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Q: Microphone Through TRRS Jack Not Detected in Windows

The problem has been around for quite some time now, i.e., since the so-called TRRS jacks were introduced in MacBooks. In these, a single 3.5 mm jack connector is used to combine a stereo pair OUT with a mono microphone IN.

People are frustrated by the fact that the microphone on their headset is properly detected in OS X, but not in Windows/Bootcamp.

 

It appears that the problem stems from Microsoft's HDAudio.sys driver:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/jj123860.aspx#jack

 

The workaround mentioned in the article above does not work due to the particular way the TRRS jack and the audio chip (cs4206, cs4207 and cs4208) are wired in the MacBooks: only a single jack detection event is possible, and if one is detected, a value is set in the chip, which reports the presence of a microphone. In this configuration, HDAudio.sys sees only one detection event associated with the headphones, and there is no way a second event associated with the microphone can be triggered physically.

 

So, it would seem that Microsoft has to rectify the way their HDAudio.sys behaves with respect to these TRRS jacks.

 

That being said, Apple provides a driver for the cs420x chips in their BootCamp packages. Assuming that it reads the status of the audio chip and transmits both the jack detection event and the associated values to the HDAudio.sys driver, it should be possible for the BootCamp driver to emulate those two trigger events slightly spaced in time that HDAudio.sys needs for now.

 

Does anyone know whether Apple, Microsoft, or both, are working on this particular issue?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014), Windows 8, null

Posted on Jan 8, 2015 2:24 PM

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Q: Microphone Through TRRS Jack Not Detected in Windows

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  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Jan 8, 2015 3:51 PM in response to iStir
    Level 7 (23,663 points)
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    Jan 8, 2015 3:51 PM in response to iStir

    From MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) - Technical Specifications

     

    Audio

    • Stereo speakers
    • Dual microphones
    • Headphone port
      • Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone
      • Support for audio line out (digital/analog)


    There is an additional complication, because the S/PDIF (aka TOSlink mini Digital Optical) is also in the same connector, which has a micro switch and can cause problems for events. It works with the Apple Headphone/Microphone combination well, but other similar headsets may have issues. Have you tried Windows 8 (or 8.1)? The iPhone TRRS works correctly on a 13" 2012 MBP and detects the devices. I will also check the Event Viewer on W8.1 and post the Device Manager screen when I have access to the 2012 MBP.

  • by iStir,

    iStir iStir Jan 8, 2015 4:08 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (2 points)
    Jan 8, 2015 4:08 PM in response to Loner T

    I forgot about the Optical Digital Out, but I am not even trying to use that. I just want an external Mic In without resorting to a USB or other type of external converter.

    I read the entire datasheet for the cs4207 chip so I have a good idea of what is going on on the hardware side.

    And I am running Windows 8.1.

    I tried uninstalling and reinstalling audio drivers with and without the jack plugged in. No luck.

    I also tried inverting polarity, changing impedance across the relevant terminals and so on. Again, everything behaves as expected in OS X, but not in Windows. This is definitely a limitation of the Windows drivers as per Microsoft's own admission in the link provided.

  • by hanshan44,

    hanshan44 hanshan44 Aug 13, 2015 5:09 PM in response to iStir
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2015 5:09 PM in response to iStir

    Hi there.  I've been monitoring and looking for a solution for this for sometime and it seems the latest version of bootcamp released today (Bootcamp 6.0) with Windows 10 fixes the problem.

     

    I had Windows 10 installed through bootcamp and updated to bootcamp 6 today (Aug 13).  Surprisingly, I plugged in my iPhone headset (which is TRRS) and noticed windows installing some drivers. I knew something was up. Look at this:

    Capture.PNG

    Headset is working just like it does in OSX now, awesome for VOIP or gaming. Very happy camper here!

     

    Should note that I am running Windows 10 with Bootcamp 6 on a late 2013 Retina Macbook Pro.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Aug 13, 2015 5:29 PM in response to hanshan44
    Level 7 (23,663 points)
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    Aug 13, 2015 5:29 PM in response to hanshan44

    Good to see the W10 Kernel acknowledging device interrupts properly.

