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GivenTool

Microphone test: check your mic online

Check your microphone: live level meter and waveform, clipping warning, echo and noise suppression toggles, and a 5-second recording to play back.

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Is your microphone picked up at all, is it the right one, and is it too quiet or distorting? This test answers that in a few seconds. After you click Start and allow access, a live meter shows the input level in dBFS (decibels relative to full scale) with a peak marker, a waveform shows the sound as it arrives, and a clipping warning lights up when the signal hits the maximum and distorts.

Video-call apps process your voice with echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain control. You can switch each of these off here to hear what the raw microphone sounds like, or leave them on to hear roughly what others hear in a call. Record a 5-second clip and play it back to judge the tone, background noise and distance from the mic; use headphones so the speakers do not feed back into the microphone.

The sound is analysed in your browser with the Web Audio API. Nothing is uploaded, and the test recording exists only in this tab unless you download it.

How to use it

  1. Click Start microphone and allow access when the browser asks.
  2. Choose your microphone in the list if you have several (headset, webcam, laptop mic).
  3. Speak normally and watch the meter: aim for peaks roughly between −20 and −6 dBFS without the clipping warning.
  4. Click Record 5 seconds, then play the recording back with headphones.

Frequently asked questions

What level should my microphone be at?

For speech, peaks between about −20 and −6 dBFS are comfortable. Consistently below −30 dBFS is too quiet (move closer or raise the input volume in your system settings); reaching 0 dBFS causes clipping, which sounds harsh and distorted.

Is my voice uploaded or saved?

No. The meter and waveform are computed in your browser, and the 5-second recording is stored in the page's memory only. It disappears when you close the tab unless you download it.

Should I turn noise suppression off?

For calls, keep it on: it removes fan and keyboard noise. For music, podcasts or checking the microphone itself, turning echo cancellation, noise suppression and auto gain off gives a more natural sound.

The meter does not move. What is wrong?

Check that the right microphone is selected, that it is not muted with a hardware switch or in your system sound settings, that no other app has exclusive control of it, and that the browser has microphone permission.

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