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Facetime and external iSight - no sound input

Hi,


I have a 2006 MacBook and a FireWire external iSight, it works fine with Skype and iChat.

With FaceTime, the video works fine but there is no way I can select the sound input to be from the iSight. I have only two options: Line-in or internal mic. My friends can hear me with the internal mic but it ***** compared to the external iSight mic (my laptop is closed). Again, with iChat and Skype it's fine. In the system preferences it's fine as well. Any idea?

Posted on Jul 4, 2011 12:13 PM

Reply
110 replies

Jul 5, 2011 2:24 PM in response to Alexis Ramel

Hi,


Face Time will select the Sound Input from System Preferences > Sound > Input.


iChat will use this as well, but once the volume has been set for the device it can be changed to something else as iChat has it's own selection for Sound Input in iChat Preferences > Video section.


There is a setting in my Beta version in the Video menu for selecting the Mic in Face Time. (not sure it is in the same place for the Bought version).


User uploaded file
10:24 PM Tuesday; July 5, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb( 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.7),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Jul 6, 2011 1:09 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi,


I have tested with EZ Jim who happens to have an External iSight


He was able to change the Mic to the one in the iSight.

Screen Shot from his end.

User uploaded file

The "internal" iSight shows as Display iSight and the Mic in the Display as Display Audio.

In the above Screen Shot he was using the camera in the Display and hold the External iSight near his face almost like a singer would.


He has FireWire 400 to 800 Adapter which he uses to connect the external iSight.

He tried a few of these as he got different results for some. (Some seem to be OK for Hard Drives but not the iSight)

We think that maybe any adapter you may be using is not passing the Audio properly.


He updated his External iSight to Firmware version 1.0.3 which was available some time ago in Tiger and Leopard as a Standalone but was also triggered by Software Update if the iSight was plugged in.

The Standalone Firmware update in not in Snow Leopard.



User uploaded file
9:09 PM Wednesday; July 6, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb( 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.7),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Jul 6, 2011 1:30 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thanks a lot for all your testing.

That's my problem, it's not on the list. On Skype or other apps that lets you select your sound input, it's on the list and works.

No adaptater and I think I'm up to date:


iSight :


Fabricant: Apple Computer, Inc.

Modèle: 0x8

GUID: 0xA270004133360

Vitesse maximale: Jusqu’à 400 Mb/s

Vitesse de connexion: Jusqu’à 200 Mb/s

Sous-unités:

iSight Unit :

Version du logiciel de l’unité: 0x102

Identifiant de l’unité: 0xA02D

iSight Unit :

Version du logiciel de l’unité: 0x10

Identifiant de l’unité: 0xA27

iSight Unit :

Version du logiciel de l’unité: 0x11

Identifiant de l’unité: 0xA27

iSight Unit :

Version du logiciel de l’unité: 0x12

Identifiant de l’unité: 0xA27

Niveau de révision du produit: 1.0.3

Jul 6, 2011 2:00 PM in response to Alexis Ramel

Hi,


I see that you are Up-to-date.


You will notice that the External camera only works at 200Mbps even over FireWire 400


Any chance you are Daisychaining the Lead with a Hard Drive ? (linking the camera and Hard Drive to the same FireWire Port on the Mac)


Have you tried Restarting the computer ?


On the testing.

Face Time froze and Disconnected when changing from his Display iSight to the External one for Video.

After we reconnected he was able to change to the Internal (Display) Camera again without losing the connection.


Can other apps see the External iSight as an Audio device ?

iChat, iMovie, Photo Booth ?


Is it the same in another Mac User Account ?
Create a Test Accounts in System Preferences > Accounts and then set up Face Time there with your normal details so you can test.



User uploaded file
9:58 PM Wednesday; July 6, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb( 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.7),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Jul 7, 2011 12:22 PM in response to Alexis Ramel

Hi,


Yes the 200Mbps is normal.

As Hard Drive are normally 400Mbps it is the speed difference that causes an issue when they are linked to the same Port on the computer


At this point I would Download and Install over what you have, the Combo Version of the last Update you did.


