Free Microphone Test
Check microphone input with waveform, spectrum, live levels and optional quiet monitoring. Select an input and test locally without signup.
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How to use the microphone test
Check microphone input with waveform, spectrum, live levels and optional quiet monitoring. Select an input and test locally without signup.
- Choose your microphone after the first permission grant; stop before changing devices.
- Choose processed input or request raw input, then select Start microphone and allow access.
- Speak normally and inspect the waveform, frequency spectrum, RMS level and peak indicator.
- Stop microphone when finished. Use headphones before enabling optional quiet monitoring.
Who needs a quick microphone check
A microphone problem is easiest to fix before a call starts. Remote workers use this check before an interview or a client meeting. Teachers and students use it before an online class. Podcasters and streamers use it to confirm that the right input is selected after plugging in a USB microphone or a headset.
It also helps with troubleshooting. If other people say you sound quiet, distorted or muffled, the live meter and graph show whether the signal reaches the browser at all, whether it is very low, or whether it is hitting the top of the digital range.
Worked example: reading the level numbers
The status line shows two numbers. Peak is the largest absolute sample in the latest block of audio, shown as a percentage of digital full scale. RMS is the root mean square of the same block: square each sample, average the squares, then take the square root.
For a steady pure tone the relationship is fixed. RMS equals peak divided by the square root of 2. A tone peaking at 50% therefore reads about 35.4% RMS, and a tone peaking at 100% reads about 70.7% RMS. Speech is spikier than a tone, so its RMS is usually well below its peak. When the peak reaches 98% or more, the line adds a possible clipping warning.
The numbers refresh roughly every 150 milliseconds and are calculated from 1,024 samples each time. At a common 48 kHz sample rate that is about 21 milliseconds of audio per reading.
How the waveform and spectrum views work
The default view draws the waveform, which is the signal over time. A flat line in the middle means silence or a muted input. Tick Frequency spectrum view to switch to bars that show how much energy sits at each frequency, from low on the left to high on the right.
The spectrum uses a 1,024-point analysis, which gives 512 frequency bars spread evenly from zero up to half the sample rate. Voices put most of their energy toward the left side of the display. A tall, constant bar while you are silent often points to electrical hum or fan noise.
The processing checkbox asks the browser for echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain control. Untick it before starting to request a more natural, unprocessed signal. The browser and device decide whether each request is honored.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not treat the percentages as decibels or as a measure of how loud the room is. They describe the digital signal, which depends on your system input volume and on automatic gain.
Avoid turning on live monitoring through speakers. Even at its quiet level, the sound can loop back into the microphone and cause feedback, so wear headphones. Also remember that the device list is locked while the microphone is running. Stop the test, pick another input, then start again.
Useful tips and limitations
- The meter shows relative digital levels, not calibrated loudness.
- A flat meter may mean a muted input, wrong device or permission problem.
- Run the test once with processing on and once with it off to hear which setting suits your room and microphone.
- If the list only offers the default microphone, start the test once to grant permission, stop it, and your other inputs will appear by name.
Common questions
Can the microphone checker measure calibrated decibels?
No. RMS and peak values describe the digital input signal; they are not calibrated sound-pressure measurements.
Does the live microphone test record my voice?
No. This test analyzes the live stream locally. It does not record or upload your voice.
What does the possible clipping warning mean?
It appears when the peak reaches 98% of digital full scale, which suggests the input gain is high enough to flatten loud sounds and cause distortion.
Why does my level jump when I enable processing?
Automatic gain control can raise or lower the signal on its own, so readings with processing on can differ from the raw input level.
Can I switch microphones without reloading the page?
Yes. Select Stop microphone, choose another device from the list, then select Start microphone again.
Device checks and recordings run locally without AI or media uploads. Permission is requested only when starting capture. Download anything you want to keep before leaving the page.