Audio Issues

If Echo isn't picking up your voice correctly, or the wrong microphone is being used, this page covers the most common audio problems and how to resolve them.

Microphone Not Detected

Symptom

No microphone appears in Echo's device list, or Echo falls back to the system default when your preferred microphone should be available.

Fix

1. Make sure your microphone is physically connected and powered on
2. Open System Settings > Sound > Input and confirm macOS recognizes the device
3. In Echo, go to Settings > Recording > Audio Input and check the microphone selection
4. If your device doesn't appear, click System Default to use whatever macOS has selected, then reconnect your microphone

If you're using a USB microphone or audio interface, try disconnecting and reconnecting it. macOS occasionally loses track of USB audio devices.

Wrong Microphone Being Used

Symptom

Echo records audio, but it sounds like it's coming from the wrong microphone (e.g., your laptop's built-in mic instead of your headset).

Fix

Echo offers three input modes:

• System Default -- Uses whatever microphone macOS is currently set to. If you change your system default, Echo follows automatically.
• Custom Device -- Locks Echo to a specific microphone regardless of your system setting.
• Prioritized -- You rank multiple microphones in order of preference. Echo automatically uses the highest-priority device that's currently connected.

To select a specific microphone:

1. Open Echo and go to Settings > Recording > Audio Input
2. Choose Custom Device from the input mode options
3. Select your preferred microphone from the device list

If you frequently switch between microphones (for example, a desk mic and a headset), use Prioritized mode to rank them. Echo will automatically switch to the highest-priority device that's available.

Microphone Disconnected During Use

If your microphone disconnects while Echo is running (for example, a USB device is unplugged), Echo automatically falls back to the system default input device. When you reconnect the microphone:

• In Custom Device mode, Echo restores your selected microphone automatically
• In Prioritized mode, Echo re-evaluates the priority list and switches to the highest-priority available device
• In System Default mode, Echo follows whatever macOS selects

You don't need to restart Echo after reconnecting a microphone.

Poor Audio Quality

Symptom

Transcriptions are inaccurate, contain gibberish, or miss large portions of what you said.

Possible Causes and Fixes

Microphone too far away. Position your microphone closer to your mouth. Headset or lapel microphones typically produce better results than a laptop's built-in mic from across a desk.

Excessive background noise. Echo works best in reasonably quiet environments. If you're in a noisy space, try a directional microphone or a headset with noise isolation.

Low microphone input level. Check your microphone's input volume in System Settings > Sound > Input. If the level is too low, Echo may struggle to pick up your voice clearly.

Audio interference. Other apps using the microphone simultaneously can cause issues. Close any apps that might be accessing the mic (video calls, other recording software) before using Echo.

No Sound When Recording Starts or Stops

Echo plays a sound when you start and stop recording. If you don't hear it:

1. Check that your Mac's volume is not muted
2. In Echo's settings, verify that recording sounds are enabled
3. If you have system mute enabled during recording (to prevent media playback interference), the stop sound plays with a slight delay after unmuting

Tips

• For the best transcription accuracy, use a dedicated microphone rather than your Mac's built-in mic. Even an inexpensive USB headset can significantly improve results.
• If you use Bluetooth headphones, note that macOS sometimes switches the microphone input when Bluetooth devices connect or disconnect. Use Custom Device or Prioritized mode to prevent unexpected switches.
• Keep your microphone input level high enough that macOS shows consistent activity in System Settings > Sound > Input when you speak at a normal volume.

Related

• Permission issues -- Fix microphone permission problems
• Transcription quality -- Improve accuracy through model selection and settings
• Common issues -- Overview of all troubleshooting topics