urkoman
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Built in iSight driving me crazy - erratic

Hello there,

 

My built in iSight (iMac 2011, 21", OSX Lion updated to date) is driving me crazy, as I need to record some videos for my job. When I´m on the administrator user -the only one I use- it works fine on Facetime, PhotoBooth and iChat, but on Quicktime and iMovie it does not (black screen on iMovie, no green light on camera, if I press "record" it stops after 3 seconds / on quicktime if I click on "record new video" it appears an error message, could be translated -my OSX is in spanish- as "the task can´t be done at the moment".

 

I tried adding a new user, and it worked fine with it, I did and SMC reset (same error), erased all preference files (same thing) and later I reinstalled Lion without formatting the hard drive.

 

After this last step it worked. I could record a demo video on both quicktime and iMovie. But this morning when I turned it on the error is there again, same behavior, same everything. Before trying to record I just:

 

- Changed the wallpaper and some mouse options, and the sound output from "internal" to my external usb sound card.

- Opened Safari to check mail

- Opened garage band (it looked for the .au)

- Opened Logic (same as garage band)

 

I´m out of ideas, any help would be great. I´ve just installed Skype to see what happened and it does also not work.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Urko

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.2), 21,5" 2.5 GHZ

Posted on Nov 22, 2012 6:19 AM

by EZ Jim,Solvedanswer
EZ Jim EZ Jim
Level 7 (22,547 points)
A:

You're welcome, Urko.

 

Well done tracking down the source of the conflict! 

 

FWIW, today I checked Focusrite's support pages and note that Scarlett 2i2/usb does NOT appear on the their list of products known to be compatible with Mac OS X Lion: http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/article.php?id=1159

 

However, I did find several Focusrite articles concerning the Scarlett USB 2.0 Range products: http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/category.php?id=108.   Article titles from that page, including "Scarlett 2i2", "Using iSight/Facetime HD webcam with your interface on a Mac", or "Latency issues using a Scarlett with Logic", may give you some cither ideas.

 

If properly applying the 10.7.5 Combo Update doesn't solve your problem, and if you don't get the real solution from info you find here, I agree that your best bet is direct help from Focusrite. They should best be able to tell you how to use their product with your Mac system.  http://us.focusrite.com/contact-support

 

 

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

 

 

Mac OSX 10.8.2

Posted on Nov 22, 2012 2:22 PM

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urkoman

Q: Built in iSight driving me crazy - erratic

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  • by EZ Jim,Helpful

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Nov 22, 2012 7:35 AM in response to urkoman
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Nov 22, 2012 7:35 AM in response to urkoman

    From your good description, it seems your system software is somehow being damaged.  Consider the following suggestions in any order you think appropriate:

     

    (1) If anyone else might have access to your Mac, secure your Mac, reinstall OS X, and see if the problem is resolved.

     

    (2) If not (1) above, use Disk Utility to verify the S.M.A.R.T. Status on your Mac's startup drive.  The startup disk may need to be replaced.

     

    (3)  Your Profile "product" (system) info shows "Mac OS X (10.7.2)", yet you post as follows:

    urkoman wrote: ... OSX Lion updated to date .... (my emphasis)

    The latest Lion version I could find is OS X Lion Update 10.7.5.  After you reinstall Lion, apply the latest Lion Combo Update: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1582

     

    I suggest you use Disk Utility to repair permissions both before AND after applying the Combo.  Then use your Mac's  > Software Update... menu command to see if other updates are needed.

     

    Properly applying the Combo version of updates can sometimes correct software problems.

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

     

    Mac OSX 10.8.2

  • by urkoman,

    urkoman urkoman Nov 22, 2012 8:43 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 22, 2012 8:43 AM in response to EZ Jim

    Hi Jim, thanks for that fast reply and for the help.

     

    My Lion version is 10.7.5, that´s right. Seems my own text describing my problem led me to the root...There´s something going on between the iSight and my sound card (Focusrite Scarlett 2i2/usb).

