Q: FaceTime making strange clicking sound since OS X 10.10

I have the same problem on a MBP mid 2010 since installing Yosemite.

No idea what the answer is, but adding this comment to hopefully show Apple that this problem is widespread.

N

Adding in mine as well.

I've experienced this problem for a while now when making calls from my late 2008 MBP to iPhones, and vice versa. It existed before Yosemite. The issue is on and off, no idea what effects it as I've tried unplugging everything and making calls, plugging things back in and making calls, but no fix. Just loud pops and cackles on my side, and a loud screeching on the other side. I only ever call two people, but both have iPhones, and both report the same sound on their side.

I did read in this thread someone suggested turning on music in iTunes, turning the volume low, then making the call, and that did work. But that definitely shouldn't be the fix forever. Apple needs to address this.

Same issue here in Germany..me and an friend of mine also have the troubles with this issue. Both MacBooks Pro early 2011 are having this clicking and popping sounds after upgrading to Yosemite 10.10.0 - Version 10.10.1 didn´t fix this. So Facetime or phone calls over the MBP do not work for me anymore.
I´ve read someone recommended to adjust the audio port but no idea...

Apple needs to provide a fix..please soon :-)

I'm having the same problem. I didn't have this until I updated the OS to Yosemite as well. Sigh... hoping for a fix. This will happen every once in awhile. To temporarily solve the issue, I would just reboot the Macbook.

I'm having the EXACT same issue on my Early 2011 - just tried FaceTime for the first time since upgrading to Yosemite on a new SSD. I'm on 10.10.1. I just submitted it as a problem here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html  I think we all need to submit these so that the OS X Team hear us.

Same issue here, no way to fix it so far: MacBook Pro early 2011, OS X 10.10.1.

Regards from Florence!

Seems that Apple is aware of this problem. I filled a Bug Report (https://bugreport.apple.com/) 2 weeks ago regarding this problem on OS X 10.10.1 and they just closed that as a duplicate of #18870638, which is still opened. So, that means they acknowledge the problem and are somehow fixing it

Let's hope so!!

I have a 2013 Mac Pro running 10.10.1 and was having this same problem, but only with the iPhone handoff using FaceTime, not FaceTime video chat itself. It started a few weeks after the Yosemite upgrade. I tried most of what was posted here: kill core audio, pram reset, disconnect and reconnect wifi, and checking the audio input and output. Nothing seemed to work.

Probable Fix:

I was using the iPhone handoff with my Mac with only WiFi enabled and there was plenty of static and popping. I enabled Bluetooth on my iPhone and Mac in addition to my WiFi being enabled and suddenly the clicking, static and popping stopped. I do need to emphasize that I'm running a Mac Pro, so I'm not sure if this will help on a Macbook Pro, but it's definitely worth a shot because that noise was utterly annoying.

I hope this can help.

I have found the temporary "solution" until Apple diagnoses the root cause and creates a fix.  After spending some time with an Apple support tech who did a remote log-in session to my early 2011 MacBook Pro 15" so he could see what was going on, we determined the issue causing the audio problem is caused by SLEEP mode.  Whenever you leave your MBP on and close the clam shell (lid) or let it go into sleep mode when open, when you re-awaken it and then launch FaceTime and initiate an audio or video call the audio "popping and clicking" issue occurs.   I have reset the PRAM, I have changed Wifi, I have switched from the internal Bluetooth 2.1 adapter to an external Bluetooth 4.0 dongle via Bluetooth Explorer app, I have killed the core audio process, re-loaded a fresh copy of OS X 10.10.1, reset the SMC, started iTunes and then played a song, and used both BT headphones and plug-in jack headphones.   Most of these "fix" the issue until it returns again when the MBP exits SLEEP mode.   It also explains why re-boots fix the issue.

I can consistently make it NOT happen by keeping my MBP out of sleep mode when plugged in and never closing the lid when it is on.  I do a full shut-down and boot-up each morning when I want to use it and have set the ENERGY SAVER mode under SYSTEM PREFERENCES to "Never Sleep" when my MBP is using the Power Adapter.  I can make the problem consistently re-appear by putting the ENERGY SAVER settings back to default and let the MBP go into sleep mode or closing the lid for 15 seconds or more then opening it.  The Apple tech set up a Test administrator account to see if the issue was with my account settings.  Sure enough, the minute we put the MBP into sleep mode the issue came back.  He has documented all this and forwarded it to Apple development engineering.  It is obviously a bug in the Yosemite software and why it seems to happen with more frequency for owners of 2011 MBPs is beyond me.  My late 2014 MacBook Air doesn't seem to exhibit this problem but I don't use it daily like my 2011 MBP.

Not the "fix" we are all looking for but I am pretty confident it at least defines the root cause scenario and how to avoid it until there is a fix from Apple :-)

Having the same issue. No issues with Google Hangouts or Skype, however.

I have the same issue running OS X 10.10.1 on my Mid 2009 MBP.  I can see where it could be related to waking from sleep as I use the sleep feature quite a bit.  They really need to fix this issue.

Having similar issues.

I've been using FaceTime on my MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) on a daily basis since Yosemite Beta, and this issue suddenly started happening just tonight. Coincidence or not, today it was the first time in weeks (maybe since Yosemite) that I actually closed the lid and took it for a walk.

Also, it is specific to FaceTime; no issue on Hangouts or Skype. I can however hear the other person, and she won't hear the clicking sound.

Well I spoke too soon.  It appears it may not only be SLEEP mode causing these issues but also the headphone jack.  When I use FaceTime with headphones and then try to use FaceTime without them (after unplugging them), the **** crackling/popping noises return.  I reset the computer to fix the issue, which it does, but then when I try using Bluetooth headphones they don't work (regardless of setting speaker output to them in System Preferences).  I then tried Bluetooth after using plugged in headphones and they then work but the speaker crackling returns.   So the options are plugged in headphones or BT headphones and audio issues with FaceTime when they are unplugged or no audio issues without headphones but you can't use plugged-in or BT headphones.

There must be some issue with the switchover on the sound card in software.  I hope Apple reads these forums and can address this as Yosemite is doing something funky via Continuity with the sound card in 2011 MBPros.

Yeah I was going to say something about your comment on it being Sleep that causes the problem... When I facetimed a family member the other day and had this issue, I told them i'd call them back and I rebooted the Mac... sure enough the problem was still there after I'd rebooted... and there was no Sleeping after the reboot, so I don't think that's the only cause.