mic volume extremely low!

macchar · Aug 2, 2011, 11:38 PM

I have the 2011 13inch base model with Lion pre-installed. When I facetime with other people, they complain that my microphone volume is barely audible.

I went to system preferences and my microphone volume (Input) is set to max with ambient noise reduction checked. Does anyone else have the same problem? And how can I fix this microphone issue?

cityathrt · Aug 3, 2011, 08:32 AM

I'd be interested in reading people's responses as well. This problem came up for me last night when Skyping with family. Speaker volume came through nice and clear, but family said they were having slight trouble hearing me.

TheRealDamager · Aug 3, 2011, 08:49 AM

I've had the same issue.

The Bronx Bull · Aug 3, 2011, 08:51 AM

Same thing here... had to bend over to the left side of the laptop, and thus, out of the FaceTime frame, and speak directly into the mic for them to hear me.

Gemütlichkeit · Aug 3, 2011, 09:31 AM

I can relate to this. I"m using the apple in ear headphones and even that mic is really quiet and it's 2 inches from my mouth.

iExpensive · Aug 3, 2011, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemütlichkeit

I can relate to this. I"m using the apple in ear headphones and even that mic is really quiet and it's 2 inches from my mouth.

I was always under the impression that the MBA had a one way port.

jackyyeow · Aug 3, 2011, 09:57 AM

Uncheck ambience noise reduction should do the trick. Maybe someone will write a driver to override the built in one to boost the mic volume.

tablo13 · Aug 3, 2011, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iExpensive

I was always under the impression that the MBA had a one way port.

It has a TRRS port which allows mics too.

Q2Air2Pro · Aug 3, 2011, 08:53 PM

I may have a related problem. I have a MBA-11-4GB-128GB (2011) and use a USB headset. Whenever I connect to someone with Facetime, the input volume jumps to 0 (you can see the bar jumping when having Sound Preferences open). So after hand-adjusting the volume, everything works fine again. But it's really annoying.
A Apple Genius advised me to report it online (Apple Feedback) so I did. Hoping they'll come w/ a fix soon, because with Snow Leopard, there were no problems at all.

EchoPure · Aug 3, 2011, 10:06 PM

I just Facebook video chatted with my friend. Apparently, he said my mic is really low too! I have it turned all the way up in preferences though

macchar · Aug 3, 2011, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackyyeow

Uncheck ambience noise reduction should do the trick. Maybe someone will write a driver to override the built in one to boost the mic volume.

Unchecked the noise reduction option, mic volume still very low.. this is a driver issue?

macchar · Aug 3, 2011, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Q2Air2Pro

I may have a related problem. I have a MBA-11-4GB-128GB (2011) and use a USB headset. Whenever I connect to someone with Facetime, the input volume jumps to 0 (you can see the bar jumping when having Sound Preferences open). So after hand-adjusting the volume, everything works fine again. But it's really annoying.
A Apple Genius advised me to report it online (Apple Feedback) so I did. Hoping they'll come w/ a fix soon, because with Snow Leopard, there were no problems at all.

Now that you mention it, my friend is running Snow Leopard and I can hear him just fine. I will report this problem as well... hope they fix it soon!

EchoPure · Aug 3, 2011, 11:09 PM

I just did another test. I did a FaceTime from my new 13" Macbook Air to my iPhone 4. My dad (on the iPhone 4) said he can hear me fine (on the Macbook Air). I swapped places with my dad (on the Air), and I could hear him fine with me using the iPhone 4.

The Bronx Bull · Aug 4, 2011, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EchoPure

I just did another test. I did a FaceTime from my new 13" Macbook Air to my iPhone 4. My dad (on the iPhone 4) said he can hear me fine (on the Macbook Air). I swapped places with my dad (on the Air), and I could hear him fine with me using the iPhone 4.

Real scientific test..

No but in all honesty, there's definitely a mic issue. I've FaceTimed with friends on MBP's and other non-Lion MBA's and never has their been a discrepancy with the audio.

Sesso · Aug 5, 2011, 02:45 AM

My friend has the same problem on a 2007 macbook. I have to yell in facetime.

pogiboi · Aug 5, 2011, 06:09 PM

I also have this issue on my new Macbook Air. Very annoying... apple really needs to fix this.

GGJstudios · Aug 5, 2011, 06:14 PM

Perhaps Boom can help. It shows to only boost output volume, but it also appears in System Preferences > Sound > Input

YEEZY · Aug 5, 2011, 06:17 PM

I should definitely check my computer to see if I have this issue. I webcam all the time and I haven't received a lot of complaints. Although, sometimes I use an external webcam that has it's own mic..

blumpkin · Aug 5, 2011, 10:10 PM

Same problem here with my gf on FaceTime. I can barely hear her.

squaremon · Aug 5, 2011, 11:44 PM

My grandma said she can barely hear me!

Gemütlichkeit · Aug 6, 2011, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iExpensive

I was always under the impression that the MBA had a one way port.