     

    If on preferences I select as sound input/output/both (any of the three) the external sound card, my iSight does not work as described, but if I select as input the built in mic and as output the internal speakers everything works fine. Hard thing as I work as a musician...I guess I should ask at Focusrite.

     

    Anyway, if someone here could help, please, that´d be great

  • by EZ Jim,Solvedanswer

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Nov 22, 2012 2:22 PM in response to urkoman
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Nov 22, 2012 2:22 PM in response to urkoman

    You're welcome, Urko.

     

    Well done tracking down the source of the conflict! 

     

    FWIW, today I checked Focusrite's support pages and note that Scarlett 2i2/usb does NOT appear on the their list of products known to be compatible with Mac OS X Lion: http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/article.php?id=1159

     

    However, I did find several Focusrite articles concerning the Scarlett USB 2.0 Range products: http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/category.php?id=108.   Article titles from that page, including "Scarlett 2i2", "Using iSight/Facetime HD webcam with your interface on a Mac", or "Latency issues using a Scarlett with Logic", may give you some cither ideas.

     

    If properly applying the 10.7.5 Combo Update doesn't solve your problem, and if you don't get the real solution from info you find here, I agree that your best bet is direct help from Focusrite. They should best be able to tell you how to use their product with your Mac system.  http://us.focusrite.com/contact-support

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

     

    Mac OSX 10.8.2

  • by urkoman,

    urkoman urkoman Nov 22, 2012 2:54 PM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 22, 2012 2:54 PM in response to EZ Jim

    Hi again Jim, and thank you very much again!

     

    The solution seems to be on one of the links you´ve gently posted, the one named "Using iSight/Facetime HD...". I found that by accident a few minutes ago when I thought maybe the USB port could be broken or something. Testing the ports I unplugged from port #3, plugged it on #2 and noticed that on the hardware info the Scarlett appeared on a different USB field on the list...I tried to record and it worked fine!

     

    Maybe this information could help not only Scarlett users but other USB/iSight related problems. I could not imagine the built in iSight shared bandwith with a usb port! (if it helps any other user, on my late 2011 iMac 21,5" is #3 being #1 the nearest to the iMac´s a/c cord in the back). Hope that helps.

     

    You´ve been very helpful, thanks!!

     

    Edit: BTW, I´ve also noticed that the Scarlett 2i2 does not appear as supported on the Lion compatibility list you´ve provided, but if you look at  Support--> OS compatibility and select the 2i2 model it says

             

    Mac 10.3 No

    Mac 10.4 No         

    Mac 10.5 No         
    Mac 10.6 Yes Requires OS X 10.6.5 or greater

    Mac 10.7 Yes

     

    Just in case anyone needs to know if it is compatible.

     

     

        

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Nov 23, 2012 7:34 AM in response to urkoman
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Nov 23, 2012 7:34 AM in response to urkoman

    You're most welcome, Urko, and thanks for letting us know (and for sharing your new info, too.)

    urkoman wrote: ... I could not imagine the built in iSight shared bandwith with a usb port! ...

    Additional info for possible benefit to other readers: EVERY USB item shares bandwidth with ALL USB items connected to an individual USB bus.  For maximum USB performance, connect only one USB item to any one USB bus.  Different Mac models can have different numbers of USB busses. You can check yours by clicking your Mac's  > ⌥ (Option) System Information... > Hardware > USB menu command.  For more info on Mac USB, see Apple's article at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1151

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

     

    Mac OSX 10.8.2

  • by DavidFromFocusriteNovation,

    DavidFromFocusriteNovation DavidFromFocusriteNovation Nov 26, 2012 10:29 AM in response to urkoman
    Level 1 (100 points)
    Nov 26, 2012 10:29 AM in response to urkoman

    Hi all,

     

    Urkoman, glad to hear that your issue has been resolved.

     

    Just to clear up any confusion, the Scarlett 2i2 is now officially compatible with Lion (and Mountain Lion), and I've updated the preceding answerbase article accordingly.

