Just switched to Monterey and having audio problem on Facetime and Whatsapp calls

I have this same setup (MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017)), and after installing Monterey 12.1, FaceTime static is so bad it's unusable, which is unfortunate because I use my computer for most of my work and personal calls. I bought a USB webcam and I still have the same static issue. I may revert back to an older version of Monterey. I wish Apple would fix this ASAP.

FaceTime User link proivided by karina184:

"Change audio options for FaceTime calls on Mac

On macOS Monterey (and on Mac models 2018 and later), spatial audio makes it sound like your friends are in the room with you."

So the spacial audio feature appears to be the problem. There was no problem on Monterey 12.0; but when updated to Monterey 12.1 it is now affecting pre-2018 Macs.

We Have 2 Macs:

1st: iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) - Not Affected

2nd: iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, Late 2015) - Due to Choppy & Crackling Audio, can no longer communicate on FaceTime Calls.

Same issue here!

2017 iMac (OS 12.1), scratchy, crackly audio input on FT and WhatsApp - Zoom is fine as is are all other audio applications. Suspect that previous poster comment about audio API is correct. Recording audio from internal mic on Firefox is perfect.

2018 MacBook Air (OS 12.1) - perfect.

I have same problem on my Mac mini late 2014 running 12.1.

Can anyone check if issue is also present when making regular GSM calls on Mac (no incoming audio from internal speaker during the call)? In my case this issue is also present during regular cellphone call from Mac.

I have the same problem. My audio does not work onGoogle Meets, FaceTime, and Doxy. Zoom does work. My Mac is a 2016 as well. It is so frustrating, because I use (Doxy) daily to meet virtually with clients. It would be really helpful is Apple made a patch or responded to this thread. It is becoming very frustrating.

Serious issues here, too. I have a Mac Mini (M1, 2020), upgraded today from Big Sur (waited a LONG time so that I could avoid junk like this). Video quality (my video, outbound) on Zoom is horrible compared with Big Sur. Is "not good" on Teams but so-so. On FaceTime, video quality is great but audio is TERRIBLE. The person I've called is scared by it: my voice is about 2 octaves deeper, like some kind of serial killer using cloaked sound. Same exact thing happens when I make or answer calls using my Mac (calls from iPhone). I know it uses FaceTime to answer the iPhone's call on my Mac so it seems like FaceTime is a huge part of the problem, but then I also have the video quality issues (my video, outbound) on Zoom and Teams.

I think it's important to clarify that there are two different issues here.

1. No sound whatsoever from Facetime, Whatsapp & similar for 2016 Macbooks, 2014 Mac minis & similar. This is the issue that started this thread. I have raised a bug report for this but heard *nothing*.

2. Crackly/poor quality noise on 12.1 for other (more modern) machines, which may or may not be related to issue 1. Noone on this thread says they have raised a bug report for this.

Issue 2 appears to be fixable using the ambient noise reduction de-selection, possibly, but as yet no solution has come up for issue 1. Not sure why I'm clarifying this as it doesn't look like we're getting Apple engagement in this thread, so somewhat shouting into the void here.

Is it common practice for Apple employees to comment status of reported bugs on this forum?

I though this forum is 100% contributed by customers.

I wish there was some kind of online bug tracking tool that would allow to check up to date information of well known issues confirmed by Apple.

As far as I understand bug was already reported but we have not received any feedback from Apple.

This issue is about no incoming audio from other end during audio/video and audio calls (including cellular calls from iPhone via FaceTime audio on Mac) for 2016 Macbooks, 2014 Mac minis & similar.

Third party software like WhatsApp is also affected but Zoom/Skype is working fine.

My case has been escalated to the engineers at Apple - expecting a response in the next day or two.

A reinstall of 12.1 was also completed, general consensus is that this is an audio API bug that crept in with 12.1, affecting Safari/WhatsApp/Screenshare/Facetime (on my 2017 iMac anyway) - Zoom is fine as are all other audio applications.

Hey all,

Just wanted to say that I tried all the suggestions listed and nothing worked. I finally called Apple Support and after an hour and half of un-installing and installing. The sound works no matter what platform. I would highly recommend calling and going through the process.

This is happening on my Mac Mini (late 2014) with 12.1, which was installed on January 14, 2022. This problem was noticed yesterday (Monday) but may have been happening before the weekend.

Zoom works, Photo Booth now works. I had to go into safe mode and run first aid as the Photo Booth Video file would be corrupt.

Using headphone jack and a usb camera.

Yes same problem here, exactly how it is described by others. When I am on a call with someone on facetime or Whatsapp. The audio is really bad, cracking and squeaking. All audio, so also when playing a youtube video for instance, then when I hang up the audio returns to normal.

I updated to 12.2 this morning. I still have the crackling noise when using FaceTime. When I use headphones (either wired or AirPods), my end of the call stops the static, but the other end still experiences it.