Troubleshooting audio issues in Kira

If your camera and microphone permissions are working correctly but Kira is not picking up your audio, or your audio sounds distorted, find your issue below for troubleshooting steps.

If you are seeing an error about camera or microphone access or detection, see Troubleshooting camera and microphone errors in Kira instead.

"We couldn't detect any audio"

This error means Kira did not detect any audio in your recording. This could be because you were not speaking loudly enough, your microphone input volume is too low, your microphone is muted, or the wrong microphone is selected.

Try the following:

1. Try recording again and speak louder than you normally would.
2. Check that your microphone is not muted. Some headsets and laptops have a physical mute button or switch.
3. Check your microphone for any debris and clear it with a cotton swab if necessary.
4. If you are using an external or directional microphone, make sure it is positioned close to you and facing the correct direction.
5. Go back to Device Setup on your Check-In page and check that the correct microphone is selected in the dropdown menu at the bottom of the page.
6. In Device Setup, speak loudly and confirm that the green bars in the bottom right corner of the screen bounce in response to your voice. If they do not, try selecting a different microphone from the dropdown.
7. Increase your microphone input volume in your operating system settings (see below).
8. Restart your device and try Device Setup again.

How do I increase my microphone input volume?

Mac: Go to System Settings > Sound > Input (on macOS Ventura or later) or System Preferences > Sound > Input (on earlier macOS versions). Select your microphone and adjust the input volume slider.

Windows 10 and 11: Go to Settings > System > Sound > Input. Select your microphone and adjust the input volume slider. You can also click Device properties to access additional settings.

How do I know if Kira is detecting my audio?

During Device Setup, you will see green bars in the bottom right corner of the screen. If Kira is detecting audio from your microphone, the green bars will bounce when you speak. If the bars do not move, your audio is not being picked up.

After recording your sample video, play it back. If you can hear yourself speaking clearly, your microphone is working correctly. Click Yes, return to Check-In to complete Device Setup.

My audio sounds distorted or garbled

If your audio is being detected but sounds distorted, garbled, or robotic, try the following:

• Try using a different microphone. If you are using an external microphone or headset, try your device's built-in microphone instead, or vice versa.
• Check your microphone for any debris and clear it with a cotton swab if necessary.
• Check your microphone input volume in your operating system settings. If the input volume is set too high, it can cause clipping and distortion. Try lowering it and recording another sample in Device Setup.
• Make sure no other applications are using your microphone at the same time.
• Move away from sources of interference such as fans, air conditioners, or other electronics.
• Try using an incognito or private browser window.
• Try using a different supported browser.
• Restart your device and try again.

Still having trouble?

If the issue persists, please contact us and let us know which microphone you are using and what you have tried so far.