Audio Calibration & Microphone Troubleshooting
This page provides troubleshooting steps to resolve microphone connection issues, browser permission blocks, and high latency during mock interviews.
1. Microphone Settings Checklist
Before beginning an interview, verify that your browser environment is configured correctly:
| Requirement | Target Setting | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Browser Compatibility | Chrome, Safari, Edge | Full support for WebSocket audio streaming APIs. |
| Permissions | Allow audio access | Allows the browser to record microphone inputs. |
| Sample Rate | 16000Hz (downsampled) | Optimizes audio quality for speech-to-text transcribers. |
| Echo Cancellation | Enabled (default) | Prevents the microphone from recording the speaker output. |
2. Troubleshooting Permission Blocks
If the application displays a "Microphone access denied" alert, follow these steps to reset your permissions:
Locate Permission Indicators
In your browser address bar, click the Lock icon located to the left of the URL.
Reset Permission Dropdown
Find the Microphone setting in the permissions menu and toggle it to Allow.
Refresh the Page
Reload the page (F5 or Cmd+R) to apply the changes and initialize the microphone client.
3. Optimizing Latency & Network Quality
WebSocket Disconnects
If you are using a VPN or proxy, you may experience connection timeouts. If the voice streaming stops unexpectedly, try disabling your VPN before launching a session.
Easing Audio Latency
- Target latency: Keep socket latency under
350msfor natural-sounding conversations. - Hardware Acceleration: Ensure your browser has Hardware Acceleration enabled in settings to support smooth web audio processing.
- Buffer Adjustments: If you hear crackling or gaps in the voice stream, close other browser windows to free up CPU resources.