Checking Your Microphone on a Macintosh

CSU University Center for Teaching & Learning

4/6/2006

This handout details the process of being sure that your microphone is connected and functioning properly, perhaps in preparation for recording a sound file for something like a podcast.

You may have a built-in microphone on your Mac. If you have a Mac laptop, or if you have certain models of desktop Macs (such as an iMac), or if you have something like an iSight webcam connected to your Mac, the odds are in your favor.

Here’s how to:

  • Check whether or not your Mac has a microphone
  • Choose from among multiple microphones if you have more than one
  • Confirm that an external microphone is plugged in and working
  • Adjust the volume on the microphone input you’re using (to reduce distortion or increase volume)

Start at the Finder. We’ll assume that you’ve just turned on your computer, and have not yet launched any programs. Confirm for yourself that the screen displays the word “Finder” at the upper left hand corner next to the Apple icon.

If it doesn’t, click on the icon in your task bar – which should fix the situation.

Drag the menu down from the blue Apple icon, and choose “system preferences”.

In the resulting window, choose the “Sound” icon:

The resulting window will probably resemble this, indicating that it is currently showing you sound effects information.

You don’t want that. You want microphone information, and a microphone is considered an input device – so click on the “input” tab.

The resulting window should resemble this:

This window is telling me that I have an internal microphone built into the Mac I’m using right now, and that it is in operation. The “input volume” control allows me to turn it up or down – up if I need to be louder, down if I’m so loud I’m becoming distorted. Dragging the marker along the “input volume” range is how I do that.

I test it in a rough way by talking and watching the bar light up to a greater or lesser degree on the “input level” gauge (you should be able to see at least some darker blue if the microphone is working; try turning up the volume if you can’t, and also un-check the “mute” box if it is checked):

I’m about to plug in a second microphone. Here’s what happens to the window when I do:

In addition to my original internal microphone, a second one called “AK5370” is listed, and it’s plugged into a USB port. However, it’s not currently the microphone in use; it’s plugged in, but not active. I can tell because “internal microphone” is still highlighted.

If I wish to use the AK5370 microphone instead, I can click on the “AK5370” to move the highlighter:

Once I’ve done this, both the “input volume” control and the “input level” gauge are connected to my new microphone, as is the “mute” button (which should not be checked). I can speak into my new microphone and adjust the level as needed.

Whew!

There it is. You know if you have a microphone, and if you have more than one you know how to pick one and check it. If you’re ready to use it, click the “close” button on this sound control panel:

And go on about your business; it’s time to launch a program which can record your voice.

WmB. V1.0 April 2006Page 1