Mic Test - Free Online Microphone Tester

Optimal Input Gain

Configure your microphone gain between 50% and 150% with our pre-configured options or on-the-fly with our slider. Control over input gain is particularly important to those who record audio for podcasting where consistent levels between episodes is desired, for musicians (both voice and instruments), and for streamers who are sensitive to clipping and distortion. Select the Low (50%) preset for environments that are too loud or if you have a sensitive condenser microphone, Normal (100%) for most use cases, and Boost (150%) for quieter sources that need more amplification. Our on-the-fly gain control leverages the Web Audio API's GainNode for amplification without the introduction of noise or latency.

Apply noise suppression for clean recordings

If you want to remove typing sounds, mouse clicks, fans, AC and similar sounds from the recording, please enable the noise suppression and try again. It works in your browser and can be used to clean up noisy recordings of remote work, podcasts, home recordings, videos, etc, and you don't need a noise gate or a noise reduction plugin. The noise suppression uses Web Audio API to suppress noise directly on the microphone so it does not increase CPU load nor adds latency. You can test both with and without noise suppression to see what works best for your microphone.

Why it's useful: Echo cancellation

removes acoustic feedback and echo from your microphone before the test. This is important for video calls, podcast interviews, and live streaming when your speakers' audio can also be picked up by your microphone. Use the pre-settings pop-up to turn echo cancellation on to test your microphone with it on. This will help you decide whether you need to treat your recording space for acoustics, or whether you can rely on browser echo cancellation. Useful for: remote workers, podcast interviewers, and anyone who records in a room with a lot of hard surfaces (which can echo).

Maintain consistent volume with AGC

AGC makes your microphone level sound louder and more consistent. If you are quiet, it will make you louder. If you are loud, it will make you quieter. It's great for streamers, because if you are in a loud moment, you don't have to worry about being too loud. It's also good for podcasters, if you are moving further from your mic. Also, it's great for video conferencing, if you want to sound like a pro. Check this box, and see if AGC works well with your browser and your mic. If you like to record music or ASMR, you may want to keep this off.

Monitor your audio levels in real time.

The level meter shows the RMS (Root mean square) of the audio signal, showing the actual level of the audio. The peak is also shown, where the level will start to clip. The level meter has three sections; green, yellow and red. The green zone is the optimal level, between -12 and -6 dB. The yellow zone is between -6 and -3 dB and the red zone is anything above -3 dB, when your audio will clip. Use this meter to make sure your microphone is positioned correctly. Use it to adjust your voice level. Use it to monitor the level of your audio before you hit record, so you know your levels won't clip. Podcasters use this to match levels between episodes. Musicians use it to set the gain of their microphones. Remote workers use it to make sure they can be heard, but aren't too loud.

Frequency Spectrum Analysis

Real-time frequency spectrum analysis of your microphone's frequency response. Use the 32-band spectrum to determine which frequencies your microphone is picking up. Excessive rumble (20-250Hz)? Muddy mids (250Hz-2kHz)? Harsh sibilance (6kHz-8kHz)? This is used by audio engineers to evaluate microphones and rooms, podcasters to find problematic frequencies that need to be equalized, and musicians to determine which mic works best for their voice or instrument. Real-time updates allow you to analyze your position, proximity and surroundings.

Side-by-side comparison of two microphones

Choose the side-by-side comparison option to use two microphones at once. This is particularly useful if you have two microphones plugged in (say your laptop's built-in microphone and a USB microphone), and you want to see them side-by-side to compare the audio quality, noise floor, frequency response, and sensitivity of each. This is useful for choosing which microphone to buy, testing different microphone placements, or deciding which microphone to use for your podcast or stream. I use it to prove to myself that buying a new microphone is worth it, sound designers use it to find a match for another microphone for stereo recording, and a company's IT department might use it to test microphones before deploying them throughout their company. To use it, choose the comparison setting in the pre-sets, select a second microphone, and both will be shown side-by-side with real time results.

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) Measurement

The green number shows your current SNR. 60 dB is the minimum recommended for professional recording, 50-60 dB is the minimum for broadcasting and podcasting, and 40-50 dB is fine for video chats and tutorials. A good SNR will tell you if your microphone is good enough for what you want to do, if your room is too loud, or if you need to add acoustic panels. Click on the "Advanced" button at the top right of the screen to show the SNR, noise floor, and dynamic range as you measure. This is a useful measurement for podcasters who want to make sure their broadcast is within broadcast standards, musicians who want to evaluate their home studio setup, and for anyone who cares about their sound quality.

Built-in Laptop Microphones:

These are the microphones that are built into your laptop. They're convenient, but tend to be lower quality. You may hear your typing and the fan from your computer. You can still use it, just place the laptop so the mic is facing you. This is fine for a video chat with your friend or family member, but you probably don't want to record a voiceover with it.

USB Microphones:

Here are my top USB microphone recommendations for both Mac and PC. A decent USB microphone will make a world of difference compared to your computer's internal microphone. The Blue Yeti and Audio-Technica AT2020 USB are two of the most popular USB microphones out there and sound fantastic. Perfect for podcasting, Twitch streaming, or making video calls.

Gaming headsets and earbuds:

If you want a headset or earbuds for gaming, you can also consider these as an option. They are more convenient to use and the microphone positioning remains the same every time. Obviously, the better (and more expensive) the headset or earbuds, the better will be the quality. These are great for gaming purposes and making the occasional call.

Condenser Microphones

Sensitive microphones that capture rich, detailed audio. Require careful positioning and acoustic treatment. Best for professional recording, voiceover, and music production.

Dynamic Microphones:

Robust and great at rejecting background noise. Often used for podcasting and streaming due to their tolerance of home environments. Not as sensitive as condensers, but more convenient.

Distance.

6-12 inches from your mouth. Closer: Sounds more bassy (proximity effect) and picks up breathing. Farther: Thinner sound and picks up room noise.

Invest in a Pop Filter:

Plosives (P, B, T) create air blasts that result in distortion. Place a pop filter between you and your mic and they will disappear. If you plan on doing podcasting or voice over, this is a must.

Minimize background noise

— Turn off the fan, close the window, silence your phone. Do the mic test within the environment where you will be recording. There's a lot of noise we are not even aware of.

Don't forget about Room Acoustics

You don't want to record in a space with a lot of hard, flat surfaces — it will create echo and reverb. You want soft surfaces that absorb sound reflections (curtains, carpeting, acoustic panels). You can even record in a closet full of clothes, which can make a huge difference.

Consistency is key!

If you find that the microphone sounds good in one spot, keep it there for the duration of your recording session. You can invest in a boom arm or microphone stand if you want to avoid your mic moving around at all. You can even draw a circle on the desk to show where your mic should be to achieve that good sound again.

No Audio Detected:

• Verify microphone permissions are granted in browser settings
• Check that the correct input device is selected in the dropdown
• Ensure microphone isn't muted in hardware or system settings
• For USB microphones, try a different port
• Close other applications that might be using the microphone

Audio Too Quiet:

• Increase microphone input level in system settings
• Move closer to the microphone
• Check for gain controls on the microphone itself
• Ensure you're speaking toward the microphone's pickup pattern

Audio Distorted or Clipping:

• Reduce microphone input level in system settings
• Move slightly away from the microphone
• Check for physical obstructions or debris on the microphone

Echo or Reverb:

• Use headphones to prevent speakers from feeding back into the mic
• Add soft materials to your room to absorb sound reflections
• Get closer to the microphone to increase direct sound vs. room reflections