Mic Test

An online mic test that tells you plainly whether you can be heard

The Mic Test opens your microphone and shows, live, whether sound is reaching your browser: a level meter in decibels with peak hold, a waveform or spectrum display, the sample rate, channel count and noise floor, plus a plain verdict — “We’re hearing you” or “No sound detected” with what to check.

Run it before an interview, a class, a podcast session or a support call, when a new headset or USB microphone arrives, or when someone on a call says they can’t hear you. It works with built-in laptop mics, headsets, Bluetooth earbuds, USB condenser microphones and audio interfaces.

The test is private: audio is analysed on your device and never uploaded. Nothing is recorded unless you press “Record test clip”, and the clip is only saved if you choose to download it.

How to use the Mic Test

1. Press Start microphone and choose Allow when the browser asks.
2. Speak at a normal volume. The meter should move into the green, and the result panel should change to We’re hearing you.
3. If you have several inputs, choose the right one in the Microphone list — headsets and USB mics appear by name.
4. Toggle Echo cancellation, Noise suppression and Auto gain control to hear how the browser’s processing affects the signal.
5. Press Record test clip, speak for 5–10 seconds, then play the recording back — ideally on headphones — to judge clarity, echo and background noise.
6. Press Stop microphone when you are done.

Mic Test features

Reading the meter: dBFS, peak and noise floor

Digital audio levels are measured in dBFS (decibels relative to full scale). 0 dB is the loudest sample a recording can hold; everything else is negative. Normal speech on a correctly set microphone peaks between about −18 and −6 dB. Peaks that reach 0 dB are clipping — the top of the waveform is cut off and the sound distorts — so lower the input gain or move back.

The noise floor is the level when you are silent, estimated here from the quietest 10 % of readings. A floor of −60 dB or lower is excellent; around −40 dB means a noticeable hiss, fan or hum. The gap between your voice and the floor is the signal-to-noise ratio, and a wider gap sounds cleaner, which is why getting closer to the mic helps more than turning the gain up.

Sample rate is how many times per second the signal is measured: 48 kHz is the modern default, 44.1 kHz is CD quality, and some Bluetooth headsets drop to 16 kHz or even 8 kHz in hands-free mode, which is why they sound muffled on calls.

Microphone not working? Troubleshooting checklist

• Permission blocked: allow the microphone from the icon at the left of the address bar, then reload. On Windows check Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone; on a Mac, System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
• Meter stays empty: look for a mute key or switch on the headset cable, keyboard (often an F-key) or microphone body. Many laptops show a mute light.
• Wrong device: a webcam, a monitor or a virtual cable can be the default input. Pick the one you want in the Microphone list and set it as default in your system sound settings.
• Too quiet: raise the input volume (Windows: Sound → Input → Volume; macOS: Sound → Input level) and speak 10–20 cm from the mic.
• Clipping or distortion: lower the gain on a USB mic or audio interface, turn off any “microphone boost”, and move slightly away.
• Hum or buzz: use a different USB port, avoid unpowered hubs, and keep cables away from power adapters. The spectrum view shows mains hum as a spike at 50 or 60 Hz.
• Echo on calls: keep echo cancellation on, use headphones, or lower the speaker volume.

Echo cancellation, noise suppression and auto gain

Browsers can process the microphone signal before any app hears it. Echo cancellation removes the sound of your own speakers so the other side does not hear themselves. Noise suppression reduces steady background noise such as fans and traffic. Auto gain control keeps your voice at a consistent level even if you move. All three are ideal for calls, which is why they are on by default.

For music, podcasts and instrument recording, switch them off: they can pump, thin out the sound and cut quiet notes. The Voice Recorder and Online Tuner on Galaxy of Tools use the same browser audio engine, and the Speaker Test checks the other half of your call setup.