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I have looked back through other topics but haven’t found the same issue elsewhere so I wonder if anyone can suggest a way forward please ….
About a week ago and for no apparent reason the very special person presently 5000 miles away š (US/UK) that I use YM to speak to suddenly stopped receiving my audio and heard only white noise instead. Up to that point all had been absolutely fine with both audio and vid.
For information I am using Vista with YM 8.1.0.421, and the other system is XP though I am not aware which YM version. Both cams are logitech, both with inbuilt mics, both installed properly, adjusted correctly, and up to date. There would seem not to be any compatibility issue however as all has been running fine for some time previously.
Both cams have been uninstalled and reinstalled but the problem persists. I can always hear her perfectly, and can also hear my own white-noise coming from her speakers. At best she hears my audio massively broken up and totally swamped by white noise, but mostly just white noise alone.
Just once I had that same problem at my end, though this seemed to self-correct moments in to that call – this plus the apparently ok cam-installations/settings did seem to suggest that the problem was service-based not system-based, unless someone knows better?
We are now having to resort to telephones for the audio, rather frustrating!
I haven’t installed/changed anything at the same time that this started that could suggest a conflict had been created … unless an auto-update from Microsoft is already known to have had that effect?
I have tested the mic function in another application and there’s no problem.
Perhaps I am now too close and am missing something blindingly obvious, however if someone more expert can offer a suggestion/recommendation it would be much appreciated.
With thanks
Shel
This happens off and on when I am on MSN…usually a reboot of msn corrects this. Have you tried another chat program like MSN or Skype? I know that I can’t use yahoo, and it always blames my firewall. Might be interesting to see if the same problem happens in something else.
Hi and thanks … I’ll follow that thought and see, though with YM being perfectly fine previously it would be good just to be able to carry on …
Shel
Hello and welcome to BBB! Yahoo voice has been difficult at best recently. I’ve been in voice where someone suddenly loses the ability to talk and if we just wait for 1/2 hour to an hour it may come back – or it may not. Just last night I was chatting away and suddenly my contacts said I was totally garbled – not even a reboot helped.
So my guess is a Yahoo server side problem. Have you tried using the voice conference feature of Yahoo instead of the direct 1-1 call? There are some differences and that may help – or it may not.
I’d suggest considering a switch to Windows Live Messenger and seeing how that works for you both. If you want to persist with trying to use Yahoo, then I’d suggest making sure your Java and your Flash are up to date, as well as any drivers for your webcam (since it sounds like the mic is integrated into the cam.)
Best of luck – I really think it’s likely a Yahoo problem though. Let us know how it goes.
Thanks for the kind welcome, it’s appreciated.
Tried with WLM and with Skype as suggested, but with exactly the same result each time.
I tested things out with my old headset/mic however, and with that it is fine …
I tried making a recording in Sound Recorder as suggested on the Logitech website, and the Pro 9000 produces a recording of the same raspy white noise although my old mic records fine … it is almost as if the 9000’s mic isn’t being “seen”
This initially suggests that the pro 9000’s integral mic is faulty, however it is brand new and was working perfectly until just a few days ago so perhaps there could still be someting else responsible?
I uninstalled/reinstaled again just in case, and all the Quickcam setings are ok, the audio setup is fine, the sound level registered ok, and the mic is selected.
If it was a cheapie cam I could probably understand a fault and even just replace it anyway. At the 9000’s money however I’m expecting that the unit should be ok and I’m overlooking something …
Thanks for the comeback anyway, and if you wake up suddenly in the night with a Eureka moment please share it š
Shel
OK let’s take a step back here. You have the same problem with any messenger program seeming to recognize the internal mic on the webcam. So we are going to focus solely on the cam and how it’s working with your system. I do not believe your contact’s system has anything to do with this. The fact that your own sound recording test failed to produce proper results is also very interesting.
I’m sure this is most frustrating, and it is theoretically possible you just have a bad cam. Do you have another computer you can install the cam on and give it a try and see what results you get there? I’ve always had positive experiences with Logitech so I’m not inclined to blame a bad mic, but it would be worth a test if you can manage it.
But to forge ahead with the cam as is let’s start with going to Control Panel/Sounds and just take a look at all the settings and all the options and make sure nothing looks amiss. Make sure you choose the Logitech cam as the default audio input device. Take a look at any settings there that might have accidentally gotten changed.
If you don’t find anything there, try plugging the cam into a different USB port. It will need to reinstall the drivers on the other port for it to work. Also, ensure you have any driver updates for your cam that may be available on the Logitech site (although I suspect you already do since you’ve delved into sound tests they recommend.)
Check on the manufacturer’s website for your computer to see if there are any device/driver updates for your audio and video cards.
Then, go to Control Panel/Programs and Features and display all the updates as well as the items. Check and see if there were any Vista system updates applied at the time the problem occurred. If so, can you let me know which updates they were (KB#)? Then we can take a look at whether they might be the source of the problem. However, since many Windows updates are critical updates and are security related, please don’t just go uninstalling anything that may be there as you don’t want to compromise your system or cause anything not to work well.
I would also suggest visiting the Microsoft update site to see if there were possibly and non-critical optional updates that may have dealt with audio / video that maybe have not been installed on your system.
Let me know if any of this helps. If not, and if you wish to, I would be happy to try and do some real-time troubleshooting with you this weekend on Yahoo. That’s entirely up to you.
