What this tool does
The Mic Test and Visualizer lets you quickly check whether your microphone is working directly in the browser. It captures audio from your selected input device, displays a real-time waveform visualization, and reports your current volume level in decibels. You can use it to verify that your mic is picking up sound, check volume levels before a meeting, and switch between multiple audio input devices to compare them.
How it works
The tool uses the Web Audio API to capture microphone input. When you grant permission, an AudioContext is created and an AnalyserNode processes the incoming audio stream. The AnalyserNode extracts time-domain waveform data and feeds it to a canvas element that draws the waveform in real time using requestAnimationFrame.
Volume is calculated as the root mean square (RMS) of the audio samples, then converted to decibels:
**Formula:** \`\`\` dB = 20 x log10(RMS) RMS = sqrt((1/N) x sum(sample[i]^2)) \`\`\`
The RMS value represents average signal strength, while peak amplitude detects momentary spikes. Clipping is flagged when the peak reaches 99 percent of maximum amplitude.
Who should use this
- **Remote workers**: Verify your mic works before joining a video call on Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams. - **Podcasters and streamers**: Check input levels and confirm the correct device is selected before recording. - **Musicians**: Test microphone sensitivity and monitor input quality before a session. - **IT support**: Quickly diagnose whether a user's microphone hardware is functioning. - **Anyone troubleshooting**: Confirm your browser can access your microphone and that the device is producing audio.
How to use
1. Click the Start Test button and grant microphone permission when prompted by your browser. 2. Speak into your microphone and watch the waveform visualization respond in real time. 3. Check the volume level display to see your current decibel reading and peak level. 4. If you have multiple microphones, use the device selector to switch between them. 5. Click Stop Test when finished. The audio stream is released immediately.
Understanding the results
The volume meter shows your current input level. Healthy speech typically registers between -30 dB and -10 dB. If the meter stays at -100 dB (silence), your microphone may be muted, unplugged, or not selected as the active input device. If you see the clipping warning, your input is too loud and may distort recordings. Try moving further from the microphone or reducing the input gain in your operating system sound settings.
FAQs
Q: Why does the browser ask for microphone permission? A: Browsers require explicit user consent before any website can access your microphone. This is a privacy protection. The tool only processes audio locally in your browser and does not record, store, or transmit any audio data.
Q: Can I test my microphone without installing anything? A: Yes. This tool runs entirely in your browser using standard Web Audio APIs. No downloads, plugins, or extensions are needed.
Q: Why is my volume reading stuck at silence? A: Make sure your microphone is not muted in your operating system settings, that the correct input device is selected, and that you have granted browser permission. Some browsers block microphone access on non-HTTPS pages.
Q: Does this tool work on mobile devices? A: Yes, most modern mobile browsers support the Web Audio API and getUserMedia. You may need to tap the Start button and then allow microphone access in the browser prompt.
Q: Is my audio being recorded or sent anywhere? A: No. All audio processing happens locally in your browser. Nothing is recorded, stored, or transmitted to any server.
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