How to use the Mic Test
- Press Start microphone and allow access when your browser asks.
- Speak normally. The level meter and waveform should move, and the status should say we can hear you.
- If you have several microphones, choose the one you want from the list to compare them.
- Press Record a clip, speak for a few seconds, stop, and play it back to hear how you sound.
Features
- Live input level in decibels with a peak marker
- Real-time waveform display
- Switch between microphones and compare them
- Toggle noise suppression and echo cancellation
- Record up to 10 seconds and play it back or download it
- Device name, sample rate and channel information
Reading the level meter
The meter shows how loud the signal from your microphone is in decibels relative to full scale (dBFS). 0 dB is the loudest signal the system can represent; everything else is a negative number. Every 6 dB is roughly a doubling or halving of the signal’s amplitude.
| Level while speaking | What it means |
|---|---|
| Below −50 dB | Too quiet: the microphone may be muted, far away or the wrong device |
| −40 to −20 dB | Normal speech for calls and meetings |
| −20 to −10 dB | Strong signal, good for recording |
| Above −6 dB | Very loud; peaks may clip and sound distorted |
The thin marker shows the recent peak. In a quiet room, the meter should sit near the bottom when you are silent; if it stays high, background noise such as a fan or air conditioner is being picked up.
Why record and play back?
A moving meter proves the microphone is sending sound, but only listening tells you what others hear. Recording a short clip reveals problems such as echo, a muffled or tinny tone, hiss, keyboard noise or a voice that is too quiet. Try a sentence at normal volume about an arm’s length from a laptop microphone, or a few centimeters from a headset boom.
Noise suppression and echo cancellation
Video-call apps process your voice before sending it: echo cancellation removes sound from your speakers that leaks back into the microphone, noise suppression reduces steady background noise, and automatic gain control evens out your volume. Keep the box ticked to hear yourself roughly as call participants do. Untick it to hear the raw microphone, which is useful when setting up a podcast or music recording where you want full control.
Tips for clearer audio
- Use a headset or earphones on calls so your microphone does not pick up the other person’s voice.
- Get closer. Moving from 60 cm to 15 cm away gives a much stronger, clearer signal than turning up the gain.
- Soften the room. Curtains, rugs and bookshelves reduce echo better than any software.
- Mind the plosives. Speak slightly across the microphone rather than directly into it to avoid popping on p and b sounds.
Privacy
The sound is analyzed by your browser on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, and recordings exist only in this page’s memory until you download them or close the tab. Stopping the microphone releases it immediately, so your system’s recording indicator turns off. Test your camera next with the Webcam Test.
Frequently asked questions
Is my audio recorded or uploaded?
No. The level meter and waveform are calculated in your browser. A clip is recorded only when you press Record, stays in this page and is discarded when you leave unless you download it.
Why does the meter not move?
Check that the correct microphone is selected, that it is not muted with a hardware switch, and that your operating system’s input level is turned up and the browser is allowed to use the microphone.
What is a good microphone level?
Normal speech should mostly sit between about −40 and −20 dB on the meter. If it regularly reaches above −6 dB, move back or lower the input gain to avoid distortion.
Why do I sound different in the recording?
You normally hear your own voice partly through the bones of your head, which adds bass. Recordings capture only what travels through the air, which is how others hear you.
Should I turn off noise suppression?
For calls, leave it on. For recording music, podcasts or testing the raw quality of a microphone, turn it off to hear the unprocessed signal.