If all else fails, and you have a pair of earphones, plug them into the mic jack and use them as a makeshift microphone. š
Doris:
The combination of UK/US time difference plus a commitment last night stopped me going further then, so apologies for the unintended silence ….
Control Panel > Sound > Settings were/are all fine, using other USB ports has no effect on the result, Logitech drivers checked and fully up to date, A/V cards drivers up to date …
I had the same impression as you that a cam fault was probably unlikely, but was already intending to try it on another system if I could manage that. However, that is not necessary now because almost as a throwaway-thought at the time that I went back in to Sound > Settings again to triple check that all was ok, I deselected the 9000ās mic as the default and then re-selected it again, and now the mic works but just on the system … I can record a soundfile perfectly fine in Sound Recorder but still canāt be heard in Messenger/Skype.
But at least that has now verified that the mic is functioning and not faulty, which is progress!
However, that is both indicative and puzzling at the same time ā microphones attached to the system are recognised and work fine in applications but are either not seen or are not allowed to work in any Messenger prog despite seeming to be set up correctly there also.
Not especially relevant, but I have also tried both recording soundfiles and also trying Messenger calls using an old headset/mic , with the exact same results ā soundfile recording great, messenger audio nothing but the sound of a thousand sausages frying!
I assume that a Vista setting somewhere is the ultimate cause, a box somewhere that has become checked or unchecked somehow, blocking a function that might not even be directly related but that leads to this as a collateral effect even.
Just as a check I have therefore carried out a system-restore to 6 weeks back which is well before this began, however it did not correct the problem … I have also now undone that restore back to todayās settings again.
Auto-updates are an obvious thought in case conflict/disturbance has been inadvertently caused, however I would not know how to go about looking for this. In case this is relevant however here are system updates that you asked for, installed around the time the fault developed:
The first occurrence was about 10-14 days ago now, canāt be more precise but not more than 2 weeks at the outside which therefore starts us off just a few days in to September.
So around then …..
Following a Windows Update Agent 7.2.6001.784 installation 26 Aug there were just a bunch of Defender Definition updates against KB915597 over a few days ā 1.41.794.0 26 Aug, 1.41.925.0 29 Aug, 1.41.1074.0 3 Sept, 1.43.73.0 5 Sept, 1.43.128.0 6 Sept.
8 Sept KB940157 Windows Search 4.0 (recommended)
11 Sept KB938464security update, 954154security update, 954366Vista update, 955302Vista update, 905866junk email filter update, 954156media encoder security update, 890830malicious removal tool
Whether possibly affected by updates or not, I am wondering about deeper system settings that might now be flipped to a āwrongā state for some unknown reason, as the fact of mics functioning fine except in Messenger progs seems to suggest thereās simply a closed door somewhere that just needs to be opened …
If you have any awareness/suggestions in this regard Iād welcome any thoughts, as before much longer I will be poking about in the dark. Thanks for the real-time offer … if appropriate that would be great, though the coming weekend sees me unavoidably elsewhere taking care of some family matters. Typical!
VenOm : thanks, but unfortunately for reasons explained above that doesnāt actually work … pity, would be better than the rising phone bill!
OK just to be on the safe side – make sure your Flash and Java are both updated to the latest stable versions. I doubt that has anything to do with it but it’s worth a try.
Do you have a firewall enabled? If so can you please verify the messenger programs are completely allowed through it?
Are you using a router by any chance?
Thanks …
Flash and Java checked and latest-okay, firewall is enabled but YM, Skype etc are allowed exceptions … yes I do run through a router … Netgear … no changes made to that however and all previously perfect …
Coming up to 6.00 pm here in a few mins and I am needing to leave then to visit a client for 7 … possibly not back ’til late but I will check once I can breathe again lol ..
I appreciate you sticking with it!
Best,
Shel
This is a lengthy post and reply session, so please forgive me if I’ve missed this elsewhere. But, have you scanned for viruses and spyware on your machine recently? While they can cause random odd problems, I’m just trying to rule out the easy stuff and I don’t really expect you’ll find anything. Try Malwarebytes’ as a good tool for malware detection/removal.
Have you double checked your preferences on Yahoo to be sure they are “No Proxies”?
I need to ponder this a little more. I’m leaning towards a firewall or router issue. But those get tough. Are you using Windows Firewall or something else? And do you know if your router has a hardware firewall?
Quick addition …
I thought to check unplug n play which I couldm’t remember looking at on the router … it was ON there after all, though OFF in Windows so I switched it to ON there too though that didn’t actually end up doing anything … still the same problem
Sorry – posted the above addition quickly without registering your latest remarks …
Yes, I have a good regime for spyware/adware/etc handling, and I think I am on top of that just fine … will run a further sweep after this just in case, all the same.
Windows firewall plus Netgear router, exceptions for Messengers in both however as mentioned .. plus UpNp now ON on both as also mentioned but without noticeable effect
Yes I am getting a little puzzled/frustrated at the apparent illogicality … currently deeply suspicious of a possible rogue Windows service/setting having flipped to “off” or equivalent, but where to start?!!
Was tossing the problem around with a friend and wondered if it could be some kind of a codec problem. Try downloading the Vista Codec Package and give it a whirl. Shouldn’t hurt anything and might help.
Still pondering other possibilities. Let me know if it helps.
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