Online Microphone Test

Online Microphone Test – Overview

This free online microphone test lets you quickly verify that your mic or headset is working, visualize its signal in real time, and learn about the quality of your recording environment without installing any software.

All processing happens locally in your browser. No audio is uploaded. Use it for streaming setup, podcast prep, remote work calls, language practice, or diagnosing hardware issues.

Quick Start

1. Click ‘Start’ and grant microphone permission when prompted.
2. Speak at a normal level – the Level meter should move and the waveform should appear.
3. Adjust Gain only for visualization clarity; change system input level for true audio gain.
4. Switch to Spectrum mode (stop first) to view frequency distribution.
5. Optionally record a short sample and download it for reference.

Understanding Metrics

These measurements help you evaluate clarity, loudness, consistency, and environmental noise of your microphone signal.

Level (dBFS)

Shows the approximate loudness of your input relative to digital full scale (0 dBFS). Aim for peaks around -12 to -6 dBFS for voice; consistently hotter than -3 dBFS risks clipping.

Frequency

In spectrum mode this estimates the spectral centroid (a brightness measure). In wave mode we compute a lightweight centroid snapshot so you still get a frequency trend.

Pitch

Estimated fundamental frequency of voiced speech using a simplified autocorrelation. Typical adult speech: ~85–180 Hz (male), ~165–255 Hz (female). Rapid fluctuation or ‘—’ means the signal is unvoiced or too noisy.

Noise Floor

Background level measured during quiet frames. Lower (more negative) is better. A quiet treated room may reach -60 dBFS or below; -40 dBFS or higher indicates a noisy environment (HVAC, traffic, laptop fan).

Crest Factor

Difference between peak amplitude and RMS. High crest (e.g., >18 dB) suggests very dynamic transients; very low crest may indicate compression, distortion, or aggressive noise reduction.

Latency

AudioContext base and output latency estimates (in milliseconds). Useful for diagnosing delay in monitoring or real‑time communication setups.

Using the Interface

Wave Mode

Displays amplitude over time. Use it to verify that consonants produce sharp peaks and silence looks flat.

Spectrum Mode

Shows energy distribution across frequency bins. Useful for spotting rumble (<120 Hz), harshness (~2–5 kHz), or hiss (>8 kHz).

Gain Slider

This only scales the visualization, not the recorded audio. To actually increase capture level, adjust system input gain or hardware preamp.

Auto Scale

Automatically boosts or relaxes the visual amplitude so soft speech still looks readable without misrepresenting the true signal. Disable for raw amplitude aesthetics.

Recording Panel

Capture a short test (WebM/Opus in most browsers). Play back to judge clarity, plosives, sibilance, room reflections, and noise.

Tone Generator

Outputs a sine, square, triangle, or sawtooth wave. Use for frequency response checks or to test headset loopback. Keep level moderate to protect hearing.

Export PNG

Saves a snapshot of the current waveform or spectrum for documentation, support tickets, or comparisons.

Rescan Mics

Refreshes the device list in case you connected a new USB/Bluetooth microphone or labels became available after granting permission.

Advanced Tests

Go deeper with diagnostic techniques to characterize your microphone and environment.

• Run a sine sweep (20 Hz–16 kHz) and observe which bands are emphasized or attenuated (planned feature).
• Measure extended silence to establish a stable long‑term noise floor.
• Sustain a vowel (e.g., ‘ah’) to monitor pitch stability for vocal training.
• Compare live speech with monitored output to estimate round‑trip latency.
• Record the same script across multiple mics and compare metrics (future compare mode).

Improving Quality

Small adjustments greatly improve intelligibility and tone.

Room & Environment

• Close windows; reduce HVAC noise.
• Add soft furnishings (curtains, rugs) to reduce reflections.
• Keep noisy electronics (fans, drives) away from the mic front.
• Avoid hard parallel walls—angle the mic slightly.

Voice Technique

• Maintain consistent distance (5–15 cm for most condensers with pop filter).
• Aim slightly off‑axis to reduce plosives and harsh ‘s’.
• Hydrate; a relaxed throat yields clearer resonance.

Gear Settings

• Set interface gain so peaks land around -12 dBFS.
• Disable aggressive AGC/noise suppression if you need natural dynamics.
• Use a pop filter / wind screen for spoken voice.

Troubleshooting

Permission Prompt Not Appearing

Check browser site settings; ensure the tab isn’t in an iframe blocking media permission; reload after allowing.

No Signal / Flat Line

Verify the correct input device is selected at OS level, and that it is not muted in system or hardware controls.

Distorted / Clipping

Lower hardware/interface gain; keep peaks below -3 dBFS. Excessive distortion may persist until you fully power‑cycle the interface.

Excessive Noise

Identify constant sources (fans, AC). Use a directional mic or move closer to improve signal‑to‑noise ratio.

Pitch Not Detected

Sustain a clear vowel at moderate volume; avoid consonant strings or whispering, which lack a strong fundamental.

Privacy & Local Processing

Audio never leaves your browser. All analysis (waveform, spectrum, pitch, noise estimation) executes locally using the Web Audio API. Close or refresh the page to clear session data.

FAQ

Glossary

dBFS

Decibels relative to full scale. 0 dBFS is the maximum digital level; all real signals are negative.

RMS

Root Mean Square amplitude—a measure approximating perceived loudness over a time window.

Crest Factor

Peak level minus RMS in dB. Indicates dynamic headroom or compression.

Noise Floor

Baseline background level when no intentional signal is present.

Latency

Time delay between input entering the system and being available for playback/analysis.

Pitch

Perceived fundamental frequency of voiced audio.

Frequency Response

A device’s relative output level across the audible spectrum.

Spectrum

Distribution of signal energy over frequency bins at a moment in time.

Waveform

Amplitude vs time representation of the audio signal.