System Preferences > Sound Input is stuck at Soundflower (64ch). I can't change it!

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Level 1

9 points

System Preferences > Sound Input is stuck at Soundflower (64ch). I can't change it!

So, I have a mid-2010 MacBook Pro running OS X Yosemite (latest version). (250GB HDD, 4GB RAM, 2.4 GHz)

I wanted to record some commentary for my video and to use the mic I went into System Preferences > Sound > Sound Input.

With my mic connected, I tried all of the 4 options (picture below), but then after closing and opening System Preferences again, the sound input is stuck on "Soundflower 64ch).

When I try to change it (e.g. Built-In), it "crashes", but not really: It selects the option I clicked for a second or two, then the list disappears and says "No Input Devices" briefly, then the list reappears with "Soundflower 64ch" selected.

Please help, I've tried some solutions I found online, like restarting the laptop, repairing disk permissions, even a code for Terminal.

Thanks to anybody in advance.

UPDATE: ****, I think my Mac is possessed or something. It shows the ring of death when my mouse is on the System Preferences window, and when I try to take a screenshot of the list itself, it lags and doesn't let me take it until "No input devices found" appears.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Mar 17, 2015 8:29 AM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Mar 17, 2015 10:30 AM in response to Deushkaa

Either remove "Soundflower" or refer to its developer for support.

Any third-party software that doesn't install by drag-and-drop into the Applications folder, and uninstall by drag-and-drop to the Trash, is a system modification.

Whenever you remove system modifications, they must be removed completely, and the only way to do that is to use the uninstallation tool, if any, provided by the developers, or to follow their instructions. If the software has been incompletely removed, you may have to re-download or even reinstall it in order to finish the job.

I never install system modifications myself, and except as stated in this comment, I don't know how to uninstall them. You'll have to do your own research to find that information.

Here are some general guidelines to get you started. Suppose you want to remove something called “BrickMyMac” (a hypothetical example.) First, consult the product's Help menu, if there is one, for instructions. Finding none there, look on the developer's website, say www.brickmymac.com. (That may not be the actual name of the site; if necessary, search the Web for the product name.) If you don’t find anything on the website or in your search, contact the developer. While you're waiting for a response, download BrickMyMac.dmg and open it. There may be an application in there such as “Uninstall BrickMyMac.” If not, open “BrickMyMac.pkg” and look for an Uninstall button. The uninstaller might also be accessed by clicking the Customize button, if there is one.

Back up all data before making any changes.

You will generally have to restart the computer in order to complete an uninstallation. Until you do that, there may be no effect, or unpredictable effects.

If you can’t remove software in any other way, you’ll have to erase and install OS X. Never install any third-party software unless you're sure you know how to uninstall it; otherwise you may create problems that are very hard to solve.

Trying to remove complex system modifications by hunting for files by name often will not work and may make the problem worse. The same goes for "utilities" such as "AppCleaner" and the like that purport to remove software.

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Answer 2

Deushkaa Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 18, 2015 9:33 AM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks for the tip, Linc. Unfortunately, not really what would help me out.

If anyone else is having the same problem, I fixed it by going to Audio MIDI Setup (in Utilities) and I switched my default Input / Output through there 🙂

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Answer 3

m0nky

Level 1

0 points

Sep 23, 2015 2:16 PM in response to Deushkaa

were you able to remove soundflower completely?

I removed it with every method I have found but it still shows up in my sytem preferences>sounds input/output and when I try to change the input to my USB controller or anything it freezes out and I have to force quit. Really irritating.

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