The **Audio Input Node** (`AudioNode`) captures live audio and publishes a real-time Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) stream for reactive lighting.

![Audio Input Node](https://unilighter.cc/info/docs/node-graphs/audio/audio_input_d3f691a2.png)

## ⚙️ Configuration Parameters & Controls

- **Source**: Choose **Microphone** for a selected system input or **Screen Audio** to capture audio offered by a screen-share source. The **Audio Input** option is reserved for host-specific input handling.
- **Input Device**: When **Microphone** is selected, choose the available audio input device or **Default Device**.
- **FFT Size**: Choose `128`, `256`, `512`, `1024`, `2048`, `4096`, or `8192`. Larger sizes provide finer frequency resolution; smaller sizes react with a shorter analysis window.
- **Smoothing**: Applies temporal smoothing from `0.00` to `0.99`. Lower values preserve fast transients, while higher values make the displayed spectrum and downstream response steadier.
- **Volume**: Applies an analysis gain from `0%` to `200%` before the signal is used by downstream nodes.
- **RMS Meter**: Shows the current overall signal level as a percentage when enabled.
- **Spectrum**: Shows the live spectrum with a logarithmic frequency axis, readable frequency labels from `20 Hz` to `20 kHz`, and level guides from `-20 dB` to `-100 dB`.
- **Reinitialize**: Reopens the audio context after a browser permission change or a suspended audio session.

## 🔌 Socket Outputs Reference

| Output Socket | Data Type | Description |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Audio FFT** | `Audio` | Raw FFT data together with the sample rate and FFT size. Connect this to a [Frequency Meter Node](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/node-graphs/frequency-meter.md) or [BPM Node](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/node-graphs/bpm.md). |
| **Audio RMS** | `Number` | Overall root-mean-square level of the incoming audio signal. |

The Audio Input Node does not provide separate Bass, Mid, or Treble sockets. Use a [Frequency Meter Node](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/node-graphs/frequency-meter.md) when you need a selected band or a bank of fixed bands.

## 💡 Practical Stage Recipes

1. **Bass Kick Strobe Pulse**: Connect **Audio FFT** to a [Frequency Meter](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/node-graphs/frequency-meter.md), select **Parametric** mode, set a kick-drum range such as `40–100 Hz`, and route **RMS** through a [Gate Node](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/node-graphs/gate.md) to a strobe parameter.
2. **Beat-Synchronized Effects**: Connect **Audio FFT** to the [BPM Node](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/node-graphs/bpm.md) and use its frequency or trigger output to drive an animation or node graph.
3. **Smooth Ambient Response**: Connect **Audio RMS** through a [Gate Node](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/node-graphs/gate.md) or Math node and map the result to the dimmer of a wash tag.