Anyone having trouble getting Big Sur to recognize a USB microphone?

I've got an AKG Lyra that I just purchased in October. It was working perfectly until I upgraded to the latest version of Big Sur (11.4), and now it's not recognized in any of the USB ports on my MacBook Pro. It's not the microphone or the cable, as my wife's MacBook Air running 10.15.7 recognizes it just fine. It's also not the USB ports themselves, as my Apple SuperDrive is recognized immediately in any of the 4 ports.

MacBook Pro Retina

Posted on Jun 3, 2021 4:36 PM

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21 replies

Jul 22, 2021 9:55 AM in response to cocoloco182

I have been in touch with the company I purchased the mic from. My most recent communication from them was as follows: Hello,


"I just want to keep you updated on the current status of this case. I have continually checked up with AKG on this one and their team is still looking into compatibility with OS 11.4. To my understanding, it seems that some users are experiencing this and other are not so it still unclear. 


It seems that conducting the resets that apple had you try has helped some users. It was recommended that you try a few times as some experienced a solution but after more than one reset. For your convince, you can reference these articles should you choose to try the resets:


Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

How to reset the SMC of your Mac - Apple Support


I will keep you in contact with any further updates."


AKG's service department sent me the following:

"I had another tech try it out on a Mac system with Big Sur. He had tested it in Ableton initially, but it did not work. He then installed Audacity (another DAW which is free) and it prompted him for microphone permissions. It worked in Audacity, and then it showed in the Mac Security and privacy section for mic permissions. He was then able to check it for Ableton, and then it worked in Ableton.

 

So you could try installing Audacity and see if it prompts you for permissions or shows it in the mic permissions settings of the Mac."


Neither of these solutions worked for me, but I post them in the hopes that they will help someone.

 

Sep 26, 2021 1:23 PM in response to daniel_sam

Don’t hold your breath. I’ve been contacting Apple as well as AKG regarding the Lyra microphone not being recognized. Apple ran diagnostics on my end and nothing. They finally got back to me after their engineers tried to figure it out, and they said it may be either a driver on Lyra end or new drivers that need to be done. After speaking with AKG Lyra, it took less than five minutes for the gentleman to tell me that Apple does not want to admit that any MacBook Pro running Intel chip will not recognize USB microphone. Which is used to before Big Sur upgrade. If you are running a M1 chip usually on older MacBook pros, that will recognize it. This is very frustrating that Apple has not come up with a solution for this. AKG Lyra has pinpointed what the issue is and Apple is not recognizing it. How is a AKG Lyra microphones working on every other operating system and everything else except MacBook Pro‘s running Intel? It is an issue with Apple and their Intel chip. Please Apple resolve this. I have a microphone that is sitting on my desk that is a paperweight now.

Nov 15, 2021 4:15 PM in response to cocoloco182

That's insane. Apple has supported USB audio input since the stone ages and by that I mean since the original USB iMac.


I have a mic that has worked since forever on MANY generations of Apple software and hardware. Guess what? It doesn't show up on Big Sur. More interestingly if I plug it into the keyboard I get a lovely notice that my "Macally microphone" requires more power than the port provides. This proves the USB is communicating perfectly. Plugging it directly into the Mac lights it up, but it does NOT show in system profiler and not in Audio Input.


This is a bug in Big Sur, so please report it accordingly using the feedback assistant on your Macs.

Oct 11, 2021 9:20 AM in response to ankush919

I hear ya! I have posted my contact experience with Apple as well as a AKG Lyra. After a few diagnostics from Apple, they still were not able to resolve the issue. I spoke to someone at Apple and they said the same thing that it could be a driver issue with AKG. After calling AKG, the gentleman that I spoke to hit the nail right on the head. He said that it is not a driver issue, it is an issue with the MacBook Pro which I have, and having an Intel chip versus a M1 chip. I believe the M1 chip works with it. The Intel chip I believe is the issue. AKG says it is an Apple issue not AKG. As you can see, AKG Lyra microphones work on window based computer. It works with my work chrome book as well as my wife’s iPad. But not my MacBook Pro which I believe has the Intel chip. Very frustrating. Apple please resolve this. Like you, I have invested in the microphone and I would rather use it with my MacBook Pro versus my chrome book. If need be, I may have to use a Windows-based laptop which I am trying to avoid at least for now.

Aug 23, 2021 11:16 PM in response to Epiontko

Yes, I am experiencing the same thing with my AKG Lyra. I have contacted Apple and they sent an update but we are up to about 3 updates and it still isn't working. Will try contacting them again but I agree, if anyone else is experiencing the same thing, please contact Apple so that they try to resolve this. As of now, I have a great microphone THAT WAS WORKING prior to the updates; from December to May 2021. Now I have a paperweight for a microphone.

Oct 11, 2021 9:12 AM in response to vpmad1

I have the same issue I purchased AKG Lyra which is not working with my MacBook Pro 16 (2019). Tough it is working with my other windows computer.

I contacted apple support and they said that there could be some driver issue that could be resolved from AKG's side And I am unable to connect to AKG support for some unknown reason.


Has anyone found a solution it is causing me big problems with my workflow and I have heavily invested in these devises.



Jul 22, 2021 6:22 AM in response to vpmad1

I am having the same problem. I was on the phone with Apple support two times within two weeks. Each discussion lasting about an hour. They finally took diagnostics and said they will forward to the engineering department. But you are correct, my AKG Lyra microphone was working as of December 2020 up until about May 2021. My assumption is that the last upgrade must have dropped my MacBook Pros ability to recognize my AKG Lyra podcast essential microphone. It does work on my wife’s iPad as well as a Google chrome book. Very frustrating that I have a great microphone that I was using successfully and now I can’t use it with my MacBook Pro. Any help or suggestions would be great or any solutions if anyone has one. And by the way, with Apple tech-support, I rebooted, restarted, reinstalled etc. and still no success with recognizing microphone

Aug 23, 2021 2:03 PM in response to vpmad1

I have the same exact problem with my AKG lyra after the big sur updates. I talked to an apple staff and they had me update again but still my macbook pro is not recognizing my Lyra. I bought new thunderbolt cables too, just in case that was the issue, which didn't help. Very frustrating as I normally use the mic for work. It's hard enough being a musician during COVID, and now my mic doesn't work. Nice to read that others are experiencing similar problems so hopefully a solution will be found ASAP!

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Anyone having trouble getting Big Sur to recognize a USB microphone?

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