When the room sounds wrong.

I can't hear the counterpart

Most silent sessions are the browser holding audio back until you allow it, or sound going to a device you're not wearing.

• —If an “Enable sound” banner appears in the room, click it — your browser blocked audio until you interacted with the page.
• —Check your system's output device: is sound going to the speakers or headset you're actually using?
• —Make sure the browser tab isn't muted and the volume is up.
• —Re-run the speaker test on the session setup screen — it also switches sound on for the conversation.

The voice stutters, clips, or drops out for an instant

Tiny dropouts almost always come from the computer or the connection, not from the conversation itself. Work down this list — each step is a little more involved than the last.

• —Quit the browser completely and reopen it.
• —If it persists, restart the computer — this resets the operating system's audio engine, which fixes most stubborn clipping.
• —Try a different output: a headset instead of speakers, or the other way around.
• —Close heavy apps — video calls, virtual machines, anything rendering or compiling.
• —Prefer a strong Wi-Fi signal or a wired network; a weak connection sounds like tiny cuts in the voice.

It reacts or interrupts when I wasn't talking

With open speakers, the counterpart's voice can leak from your speakers back into your microphone. The room then hears “speech” that isn't yours — and responds to it.

• —A headset — wired or Bluetooth — removes the problem entirely. It's the most reliable setup.
• —A conference speakerphone with echo cancellation also works well.
• —A laptop's built-in speakers and microphone are the hardest combination: they sit centimeters apart, so some echo always gets through.
• —A quiet room means fewer false triggers, whatever the device.

My microphone isn't detected, or permission was denied

The browser and the operating system each control microphone access separately — both need to allow it.

• —Click the lock or settings icon in the browser's address bar, allow the microphone, and reload the page.
• —macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone → enable your browser.
• —Windows: Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone → allow desktop apps and your browser.
• —If you have more than one microphone, pick the right one on the session setup screen.

The sound got worse the moment my Bluetooth headset's mic turned on

That's the headset, not the room. While its microphone is active, most Bluetooth headsets switch to a lower-quality two-way mode — music-grade sound isn't possible in that mode.

• —This is normal and expected on most Bluetooth headsets.
• —A wired headset avoids it completely.
• —An echo-cancelling speakerphone keeps full-quality output while the microphone stays live.

The setup that works best

If you're preparing for a rehearsal that matters, this is the ranking that holds up:

Still stuck? Tell us what you tried through the contact page — the more detail, the faster we can help.

• —1. A headset, wired or Bluetooth — clean turn-taking, no echo.
• —2. A conference speakerphone with echo cancellation.
• —3. Laptop built-in speakers and microphone — workable in a quiet room, but the most fragile.
• —A recent version of Chrome or Edge, and a quiet room, help every setup.