Private browser-based mic diagnostics

Test Your Microphone Online

Check whether your microphone works, measure your audio levels, detect common sound problems and hear exactly what your microphone is capturing — directly in your browser.

FreeNo accountNo installationAudio stays local

Mic Test

Not started

Microphone input

Live input

QuietGoodLoudClipping

— dBFS

dBFS = digital full scale; not calibrated room loudness.

No sound detected yet

Live waveform

Use headphones when listening to yourself to prevent speaker feedback.

Guided quality check

Start the 10-second diagnostic for background noise, speaking level, clipping and stability.

Private local recording

Record up to 10 seconds and play it back without uploading it.

Your microphone results

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—%

Setup quality

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Compared with a practical voice-call baseline. This is a setup score, not a percentile ranking of microphone models.

Sound detected

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Speaking level

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Peak level

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Clipping

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Background signal

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Voice/noise separation

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Signal continuity

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Voice consistency

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50/60 Hz hum

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Frequency activity

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What to try next

Technical details

Device: —

Sample rate: —

Channels: —

Echo cancellation: —

Noise suppression: —

Automatic gain control: —

AudioContext latency: —

How the test works

MicGauge keeps the first step simple, then gives you deeper diagnostics only when you want them.

Allow access

Your browser asks before MicGauge can use the microphone. Choose the input you want to test.

Speak normally

The live meter confirms sound immediately. For diagnostics, stay quiet briefly, then speak normally.

Understand the result

See useful setup measurements with plain-language explanations and practical next steps.

Why MicGauge?

A microphone can be “connected” and still be the wrong device, too quiet, clipping, noisy or unstable. MicGauge gives you a useful answer before you join the call.

Before a meeting

Check your mic before Zoom, Teams, Google Meet or Webex so you do not discover a problem after the call starts.

Discord & gaming

Confirm that your headset or USB mic is actually receiving sound before joining voice chat.

Job interviews

Verify the selected device, speaking level and background noise before an important remote interview.

Streaming & OBS

Catch clipping, weak levels or obvious background noise before you go live.

New microphone setup

Check whether a new USB microphone, headset, webcam or audio interface is being heard by the browser.

Troubleshooting

If MicGauge hears you but another app does not, you have already narrowed the problem to that app, its permissions or its input selection.

What can MicGauge help you check?

Sometimes you only need a quick microphone test. Other times you are trying to work out why people cannot hear you, why your mic sounds wrong, or whether the browser is using the device you expected. MicGauge is designed to turn those common questions into something you can actually test.

Is my microphone working?

Use MicGauge as a simple online microphone checker: choose your input, start the mic test and speak normally. If the live level meter and waveform react and sound is detected, your browser is receiving audio from that microphone.

Why is my mic too quiet, too loud or clipping?

The microphone volume test measures your average speaking level and peak level in dBFS. If your mic is too quiet, too loud or clipping, the results point you toward changing input gain, distance or microphone position instead of guessing.

Why does my microphone have background noise, static, buzzing or hum?

During the guided test, a short quiet period estimates the background signal. That can help you notice fan noise, keyboard noise, room noise, static-like interference or a possible 50/60 Hz hum before it becomes a problem on a call or recording.

Can I hear what my microphone sounds like?

Record a short microphone sample and play it back directly in the browser. The recording stays local to the tab, so you can check clarity, distance, plosives and room sound without uploading your voice to MicGauge.

Can I test my mic before Discord, Zoom, Teams, Google Meet or OBS?

Yes. A quick mic test before Discord voice chat, a Zoom or Teams meeting, Google Meet, OBS, streaming or a remote interview can confirm that the browser can hear you before you open the app that actually matters.

Is my headset, laptop mic, USB mic, Bluetooth mic or webcam microphone working?

If your browser exposes more than one input, MicGauge lets you switch between available microphones. That makes it useful for checking a gaming headset, built-in laptop microphone, USB microphone, Bluetooth headset, webcam mic or audio interface.

Why does my mic work here but not in another app?

If MicGauge receives clean audio but Discord, Zoom, Teams or another app does not, the microphone itself may be fine. Check that app's selected input and microphone permission. Browser permission problems in Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari can be isolated the same way.

What microphone settings is my browser actually receiving?

The technical details can show information such as sample rate, channel count, echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain control when your browser makes those settings available. They help explain why the same microphone can behave differently between apps and browsers.

Common microphone problems MicGauge can help isolate

The site cannot magically identify every hardware fault, but it can quickly tell you which troubleshooting branch makes sense.

Mic connected but no sound

Check hardware mute switches, input gain, the selected device and operating-system privacy permissions.

Mic too quiet

Compare your speaking level with the background signal and try moving closer or increasing input gain.

Mic sounds distorted

Look for peaks close to digital full scale and clipping during normal speech.

Background noise

Use the quiet section to estimate how much room, fan, keyboard or electrical noise reaches the input.

Mic keeps cutting out

Signal continuity can reveal obvious interruptions during the speaking section.

Works here, not in an app

If MicGauge receives clean audio, check the other app’s microphone choice and permission settings.

Microphone test FAQ

Is my microphone working?

Start the live test and speak. If MicGauge detects a clear input signal and the meter moves, your browser is receiving audio from the selected microphone.

Does MicGauge upload or save my microphone audio?

No microphone audio is uploaded by this V1. Live analysis and optional recording happen locally in your browser. A recording disappears when the page is refreshed or closed.

Why does my microphone work here but not in Discord, Zoom or Teams?

That usually means the browser can access your microphone but the other app may be using a different input device, have its own permission problem or apply different audio processing.

Can MicGauge tell whether my microphone is high quality?

It can assess the health of your current voice setup, not scientifically grade the microphone hardware. Room acoustics, distance, gain and browser processing all affect the result.

Why is my mic too quiet?

Common causes include low input gain, speaking too far from the mic, a different microphone being selected or automatic processing. Use the speaking-level result as a starting point.

What is clipping?

Digital clipping happens when the signal reaches the maximum representable level. It often sounds harsh or distorted. Lower the input gain or move slightly farther away.

What is voice-to-noise separation?

It is an estimate of how much stronger your speaking signal is than the background signal measured during the quiet section. More separation usually means clearer calls.

Can a website use my microphone without permission?

Modern browsers require microphone permission. MicGauge also shows a clear Microphone Active state and gives you a Stop button.

Your microphone stays under your control

MicGauge requests microphone access only when you start the test. Audio analysis is performed in your browser, and microphone tracks are stopped when you press Stop or leave the page. Future analytics or advertising must be disclosed separately from microphone processing.