congrats.

Enterprising.

I wonder when that will hit the update routine ?

I would also guess it is something to do with 64Bit codecs as it does not effect my earlier MacBook Pro 1,1 (Core Duo 32 Bit)



7:45 PM Wednesday; December 9, 2009

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

I have the same problem on both my MacBook Pro's – February 07 and June 09 models. Video conference in Skypes produces much higher volume on both MBP's, whilst in iChat it is hard to hear unless in a complete silent room because the input level decreases.

Just one observation: I see there is a difference in the Input level in System Preference and in the input level in iChat Audio/Video preference. The System Preferences shows a higher sound level, but it might be just normal.

Hi,

The Blue Bar in System Preferences > SOund > Input has always shown higher then the green one in the iChat Video Preferences.

Another thread recently pointed out that they had a Message in Console about iChat constantly reducing the Echo(something about inhibiting that I forget right now).
Some sort of DeviceManager was trying to Sync the sound somehow.



8:44 PM Wednesday; December 16, 2009

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

i'm having problems of a similar manner. i've been using skype and ichat for a while now, even after my upgrade to snow leopard w/o any problems. just last week i was trying to talk to my dad on skype and he couldn't hear me. i checked all of my settings under 'preferences' and i couldn't get the mic to pick up any sound.. it was only when i tapped on the actual mic that the blue bar would jump. then the next day it was working again. this cycle has repeated.. my mic works, i'll be on skype, then it just stops working. i actually had the sound preferences window open this evening when i was talking to my dad.. i noticed that it started to increase the input volume to the very max (all on its own), and then my dad couldn't hear me again. it seems that something is adjusting my input volume way down such that skype is trying to compensate for it. i've looked under library/preferences and i do not have a com.apple.audio file anywhere. any ideas??

< Edited by Host >

lancecat wrote:
i'm having problems of a similar manner. i've been using skype and ichat for a while now, even after my upgrade to snow leopard w/o any problems. just last week i was trying to talk to my dad on skype and he couldn't hear me. i checked all of my settings under 'preferences' and i couldn't get the mic to pick up any sound.. it was only when i tapped on the actual mic that the blue bar would jump. then the next day it was working again. this cycle has repeated.. my mic works, i'll be on skype, then it just stops working. i actually had the sound preferences window open this evening when i was talking to my dad.. i noticed that it started to increase the input volume to the very max (all on its own), and then my dad couldn't hear me again. it seems that something is adjusting my input volume way down such that skype is trying to compensate for it. i've looked under library/preferences and i do not have a com.apple.audio file anywhere. any ideas??

(0) As you can see from the other posts in this thread, unexpected volume changes in iChat seem be Mac model dependent. Perhaps unexplained changes in Skype volume are also model dependent?

I cannot tell from your posted system info which Mac you use, but neither my Mac Pro nor my MacBook Pro exhibit unexplained volume changes. If you need to post back, please tell us which specific model of 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Mac is experiencing the problem you report.

Additionally, please clarify whether you are having difficulty ONLY in Skype or also with iChat.

It would also be helpful to know whether you have tried ALL relevant suggestions already offered in this thread or whether you are only now starting your troubleshooting process.
(1) Concerning your missing "com.apple.audio" file, you may be looking in your ~ ( Home) folder.
 
Instead, look in your Mac's startup drive Library/Preferences folder (NOT your Mac's System/Library folder.)

(2) Regardless of whether your problem is limited ONLY to Skype, consider searching or posting in Skype's dedicated OS X forum linked at http://forum.skype.com/

The Skype users who post there may have already solved your problem when using Skype.



Of course, we will try to help here if we can, but you may get quicker or better help for Skype-specific issues from other Skype users.

EZ Jim



MacPro QuadCore(Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/MacOSX (10.6.2)  MacBookPro(13inch,Mid2009) 2.26GHz(10.6.2)
LED Cinema Display  G4PowerBook1.67GHz(10.4.11)  iBookSE366MHz(10.3.9)  External iSight

Hi,

If you Open Console (Applications/Utilities) are you getting a Log item about Echo cancellation ?



7:33 PM Wednesday; December 30, 2009

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

EZ Jim,

(0): aight, sorry for the lack of clarity.. i've got an intel imac, 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, running OS X 10.6.2. i've only noticed the audio dying when using skype, but i don't think that its skype that is triggering the loss of the microphone, i just happen to notice it when using skype (i don't use the mic for anything other than video chats). for example, i just came home from work and the mic wasn't working, skype has not been opened all day.

(1): thank you, i've been able to find the com.apple.audio files, i was looking in my home directory. i've placed the entire audio file into the trash, restarted the machine (skype not running on startup), and the mic is still not functioning.

(2): i have looked around on the skype forums, not finding any answers there. seems there was a problem with skype automatically increasing/decreasing the mic volume slider to adjust for ambient/background noise, but that was for a much earlier version of skype. i did notice that skype was adjusting the slider to to a higher volume, and when it reached the highest level, my mic soon died. i think this was skype trying to compensate for the mic's input level dropping.

i appreciate all the help so far, i guess if all else fails i can buy a cheap mic and just plug it into the line-in port.. i don't think its a hardware issue, as it seems that if that were the case, the mic would just not work period. it works sometimes, sometimes not.

Your're welcome, lancecat

Thanks for the clarifications, too. If the following suggestions do not let you resolve your problem, your new info may give someone else other ideas that can help you.

re: (0) You could test your mic with some Apple apps like iChat, even if do not use it connected. If you do not use iChat for any AV chats, you can still set it up and check for mic level changes while watching the VU meter in iChat > Preferences... > Audio/Video.
 
iMovie is another candidate for testing. Even without actually making a recording (which is the test I would likely choose,) you can check mic response and levels in the voiceover pane.

If any of the Apple apps work properly, reinstalling the latest version of Skype compatible with your system may be worth trying.

re: (1) You can try shutting down your Mac and then cold booting rather than merely restarting. Then try the tests above.

You can also test your Skype (or a reinstalled version) in another user account to see if the problem is user-specific.

re: (2) Don't miss the help Ralph Johns is offering you in his latest suggestion:

  http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10818615&#10818615

Ralph KNOWS about AV chatting, so pay particular attention to his suggestions.

Cheers,
EZ Jim



MacPro QuadCore(Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/MacOSX (10.6.2)  MacBookPro(13inch,Mid2009) 2.26GHz(10.6.2)
LED Cinema Display  G4PowerBook1.67GHz(10.4.11)  iBookSE366MHz(10.3.9)  External iSight

Hi Guys,

After talking with Apple a few months ago, Apple listened to what I had to say. They talked with me via iChat a few times, and sent me some test stuff to try out. So today, my complaint about iChat to Steve Jobs has been fixed and addresses in the new 10.6.3 update.

I have been using the fix for the past month or so and its great!!

iChat is back!!!!!!

Nathan

Combo Update Download site http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1017



9:20 PM Monday; March 29, 2010

Given that I'm running 10.6.3 and I'm still seeing this bug in EVERY APPLICATION I RUN THAT USES A MICROPHONE - I'd say the bug is very not fixed.

Heck even if you run no applications at all, just Open System Preferences > Sound and select your microphone and start talking, and you'll see the system automatically start reducing your input volume... lower... and lower... and lower.

It's a huge bug in MacOSX and affects every application where you would use a microphone.

The Core of the bug is that there's no way to LOCK the input volume. Simply allowing me to LOCK the input volume would fix the problem.

There's also a thread about this BUG over on the SKYPE forums as well ->
http://forum.skype.com/topic/39418-mac-volume-has-a-mind-of-its-own/page_gopid_2641361#entry2641361