How to adjust built-in mic gain

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Level 1

5 points

How to adjust built-in mic gain

I need a gain control for my built-in mic.

System Preferences -> Sound -> Input shows a gain slider (called input volume) and a level meter (called input level) but the gain slider has no effect on the level (except when I slide it to zero, which mutes the mic). This makes no sense to me.

When I use QuickTime Player to record, it allows selecting the sound source. Choices are External Microphone (which is what Apple calls its internal microphone), SoundFlower, BlackHole and Zoom Audio Device. When I select External Microphone, it records fine. Again, the input volume slider has no effect. But if I set Preferences -> Sound -> Output to either SoundFlower or BlackHole, and QuickTime to the same, I get no sound. This also makes no sense.

There are numerous other instances of the macOS sound system making no sense to me. I have tried to find explanations for how the sound system works inside, but come up empty handed.

macOS Mojave version 10.14.6 (but same problem since Mavericks).

iMac 21.5" late 2013

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Apr 25, 2022 8:42 PM

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Answer 1

mikeg28806

Community Specialist

Apr 26, 2022 2:53 PM in response to HenryP.

Thanks for posting in the Apple Support Communities HenryP,

The built-in mic on your Mac, is usually labeled as "Name: Internal Microphone - Type: Built-in" in System Preferences.

If you disconnect all external peripherals, do the sound input options change? If so, is there any change when the input volume is adjusted while accessories are disconnected?

If so, connect your devices again, one at a time, while viewing the Sound preferences pane, to see whether any of the devices change the available options shown to you.

The following page also offers information that may be helpful: Change the sound input settings on Mac

We hope this helps!

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Answer 2

nick_h2

Community Specialist

Apr 29, 2022 6:28 AM in response to HenryP.

Hello HenryP,

It sounds like you've tested the situation deeply. If you haven't already try the steps below to see if the same issue occurs:

How to use safe mode on your Mac

Do you notice the same issue in another user?

Make sure to Contact Apple Support directly to go over this and further steps to try.

We hope this helps.

Cheers.

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Answer 3

HenryP. Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 28, 2022 5:18 PM in response to mikeg28806

Thank you Mike G. That helped a bit. I now know that:

a) The earphone port can be used as a mic port, and that is what

"System Perferences -> Sound -> Input -> External Microphone" points to.

b) The internal microphone does NOT appear in the Sound -> Input list.

c) Un-installing Soundflower and BlackHole reduces the Sound -> Input list to just "External Microphone".

d) Re-starting the computer does not change the fact that the "Input volume" slider has no effect on volume when I record with QuickTime or communicate online with Cleanfeed.

e) The gain sliders in "Audio Midi Setup -> Audio Devices -> Built-in Microphone" (& "... -> Built-in Output") match the corresponding gain sliders in Sound Preferences, so there is no additional control here.

Other Ideas?

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How to adjust built-in mic gain

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