External mic not working with Apple Facebook app

IT'S FIXED!!! FINALLY!!!

I've just done several tests and Facebook iOS version 305.0 WORKS without having to use ANY other program AND the mic can be plugged into the iPhone BEFORE you start Facebook Live! Using an iPhone 11 Pro Max with the Apple lighting adapter and a simple lapel mic.

One iPhone secret you may not know. If you go to updates, and PULL DOWN ON THE SCREEN AND HOLD FOR 3-5 SECONDS, then let go, OFTEN you will be see many more updates show up. I have had it show maybe 2 updates, or even none, and after pulling down the screen and letting go I've suddenly had 20+ updates sometimes show up.

I called Rode. The technician told me that this problem is widespread, not limited to Rode devices and it emerged when Facebook did iOS 14.2 in November.  It’s some issue as between Apple and Facebook apps. He told me to make sure that you could record through the Rode onto your native video app to confirm it’s not an issue with the phone. I did that and the video recording indeed was sound thru the Rode. I noticed there is a brand new iOS 14.3 that has just been released.  I installed it on my phone and ran a new test and finally FBLive was getting sound from the mixer thru my iPhone11. I don’t think it’s just due to 14.2, as I wasn’t having this issue with an old iPhone with 14.2. Maybe something associated with Apple’s deletion of a headphone jack and using the lighting port for sound/mic and charging??? Anyway, today I was able to reestablish mixer to FBLive via Rode.

I was able to get it to work by starting the video first and then plugging it in a second after, then wait for the "Headphones" text to show up on the screen. You can see how crazy it looks in the beginning of this video https://fb.watch/2QCjUiZnTR/ but there is nothing else we can do to get around it. The audio is so much better with the lav. Good luck everyone.

iPhone XS, iOS 14.3, Been on Facebook live using iRig Pro Duo as interface. That way I’ve been doing livemusic performances since May 2020.

Since yesterday I have this problem.

in the following link IK Multimedia offered a work around using a free app.

immediately tried it and it worked,

The app, iRig Recorder, running on the background in record mode, then starting Facebook Live worked for me

Here’s the solution from IK Multimedia https://www.ikmultimedia.com/faq/?id=1272

The iRig recorder app worked for me! I don’t even have to start recording, I just have to open the app, then go to Facebook and start the live stream. The key is the Background Audio setting in the iRig app, which lets the app keep controlling the mic input even when it goes to the background.

Just tried the proposed workaround today and it works fine. I downloaded the iRig Recorder LE app (it's free on the App Store) and changed the default setting for Background Audio from "off" to "on" (it's in the settings on your profile (top right) rather than the settings for the recording itself). You just need to have this app open (no need to start any actual recordings) and running in the background which forces the phone to use the external input.

Then I went into Facebook and started a live stream and it picked up the external microphone. Thanks to the person who suggested this workaround.

I couldn't find the app in my iPhone but you can search for it and once it is running you will see the time in the top left hand side of your iphone screen change to have a red background which happens when the app is running.

I am on IOS 14.3 and using an iPhone 11 Pro Max and Rode microphones and a TASCAM mixing deck for recording.

I got it!!!

1 - start Live without microphones attached.

2 - plug in mic

3 - swipe down from top right corner to reveal settings

4 - in the audio settings box - tap the output symbol in the top right corner.

5 - select headphones.

6 - return to live

Here the video of my Live test. I put my external mic next to Alexa to pic up music.

https://www.facebook.com/1036238181/videos/10221615090500021/

I can confirm that the iRig workaround is actually working. I tried it several times. But there's one important thing: The Background Audio must have been turned on LAST time you used the iRig, i.e. the first time you need to start the iRig, turn the Background Audio on, close the iRig and then start it again. The following times you only have to start iRig once because the Background Audio was turned on last time you used iRig.

When you minimize the iRig you can see that the Background Audio is active if the microphone dot is visible in the upper right corner and the time with red background in the upper left corner (at least on my iPhone 12).

Good luck!

iPhone 12 Mini, 14.4; Facebook 305.0.0.48.115

It works if I start Facebook, start livestreaming, and then plug in the external mic. It no longer requires iRig. Still hoping for a change where I can plug in the external mic first, and then start livestreaming.

Don’t look now but it’s fixed! Latest version 306, IOS 14.4

Tried on iPhone 12, iPad Air 2, iPad Mini4, plugging before starting Facebook, after starting Facebook, 2 livestream in a row, all worked using no workarounds. I will never update Facebook again before testing on at least one device first. THANK YOU FACEBOOK!

Some people seem to be missing the solution. You need the Facebook update, not necessarily the IOS update. I was doing weekly FBLive sessions much of 2020 on my iPhone 11. Then in December the external input would not inactive the internal mics. I've been following this forum, hoping the bug would be fixed. 3 weeks ago it was. I've done 3 weekly FBLive sessions, and many more tests.

Download the most recent FB update: voila!

Missed the Facebook v306 update by a few days but figured v307 couldn't be any worse that what I was running...

I am pleased to say that it worked perfectly today for our Sunday mass broadcast!

Launched Facebook, got the Live post ready, plugged the hot external audio into the lightning port, started broadcasting and it worked like it's supposed to. I will now remain on v307 for the rest of my days. ;-)

iPhone 7

iOS 14.4

Facebook v307

I've been following this thread since Nov and I'm happy to say that Facebook's most recent update seems to have fixed the problem. My wife has been live streaming and I got her the Rode Wireless Go and SC6-L. Everything was fine until around November.

We just tested it today and the SC6-L worked correctly and we did not have to wait to plug it in. FB immediately recognized it. I hope that this continues to stay this way.

Long story short, update your FB iPhone app ASAP

I have the same problem AND the same solution that Richbarrier mentioned.

I have to start the Facebook live bbroadcast first, then plug in my external mic. Only thing I have found so far that works.