I have iMac macOS 10.12.4 on iMac 21.5", mid-2011 desktop. The only audio input that seems to work is internal microphone. Can't seem to get Line In to work. I even tried Soundflower (2ch), but still no joy.
iMac, macOS Sierra (10.12.4)
Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later.
Isolating an issue by using another user account
If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode using your normal account. Disconnect all peripherals except those needed for the test. Shut down the computer and then power it back up after waiting 10 seconds. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. When you reboot normally, the initial reboot may be slower than normal. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application un-installer or by using the developer’s uninstall instructions. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once.
Safe Mode - About El Capitan
also Sierra
Safe Mode Startup – El Capitan. also Sierra
If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. On the screen with Options, please open Options and check the bottom 2 boxes before running. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown.
Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later.
Isolating an issue by using another user account
If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode using your normal account. Disconnect all peripherals except those needed for the test. Shut down the computer and then power it back up after waiting 10 seconds. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. When you reboot normally, the initial reboot may be slower than normal. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application un-installer or by using the developer’s uninstall instructions. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once.
Safe Mode - About El Capitan
also Sierra
Safe Mode Startup – El Capitan. also Sierra
If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. On the screen with Options, please open Options and check the bottom 2 boxes before running. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown.
You may want to try resetting the SMC, if you haven't already done so:
How to reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support
One thing you could try is one of the Apple Headsets (or equivalent) that include a mic. They plug into the headphone jack. You could also use a USB audio interface that accepts mic inputs.
The Apple headset should work out of the box.
This is an example, not a recommendation.
You need to make sure the device is compatible with Sierra. A site such as Sweetwater should be helpful.
Thx for the suggestion. Haven’t tried it yet, but I will.
Only thing that currently works for me is:
With regard to the Line In port on the back of my iMac, it was recently suggested to me that only devices like a powered mic, or the headphone port of a tablet or smartphone will provide the correct audio input signal to the iMac’s Line In port.
I had been trying to use just a passive microphone, with and without Soundflower as the audio input source. But still no audio recording takes place.
Could the use of a passive microphone, rather than a powered one, be my problem? If so, are there any affordable powered micrphone brands around that would perform somewhat better than iMac’s built-in mic? (I’m not looking for pro quality sound from the mic.)
Thank you
Thanks. This is somewhat helpful.
I’ll check out the Apple headset. It looks pro ising. Do you know if it will work right out-of-the-box, or would it require something like Soundflower (that is already installed on my iMac)?
I had been trying without success to use Soundflower with QuickTime Player because I was getting no audio in and out from other than my iMac’s built-in mic and headphone port!
I am not sure what a USB audio interface is. Is it an Apple product? Is it different from the standard USB port on my iMac? Or the same but just needs a special driver?
And finally, what about the MIDI Interface Setup app on my iMac? Would it have anything to do with configuring iMac’s audio input and output so that I could use something other than the built-in mic/headphone port?
Lots of questions! Hope you can help.
Can't seem to get any of the audio inputs to work except internal microphone
