MikeNet / Soundcheck
Built-in mic or USB mic?
Do not trust memory. Record the same sentence on each input and listen at the same volume.
1. Confirm which device is selected.
A USB headset can be plugged in while the browser still records the laptop microphone. Start a short soundcheck, open the microphone list after permission is granted, and verify the reported device name. If the wrong input is active, select the intended device and record again before judging quality.
Device labels come from the browser and operating system. MikeNet does not rename hardware or certify that a label matches the physical mic you expect.
2. Hold one variable at a time.
Take A: built-in laptop microphone at your normal speaking distance. Take B: USB microphone (or headset boom) with one planned placement — usually closer and aimed toward the mouth, not the chest. Keep the speaking voice, sentence and room as similar as you can. Write “USB mic, closer” or a similar note so the receipt records the change.
If you also change gain, processing and placement in the same take, you will not know which change helped.
A: laptop mic, usual desk distance. B: USB mic at the distance you plan to use on calls. Same prompt. Headphones for listening. Flip A ↔ B without restarting. Prefer clearer consonants and lower distracting noise — not only a louder meter.
3. Read levels as path evidence.
A USB path that is 8–12 dB louder in speech RMS is not automatically better. Check whether room tone rose by a similar amount. If both rose together, separation did not improve. If peaks approach digital full scale on the USB take, lower its gain and re-test rather than declaring a winner from a clipped clip.
Processing settings may differ between devices. Request processing off on both takes when you want a cleaner comparison, then confirm what the browser actually reported. Details are in the measurement guide.
4. Confirm in the app you care about.
Calling apps can pick a different default input. After you choose a winner in MikeNet, open Zoom, Discord, Meet or your recorder and verify the same device is selected there. Use the calling-app mismatch guide when the browser and the app disagree.
Run a laptop vs USB soundcheck
Comparison exercise and limits are MikeNet’s. System input selection: Microsoft microphone setup and Apple sound input settings. Placement orientation notes: Shure recording techniques.