What to test before recording a voice audition

A voice audition can sound fine while you are recording, then reveal a low level, room noise, or the wrong microphone when you listen back. A quick check before the real take can help you catch those problems while there is still time to fix them.

Use the Microphone Test to check the input and make a short sample recording. Then check the actual recording app too, because it may choose a different microphone or apply different sound processing.

Test your voice recording setup

1. Open the Microphone Test and press Start microphone. Allow microphone access when your browser asks.
2. Choose the microphone you plan to use from the device list. Sit or stand as you will during the audition, keep the microphone in its usual position, and speak a few lines at your normal performance volume.
3. Watch the signal meter and waveform while you speak. The status should change from Waiting for sound to Sound detected. Check that the meter responds to your voice and returns toward quiet between phrases.
4. Press Record 5 seconds, read a short audition line, and play it back through headphones. Listen for a clear voice, unwanted hum or hiss, sudden level changes, and clipped or distorted sounds.
5. Try the Noise suppression, Echo cancellation, and Auto volume switches one at a time if you want to compare their effect. For an audition, use the sound processing required by the casting instructions, or leave it off if no processing is requested.

Use the same distance and speaking volume for each comparison. If you change the microphone, headset, room, or computer input, make another sample. A setting that works for one setup may not work for another.

What the test results mean

The meter moves and the sample sounds clear

The browser can receive and play back your voice from the selected microphone. That is a good starting point, but it does not confirm that your audition app is using the same input. Make a short test in that app before recording the full audition.

The meter barely moves

Your voice is reaching the browser at a low level. Move the microphone closer, speak toward its active side, and check the system input level. Avoid turning up gain without listening again, because extra gain can also make background noise more noticeable.

The meter responds, but the sample sounds noisy or uneven

The microphone is picking up sound, but the room, placement, or sound processing may be affecting the result. Listen for a steady fan, traffic, room echo, handling noise, or automatic volume changes. Try a quieter position and record another sample at the same speaking level.

The meter does not move

The browser may be listening to the wrong device, may not have permission, or may be receiving silence from the microphone. Check the selected input and the permission and connection fixes below.

The test sounds good, but the audition app does not

The microphone itself may be fine. The app could be using another input, applying noise reduction, or recording at a different level. Check the app's own microphone selector and make a sample recording there.

Fix common problems before you record

1. Set up the room and microphone. Turn off nearby fans or appliances if you can, silence notifications, and place the microphone steadily. Speak toward it from a consistent distance. A quieter room and steady placement usually help more than aggressive processing.
2. Check the mute switch and connection. Look for a mute control on the headset, microphone, cable, or keyboard. Reconnect a USB microphone, check that a 3.5 mm plug is fully inserted, or reconnect a Bluetooth headset and confirm it is selected as the input.
3. Allow microphone access. In your browser, open the site permissions from the icon beside the address bar and set Microphone to Allow, then reload the page. On Windows 11, check Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone. On macOS, check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone. On an iPhone, check Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone; on Android, check the app's microphone permission in its settings.
4. Choose the right system input. In Windows 11, open Settings › System › Sound and choose your microphone under Input. On macOS, open System Settings › Sound › Input. If you are recording on a phone, check the recording app's input or microphone settings when available.
5. Close apps that may be using the microphone. Quit other calling or recording apps, then test again. If the browser reports that another app is using the microphone, closing that app may release it.
6. Check the audition app separately. Select the intended microphone in the app and record a short test using the required file type and settings. Listen to the saved test, not just the live meter, before making your audition take.

When the microphone may be faulty

Try the microphone on another computer or phone if possible. If it remains silent, crackles, or cuts out when its cable moves, the microphone, cable, or connector may be damaged. If a different microphone works on the same device, that points toward the original microphone or its connection. Check the warranty for a new headset or microphone; for a built-in laptop microphone, ask a repair shop to inspect it.

Why a browser test is only one part of the check

The test checks sound reaching the browser, not the entire recording chain in your audition app. The app may select another input or process the voice differently. A five-second sample also cannot predict every problem in a longer take, such as a fan starting up or a loose cable shifting. Use the browser test to find basic input problems, then make and play back a short test in the app you will use.

The microphone test's sample recording stays on your device. Follow the audition platform's instructions for the final recording and submission.