Camera, Mic & Media
Microphone Test - Check Your Mic Online
Test your microphone in the browser. See a live volume meter, waveform, and confirm audio input is working. No audio is recorded or uploaded.
What does the microphone test show?
The test displays two things simultaneously: a volume level bar (in dBFS) that responds to the loudness of the audio input, and a waveform oscilloscope showing the real-time amplitude over time.
Understanding dBFS
dBFS (decibels relative to full scale) measures audio levels where 0 dBFS is the maximum possible level before clipping. Normal speech typically sits between −30 and −12 dBFS.
Your microphone audio never leaves your device
Audio is analysed using the Web Audio API AnalyserNode entirely within your browser. No audio data is recorded, stored, or transmitted to any server.
Gain staging reference
Professional audio targets a recording level of −18 to −12 dBFS for speech and vocals. This leaves enough headroom (distance from 0 dBFS) to absorb unexpected loud moments without clipping. The standard "−18 dBFS = 0 VU" alignment comes from broadcast standards (EBU R68, SMPTE RP155).
- −60 to −30 dBFS: very quiet - background hiss, whisper
- −30 to −18 dBFS: quiet speech, normal room
- −18 to −12 dBFS: ideal target for voice recording
- −12 to −6 dBFS: loud speech, close mic - acceptable but watch peaks
- −6 to 0 dBFS: approaching clip - reduce gain
- 0 dBFS: clipping - digital distortion, avoid
Microphone types
| Type | How it works | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condenser | Capacitor membrane requires phantom power (+48V) | Studio vocals, podcasts | Sensitive; picks up room noise |
| Dynamic | Magnetic coil - no power needed | Live vocals, drums, amps | Durable; handles high SPL |
| Ribbon | Thin metal ribbon in magnetic field | Vintage vocals, brass | Fragile; figure-8 polar pattern |
| USB | Built-in ADC; plug directly into computer | Podcasts, video calls, streaming | Convenient; no audio interface needed |
Troubleshooting common problems
- Permission denied: the browser needs explicit microphone access. Click the lock icon in the address bar and allow microphone, then reload.
- Clipping / distortion: input level is too high. Lower the gain on your audio interface or move the microphone further from the source.
- Background hiss: either the gain is too high (lower it and move the mic closer) or a condenser mic is in a noisy room. Try noise suppression in your OS settings.
- Dropouts / stuttering: often caused by USB bandwidth issues. Use a different USB port or cable, or reduce sample rate in your audio interface settings.