How to read the meter
The meter shows your microphone level in dBFS (decibels relative to full scale). 0 dBFS is the loudest a digital recording can store; everything else is a negative number. The bar is the average (RMS) level, the white line is the peak level, held for two seconds, and the outlined box marks the -12 to -6 dBFS range.
- Level (RMS) follows how loud you sound on average. Normal speech usually sits 10 to 20 dB below its peaks.
- Peak hold and Loudest peak show the highest single samples. These are what clip.
- Noise floor is the quietest level over the last few seconds. Stay silent for three seconds to measure your room.
The test turns off the browser’s echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain, so you see what the microphone itself picks up.
Good recording levels
| Loudest peaks | What it means |
|---|---|
| 0 dBFS | Clipping. The tops of the waveform are cut off and it will sound harsh. You can’t fix this afterwards. |
| -6 to -3 dBFS | Hot but usable. A laugh or a cough may clip. |
| -12 to -6 dBFS | The target for voice. Loud enough to sit well above the noise, with room for louder moments. |
| -24 to -12 dBFS | Quiet. Fine if the room is quiet, but turning it up later also raises the noise. |
| Below -24 dBFS | Too quiet. Move closer or raise the input level. |
For the noise floor, lower is better. Around -60 dBFS or below is a quiet room. If it reads above -50 dBFS, look for fans, a laptop under load, air conditioning or traffic, and move the mic closer to your mouth rather than turning the level up.
Testing your mic for recording
- Click Start microphone and allow access.
- Pick the input you’ll record with. Built-in laptop mics, USB mics and headsets all show up by name once access is allowed.
- Sit where you’ll record and talk as you will in the video, including your loudest bits.
- Adjust the input level until peaks land between -12 and -6 dBFS, then click Reset peaks and check again.
- Stay silent for a few seconds to read the noise floor.
- Click Record 5 s and listen back on headphones for hiss, echo or a muffled sound.
Microphone permission on a Mac
If the browser never asks, or the meter stays flat, macOS may be blocking it. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and turn on your browser. You’ll usually need to quit and reopen the browser afterwards. In the browser itself, check the site permission (the icon at the left of the address bar).
Changing the input level on macOS
Open System Settings > Sound, choose the Input tab, select your microphone and drag the Input volume slider. The meter here updates live, so you can set it while you talk. Some USB microphones have a gain knob on the mic instead, and the slider may be greyed out; use the knob. For an audio interface, use the interface’s gain controls.
FAQ
How do I test my microphone online?
Click Start microphone, allow access, and speak. The meter moves as you talk. If it stays flat, pick another input from the device list, or check that the browser has microphone permission in its site settings and, on a Mac, in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.
What is a good microphone level for recording?
For voice, aim for peaks between -12 and -6 dBFS. That keeps your voice well above background noise and leaves room for louder moments without clipping at 0 dBFS.
Why is my mic not working in the browser on a Mac?
macOS needs to allow each app to use the microphone. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone, turn on your browser, then quit and reopen it. Also check that the right input is selected in System Settings > Sound > Input.
Is my audio uploaded when I test my mic?
No. The meter and the 5 second test recording are handled in your browser. The recording stays in the page’s memory and is gone when you close or reload it.