  • by hammie334,

    hammie334 hammie334 Aug 31, 2015 8:52 PM in response to hanshan44
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 31, 2015 8:52 PM in response to hanshan44

    I have a Mid 2012 Macbook Pro, Non Retina. I can confirm that I dont get the same results with the 6.0 drivers on Windows 10. I have the Cirrus Logic CS4206B (AB 82) driver.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 1, 2015 8:16 AM in response to hammie334
    Level 7 (23,663 points)
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    Sep 1, 2015 8:16 AM in response to hammie334

    Do you only see a Headset without microphones?

  • by hammie334,

    hammie334 hammie334 Sep 2, 2015 5:53 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 2, 2015 5:53 AM in response to Loner T

    My headset speakers work just as they always have, yes. I just don't get the functioning headset Mic as posted above.

  • by jasonyongw,

    jasonyongw jasonyongw Sep 11, 2015 10:28 PM in response to hammie334
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 11, 2015 10:28 PM in response to hammie334

    My MacMini 2012 (CS4206B AB88) has the same problem with bootcamp 6.0 on Windows 10.  TRRS mic cannot be recognized in device manager.

     

    Further checking the driver setup inf file, I believe Apple/CirrusLogic didn't add the mic section for CS4206B.

    CS4208 driver has defined the mic interface ""eMicInTopo" and ""eMicInWave" while CS4206 driver doesn't have this section.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 12, 2015 6:32 AM in response to jasonyongw
    Level 7 (23,663 points)
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    Sep 12, 2015 6:32 AM in response to jasonyongw

    jasonyongw wrote:

     

    My MacMini 2012 (CS4206B AB88) has the same problem with bootcamp 6.0 on Windows 10.  TRRS mic cannot be recognized in device manager.

     

    Further checking the driver setup inf file, I believe Apple/CirrusLogic didn't add the mic section for CS4206B.

    CS4208 driver has defined the mic interface ""eMicInTopo" and ""eMicInWave" while CS4206 driver doesn't have this section.

    Add the two sections from the 4208 drivers to the 4206B and test.

  • by jasonyongw,

    jasonyongw jasonyongw Sep 17, 2015 1:16 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 17, 2015 1:16 AM in response to Loner T

    Manually adding other drivers section doesn't work.  The driver has been digital signed, any bits you modified in the driver kit, it will break the checksum algorithm, and the driver installation will be failed (due to checksum failure).  There is no other ways to bypass this except pushing Apple/CirrusLogic to update/sign the driver.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 17, 2015 2:46 AM in response to jasonyongw
    Level 7 (23,663 points)
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    Sep 17, 2015 2:46 AM in response to jasonyongw

    jasonyongw wrote:

     

    Manually adding other drivers section doesn't work.  The driver has been digital signed, any bits you modified in the driver kit, it will break the checksum algorithm, and the driver installation will be failed (due to checksum failure).  There is no other ways to bypass this except pushing Apple/CirrusLogic to update/sign the driver.

    You can always disable Driver Signature enforcement in W10.

  • by PICKLEB0Y,

    PICKLEB0Y PICKLEB0Y Sep 26, 2015 9:39 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 26, 2015 9:39 AM in response to Loner T

    Is there a way to uninstall the current audio driver on my Macbook Pro Retina Mid-2012 Windows 10 partition and forcibly install the Cirrus Logic 4208 (AB 93) driver? I tried downloading the 4208 AB 93 driver from Cirrus directly, but when I install it, it doesnt do anything. I disabled Driver Signature enforcement and tried it, it still didn't do it.

     

    I see you are very knowledgeable, as I see your responses almost everywhere in the BootCamp section. I really want my Apple Headphone mic to work on Windows 10

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 26, 2015 10:07 AM in response to PICKLEB0Y
    Level 7 (23,663 points)
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    Sep 26, 2015 10:07 AM in response to PICKLEB0Y

    Is your MBP a 13-in or a 15-in? On a 13-in, the drivers are as follows.

     

    W8.1-SoundDevices-BeforeTRRS.PNG

     

    You can uninstall the driver, delete the devices from the Device Manager and reboot and check what unknown devices show up after the reboot.

  • by PICKLEB0Y,

    PICKLEB0Y PICKLEB0Y Sep 26, 2015 2:22 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 26, 2015 2:22 PM in response to Loner T

    After I uninstalled all of my audio devices and restarted They just reappear as "High Definition Audio Device" how can I get Cirrus Logic 4208 (AB 93) installed? FYI No audio works, the signal meter on the playback tab does move when playing something, but no sound and I also now have a red light coming from the headphone jack (headphones actually work for system sounds when plugged in though, but app sounds still dont go though)

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