I cannot get my external USB yeti microphone to work with dictation. The microphone is recognised when I am in the settings but it does not switch to it even though it is selected when the laptop is closed. This has been working previously in my old MacBook Pro running Catalina.
Hi there, crainiac200.
Let's look at the computers were dealing with directly. You mentioned that the older Mac didn't have this issue and the newer one does. Does your newer Mac have the Apple T2 Security Chip? If you're not sure, check the list in About the Apple T2 Security Chip, This is important as if your newer Mac does have this built in, the microphone functionality is disabled with the Mac closed as a security precaution, which would explain why you notice a behavioral difference between the two Macs.
Hopefully that sheds some light on this for you.
Have a great day!
Hi there, crainiac200.
Let's look at the computers were dealing with directly. You mentioned that the older Mac didn't have this issue and the newer one does. Does your newer Mac have the Apple T2 Security Chip? If you're not sure, check the list in About the Apple T2 Security Chip, This is important as if your newer Mac does have this built in, the microphone functionality is disabled with the Mac closed as a security precaution, which would explain why you notice a behavioral difference between the two Macs.
Hopefully that sheds some light on this for you.
Have a great day!
Hey crainiac200,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities! I'd be glad to look into why your external mic isn't working as expected on your Mac.
You mentioned that it isn't working when the laptop is closed, so it sounds like you may be connected to an external display and using closed-display mode. Is that right? If so, does the mic work for dictation when the Mac isn't closed? Also, while closed, does the mic work in any other areas, such as Quicktime Player or anything else that will let you record or at least make a note if sound is being made. Also, do you have another mic to test with this to see if the behavior is uniform across all mics or specific to just this particular one?
Looking forward to hearing back from you.
Be well!
You mentioned that it isn't working when the laptop is closed, so it sounds like you may be connected to an external display and using closed-display mode. Is that right?
Yes that is correct. What is so strange is that I have been using it exactly the same way with an older MacBook Pro which I want to send off for battery repair.
If so, does the mic work for dictation when the Mac isn't closed?
Yes. It picks up the internal microphone when the Mac is open.
Also, while closed, does the mic work in any other areas, such as Quicktime Player or anything else that will let you record or at least make a note if sound is being made.
Yes. It works perfectly with zoom and in fact even in the setting for dictation I can set the microphone in the settings to the yeti microphone, but it does not seem to accept that change because when the settings dialogue is closed it doesn't see that input.
Also, do you have another mic to test with this to see if the behavior is uniform across all mics or specific to just this particular one?
I have another Logitec camera which has a microphone built-in as well, that too does not pick up either.
Thanks for your help!
Dictation microphone with Catalina
