Volume changes automatically in iChat

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Level 5

5,151 points

Volume changes automatically in iChat

This is a new one for me...

I set the volume in the Sound preference pane to maximum over the internal mic when using iChat..

When I am talking to other people, I see the input volume automatically change when I talk.
It will go down to 90% and then when I talk again it will go down some more, and then more, and then down to 50% and seems to stay there.
However, at 50%, the other people can hardly hear me even though they have there output volume set up all the way...

When I quit iChat, the volume goes back up to where it was before opening up iChat so it appears that something in iChat is definitely doing this automatially.

I haven't seen this behavior before.
I trashed the 2 audio preferences in Library/Preferences/Audio and restarted but that didn't help.

Any suggestions on what preferences might be automatically changing the input sound level?

iMac 20 (Core 2 Duo), MacBook (Core 2 Duo), Mac Mini (Core 2 Duo), Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Oct 6, 2009 12:54 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 6, 2009 1:33 PM in response to Joseph Kriz

Hi,

There is another thread either here or in iChat 3 that states the same thing with about 5 or six other people saying "me too"

The first Suggestion was to delete the com.apple.AudioDevices.Settings.plist and trying the new one in the Audio Folder (in /Library/Preferences)

However neither seems to have worked.

I have not found a suggestion as to what is causing this.
I suspect an interaction with an Add-On that was added for Leopard. (SoundFlower was an issues in early iChat 4)
ShowMacster has a Volume control setting but I have yet to try it on my Snow Leopard/iChat 5 Install

It seems to only effect Laptops and iMacs
This may point to a link with closing off the Left hand speaker in Laptops as that is where the Internal Mic is.

9:33 PM Tuesday; October 6, 2009

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Answer 2

Joseph Kriz Author

Level 5

5,151 points

Oct 6, 2009 1:43 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Ralph,

Yes, I posted in the iChat 3 before I found out there was also the newer iChat here in the Snow Leopard forum.

I did do a search but couldn't find anything directly related.

This is on my wife's iMac aluminum.
We never had any 3rd party add ons so not sure why this is happening.
My MacBook and Mac Mini work just fine.

Will try your suggestion and let you know what I come up with...

Thanks

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Answer 3

uucat

Level 1

0 points

Oct 16, 2009 1:20 PM in response to Joseph Kriz

HI

I'm getting the same thing in Skype. When making a call the internal mic level moves up and down seemingly randomly. Its incredibly annoying, because there's no logical reason for the input level changes, it doesn't do it based on whats necessary....

Any more info on how to stop this would be great.

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Answer 4

Joseph Kriz Author

Level 5

5,151 points

Nov 10, 2009 12:52 PM in response to Joseph Kriz

This still doesn't appear to be fixed with 10.6.2

The Mac Minis I have work properly but not the iMac 7,1

Why does the input volume go down automatically when talking in iChat ???

If you open up System Preferences/ Sound / and click on the input tab / you can see the volume automatically go down when you talk....

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Answer 5

Nov 10, 2009 2:46 PM in response to Joseph Kriz

Does it change if you do a Get Info on the App itself (Applications folder) and set it to open in 32 bit mode (you list a Core 2 Duo).

10:46 PM Tuesday; November 10, 2009

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Answer 6

Joseph Kriz Author

Level 5

5,151 points

Nov 10, 2009 3:31 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Ralph,

Yes, I did try 32 bit mode but that didn't change anything.

This only started with Snow Leopard.
10.6, 10.6.1, and now 10.6.2 all do it...

It sure would be nice to figure out what is causing this.

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Answer 7

Nov 11, 2009 11:58 AM in response to Joseph Kriz

Hi Joseph,

In previous versions of the OS on Laptops the Left hand speaker - where the Internal Mic is - has been cut in certain Apps such as iChat to stop Feedback.

This action sounds like it is related - albeit via a dynamic method.

What I have failed to find yet is which of the .plists that used to control the Audio in the same way it was done in at least Tiger and Leopard.

com.apple.systempreferences.plist gets altered if you change the Tab in System Preferences > Sound pane but also if the Volume only is changed (I used the Cover Flow view and highlighted the Modified column)
It takes a few moments fro the .plist to show a change.
I also looked at the .plist with Property List Editor (Part of the Developers Tools Install - Optional Installs on the Install Disk) where I can not see a specific Volume reference.

I did the same with the Hard Drive/Library/Preferences Folder but nothing showed a new modified time.

That would suggest that to potentially get the volume to reset that com.apple.systempreferences.plist would have to be deleted.
It would be best to restart the computer then.
All the Preferences in System Preferences would then have to be reset - Date a Time, Language and Text, Screen Saver, Mouse, Keyboard, Sharing + Network Settings and anything else you had changed.

This may be too destructive to try.

7:58 PM Wednesday; November 11, 2009

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

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Answer 8

Joseph Kriz Author

Level 5

5,151 points

Nov 13, 2009 12:02 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Ralph,

Well, I did try what you suggested.

I moved the com.apple.systempreferences to the trash but did not empty the trash.

I restarted immediately and then opened up iChat....
Same problem with the volume changing automatically by lowering itself as I talk.

The next thing I might try is installing a retail copy of Snow Leopard on an external disk with nothing else on it or added.
Then try iChat..
If the sound still changes then, it would be something with Snow Leopard and the iMac 7,1....

I will try to get to the bottom of this when I have time.

Thanks again

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Answer 9

Nov 13, 2009 12:38 PM in response to Joseph Kriz

Hi,

I am sorry that did not work and the Plan sounds like a Good Idea.

8:38 PM Friday; November 13, 2009

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

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Answer 10

Nov 19, 2009 8:33 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi all,

any news about a way to solve this bug?

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Answer 11

Nov 19, 2009 12:05 PM in response to Claudio Grandi

This issue is still Work in Progress I am afraid.

8:05 PM Thursday; November 19, 2009

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Answer 12

nathug

Level 1

4 points

Nov 24, 2009 6:38 AM in response to Joseph Kriz

Hi,

I sent in a bug report to Apple yesterday, and just added a link to this forum thread. Fingers crossed.

Nate

PS Here's the link: https://bugreport.apple.com/

Maybe more of use can send in a Bug Report?

Message was edited by: nathug

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Answer 13

Joseph Kriz Author

Level 5

5,151 points

Nov 25, 2009 11:42 AM in response to nathug

nathug,

Your profile says you are running 10.5.7.... ????
I didn't have any problems with 10.5.x Leopard, I am only having problems with Snow Leopard 10.6.x

Also, which series of iMac do you have?

My wife's is a 20 inch mid 2007 machine id 7,1

I haven't had time yet to try installing Snow Leopard with a clean install on an external HD and booting from that which is my next trial...

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Answer 14

Nov 28, 2009 1:03 PM in response to Joseph Kriz

Yes, Volume has suddenly lowered with the upgrade to 10.6.2. Count me in on the problems.

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Answer 15

nathug

Level 1

4 points

Nov 30, 2009 12:21 PM in response to Joseph Kriz

I've been around here for so long forgot to update. I'm on 10.6.2 on all computers. Problems started with Snow Leopard.

Nate

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