Microphone & Voice Chat Not Working Since Mojave Update

[speakerofjargon]

I have been a longtime DDO player and enthusiast on two different iterations of Macbook laptops. Since the Mojave update a few weeks ago, neither my microphone or the speaking part of voice chat have worked on DDO, though the listening part works fine. I have exhausted technical support's suggestions. This is really beginning to limit my enjoyment of the game, so I wanted to see if anyone else has had similar problems and fixed them, or to see whether a fix is hopefully coming soon? A family member of mine who also plays has also experienced the exact same issue on DDO since the update, so I suspect that it is not an issue with my specific installation or settings.

--Details:
My microphone works on other applications in Mojave.
Occasionally an "allow DDO to access the microphone" window pops-up during game, to which I hit "allow," with no subsequent change.
DDO is checked as an application "allowed" to use the microphone in my Mojave privacy settings.
My character bar icon does not show the standard green border either when I hit the push-to-talk button (my standard way) or when I check the handsfree voice mode and speak into the microphone.
When I enable the "mic test" no bars are shown from input.
I don't use Discord or any other microphone-utilizing applications (that I am aware of).
My voice-capture threshold is set for 0.04.
Connecting to a party voice-chat server takes longer than I remember, but still occurs after about a minute or so, at which point I can hear other party members talking.

--Troubleshooting steps I have tried:
Using an external USB headset/microphone
Using a bluetooth headset/microphone
Using the built-in mac microphone
(Ensuring each of the above were selected in DDO settings)
Adding DDO to allowed applications in the firewall.
Disabling the firewall.
Unchecking, restarting, and rechecking the "allow" checkbox for microphone usage for DDO in privacy settings.
Uninstalling and Reinstalling DDO via Steam, whereas my previous installation was via Happy Cloud
Starting mac in "Safe Mode" (DDO won't load in that setting)

Additionally, while don't assume this is connected to my specific issue, DDO now takes about 5-7 minutes to load after entering my username and password and selecting my server, where it used to take just a matter of seconds.

I would love if anyone had any ideas to try! Or if someone could potentially comment on whether this may be fixed soon if it is a program issue. I'm looking forward to having voice chat back working again!

[Vorpenklaith]

I wanted to see if anyone else has had similar problems

I can confirm that it isn't just you. I have also not been able to successfully use my microphone since the Mojave update. Unfortunately, it isn't evident to me that DDO cares about its Mac users-- this is just one of many issues currently experienced by all Mac users (including the delayed log-in issue you briefly mentioned in your post).

I won't be spending another penny on this game unless they start supporting Macs.

[Elbaren]

I am also a 2018 Macbook Pro user. After the latest Mojave update, I am experiencing the same problem. The description is quite accurate! I have been playing DDO since release in 2006 and have been very pleased with Standing Stone's support and management. After two + weeks, I am beginning to worry about the OS support. I have tried 90% of the above mentioned fixes prior to seeing this post and can independently confirm "no joy". "Kobold not comfortable with this!" Or as Leloo would say "Plaese... halp me".

Thanks for all the hard work, we still love the game!

[speakerofjargon]

As a followup, this issue has now been resolved! The game loads quickly after the login screen, and my microphone works!

Thanks Devs!

[inkette]

Long time player... new to Mac. Just got a new Mac Book Pro ... really looking forward to playing the game on my new Mac. After a few weeks finally got the game to load and able to play. Problem is I can't get my mic to work. I know how to select all the buttons in the game ... and I have a mic in all the other apple applications. Cant get push to talk or hands free to work. Ive tried both Beats (blue tooth) and a cheap Logitech usb. Again Im new to Mac .. any suggestions? Be kind please....lol

[AstorPotamus]

So, dunno what they did for you guys, but my mic still doesn't work - and I know for a fact it's a permissions issue, because there's no way whatsoever that I can give ddo permission to use my mic...even with my firewall disabled. Let's be honest here, SSG couldn't possibly care any less for Mac users than they do now. When was the last time a dev actually responded to a Mac tech assistance post? Have they ever?

I've spent entirely too much money on this game, but not one more penny is getting spent until they fix this longstanding issue. Mac users have never received a version of this game that works as well as the PC version, so why in hell are we paying full price a clearly inferior product?

[piercia]

So, dunno what they did for you guys, but my mic still doesn't work - and I know for a fact it's a permissions issue, because there's no way whatsoever that I can give ddo permission to use my mic...even with my firewall disabled. Let's be honest here, SSG couldn't possibly care any less for Mac users than they do now. When was the last time a dev actually responded to a Mac tech assistance post? Have they ever?

I've spent entirely too much money on this game, but not one more penny is getting spent until they fix this longstanding issue. Mac users have never received a version of this game that works as well as the PC version, so why in hell are we paying full price a clearly inferior product?

Doesn't work for me either. DND client is not even requesting permission for mic usage to the mac system. When you access the mic, it should request permission but it simply isn't doing that. What did any of you do to get it to work?

[Kaytis]

Doesn't work for me either. DND client is not even requesting permission for mic usage to the mac system. When you access the mic, it should request permission but it simply isn't doing that. What did any of you do to get it to work?

Do you see any devices listed in the audio settings panel in the game options panel? If you have a headset, do you see the headset in the device dropdown menus? If you do, are they selectable?

[piercia]

Do you see any devices listed in the audio settings panel in the game options panel? If you have a headset, do you see the headset in the device dropdown menus? If you do, are they selectable?