If that does not work I would pay the 99 cents and Upgrade to the Paid version (Reinstall Face Time effectively)

(Thanks EZ Jim for the suggestions)


User uploaded file
8:19 PM Thursday; July 7, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb( 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.7),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously


Message was edited by: Ralph Johns (UK)

Jul 21, 2011 2:36 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Everyone,


I have tried facetime in lion using my original firewire isight on my mac pro and I get the audio and video perfectly from my friends end .. but he can only see me and NOT hear me... I have looked at SOUND in system Preferences and my isight is selected and i can see the sound input meter going up and down when i whistle, But My friend still can't hear me...Is there a problem with the original isights with facetime ?.. or are apple trying to force you to upgrade your web cams... kind of like forcing you to upgrade your mac to work with the airdrop feature on lion...

Jul 22, 2011 11:00 AM in response to cami-g

Hi,


I would try a Safe Boot http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1564

Then restart the computer.


User uploaded file
7:00 PM Friday; July 22, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb( 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Jul 22, 2011 12:47 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thank you for your reply, I tried starting up with EXTENSIONS OFF aka safe boot but it made it worse and facetime said the camera wasn't there at all, due to extensions needed weren't loaded. I didn't think that would work, But really do appreciate any help no matter what it is.. I am starting to think the same as cami-g that it could be a bug with facetime... my resons for thinking it is a bug, ... I can start Quicktime X and select new movie and my isight camera starts up and works perfectly... I can also start ichat in lion and my isight camera starts up and works perfectly.. also when i setup lion and I was asked to pick a user account icon or picture via webcam.. my isight camera starts up and works perfectly. Either a bug or Apple don't want to support the original external isight camera anymore and push you gently into getting a new laptop or iphone or ipad 2... that has a built-in isight.. I'll go with bug idea..😉

Jul 22, 2011 1:53 PM in response to Kevin Sharkey

Hi,


"A Bug" is one thought. But...
Face Time has been written after the External iSights have passed in to Non Supported Products.
They may have only thought about USB web cams with Audio Input (Forgotten rather than a Bug per se)

Another View (Age)

These devices were brought during iChat 2 in Panther (OS 10.2.x)

Of the three Models all were Firmware Update-able.


The Last Update was supposed to be an Audio Update but there seems to be some anecdotal evidence that is was needed for Snow Leopard. (whether it was the update itself or just Flashing the Memory remains unclear).
EZ Jim, a fellow Poster, who posts in iSight thinks it is more to do with people doing "something" rather than it being specific.


The Update came out during Late Panther and got included In Tiger and Leopard as was triggered if the camera was Plugged in when Software Update ran.

It could also be Run as a Standalone


Also Adapters and Cables to convert the Firewire 400 of the camera to Firewire 800 on most modern Macs can also be an issue.


Unfortunately Face Time does not feature in the Feedback options (for iOS or Mac OS)


User uploaded file
9:53 PM Friday; July 22, 2011

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb( 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Jul 23, 2011 1:45 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Ralph,


I do agree with you with your last comment... I remember all that you mentioned .. and remember if we would like to call them " the good old days" of system 7 and an LCII (my first mac) racing along at 16mhz... phew!!.. Could possibly be that apple doesn't think that original isight is worth supporting anymore as they have too many priorities (ideas going around in their heads) to be bothered with old hardware.. I hope it " IS" just a bug with facetime 1.1 and not leaving the old isight behind.. because apple do want to have as many devices on this planet that are facetime enabled... I hope Apple like Skype (before Microsoft took over them) with bringing Skype 5 out for Mac ... people had problems (including myself) with the original isight, But Skype listened to their customers and sorted it. As you say Ralph... Facetime does not feature in the feedback option.. (convenient or overlooked) So the only think I can do is telephone Applecare / Applesupport in a far distant land and ask them what's the weather like over there, Then place my disgust and dissapointment about the problem.. As I did when I found out that My Mac Pro 1.1 was supported for lion (which i'm running) only to find out in the print about airdrop isn't supported for it... it is all down to firmware, As my wife's Macbook Pro 2009 is supported and has the same Broadcom BCM43xx Airport extreme card 802.11 a/b/g/n But with slightly different firmware.. I am sorry for rambling on... Firmware update or facetime update or Mac os 10.7.1 or 10.7.2 that includes the fix... We all wait perched on the edge of our seats for the outcome...

Facetime and external iSight - no sound input

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