Mic Test
Check your microphone with a live waveform, level meter and instant playback.
Everything runs locally in your browser. Nothing you do here — audio, video or input — ever leaves your device.
Click the button below and your browser will ask permission to use the microphone. The audio is analyzed locally on this page — nothing is recorded on a server or uploaded anywhere.
Level
Peak: —
Hear yourself
Record a short clip and play it back — it never leaves your device.
How it works
When you start the test, the page requests microphone access through your browser's standard permission prompt — audio only flows after you approve, and it flows only into this page. The stream feeds a Web Audio analyser that draws the live waveform and computes your input level in decibels. Speak normally: a healthy setup shows a clearly moving waveform and peaks around −12dB. A flat line means the wrong device is selected or the input level is muted in your OS.
The record-and-playback loop captures five seconds into your browser's memory and plays it straight back, so you can judge clarity, noise and echo exactly as others would hear you on a call. The clip is held in memory only — closing the page destroys it. Use the device picker to test every microphone connected to your machine, and check the reported sample rate matches what your recording software expects. If your mic doesn't appear at all, our mic troubleshooting checklist covers Windows 11 and macOS privacy settings step by step.
How to read your result like a sound engineer
Aim for speech peaking between −18dB and −6dB. Peaks constantly hitting 0dB mean the gain is too high and you'll clip (distort) on calls — lower the input level in your OS or on the mic's own gain dial. Peaks below −30dB mean you'll be inaudible and apps like Discord will amplify noise trying to compensate. Also glance at the sample rate: 44.1kHz or 48kHz is expected; if a USB mic reports 8kHz or 16kHz, Windows has it in "telephone quality" mode — set it to 48kHz under Sound → Device properties → Additional settings.
Common results and what they mean
| What you see or hear | Most likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Flat line, no waveform | Wrong device selected, or OS privacy block | Pick the right mic in the device list; check Windows Settings → Privacy → Microphone allows browser access |
| Waveform moves but playback is silent | Output going to another device | Check the playback device — headsets often register as two devices, and audio may route to the idle one |
| Very quiet even at max volume | Mic boost off, or speaking into the wrong side | Enable +10/20dB boost in OS sound settings; address the front of a side-address mic (logo side) |
| Robotic or crackling sound | Sample-rate mismatch or USB bandwidth | Match OS and app sample rates (48kHz both); move the mic off a USB hub |
| Echo of your own voice on calls | Speaker sound re-entering the mic | Use headphones, or enable echo cancellation in the calling app — the mic itself is fine |
| Constant hiss or hum | Electrical interference or high gain | Lower gain, try a rear USB port, keep the cable away from power cables |
If the mic passes here but a specific app still can't hear you, the problem is that app's input device setting — this test proves the hardware, driver and browser stack all work. Testing a headset? Verify the other half too with the headphone test.
Making sense of your microphone levels
The live waveform and level meter show your microphone's input in real time. Audio is analyzed in your browser and never uploaded; the optional playback clip lives only in memory. Speak normally and watch the meter — the level, not just "is there sound", is what tells you whether your mic is set up well.
Target input levels
| Peak level | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Around −12 dB while speaking | Healthy headroom | Leave it — this is the target |
| Constantly hitting 0 dB | Clipping — distorted, harsh audio | Lower input gain in OS sound settings |
| Below −40 dB | Too quiet — others strain to hear you | Raise gain, or move closer to the mic |
| Meter flat while you speak | Wrong device selected or mic muted | Pick the right input; check the hardware mute |
Permission and device problems
- "Microphone blocked": click the mic icon in the address bar, allow, and reload. On Windows also check Settings → Privacy → Microphone; on macOS, System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
- Meter barely moves: laptops expose several inputs — choose the correct one in the device picker, then raise the OS input level.
- Echo on playback: playback replays your recording, so hearing yourself is expected. Echo during live monitoring means speakers are feeding back — use headphones.
Getting cleaner sound
Position the mic slightly off-axis (just to the side of your mouth) to reduce plosive pops. A stable −12 dB peak with a quiet background is better than a loud, clipping signal — quiet audio can be boosted later, but clipped audio is permanently distorted.
Troubleshooting
› The browser says microphone access is blocked
Click the camera/mic icon in the address bar and allow access, then reload. On Windows also check Settings → Privacy → Microphone; on macOS check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
› The meter barely moves when I speak
Select the right device in the input picker — many laptops expose several inputs. Then raise the input level in your OS sound settings and make sure the mic isn’t hardware-muted.
› I hear an echo during playback
Playback replays the clip you just recorded, so hearing yourself is expected. Echo during live monitoring means your speakers are feeding back into the mic — use headphones.
Frequently asked questions
› Is my voice recorded or uploaded?
Never. Audio is analyzed live in your browser; the optional playback clip lives only in memory and is gone when you leave the page.
› Why does the site ask for microphone permission?
Browsers require your explicit consent before any page can access a microphone. The prompt comes from your browser and applies only to this test.
› What does the dB level mean?
It shows your peak input level. Around -12dB while speaking normally is healthy; constantly hitting 0dB means clipping (too loud), and below -40dB is too quiet.
› Can I test multiple microphones?
Yes — use the device picker to switch between any connected inputs without reloading.