Testing Your Microphone

Verifying your microphone during onboarding

During the ParrotKey onboarding process, there is a dedicated microphone test step. This lets you verify that your microphone is working correctly before you start using voice dictation. The test displays a real-time waveform visualization that responds to your voice, so you can see immediately whether audio is being picked up.

How to test your microphone

1. Select your preferred microphone from the dropdown. If you have multiple microphones connected (for example, a built-in microphone and an external USB microphone), use the dropdown at the top of the test screen to choose the one you want to use.
2. Speak normally. The waveform visualization should respond to your voice in real time. You will see the waveform move as you speak.
3. Confirm the waveform is moving. If the waveform responds to your voice, your microphone is working correctly and is ready for dictation.
4. Click "Continue" to proceed. Once you have confirmed your microphone works, click the continue button to move to the next onboarding step.

If no sound is detected

If the waveform remains flat and does not respond when you speak, try the following steps:

• Check that the correct microphone is selected. Open the dropdown and make sure you have chosen the microphone you intend to use. If you recently plugged in a new device, it may not be selected by default.
• Make sure microphone permission is granted. On macOS, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and confirm that ParrotKey is listed and enabled. On Windows, check Settings > Privacy > Microphone.
• Check that your microphone is not muted. Some microphones have a physical mute button or switch. Verify that your microphone is unmuted and that the volume level is adequate.
• Close other applications using the microphone. If another application (such as a video call or recording software) is actively using the microphone, it may prevent ParrotKey from accessing it. Close the other application and try again.
• Try a different microphone. If you have another microphone available, select it from the dropdown to see if the issue is specific to one device.
• Restart ParrotKey and try again. Closing and reopening the application can resolve temporary audio device issues.

Changing your microphone later

You are not locked into the microphone you choose during onboarding. You can change your microphone at any time by going to Settings > Input within ParrotKey. The dropdown there shows all available audio input devices connected to your system.

Automatic microphone preference per environment

ParrotKey remembers your microphone preference per environment. For example, if you use a USB headset at the office and a built-in microphone at home, ParrotKey will automatically select the correct microphone based on which devices are connected. This means you do not need to manually switch microphones when moving between setups.