Macbook Pro 15' Audio Input Not Working

Steven_R,

The audio input is a line level not mic level input, mic level does not have enough gain to drive a line level input. (You can try going to system preferences>sound and try turning the input level all the way up but it most likely not be enough) You might want to get a USB mic/headset.

I had the same problem. So i did as was suggested and purchase this: http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Sound-Box-USB-SBCV/dp/B002R33VWW But it is still not working. So now i have a pair of gaming headphones with working audio, but even with "plug and play" devices it is still not working.

Please help!

Aydon519,

Try going to system preferences>sound and see if it shoews up in both the input and output tabs, if you see it there make sure it is selected.

Did that when i first plugged it in. The headphones work, mic does not. both are selected. Feels like i should not have even purchased said device as i get the same result as when i plugged headphones and mic into the Macbook Pro.

Have you tried going to Applications>Utilitise> AudioMIDI set up and seeing if it's there and selecting?

I had the same problem and after a bit of research discovered that the line in is not getting enough input from an unpowered set of headsets. ALSO, the mic level was set too low and so nothing was being picked up.

Solution:

I have a Thunderbolt Express Dock (expensive I know but very handy) and plugging in through the express dock with the mic level up works great.

Alternatively, I also have a USB Headset Connector that comes up as a seperate device and also is able to take inputs.

Finally, if neither of these work, I found that the earth chassis on my Macbook Pro 15" was a bit unpredictable. I removed the base cover, cleanes the contact points (little silver spring loaded buttons on the edge of the main board) and where the contacted the cover and this also improved things.

Regards,

David

Well guys,

I was wondering where was the problem 'cause my mic didn't work when plugged to the line-in jack. What i did was to plug my iphone headset with its microphone not to the line-in, but to the headphones out (the other one) leaving on system preferences the build-in microphone on. The computer immediately recognized the external mic and switched by itself to external micro. It works like a charm from then on!!!

Actually I can remove it from the audio out and plug it to the line in and mac keeps recognizing the external mic (at a very lower volume) but it does. Anyway I use it with the audio out connection normally and no big deal!!

Whew -- thanks for that suggestion about the "ambidextrous" SPEAKER port and the Apple iPhone speaker/mic combo unit! Solved the issue for me!