Help & Guide

Everything you need to get the best out of Vox5000.

⚠ Use Google Chrome on a desktop or laptop. Mobile Safari and Firefox have limited support for the Web Audio and recording APIs that Vox5000 depends on. Chrome desktop gives the most reliable experience.
About audio quality: Vox5000 records using your browser's built-in WebM Opus codec. The WAV export option converts this recording to WAV format — it is not a true uncompressed PCM capture. For broadcast delivery, MP3 320 kbps or the WebM file both work well. If you need true lossless capture, record directly into your DAW using an audio interface.

✅ Before every recording

Use wired headphones — Bluetooth adds latency and dropouts
Select your external mic from the dropdown — not the built-in laptop mic
Do the 5-second mic test and listen back before starting
Keep levels peaking around –12 dB — never hitting 0 dB red
Use Chrome on desktop for the most reliable experience
In interview rooms, guests must keep their tab open until the track transfer completes

🎙 Audio Workspace

  • Open the Audio Workspace from the home page
  • Choose File → New mono file or New stereo file, then press Record (or R)
  • Press Space to stop — your recording loads straight into the editor
  • Click the waveform to move the playhead, drag to select, and trim, cut, split or fade
  • Apply Normalize, Compressor, EQ and other effects from the menus
  • Export from File → Save audio file as MP3 (multiple bitrates) or WAV 16/24-bit
  • Save an editable session with File → Save project (.vox5000 file)
  • Nothing is sent to any server — all recording and editing is local
  • WAV export converts from the recorded audio — not a true lossless capture

🎧 Hosting an interview

  • Click Create interview room and name the room
  • Copy the guest invite link — send via WhatsApp or email
  • To reopen your room later, use your room link in the same browser — it recognises you as the host
  • Admit guests from the waiting queue
  • Check consent status for each guest
  • Hit Record — 5-second countdown on all screens
  • Stop recording — guest tracks transfer to you automatically
  • Download separate tracks and the consent log
  • Tracks are WebM Opus files — open in any modern DAW or editor

🙋 Joining as a guest

  • Click the link the host sent you — no install needed
  • Put wired headphones on before entering
  • Select your mic and do the mic test on the setup screen
  • Enter your name — it labels your audio track
  • Choose whether to be recorded or join as Observer (mic off)
  • Wait for the host to admit you
  • Keep the tab open until you see the green Done message
  • If transfer fails, download your backup track and send it to the host

🎚 Audio quality

  • External USB or XLR interface mic — not the laptop built-in
  • Wired headphones — not Bluetooth
  • Quiet room — close doors, turn off air conditioning
  • Levels peaking at –12 dB — not 0 dB
  • MP3 320 kbps for broadcast delivery and sharing
  • WebM Opus is the native recorded format — high quality at low file size
  • WAV export is a conversion — not original PCM
  • Chrome on desktop for interviews

💾 Downloads & formats

  • MP3 — compressed, great for delivery and sharing
  • WAV export — PCM WAV converted from the recorded audio
  • WebM — the native recorded format, opens in all modern editors
  • 320 kbps MP3 is the standard for radio delivery
  • Interview room tracks download as WebM Opus files
  • Guest tracks are labelled with the guest's name and a timestamp
  • Files go to your Downloads folder — Ctrl+J / Cmd+J in Chrome to find them

🔧 Troubleshooting

🚫 My microphone is not showing up
Make sure your mic is plugged in before loading the page. Check it appears in your computer's sound settings. Refresh after plugging it in. On Windows, check Chrome has mic permission in Settings → Privacy → Microphone.
🔒 I clicked Deny on the microphone permission
Click the padlock or microphone icon in Chrome's address bar → Site settings → Microphone → Allow. Then refresh the page.
🔊 I can hear myself echoing
You or your guest is using speakers instead of headphones. Speakers pick up the call audio and feed it back into the mic. Everyone must use wired headphones or earphones.
📊 The recording is too quiet or distorted
Too quiet — increase Input Gain until peaks hit around –12 dB. Distorted (red on waveform) — reduce Input Gain immediately. Target: –24 to –6 dB.
👥 Guests are not appearing in my waiting queue
Make sure you sent the correct guest invite link (copy it from the Invite Guests button). Both host and guest must have their pages open at the same time. Ask the guest to refresh and try again. Both should use Chrome on desktop.
📤 The guest transfer is stuck or not progressing
Both host and guest must keep their page open and not lock their screen. If the transfer stalls, the guest will be prompted to download their backup track and send it via WeTransfer or Google Drive.
🔗 My own room link opens as a guest instead of host
Room ownership is remembered by the browser that created the room. Open your room link in that same browser (not incognito, not a different device) and it will recognise you as the host. Clearing browser data removes ownership.
📱 I'm recording on a phone or tablet
Use Google Chrome on your device, allow microphone access, keep the Vox5000 tab open, and do not lock the screen or switch apps during recording.
💾 I can't find my downloaded file
Check your Downloads folder. In Chrome press Ctrl+J (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+J (Mac) to see recent downloads. Files include your name and a timestamp, e.g. Ian_HOST_2026-06-21.webm
🏠 My rooms have disappeared
Rooms are stored in your browser's local storage. They can be lost if you clear browser data, use private/incognito mode, or switch to a different browser or device.