Foto Master

Bluetooth Microphone No Sound

Updated 5 days ago · 3 min read

When you record a video with FMX iPadOS but the playback has no audio -- or audio cuts out partway through -- the issue is almost always one of seven things. This article walks through them in the order our support team checks them.

Quick Diagnostics

  1. Open iOS Settings > Bluetooth. Confirm your microphone is shown as Connected, not just "Paired."
  2. Open iOS Settings > Sound & Haptics and play a ringtone. If the ringtone does not play through your booth's speakers, the Bluetooth audio routing is wrong.
  3. Record a 5-second test inside the FMX workflow. Play it back on the iPad. If the test passes here but fails at the event, the issue is environmental (interference, distance, low battery).

Common Issues

Audio Recording Has No Sound

Problem: Burst Video or video recording produces a file, but playback is silent.

Cause: One of seven settings between FMX, iPadOS, and the microphone hardware is wrong.

Solution: Work through these seven steps in order. Stop as soon as audio works.

  1. Workflow audio is enabled. Open cloud.fotomaster.com > Presets > FMX (iPadOS), edit your workflow, and find the video or burst-video step. Confirm that Record Audio is toggled on. Audio can be silently disabled during a copy/paste or template import, so always re-verify after either action.

  2. iPad audio output level. Press the volume up button on the iPad until the on-screen indicator shows mid-to-high. iPadOS treats Bluetooth output volume independently of the device's built-in speaker volume, so you may need to raise it again after pairing the microphone.

  3. Native iOS test. Open the Voice Memos app and record a short clip. If Voice Memos cannot pick up the microphone, the problem is at the iPad/Bluetooth level, not in FMX. Re-pair the device in Settings > Bluetooth.

  4. App permissions for microphone. Open iOS Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone, scroll to FMX, and confirm the toggle is on. If it is off, FMX will record video with silent audio and not warn you.

  5. Input source selection in workflow. Inside the FMX workflow's video step, look for an Input Source or Microphone dropdown. Select your Bluetooth microphone explicitly -- do not leave it on "Default." Save the workflow and resync the event.

  6. Hardware validation. Try a different microphone (a wired Lightning or USB-C mic, or even another Bluetooth model). If audio works with the alternate mic, your original Bluetooth unit needs charging, re-pairing, or replacement. Bluetooth microphones with low batteries will appear connected but transmit only silence.

  7. Reinstall FMX. As a last resort, delete FMX from the iPad, reinstall it from the App Store, log back in, and re-sync the event. This clears any cached audio routing state.

Audio Cuts Out Mid-Recording

Problem: The first few seconds of a recording have audio, but the audio drops out partway through.

Cause: Bluetooth signal interference or the microphone going into power-save mode.

Solution:

  1. Keep the iPad and the microphone within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other with a clear line of sight.
  2. Move away from heavy 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi traffic (microwaves, dense conference Wi-Fi).
  3. Charge the microphone fully before each event. Most lavalier-style Bluetooth mics enter sleep mode at 15-20 percent battery.
  4. Disable any "Auto Sleep" feature in the microphone's companion app.

iPad Is Covered by the Booth Frame and Audio Sounds Muffled

Problem: The iPad's built-in microphone records audio, but it sounds muffled because the booth frame partially covers the iPad.

Cause: Holly Yarwood reported this exact scenario in February 2026 -- the iPad was mounted inside the booth and her recordings sounded distant.

Solution: Switch from the iPad's built-in microphone to an external Bluetooth or wired microphone placed at guest height. Configure the workflow's video step to use the external microphone as the input source (see step 5 above).

Tip: For booth installations where the iPad is enclosed, plan for an external microphone from the start. Built-in iPad microphones are calibrated for handheld use and do not perform well behind a frame or acrylic panel.

Related Articles

Was this helpful?

Related articles