Facetime - Microphone doesn't work

Question

Level 1

6 points

Facetime - Microphone doesn't work

Hi,

I'm on Facetime 1.0.1 on my MacBook Pro and even though a connection can be established,
the other one can't hear me talking, whereas I hear them loud and clear.
The microphone icon in Facetime is even greyed out.
Other Applications like Skype work fine.

Thanks,

Daniel

Message was edited by: dondanielo

MacBook Pro 13'' Early 2011, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 2, 2011 3:18 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 3, 2011 7:48 AM in response to dondanielo

Daniel,

Go into your System Preferences>Sound and look at the input tab. Make sure you have it set to built in microphone.

This is my first, best guess.

Good luck,

Adam

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Answer 2

dondanielo Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 4, 2011 3:26 AM in response to Adam Christian Smith

Hey,

thanks for your help. But everything's fine in the preferences. It's set to built in microphone.
Any other idea?

Daniel

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Answer 3

Mar 4, 2011 7:34 AM in response to dondanielo

Do you have any other USB audio related products plugged in?

I think this is on the phone side - where is the mic icon grayed out?

Does the person have their phone on mute or does sound play normally otherwise?

Have they tried to tap the mute button to unmute if it is on the phone?

Message was edited by: Adam Christian Smith

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Answer 4

msstate

Level 1

0 points

Mar 7, 2011 12:15 PM in response to dondanielo

I had the same issue last week with my MacBook Pro. I even tried connecting using my bluetooth headset via the laptop, and even that didn't solve the audio problem. Finally gave up and went back to using my iPhone's facetime app, which worked flawlessly.

Would love to know what I need to adjust, or if Apple is releasing a software patch.

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Answer 5

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Mar 7, 2011 8:49 PM in response to dondanielo

dondanielo wrote:
Hey,

thanks for your help. But everything's fine in the preferences. It's set to built in microphone.
Any other idea?...

Have you checked your *FaceTime > Video* menu command to be sure that you have selected your iMac's built-in microphone? (If your Mac recognizes only one connected "sound input" device, you will not see a choice there.)

EZ

Jim

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.6); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.6)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod4touch4.2.1

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Answer 6

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Mar 8, 2011 10:18 AM in response to msstate

msstate wrote:
I had the same issue last week with my MacBook Pro. I even tried connecting using my bluetooth headset via the laptop, and even that didn't solve the audio problem. Finally gave up and went back to using my iPhone's facetime app, which worked flawlessly.

Would love to know what I need to adjust, ...

If none of the suggestions offered here works for you, see your retailer for help or use Express Lane support options:

https://expresslane.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.do?PRKEYS=PL107

... or if Apple is releasing a software patch.

¶2.1 of Discussions "Terms of Use" prevent us from speculating about future products:

http://discussions.apple.com/help.jspa#terms

However, you can offer suggestions or comments directly to Apple from the relevant link here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback

(I used http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html for my FaceTime suggestions.)

EZ

Jim

Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.6); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.6)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod4touch4.2.1

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Answer 7

WFJ5444

Level 1

1 points

Mar 13, 2011 7:00 AM in response to EZ Jim

Perfect for me. Thanks for this post. I hadn't fully explored the options, but I set my system to use my iMac speaker and I couldn't figure out why in the world it wasn't working.

Crazy that FaceTime has its own setting that overrides the system.

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Answer 8

EZ Jim

Level 7

22,590 points

Mar 13, 2011 8:05 AM in response to WFJ5444

WFJ5444 wrote:
Perfect for me. Thanks for this post.

You're welcome.

I hadn't fully explored the options, but I set my system to use my iMac speaker and I couldn't figure out why in the world it wasn't working.

Different apps work different, so checking the options is always a good idea.

For info about mic settings in some example apps:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=13202713&#13202713

Crazy that FaceTime has its own setting that overrides the system.

Actually, I like the fact that I can use a different mic for my iMovie voiceovers that my video calls without the bother of having to change System Preferences every time I use either.

EZ

Jim

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.6)
MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.6)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)
iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod4touch4.2.1

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Answer 9

Corrale

Level 1

0 points

Mar 24, 2011 10:11 PM in response to dondanielo

Try pressing the shift key while talking... I found this with the help of my baby girl that was doing FaceTime with me and my wife and she likes to press the keys...jajaja

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Answer 10

Jul 17, 2011 7:28 AM in response to EZ Jim

Have you checked your *FaceTime > Video* menu command to be sure that you have selected your iMac's built-in microphone? (If your Mac recognizes only one connected "sound input" device, you will not see a choice there.)

This is the answer i think most people are looking for, there are many threads here, if this can be marked as "Answered" it could help allot of people........

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Answer 11

Nov 16, 2011 10:34 PM in response to svenskdod

I have the same problem, EXCEPT that the mic stops working in the middle of a conversation. In other words, it works just fine, then it suddenly the other person can no longer hear me. To fix it, I have to hang up, quit the application, and redial. I tried re-installing it before, and the problem is still there.

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Answer 12

Dec 1, 2011 10:34 AM in response to just4lizzy

Same thing here on my MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard. I had been using the beta version of FaceTime and it worked flawlessly. My sound out in FaceTime will go off anytime between a few seconds and several minutes into a call. I have called Apple 3 times about this, and spoken to a senior tech. They are not admitting yet that this is a problem and hence not doing anything about it. It's amazing that the free beta version worked fine and they expire it, forcing us to pay for a version that doesn't work, and now won't do any thing to fix it. I'm almost ready to take the Apple sticker off of the back of my car.

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Answer 13

Dec 1, 2011 10:33 AM in response to Keymusic88

I just submitted a bug report to http://www.apple.com/feedback. I would encourage everyone else who is haveing this problem to do the same.

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Answer 14

Dec 3, 2011 1:07 PM in response to dondanielo

Just a note to add in case someone comes looking. It has been identified in previous posts that there is a software limitation of the Facetime software in dealing with Apples own External "iSite" Camera. It has been found realtedto the Firewire pin connections. Noting New MacMinis have FW800 the iSite Camera is FW400. The Camera works fine but Audio will not work. It appears a problem only with software. (but I have not checked cause I don;t use for anything else to confirm other software issues)

However buying an addtional USB mic will work. If you were rich enough to buy this expensive little Camera then probably can afford to shell out a little more for a USB mic. All frustrations and Outrage aside- it appears there will be no fix coming as support is going to HD branded devices.

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Answer 15

Dec 4, 2011 10:09 AM in response to just4lizzy

Same problem just started for me where I will be in the middle of a conversation, usually several minutes in to it, then the other person can't hear me. I usually restart the whole computer, but sounds like just an app restart will temporarily fix it. It was my first time using Facetime for a few months and I just installed the new app that I had to pay for. Is there another fix for this anyone knows of yet? I don't use many other programs like this, but I'd switch to Skype if this is an issue that can't be fixed.

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