Intense FaceTime feedback after upgrade to 10.9

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Intense FaceTime feedback after upgrade to 10.9

Hi Folks!

After the update to 10.9, a few days ago, I cannot make Face Time calls without terrible feedback on the other end.. I have tried turning the volume and internal microphone volume way down to zero and moving it up slowly in hope of making it go away. Then selecting the cancel ambient noise option in audio but the other person still hears a pronounced echo and feedback even with the my mic and speaker levels next to nothing..

I don't have any third party audio drivers on this system as I use my Mini for that, so everything is stock.

Before the update, FaceTime worked as advertised and I could turn the volume up to it's limits and literally walk around the house and talk to the person on the other end of the connection on a perfect audio and video connection. The laptop cancelled out well and there was no echo or feedback.

As of the update, that's all gone...

Does anyone have any ideas that might help this problem?

Thanks!

2012 15" MBP 2.2 i7 / 16Gb / 512Gb SSD

Posted on Oct 26, 2013 5:50 PM

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Answer 1

qhpark

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Oct 28, 2013 8:31 PM in response to NewPro User

I have the same issue. I also didn't have this issue before an upgrade. The only way to fix this issue for me is to use earphones on my mba.

2011 MBA 13" / 4GB / 128GB SSD.

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Answer 2

dadazhe

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Oct 30, 2013 7:08 PM in response to NewPro User

I have the same issue after the upgrade. no helps from the customer service.

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Answer 3

NewPro User Author

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Oct 30, 2013 8:20 PM in response to NewPro User

I don't think this is an issue with audio drivers as there would be a tremendous furor in the community, which there obviously isn't.

That being said, this appears to be a facetime issue as I reverted back to 10.8 last night from a time machine backup and everything worked..

I then tried 10.9 again and the audio was broken.

Don't know where to go from here other than not updating until six or so months in to a new release.

This is pretty sad...

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Answer 4

dadazhe

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Oct 30, 2013 9:14 PM in response to NewPro User

it seems that there is nothing we could do

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Answer 5

dadazhe

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Oct 30, 2013 9:18 PM in response to NewPro User

btw, have you tried to have a clear install of the new osx? I mean format the harddrive and then install the osx.

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Answer 6

qhpark

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Oct 30, 2013 10:37 PM in response to NewPro User

FWIW, at first I was speculating whether this is a HW issue. But after trying other similar conferencing SW including Google Hangout, it is likely that it's a SW issue regressed with the FaceTime version that came with Mavericks. I don't know what technology is used to cancel out or prevent the feedback loop exactly, but it isn't there with the new Facetime or it isn't enabled for some people who upgraded their OS to Mavericks.

I was running 10.7 prior to the upgrade. I don't have the version I had on 10.7, but it's 3.0 (1616) on Mavericks.

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Answer 7

NewPro User Author

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Oct 31, 2013 8:24 PM in response to dadazhe

I did not try a formatted drive install as the symptoms did not indicate or lead me to a hardware issue. As I said previously, the audio works perfectly with the exception of FaceTime.. Like Qhpark aluded to, this is a FaceTIme issue and not a hardware issue.

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Answer 8

NewPro User Author

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Oct 31, 2013 8:27 PM in response to qhpark

I believe that you are correct.. I tried basically the same thing inside 10.8 and 10.9 and everything was as you described.. Noise cancellation for our particular audio chipset is not supported inside Face Time.

I am also running FT 3.0 (1616)..

Good eye..

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Answer 9

Teekert

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Nov 2, 2013 3:01 AM in response to NewPro User

I have the same issue on my 2010 MBP, very annoying, facetime is unusable in this state. On an unrelated note, does anybody know if ctrl-scroll to zoom into the desktop has been remove from mavericks? I miss it very much... these two issues make me consider going back to Lion or 10.8.

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Answer 10

Gusto209

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Nov 10, 2013 6:28 PM in response to NewPro User

its a dang shame seeing as how we were all excited about mavericks and whatnot.... looks like i can pinpoint this echoing problem being due to the mavericks update. while i love the new functionality of the calendar app, i will be reverting to mountain lion and hope this eliminates my issue. good luck everyone

- Gus

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Answer 11

Nov 21, 2013 1:09 PM in response to NewPro User

I also have the same issue. I used FaceTime flawlessly until I installed Mavericks. Now I don't hear echos, but whoever I call hears intense echos on their end, to the point where they can't hear what I am saying...even if I turn my speakers quite far down. If anyone finds a solution, please post.

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Answer 12

NewPro User Author

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Nov 21, 2013 2:35 PM in response to scientificstick

Thank you for sharing.. Quick question.. Was the other person on your Face Time call using OS X or an iOS device? I've only seen the really serious feed back on a FT call from OS X to an iPad.. It's not as noticeable from OS X to OS X, but it's still there..

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Answer 13

Nov 22, 2013 10:41 AM in response to NewPro User

I have the problem talking to other OS X devices as well as iOS devices. I can confirm the problem was not at the other end, because when I call them with my iphone there is no feedback at all.

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Answer 14

Nov 29, 2013 12:34 AM in response to NewPro User

Same issue here. After the update to mavericks I got issues as well with the macto another macbook or iPad. Calling with my iPhone to another mac will work all fine.

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Answer 15

NewPro User Author

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Dec 17, 2013 7:56 PM in response to NewPro User

Well, that answers things.. Update to 10.9.1 actually made things significantly worse.. I had to back the update out with time machine..

Congratulations folks, looks like FaceTime is only for iOS devices anymore.. My $2K laptop is nothing more than a, "handsfree rest" for an iphone when it comes to FaceTime.. That's really depressing...

Not the first time that my machine has been broken by an OSX update and I fear that this one will never be corrected.

Oh, and good luck with GMAIL..

Wow, just wow..

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