External mic not working with Apple Facebook app

Folks, I have tried everything that has been suggested and nothing is working to get the external mic to FBLive. I am using an iPhone 11 Pro with a Rode Go to send from a soundboard to Facebook Live. Up until this week, I could get it to work by plugging in the lightning cable last. This week it simply would not connect.

Its not due to iOS 14.2. I substituted an older iPhone (with 14.2) and it worked fine.

I tried checking the phone control panel (swipe down from right corner). It shows the source as the headphones (not internal mic). So this didn't resolve it. I checked the lightning adapter with a headset and the microphone is working.

By process of elimination it seems like its the i11. But it was working until last week. What changed???

I really would appreciate any insight as to why this might be happening. Much appreciated.

I wish I knew what happened. I record a ton of interviews and go FB Live from time to time. I’ve used microphones and FB live picked up the Audio just fine but now it’s a problem and I do NOT like it at all.

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.

Did you start the external source first, then start FBLive, then unplug and reconnect the lightning cable? That seems to be the most common workaround (and worked for me until last Sunday when it just wouldn’t connect at all).

Happened to me after the previous update. Found the “plug in after you start” solution to work, although ridiculous because viewers hear all the popping, static and shaking during the process. But after a little while that stopped working as well. I almost feel like this is by design from FB.

What is contemptuous is that I posted on here weeks ago, and the string of comments have continued for what really is a very damning problem for Facebook and Apple together. How in the **** is it that no one from either FB or Apple aren't reading this, responding or even reacting is beyond me. This is a major problem!! Like WTF?! I think this should be raised to the next level. I have contacts at larger outlets like CNN that might be able to expose this issue. It's a **** shame that something as commonly used is a major failure. It's ridiculous to read all of these people trying to bandaid their way around a fundamental function.

Perhaps. I was pretty elaborate with my issue and explanation. I even linked directly to this forum. I think I will call tomorrow. Be nice if lots of us would call that number and relay the issue. Still likely a small problem in the Apple world. So not sure what good it will do. For me, my phone still works with the “plug it in after you go live” method. I delayed on the update but ended up doing it and it still works. I tried it with someone else’s phone and it did not work at all. I’m still using MOVO as my device. Holding my breath for the day at stops working.

Couldn't get the external source (mixer) to work again this morning, trying to send to FBLive via my i11 Pro (iOS 14.3) and a Rode Wireless Pro. Did all the workarounds, to no avail. Confirmed that the phone was getting a signal via the native video app. Then I swapped in an old first gen iPhone SE (iOS 14.2) and it worked immediately. This issue has been a topic for weeks and we can't seem to get any attention from Apple (or Facebook). This is nuts.

I’m glad it worked for you. Unfortunately, my Røde Wireless Go doesn’t work on my iPhone XR with iOS 14.2 when I try to livestream on FB. The mic works with other apps and was working well with FB live until Dec. 19 or so.

Indeed. The Prism Live app works great. In fact I will no longer be using Facebook app directly for Live Stream even if they fix it. Used Prism twice this weekend and no issues. So thankful that it works.

I just tried the streamlabs app but i can only go live with my external mic on my business page. about to try the Prism app maybe i can livestream from my regular page which is what i need right now, thanks peeps

https://youtu.be/VBAGvjQ1WME

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.

We just went live on Facebook today and the mic worked. We started the live and let it get going for a couple of seconds then plugged in our external Sennheiser mic and it worked. We were using an Apple iPhone 12 with iOS version 14. 2 We have not updated to 14.3

Today my Rode will not work with Facebook live. Previously I had worked out the bug ... where you have to plug the mic in after the broadcast starts. Now, this doesn't work, nor does it work to plug it in first. Any ideas? I'm updating my iPhone now, hoping that fixes it.

I just took a look at Prism Live, and it doesn't seem to have the flexibility of FB Live. For example, with FB Live I can do a session posted just to me, to check the audio levels and mix, before I go public. Also, I stream via access to our Church's FB acct that was granted to my FB acct. I don't see that Prism Live can differentiate the two separate accounts. It only sees one FB acct. Does anyone know if Prism Live can accommodate these kinds of issues? Thanks.