Select and allow the microphone
Open the webcam and microphone tester. Allow its camera and microphone permissions. Select the input device through your browser or operating system settings. If access was previously blocked, review the browser’s site permissions and your operating system’s microphone permissions.
Connect a headset or external microphone before starting the test so the browser can use it.
Check the signal and playback
- Speak at the volume you expect to use in the recording.
- Watch the input level display while speaking and while silent.
- Save a short test recording, then open the result and play it back.
- Listen for distortion, echo, background sound and missing words.
- Repeat after changing the microphone position or input selection.
A level display is an input check, not a calibrated sound-pressure measurement or a guarantee of transcription accuracy.
Fix common problems
If the display does not react, check that the selected microphone is connected and unmuted. Confirm that the browser has permission to use it.
If the sound is faint, move closer and check the system input level. If it is distorted, reduce the input level or move slightly farther away, then listen again.
For echo, test with headphones and check whether a second microphone or loudspeaker is feeding the same conversation back into the recording.
Test the real recording setup
A successful microphone test does not prove that screen or meeting audio will be captured. Record a short sample in the actual audio recorder or screen recorder and play that result too.
Check recording preferences if you want to compare microphone processing settings. For continuing problems, follow missing audio help.