How to change Mic settings default

[phl92]

I am using a Macbook Air M1 and I have for my work a lot of video conferences (Skype, Zoom etc.). Because I travel a lot I am in use of a lot of different kind of headphones, and most of them have inbuilt mics, but I want to always use my Mic on the Macbook Air!!
I always have to go in Sound settings and change for the input device to Macbook Air mic. I tried to do the same in the Apps like Zoom and Skype but every time I close the Apps, everything is default and my Mic settings are changed to the headphone mic (which in most cases is a worse mic).

How can I change the default settings, so that no matter what headphone device (bluetooth or cable, Airpods or Sony, cheap chinese Headphones) he always uses the headphone Output but not the headphone input?!?

 

[hwojtek]

How can I change the default settings

SoundSource - A Superior Sound Control

Access your Mac's audio devices, control per-app audio, and much more, all from the menu bar.

rogueamoeba.com

 

[phl92]

SoundSource - A Superior Sound Control

Access your Mac's audio devices, control per-app audio, and much more, all from the menu bar.

rogueamoeba.com

Thanks. Hoped for a free fix but maybe I consider investing in this software.
Just thought there must be an easy macro to set default mic to the laptop mic..

 

[hwojtek]

Of course there is. However, Automator is getting deprecated in favor of Shortcuts in Ventura, the script probably needs some adjustments for the OS you are running and then there is the matter of triggering the script to run on input change.

Permanently set microphone input to MacBook Pro Mic

Every time I connect a Bluetooth device, headphones or speakers, the output switches to the new device. This is fine, however, the input also switches. I would prefer for the microphone input to ne...

apple.stackexchange.com

Soundsource is a potent tool and solves much more problems. If you want to keep it free, why wouldn't you just option-click in the speaker icon in the menu before a call and select the desired input in one move?

 

[DonJimmy]

https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/audio-profile-manager/id1484150558 this works great for me.

 

[J.Gallardo]

Mic and Speakers default behavior , "in/out" sound for a general configuration, is set with
"MIDI & Sound Set Up Utility" (I think it's the name in English).
You can find the app in the Applications/Utilities folder.
Plug in a set of earphones with mic, or any other sound-in device. If your external mic is set as default, change that setting in the app to still keep internal mic as default. I haven't made the test with mics and your situation, but I have fiddled with the app to force certain sound out configurations. The good thing is that your Mac can remember external devices and their supposed functioning when connected, if you set it correctly.
This utility app is fundamental for general sound in our Macs, but the prominent "MIDI" in its name can be misleading. It's a free app and comes with Mac OS (semi-hidden and unchanged since many years/systems ago).

 

[hwojtek]

Mic and Speakers default behavior , "in/out" sound for a general configuration, is set with
"MIDI & Sound Set Up Utility"

Handy, yet does not do per-app routing.

 

[J.Gallardo]

View attachment 2135677

Handy, yet does not do per-app routing.

...Yes you're right. OP asked about setting a default config. , so I thought about this app. But re-reading op's post I realize it's a difficult target, as he/she points to different earphones ocasionally used... so plugging a new earphones/mic set should again trigger setting it as default for the used app. Some apps have their own setting in their Preferences, but I don't know about Zoom or Skype. Well made software should be able to set and mantain Macbook's mic as default.
I suppose one could work out a script that would order to set internal mic use when this or that app is used... I'm not sure.
The funny thing is that the most straight and simple solution is: ))
use an adaptor, a small 3.5" jack-in with ONLY sound-out channels and without the mic stripe in the jack! The problem here is having a mic fixed to your earphones; ban that in a physical way, transform them into "normal" earphones.
(I can't find this kind of adaptor in the web, possibly due to being a solution to a such restricted necessity... Making it should be easy. I understand it's not an ideal solution -I would prefer visiting Settings each time-, but it aims to the essence of the problem).

 

[RaulSilva]

Hi,

Maybe a little late but I hope helpful anyway.

Try https://github.com/Gaulomatic/AirPodsSanity

It allows to select the input source to use when something is connected (e.g. AirPods or Bose QC), it solved the issue for me.

Note that you'll need to go to Settings/Privacy and Security and select "Open Anyway" (or something similar) to be able to run it on a recent macOS instance.

Thanks