FaceTime sound stops working while talking

I have this problem, too. Two people on two different devices (iPhone 4 and iPad 2) can't hear me, but I can hear them.

Really annoying.

All,

Does everyone have their Mac power plugged into the wall or on battery only? Perhaps it is a power issue

where the Mac is trying to conserve energy by disconnecting the sound?

Cheers,

Chuck

I have spent too much time on Apple support calls trying to get this issue resolved. Using MacBook Pro, 17" screen, OS X V 10.6.8, Safari 5.1.5. Apple support tech had me go to Home>Library>Cache and delete the Facetime file residing in there, then Home>Library>Preferences - delete the Facteime file in there. Then restart - seems to be a bandaid fix.

I've read this chain and took the guideance of reducing the audio input and output volume through System Preferences; however, this is also a bandaid.

My last support call w/Apple was this week and I was pretty much told I was on my own. Nice!!! Glad I paid for annual support just to be told they can't fix this issue.

Same here. Running 10.6.8. Facetime with someone on iphone4 + 4s and they can't hear me after a few minutes. Facetime to another mbp is no problem and works for hours.

So here it is eight (8) months after the original post and no one from Apple gives d amn about this problem. My story: iMac purchased May 2011 - with Snow Leopard, installed all upgrades, just started using the included FaceTime and my audio cuts out after 10-20 minutes. Have to re-start which works for a while, then doesn't. So we end up using our cells for audio. Stupid stupid stupid piece of Apple software.

I haven't had the problem for a while. I can't say why, but they may have fixed it in a OS update. I'm running 10.7.4.

Good grief, I am having the same problem! About ten minutes on FaceTime I can't hear them but they can hear me. I know there has been some discussion about your provider, specifically Comcast. But I am with Verizon and I am going through the same thing. Big apple glitch! I might have to spend some quality time with tech support. Ug.

As of the end of July 2012 this issue has still not been resolved. After reading the posts and poking around in a few other places the parameters appear to be as follows:

(1.) The sound cuts out after 5-10 minutes of conversation on FT connections between iMac, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini machines, running both Snow Leopard & Mountain Lion, and iOS (iPad, iPhone) users running iOS 4 and above.

(2.) Problem is not with ISPs, nothing to do with OS X versions, and does not appear to feature with iOS-to-iOS connections.

(3.) Common troubleshooting attempts provide a temporaty fix for some users but do not ultimately eliminate the issue. 'Fixing' permissions, reinstalling the FT app, rebooting the system, adjusting the volume to make it lower during the call, and reinstalling the OS all do not work.

(4.) Apple has been aware of the issue for 8 months without providing a fix.

The only novel information I can offer is that I don't have this problem when FTing from my MacBook Air (dual core intel, bought early 2012) to any FT capable iPad. Sessions lasting between 45 & 90 minutes and no problems at all. Conversely, every time I try to FT from Mac Mini (10.8.6) to an iOS device, voice goes after about 5 minutes as described by 50 other posters.

Here are the questions I'd ask:

- Are Mac Book Air users experiencing this same problem? If so, is it happening in machines with older processors (the non-Intel variety, I forget right off which Air has it)?

- What do the iMacs, Mac Book Pros, and Minis experiencing the problem have in common in terms of internal hardware. Apparently this has nothing to do with whether you have an embedded or external video camera. My mini has a high-end Zeiss HD and some story.

- Are any iOS-to-iOS users experiencing this? Does not appear to be the case but maybe just not a recurring issue?

Very good summary. I don't believe Face Time is available for non Intel macs though. Which means 10.5.8 is the last upgrade without a new chipset.

You are indeed correct - the PowerPC processors were all phased out by early 2006. Snow Leopard was first OS X iteration where FT was available. Cheers

I just wanted to add my two cents worth, which aren't even worth that much. But having spoken to an Apple representative about the microphone cutting out all the time on Facetime calls to my sisters iPhone from my iMac, after calling about a completely separate issue, he asked me to try a couple of things. To change from the internal mic to the line in mic and back, this hasn't helped. And to remove it from the library folder and put it back in again, that also did nothing. He seemingly was not aware of any problem. But after doing a little research and having found this thread, I find it a little disconcerting that Apple not only are making no attempt to fix the problem, but seemingly are not even aware of it, or at least are not publicising that they are aware of it, odd. Or at least, I have not found any response from Apple about the subject. I guess for the time being I'll have to stick with stopping and restarting the call every few minutes. Awesome.

I had the dropping sound problem, it went away. I don't know why.

Try turning down the speak volume (System Preferences->Sound->Output->Output Volume) or the microphone gain (System Preferences->Sound->Input->Input Volume). Do this on both sides of the call.

Did you ever find a solution to the facetime mic problem. Mine works for about 30 minutes then quits working too.

Thanks, Headcookie

Hi everyone! My first post on the Mac Forum! Whoo Hoo!

Okay, so we're having the same problem that everyone else is having. I'm Facetiming with my mother and the sound goes off. She's using an old Mac Book (the white ones) and I'm using an iPad 2.

The only thing that resolves this is a restart on her computer.

We took it to the Geniuses at the Mac store and they said, "Hey we have already looked at this. It works well here. There is nothing we can do. WiFi and router issues can cause this but there is nothing wrong with the computer".

So that means that my mom needs to start facetiming from the Mac Store because it will always work there!

I made a video of the problem for Tim Cook and posted it on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F9Vm9rPwkc

Any help is appreciated. I gotta get make sure I can follow my mom's recipes!