     

    If there are any more issues with one of our products, please don't hesistate to contact our tech support team: http://us.focusrite.com/contact-support

     

    Best regards,

     

    David Tichauer // Focusrite Technical Support

  • by Sam Desmet,

    Sam Desmet Sam Desmet Jan 8, 2014 2:49 PM in response to urkoman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 8, 2014 2:49 PM in response to urkoman

    Dear,

     

    I'm experiencing similar problems, only my setup is slightly different:

     

    - OSX version 10.6.8 (snow leopard)

    - Macbook 13.3      model: A1181     2.0Ghz Core Duo (T2500)      2GB memory

    - Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 with 1 AT4040 microphone

    - M-Audio AV30 audio monitors

     

    Here's a pic of the USB Device Tree:

    Screen shot 2014-01-08 at 5.44.59 PM.png

     

    When using skype I can hear myself perfectly and the other side hear's me and I hear them.

    However, my built in isight camera seem to fail working.

    When I unplug the focusrite and use it with all the built-in devices (microphone, speakers, isight) everything works fine.

     

    I am also a musician teaching online lessons, so I was looking for a solution to get better recording / sound quality, but so far no luck...

     

     

    ANY help is much appreciated.

     

    Thank you in advance!

     

    S.

  • by Sam Desmet,

    Sam Desmet Sam Desmet Jan 8, 2014 3:12 PM in response to Sam Desmet
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 8, 2014 3:12 PM in response to Sam Desmet

    Here's an update:

     

    I unplugged the microsoft notebook / mobile optical mouse thing from USB

    and now this is showing up on the USB Device Tree:

     

    Screen shot 2014-01-08 at 6.06.23 PM.png

     

    Now, it's a bit more clear that both the scarlett and the isight are apparently on the same USB high-speed bus.

    So I tried to switch the scarlett to the other USB port, but it turns out the same...

     

    Could it be because my macbook model only has one 'high-speed' USB bus and that newer models have two of them?

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Jan 9, 2014 9:00 AM in response to Sam Desmet
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Jan 9, 2014 9:00 AM in response to Sam Desmet

    Sam Desmet wrote: ... Could it be because my macbook model only has one 'high-speed' USB bus and that newer models have two of them?

     

    Perhaps not "newer" but some different Mac models have more high-speed busses.  Check using the same System Information check you used on your MacBook before you buy your next Mac.

     

    As an example, here is a screenshot of my

    MacBook Pro showing its TWO High-Speed Busses:

     

      m.png

  • by Sam Desmet,

    Sam Desmet Sam Desmet Jan 9, 2014 9:35 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 9, 2014 9:35 AM in response to EZ Jim

    EZ Jim, just to make things clear: are you assuming or are you sure that is causing the problem?

    And is there any other way around this other then buying a new mac? I mean, there's nothing wrong with mine, and everything still works really good, so would be an expensive investment to solve the problem.

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Jan 10, 2014 10:42 AM in response to Sam Desmet
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Jan 10, 2014 10:42 AM in response to Sam Desmet

    Thanks for asking, Sam.

     

    Here are my clearest responses for your specific questions:

     

    Sam Desmet wrote:  ...are you assuming ..

     

    No.

     

    Sam Desmet wrote: ... are you sure that is causing the problem?...

     

    No.

     

    Sam Desmet wrote: ... is there any other way around this other then buying a new mac? I mean, there's nothing wrong with mine, and everything still works really good, so would

    be an expensive investment to solve the problem.

     

    I don't know whether buying a new Mac with more USB high-speed busses would solve your problem.  However, I do know that at least some new Macs do have more USB high-speed busses.

     

    Because your ONLY trouble is with the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 device, my best suggestion is that you contact Focusrite directly.  In a previous post above,

     

    DavidFromFocusriteNovation wrote:

     

    ... the Scarlett 2i2 is now officially compatible with Lion (and Mountain Lion), and I've updated the preceding answerbase article accordingly.

     

    If there are any more issues with one of our products, please don't hesistate to contact our tech support team: http://us.focusrite.com/contact-support

     

    Best regards,

     

    David Tichauer // Focusrite Technical Support

     

    Focusrite Technical Support  should be able to give you the best help with how to make their product work with your system.  It sounds like David is eager to do so.