---
key: mechanic/phone-microphone--family-level
type: mechanic
id: phone-microphone--family-level
lang: en
title: Loudness and dynamics
summary: >-
  Input sound level selects an action or its magnitude. After sensitivity
  calibration, the app distinguishes silence, quiet sound and a stronger signal.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-microphone--family-level/
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-microphone--family-level.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-microphone--family-level.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Phone microphone interactions
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-f8d1cacd47b7c58b
  - source-05406165a9082e0a
sources:
  - id: source-f8d1cacd47b7c58b
    title: 'Android: Audio Capture and Input Processing'
    url: 'https://developer.android.com/media/platform/mediarecorder'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-05406165a9082e0a
    title: Scream Go Hero
    url: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scream-go-hero/id1212039074?uo=4'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: phone-microphone
    id: family-level
    title: Phone microphone interactions
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/phone-microphone/#family-level'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Loudness and dynamics
    description: >-
      Input sound level selects an action or its magnitude. After sensitivity
      calibration, the app distinguishes silence, quiet sound and a stronger
      signal.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/sensor-scream-go-0.webp
      width: 810
      height: 1440
      game: Scream Go Hero
      sourceUrl: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scream-go-hero/id1212039074?uo=4'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple113/v4/55/be/ca/55becae8-2635-2e86-cea6-491bb90c2418/mzl.erwphtle.jpg/1280x1440bb.jpg
      credit: Ketchapp
      rights: >-
        © Ketchapp. Developer-distributed App Store screenshot. All rights
        reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: 'Scream Go Hero: voice moves the hero and a loud sound triggers jumping'
      alt: 'Scream Go Hero: voice moves the hero and a loud sound triggers jumping'
      markers:
        - x: 65
          'y': 50
          label: Voice level controls the jump between platforms
    tips:
      - >-
        Do not treat microphone amplitude as an absolute dB reading without
        calibration.
    examples:
      - title: Scream Go Hero
        url: 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scream-go-hero/id1212039074?uo=4'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/phone-microphone
---
# Loudness and dynamics

id: phone-microphone--family-level
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/phone-microphone--family-level
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-microphone--family-level/

Input sound level selects an action or its magnitude. After sensitivity calibration, the app distinguishes silence, quiet sound and a stronger signal.

## At a glance

![Scream Go Hero: voice moves the hero and a loud sound triggers jumping](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/sensor-scream-go-0.webp)

[Scream Go Hero](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scream-go-hero/id1212039074?uo=4) · © Ketchapp. Developer-distributed App Store screenshot. All rights reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. Voice level controls the jump between platforms

- Do not treat microphone amplitude as an absolute dB reading without calibration.

- [Scream Go Hero](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scream-go-hero/id1212039074?uo=4)

## How it works

Signal level relative to the background and the player's own calibration. This is not a measurement of vocal strength in physical units.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-level-variants"></a>

- Sound button. Signal: Level threshold exceeded. Application: Use a clap or a short exclamation to launch a jump, shot, confirmation. Access level: Signal analysis. <a id="variant-mic-001"></a>
- Proportional control. Signal: Current signal level. Application: Use your voice to change speed, thrust, flight altitude or hand size. Access level: Signal analysis. <a id="variant-mic-002"></a>
- Multiple volume zones. Signal: Entering a quiet, medium or loud zone. Application: Choose between sneak, walk and run without recognizing words. Access level: Signal analysis. <a id="variant-mic-003"></a>
- Range hold. Signal: Time within a given level corridor. Application: Stabilize the reactor, preventing the sound from becoming too quiet or loud. Access level: Signal analysis. <a id="variant-mic-004"></a>
- Accumulation of sound energy. Signal: Level integral over the game window. Application: Gradually fill the spell scale; costs are determined by the game. Access level: Signal analysis. <a id="variant-mic-005"></a>
- Fade in and out. Signal: Direction and rate of level change. Application: Open the bridge with a smooth increase in sound, close the trap with attenuation. Access level: Signal analysis. <a id="variant-mic-006"></a>
- Peak control. Signal: Short exceeding of the comfortable threshold. Application: Handle with caution a creature that reacts to sharp sounds. Access level: Signal analysis. <a id="variant-mic-007"></a>
- Silence as action. Signal: Level below threshold when input is working. Application: Hide from a monster, stop a mechanism, maintain stealth. Access level: Signal analysis. <a id="variant-mic-008"></a>

## Context and limits

Author's design map for mobile games and interactive applications. 144 techniques in 18 groups, including basic signals, rules and combinations. Applications are design ideas and not a list of released games.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Android: Audio Capture and Input Processing](https://developer.android.com/media/platform/mediarecorder) (id: source-f8d1cacd47b7c58b)
- [Scream Go Hero](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scream-go-hero/id1212039074?uo=4) (id: source-05406165a9082e0a)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors