Wired headphones are the safest choice, because CoPilot Interview hears the interviewer from your computer's audio output rather than from the room. Set the meeting app's speaker to the same headphones as your computer's default output, then run 1. Check your audio on the setup screen until both the You and Interviewer meters move. CoPilot Interview is an AI interview assistant for Windows and Mac; this article covers devices and the audio check, and the setup guide covers installing.
How the app hears each side
| Input | What it carries | Status in the captions area |
|---|---|---|
| Your microphone | Your voice | ● REC MIC when only the mic is captured |
| System audio (the computer's output) | The interviewer, from the meeting app | ● REC SYS when only this is captured |
| Both | Both sides, mixed | ● REC MIC+SYS |
Headphones change nothing about the interviewer's audio: the app copies the sound before it reaches them. On Windows, a live session starts with your mic muted (🔇 Muted), so only the interviewer is transcribed until you unmute.
Which audio setup to use
| Setup | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wired headphones, laptop or USB mic | Best | Clean audio, no echo |
| Wired or USB headset | Good | One device for both sides |
| Bluetooth earbuds for sound, laptop mic for voice | Good | Avoids the earbuds' low-quality call mode |
| Bluetooth earbuds using their own mic | Risky | Captions can turn garbled while the earbuds' mic is in use |
| Laptop or desk speakers | Works, with care | Speakers can play into your mic and cause echo; keep the volume low |
For the trade-offs in more depth, see headphones vs speakers and Bluetooth headsets and interview AI.
Run the audio check, step by step
- Connect the headphones before you open the meeting app and CoPilot Interview.
- On the setup screen, pick a live mode such as 🎯 Candidate. The audio check shows for every mode except 📄 Resume Builder.
- Under 1. Check your audio, choose your mic in 🎤 Microphone. The 🔊 Speaker picker sets where 🔊 Play back plays your test recording; it does not choose what the app listens to.
- Click ▶ Start test. The state line reads “Live · mic + meeting audio” when both inputs work, or “Live · mic only (no meeting audio on this system)” when the meeting side is missing.
- Speak normally and watch the You meter. Then play something in the meeting app, or ask the other person to talk, and watch the Interviewer meter.
- Click Record 5 seconds, then 🔊 Play back to hear exactly what a session would hear.
- Read the room line under the meters, fix what it flags, and click ■ Stop test. The check runs before any session, so it uses none of your minutes.
What the room line means
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| “clipping ⚠” | The app's tip: lower the microphone input level (Windows: Settings → System → Sound → your microphone → Input volume; macOS: System Settings → Sound → Input) until the peaks stop. |
| “⚠ too quiet” | Move closer to the mic or raise its input level. Quiet speech transcribes worse and scores lower. |
| “⚠ noisy” | Turn on your meeting app's noise suppression (Zoom: Settings → Audio → Background noise suppression → High; Teams: Devices → Noise suppression → High; Google Meet: Settings → Audio → Noise cancellation), and close windows and fans. |
| Your voice “✓” | Level looks good; keep the mic at this distance in the real call. |
Windows and Mac
Windows: the app captures the computer's output with no extra software. Keep the meeting app's speaker and the Windows default output on the same device. The microphone needs Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone with Microphone access, Let apps access your microphone and Let desktop apps access your microphone all on.
Mac: On a Mac, allow Microphone and Screen Recording when macOS asks (current macOS calls the second one Screen & System Audio Recording). The app's own notice says Screen Recording is “Needed for screenshots and system-audio capture”; after granting it, quit with ⌘Q and reopen. Then run the audio check. If the Interviewer meter reads “no audio”, the meeting's sound is not reaching the app, and in a session the captions area shows ● REC MIC with the note “macOS: Install BlackHole for system audio capture. Mic recording active.” Follow that note. BlackHole is a third-party virtual audio driver, and the app gives no further setup steps for it. Until the Interviewer meter moves, the session hears only your microphone.
Changing devices during an interview
- Audio follows the active output device, so switching headphones changes what the app hears. Avoid it mid-call if you can.
- If the mic changes or drops, the app reconnects it and shows “Microphone reconnected” or “Audio dropped — reconnecting…”.
- To switch mics on purpose, click 🎤 Mic in the session bar and pick one; the app shows “Switched microphone”.
- If the interviewer's captions stop after a headset reconnects, pause and resume listening (Ctrl+Shift+L twice, ⌘+Shift+L on a Mac). Still nothing? See not hearing the interviewer.
Test with the same headphones you'll use on the day. Whatever setup you choose, follow your employer's rules on whether live help is allowed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use AirPods or other Bluetooth earbuds?
Yes for listening. If their microphone is in use, many earbuds switch to a low-quality mode that garbles captions, so use the laptop's mic for your voice.
Does the Speaker picker change what the app hears?
No. It only sets where the 5-second test recording plays back. The app listens to the computer's output, so set the meeting app and your default output to the same device.
Do I need special audio software?
Not on Windows. On a Mac, if the audio check's Interviewer meter reads no audio, the app's captions note asks you to install BlackHole for system audio capture.
Does the audio check use my free minutes?
No. It runs on the setup screen before a session starts; the session clock starts when you click Start Session.
Practice this interview before the real one
The AI mock interview builds questions from your resume and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of 10. Included on the free plan.
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