Audio Tester User Guide

1. Getting Started

1.1 Launching the Application

1. Locate AudioTester.exe (found in your downloaded release folder or local build directory).
2. Double-click AudioTester.exe to launch the utility.
   • Note: If Windows SmartScreen displays a prompt ("Windows protected your PC"), click More info and then Run anyway.
   • Make sure your microphone and speakers/headphones are connected and enabled in Windows Sound Settings.

1.2 Interface Layout

The application window (800×650 minimum resizable layout) is divided into four main operational areas:

• Top Header Bar
  Displays the application title, license information link, and the 🔃 Refresh Device List button.
• Left Panel — 🎤 AUDIO INPUT (RECEIVER)
  Controls and real-time visualizers for testing microphones, headsets, and line-in endpoints, plus loopback recording playback.
• Right Panel — 🔊 AUDIO OUTPUT (TRANSMITTER)
  Controls and audio tone visualizers for synthesizing pure sine-wave test tones to verify speakers, headphones, or external DAC connections.
• Bottom Status Bar
  Reports real-time system status messages, active device sample rates, channel configurations, and diagnostic alerts.

2. Managing Audio Devices

When AudioTester.exe launches, it automatically enumerates your system for all active audio input and output endpoints and selects the current Windows defaults.

Device Naming & Host APIs

Each hardware device appears along with its corresponding Windows Host API in parentheses:

• Microphone (Realtek Audio) (MME)
• Headphones (USB Audio Device) (Windows DirectSound)
• Speakers (Windows WASAPI)

Hot-Plugging & Device Refresh

If you connect or disconnect a USB headset, audio interface, or line-in jack while the application is running:

1. Click 🔃 Refresh Device List in the top-right corner.
2. Any active input test, tone transmission, or clip playback is cleanly stopped.
3. The dropdown menus repopulate with the updated hardware list, intelligently preserving your existing selection if it remains connected.

3. Testing Audio Input (Microphone / Receiver)

Use the 🎤 AUDIO INPUT (RECEIVER) panel on the left to verify that your microphone or input channel is capturing sound cleanly and without distortion.

3.1 Running an Input & Recording Test

1. Select Input Device: Choose your target microphone or recording hardware from the Device dropdown.
2. Start Testing: Click the green Start Input Test button.
   The panel status displays the active sample rate and channel layout (e.g., Status: Testing | SR: 44100 Hz | Mono). Speak or generate audio into the microphone.
3. Monitor Real-Time Visualizers:
   • Signal Level (VU) Meter: Measures volume from 0% to 100% across a 20-segment color-graded meter with peak-hold indicators: • Green (Segments 1–14): Normal operating signal. • Amber/Yellow (Segments 15–18): Strong signal level. • Red (Segments 19–20): Near clipping threshold / high input gain.
   • Waveform Visualizer (Oscilloscope): Displays a live cyan time-domain waveform representing the incoming acoustic signal.
4. Automatic 10-Second Recording Capture:
   As the test runs, incoming audio is recorded in memory (up to a 10.0-second maximum buffer). You can click Stop Input Test early or let it complete automatically. When done, the status reports Recorded: X.Xs (Ready) and activates Play Back Rec.

3.2 Playing Back Your Recorded Audio

Listen to your captured clip to audit audio fidelity, background static, or room noise:

1. Verify your desired listening hardware is selected in the Device dropdown on the AUDIO OUTPUT panel.
2. Click Play Back Rec.
3. Both the VU meter and oscilloscope animate synchronously with the recording, and the speaker icon illuminates. Click Stop Playback at any point to halt immediately.

4. Testing Audio Output (Speakers / Transmitter)

Use the 🔊 AUDIO OUTPUT (TRANSMITTER) panel on the right to verify headphones, speakers, or monitor connections using an integrated pure sine-wave generator.

4.1 Configuring the Test Tone

Adjust the three sliders to customize the acoustic transmission parameters:

• Tone Frequency (200 Hz – 2000 Hz): Controls the tone pitch. Defaults to 440 Hz (Standard A). Tuning near 1000 Hz displays the label 1000 Hz (Test Tone), the broadcast and calibration benchmark.
• Tone Volume (0% – 100%): Controls digital output amplitude (defaults to 50%). A 50 ms fade-in/fade-out envelope is automatically applied to avoid harsh speaker pops or clicks.
• Tone Duration (0.5s – 3.0s): Defines playback length before automatic termination (defaults to 1.0s).

4.2 Transmitting the Test Tone

1. Choose the output speakers or headphones in the Device dropdown under AUDIO OUTPUT.
2. Click the green Play Test Tone button. The visualizer glows in green with radiating sound waves while transmitting.
3. Click the red Stop Test Tone button at any time to silence the output early.

5. Mutual Exclusivity & Safety Behavior

To protect hardware and eliminate ear-splitting acoustic feedback loops or driver conflicts, AudioTester.exe strictly enforces single-operation exclusivity:

6. Troubleshooting Reference

Use this diagnostic table to resolve common audio device setup and permission issues:

Audio Hardware Diagnostics Interface Screenshot

Examine the dual-panel layout, real-time waveform visualizer, VU meter, and tone transmission interface of AudioTester.

Open Full-Resolution Image in New Tab

Download Audio Tester

Download the official standalone executable or view the open-source releases on GitHub. No installation or Python runtime is required.