Creator Recording Audio Checker
A 6-second recording-environment diagnostic: measures your input level, peak clipping, and background noise floor — then tells you whether you're ready to record.
Audio diagnostic
Two short phases: 3 seconds of you speaking normally, then 3 seconds of silence. The tool measures your levels and background noise, and grades the result.
Last updated: September 2026
Ready to test.
Click Start Analysis. You'll be prompted to speak for 3 seconds, then stay silent for 3 seconds.
How it works
Once you grant mic permission, the tool runs two 3-second measurement phases via a Web Audio AnalyserNode: the first samples your voice while you speak normally, the second samples the room while you stay silent. It then reports the average signal level (how loud you were), peak level (was there clipping?), background noise floor (how quiet the room is), and the signal-to-noise ratio in dB. An overall verdict combines those into one line of action: boost the input, reduce gain, quieten the room, or you're good to go.
How to use this tool
- Click Start Analysis and allow mic access.
- When prompted, speak normally at your recording distance — the same way you would in a real recording. Don't rehearse; just talk about your day.
- When prompted, stay quiet — don't type, don't rustle. The tool needs a genuine silence sample to measure your noise floor.
- Read the verdict. If it says "Good to record", you're set. Otherwise the action line tells you exactly what to fix (gain, distance, noise).
- Retest after any change — this whole thing takes 6 seconds so iterate freely.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from the Microphone Level Checker?
The Microphone Level Checker is a live meter — good for real-time monitoring while you set up. This tool runs a structured 6-second diagnostic and gives you a written verdict, including the noise floor of your room. Use the live meter for quick checks; use this for a proper "am I ready to record?" test.
What's a good signal-to-noise ratio?
For voice, aim for 30 dB SNR or better. 20–30 dB is usable but you'll hear the room. Below 20 dB and your recording will need noise reduction that risks softening your voice. The tool reports the exact number so you can compare setups (different mics, different rooms).
Why measure the noise floor separately?
Because level alone is misleading. A hot signal with a noisy room still sounds bad after your voice stops — you get a wash of background hum between words. Measuring the "silence" tells you how clean your gaps will be, which is what listeners actually notice.
What are common noise-floor culprits?
Computer fans, air conditioning, refrigerators (through walls), electrical hum from cheap cables/interfaces, hard drives, an untreated room bouncing sound around. The quickest wins are usually: switch to a directional (cardioid) mic, get closer to it, turn off HVAC, unplug USB hubs and phone chargers close to the interface.
Is my audio being recorded?
No. Only per-frame level values are analysed and held briefly to compute the averages — never the audio itself. When the 6-second test ends (or you click Stop), the tool calls track.stop() on every track, fully releasing the mic and turning off the browser's recording indicator.