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In theses cases, is audio being input into the Mac and that's why it shows up, because they're "recording" into the application generating the visuals? I don't
by treesknees 5y ago
In theses cases, is audio being input into the Mac and that's why it shows up, because they're "recording" into the application generating the visuals? I don't understand why the Microphone notification is there at all if it's just outputting audio/video. Are these applications recording audio? Or is it just a result of the APIs/permissions they end up using?
Seems like there should be a compromise where apps that are using line input instead of the physical microphone could be exempt from the dot.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- RandallBrown 5y agoYes, the dot is there to indicate to people that they might be being recorded. There's no way to distinguish if the line input is just another microphone or not so exempting that wouldn't solve the issue Apple is trying to solve.
- dangrossman 5y agoThe article covered this. "live visuals often use mic or line input to produce sound-reactive animation and the like"
- treesknees 5y agoThanks, I did read the article but missed this part. I had it in my head that it would be something like playing a locally-sourced audio feed through an app, but I suppose input from more complex equipment makes sense.
- ratww 5y agoIs there a line input on newer MacBooks? I thought the jack had just mic input! Also, does anyone knows whether the orange dot shows up when you also use an external USB audio interface? If so this is kind of stupid on the part of Apple. The article also mentions that those apps turn on Microphone capture even when unnecessary, so it seems the dot it's doing its job, although obviously there was a massive oversight, and there should have been a special permission to disable IMO.
- rzzzt 5y agoI have one sample from 2011-ish era MacBook Pro that allowed switching between line-level and mic input for the input plug, via a dropdown in sound settings. The single "shared" plugs on Retina units no longer support this, I think.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- ehutch79 5y agoYes. the problem is visuals accompanying live music performance. Even if that particular computer is not being used for music, many of the visuals are reactive.