I am using headphones with a mic. In the security settings for the mic, DDO isn't recognized. When I try to test the mic or press the button to talk, I get no response. For other apps that use the mic with mojave, it will bring up a confirm box with the mac system, then it gets added to the mic permission in the security and privacy window. DDO doesn't trigger this box.

[Kaytis]

I am using headphones with a mic. In the security settings for the mic, DDO isn't recognized. When I try to test the mic or press the button to talk, I get no response. For other apps that use the mic with mojave, it will bring up a confirm box with the mac system, then it gets added to the mic permission in the security and privacy window. DDO doesn't trigger this box.

Hmmm. I messed about with it but could not get it to work in Mojave. Apple has taken away the ability to add microphone permission to arbitrary apps. But apps built with older frameworks are supposed to be automatically added when they try to access the microphone. So something about the way the mic is opened is perhaps unorthodox in the Mac client.

Apps appear to inherit permissions from the parent process. When I launch the dndclient using my Terminal script that bypasses the Launcher, granting the Terminal permission to use the mic allows the mic to work in the client. It's all a bit quirky right now to be sure.

Note that the beta Wine client Cordovan linked a few weeks ago works. It annoyingly asks for permission to use the mic every single time, but you can use the microphone ok if you allow it.

Sorry, that's about the best I can come up with at the moment.

[piercia]

Hmmm. I messed about with it but could not get it to work in Mojave. Apple has taken away the ability to add microphone permission to arbitrary apps. But apps built with older frameworks are supposed to be automatically added when they try to access the microphone. So something about the way the mic is opened is perhaps unorthodox in the Mac client.

Apps appear to inherit permissions from the parent process. When I launch the dndclient using my Terminal script that bypasses the Launcher, granting the Terminal permission to use the mic allows the mic to work in the client. It's all a bit quirky right now to be sure.

Note that the beta Wine client Cordovan linked a few weeks ago works. It annoyingly asks for permission to use the mic every single time, but you can use the microphone ok if you allow it.

Sorry, that's about the best I can come up with at the moment.


I am so glad there seems to be a pathway! Any suggestions on how to grant terminal permission to use the mic? Is there a command in terminal that would grant permission for terminal?

Can you link the the Wine client that Cordovan linked?

[piercia]

I am using headphones with a mic. In the security settings for the mic, DDO isn't recognized. When I try to test the mic or press the button to talk, I get no response. For other apps that use the mic with mojave, it will bring up a confirm box with the mac system, then it gets added to the mic permission in the security and privacy window. DDO doesn't trigger this box.

SOLVED!

Ok, so first you have to get terminal to have mic permissions. I used this homebrew solution.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/14757720/how-to-record-sound-in-os-x-terminal

If you don't have X-code installed, it will give you instructions on how to install it. Just copy and paste the command. It might take 10-30 mins to download and install depending on your connection. When you finally get x-code and sox installed, just run the command and give terminal permission to used the mic. Control-Z with stop the recording and you are done.

Now, you can't just run the launcher from terminal. The launcher closes in terminal and launches the game, so the permissions don't apply.

When I figured this out, I sought out help for running the game in terminal and I came across your beautiful gem from 9 years ago!

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/456140-Launcher-Script-For-Mac-OS-X

Still works well. This is fantastic! Even if I didn't have mic troubles, I would use this. It is so much nicer than using the launcher that takes nearly a min to redownload welcome screens for 4 languages every single time I load it.

In any case, the mic works now. Thanks so much for your help.

[Kaytis]

Glad to hear that you got it working. I personally don't recall having to do anything special to give Terminal microphone access. But I do a lot of AV programming so I could very well have unwittingly done something in the past that added it to the list.

I am glad the script works for you. I try to keep it up to date. I wish I could make it easier to use. It takes a bit of work to set it up.

I will make it work with the Wine client when that is ready. Here is a link to the Wine client if you are interested:
http://download.ddo.akamai.turbine.com/ddo/posix/ddolive-wine.dmg

It is difficult to install. It asks a lot of scary questions. I found that just letting it do what it wants to do, despite whatever silly warnings it gives, resulted in a successful installation. After it is installed, launching in to the game is like 1980s cassette recorder slow, but once running, the implementation is superior in just about every way imaginable from the current Mac client. With a bit of polish around installation and launch, this will be an excellent replacement for the current client.

One problem though -and they really really need to fix this -is that the Wine client is currently a 32-bit app. It will not work in Catalina due this fall. Neither will the current client for that matter. You think not having the mic working is bad...

[piercia]

Glad to hear that you got it working. I personally don't recall having to do anything special to give Terminal microphone access. But I do a lot of AV programming so I could very well have unwittingly done something in the past that added it to the list.

...

One problem though -and they really really need to fix this -is that the Wine client is currently a 32-bit app. It will not work in Catalina due this fall. Neither will the current client for that matter. You think not having the mic working is bad...

I am sure that there is an easier way to get terminal mic access, but this just seemed like mostly simple and straightforward fix.

As for Catalina, what are your plans? Does that mean all 32-bit apps run with Wine will no longer work?

[Kaytis]

I am sure that there is an easier way to get terminal mic access, but this just seemed like mostly simple and straightforward fix.

As for Catalina, what are your plans? Does that mean all 32-bit apps run with Wine will no longer work?

It’s all 32-bit apps period. Not just Wine apps. My current plan is to not upgrade to Catalina. DDO is not the only 32-bit app I use. The problem is going to profoundly affect upgraders and people that get new machines. Generally machines produced after a new macOS is released can not run any older systems. I will just hold out as long as I can.