Monterey 12.1 external USB mic issues

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Level 1

25 points

Monterey 12.1 external USB mic issues

Recently installed 12.1 and having issues with FaceTime recognizing my external mic (tried on both Shure MV5 and Rode NT-USB Mini). When connected, the mic shows input level in the Sound setting. Noticed in FaceTime/View, the external mic only shows up in Output, not Microphone. Having similar issues with Zoom not recognizing the default sound settings. In Zoom however, I've been able to manually toggle between the default and external mic to activate it. There are other threads here reporting the same issue. Also been working closely with Apple tier 2 support but nothing yet. So far have created a separate test user account, booted in safe mode, completely wiped my system and reinstalled 12.1 and many other attempted fixes. None have worked. Per another user, I plan on installing the earlier 12.0.1 on an external SSD to see if that works. Will update this thread with the results. BTW, I replicated exactly the same issues on my wife's M1 also recently updated to 12.1. This makes me think it's a widespread issue.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.1

Posted on Dec 16, 2021 9:03 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

awillimd Author

Level 1

25 points

Jan 28, 2022 7:10 AM in response to Ryan Webber

Just got off a call with an Apple senior adviser. He took screen shots and uploaded diagnostic info via a screen share. He's sharing with Apples engineering team. We have another call scheduled for Monday to hear what the engineering team says. Will update everyone on outcome.

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Answer 2

Dec 16, 2021 9:26 AM in response to awillimd

I do not have an actual USB microphone, but I do have the Griffin iMic device, that connects via USB and provides sound input and output. I connected a regular microphone to it, so it becomes essentially a USB mic too.

In System Preferences, it appears, correctly, as both input and output device.

It also appears as an input choice in Quicktime Player, and Final Cut Pro, and it works.

In FaceTime, just like you, I also can only see it as output, and not input.

I suppose that if it is selected in System Preferences as the system input, and if in FaceTime one chooses "Use System Setting", that should result as a viable workaround to what seems to be a bug in FaceTime.

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Answer 3

awillimd Author

Level 1

25 points

Dec 16, 2021 9:42 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

In FaceTime/Video, all my other Sound/Input devices (MacBook Air Microphone, CalDigit Thunderbolt 3 Audio, Razer Kiyo) appear correctly in the Microphone section except for my external Shure or Rode mic. Those two mics do appear in the Output section. For some reason 12.1 is not porting the mic that it correctly identifies in the Sound setting to either FaceTime or Zoom that are using the external mics. I can confirm, like you, that the mic works in Quicktime Player. Haven't tried it yet in Final Cut Pro.

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Answer 4

Dec 17, 2021 12:47 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I have the same issue, and if you select the usb mic through System pref and same over FaceTime menu, it still doesn't work. Same for WhatsApp for Mac. My mic works with FCXP, SKYPE and Signal and others audio Apps as Logic and ocenaudio. Hopefully apple will read this and fix this on a next update. I tried with a Shure mv7 usb and a Zoom F6 + other xlr mics plugged. Nothing.

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Answer 5

Dec 17, 2021 1:13 AM in response to roland1970

You cannot expect the Apple engineers to read this forum.

What we all must do (the more people who report it the most likely it is fixed soon) is to report it using the feedback page:

https://www.apple.com/feedback

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Answer 6

Jan 27, 2022 8:39 PM in response to roland1970

Problem persists in 12.2. Unable to select my external microphone via my Scarlett Solo USB interface in FaceTime. Every other application including QuickTime recognizes the microphone and can record to it. I tried a clean install, no dice.

I've submitted feedback to apple via the feedback app and the website.

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Answer 7

Jan 29, 2022 10:06 AM in response to Audioguy415

I spent over an hour with Apple support yesterday. They acknowledged that this is now a known issue reported other users. They captured data from one of my MBPs to verify the issue and have sent it to engineering. I was promised a feedback call by next Tuesday. We'll see...

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Answer 8

awillimd Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 1, 2022 10:16 AM in response to awillimd

Seems like there is another, similar thread to this one so apologies for cross-posting. Have spent considerable time with Apple senior advisor on this issue over the past few days. They've taken screen shots and uploaded technical data from my computer to Apple Engineering. Report from my call today is that Apple is aware of the issue from several different users and is currently working on a fix. Currently they don't know what's causing the issue. They suggest keeping system updated with the latest release as they will push out a fix with a new release (didn't commit to when). There is nothing wrong with my MacBook Air M2 nor with the external USB mics (Sure MV5 and Rode USB). Senior advisor did suggest that as many users as possible should report the issue as the more technical data Apple Engineering has the better. As I require my external mic to work, I will continue to use 12.0.1 as my active boot (the last known stable release before this became a problem) and will continue to update my test boot that is on an external SSD. Will update that one and test to see if it's fixed. Will report if fixed.

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Answer 9

Feb 22, 2022 5:34 AM in response to awillimd

Initially, after upgrading to Monterey, the Blue Yeti was working. But after 12.2.1 (21D62), it is simply not working at all. Even weirder, it is detected right after session starts, but after few seconds the mic input starts blinking (in and out) like if you were plugging and deplugging the plug, and then it just disapear.

This is very very very bad

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Answer 10

Feb 22, 2022 6:37 AM in response to lekchoubadaktony

lekchoubadaktony wrote:

Initially, after upgrading to Monterey, the Blue Yeti was working. But after 12.2.1 (21D62), it is simply not working at all. Even weirder, it is detected right after session starts, but after few seconds the mic input starts blinking (in and out) like if you were plugging and deplugging the plug, and then it just disapear.

This is very very very bad

Test to see if the mic works:

a) in a new user account

b) in your account, when booted in Safe Mode

Most likely, some software that loads when you log in is causing problems with the mic.

Please run Etrecheck and post its full report here. Use the "additional text" button and paste the report into the text box.

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Answer 11

vencap

Level 1

8 points

Feb 27, 2022 6:54 PM in response to awillimd

I am having this issue as well. I'm able to see the microphone working in the Sound app seeing that the input is working. I'm unable to use my Blue Yeti Pro microphone when using Safari and Facetime.

Interestingly, I am able to get this working when connecting to my Google Meet meetings using Chrome, but the microphone does not work, and I don't even see it as an option in the meeting settings when connecting to the same meeting in Safari. I've checked the Safari preferences -> websites -> microphone and the meet.google.com site is set to "Always".

Note - I first noticed this issue when trying to use my Bose NC 700 headphones in a video call on Safari. The microphone was not working, so this does not appear to be an issue with a specific microphone, rather all external microphones (maybe just non-Apple?) when using Safari and Facetime.

2020 Macbook Pro M1 (MacBookPro17,1)

Monterey 12.2.1

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