Nope, full support with mic just like the iPhone port.

chickolee · Aug 21, 2011, 02:07 PM

has anyone fixed this problem? i'm still experiencing it.

hidefguy · Aug 22, 2011, 05:30 PM

Just purchased a brand new MBA 13", having same issue I hope this gets resolved soon.

iphonsteve4ajob · Aug 22, 2011, 09:48 PM

I'm usually on headphones when VOIP'ing. Never tried it without. Guess I'll have to give it a go.

squaremon · Aug 23, 2011, 05:47 AM

i notice my previous air with LG display didn't have microphone issue. The new one i got had the microphone issue. turn up to 100% input but can still barely hear

Aug 2, 2011, 11:38 PM	#1
macchar macrumors newbie Join Date: Aug 2011	mic volume extremely low! I have the 2011 13inch base model with Lion pre-installed. When I facetime with other people, they complain that my microphone volume is barely audible. I went to system preferences and my microphone volume (Input) is set to max with ambient noise reduction checked. Does anyone else have the same problem? And how can I fix this microphone issue?
	1

Aug 3, 2011, 09:31 AM	#5
Gemütlichkeit macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2010	I can relate to this. I"m using the apple in ear headphones and even that mic is really quiet and it's 2 inches from my mouth. __________________ "It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God." -Thomas Jefferson
	0

Aug 5, 2011, 06:17 PM	#18
YEEZY macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2011	I should definitely check my computer to see if I have this issue. I webcam all the time and I haven't received a lot of complaints. Although, sometimes I use an external webcam that has it's own mic.. __________________ CELLULAR FACTORY \| brand new forum! join for discussions, news, and for free shirts!
	0

Aug 5, 2011, 11:44 PM	#20
squaremon macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2008	My grandma said she can barely hear me! __________________ MBPr 2.3 16GB iPad 64GB 1st Gen 500GB TC 16GB iPhone 4S
	0

Aug 23, 2011, 05:47 AM	#25
squaremon macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2008	i notice my previous air with LG display didn't have microphone issue. The new one i got had the microphone issue. turn up to 100% input but can still barely hear __________________ MBPr 2.3 16GB iPad 64GB 1st Gen 500GB TC 16GB iPhone 4S
	0

Aug 3, 2011, 08:32 AM	#2
cityathrt macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2010	I'd be interested in reading people's responses as well. This problem came up for me last night when Skyping with family. Speaker volume came through nice and clear, but family said they were having slight trouble hearing me.
	0

Aug 3, 2011, 08:49 AM	#3
TheRealDamager macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2011	I've had the same issue.
	0

Aug 3, 2011, 08:51 AM	#4
The Bronx Bull macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2010	Same thing here... had to bend over to the left side of the laptop, and thus, out of the FaceTime frame, and speak directly into the mic for them to hear me.
	0

Aug 3, 2011, 09:57 AM	#7
jackyyeow macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2011	Uncheck ambience noise reduction should do the trick. Maybe someone will write a driver to override the built in one to boost the mic volume.
	0

Aug 3, 2011, 08:53 PM	#9
Q2Air2Pro macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2011	I may have a related problem. I have a MBA-11-4GB-128GB (2011) and use a USB headset. Whenever I connect to someone with Facetime, the input volume jumps to 0 (you can see the bar jumping when having Sound Preferences open). So after hand-adjusting the volume, everything works fine again. But it's really annoying. A Apple Genius advised me to report it online (Apple Feedback) so I did. Hoping they'll come w/ a fix soon, because with Snow Leopard, there were no problems at all.
	0

Aug 3, 2011, 10:06 PM	#10
EchoPure macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2011	I just Facebook video chatted with my friend. Apparently, he said my mic is really low too! I have it turned all the way up in preferences though
	0

Aug 3, 2011, 11:09 PM	#13
EchoPure macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2011	I just did another test. I did a FaceTime from my new 13" Macbook Air to my iPhone 4. My dad (on the iPhone 4) said he can hear me fine (on the Macbook Air). I swapped places with my dad (on the Air), and I could hear him fine with me using the iPhone 4.
	0

Aug 5, 2011, 02:45 AM	#15
Sesso macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: AZ	My friend has the same problem on a 2007 macbook. I have to yell in facetime.
	0

Aug 5, 2011, 06:09 PM	#16
pogiboi macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2008	I also have this issue on my new Macbook Air. Very annoying... apple really needs to fix this.
	0

Aug 5, 2011, 06:14 PM	#17
GGJstudios macrumors Westmere Join Date: May 2008	Perhaps Boom can help. It shows to only boost output volume, but it also appears in System Preferences > Sound > Input
	0

Aug 5, 2011, 10:10 PM	#19
blumpkin macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2011	Same problem here with my gf on FaceTime. I can barely hear her.
	0

Aug 21, 2011, 02:07 PM	#22
chickolee macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2010	has anyone fixed this problem? i'm still experiencing it.
	0

Aug 22, 2011, 05:30 PM	#23
hidefguy macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2009	Just purchased a brand new MBA 13", having same issue I hope this gets resolved soon.
	0

Aug 22, 2011, 09:48 PM	#24
iphonsteve4ajob macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2011	I'm usually on headphones when VOIP'ing. Never tried it without. Guess I'll have to give it a go.
	0

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