diff --git a/MainWindow.xaml b/MainWindow.xaml
index 20d8953..c3f3665 100644
--- a/MainWindow.xaml
+++ b/MainWindow.xaml
@@ -105,6 +105,12 @@
 
                 <!-- Single three-state action button -->
                 <StackPanel Grid.Column="2" Orientation="Horizontal" VerticalAlignment="Center">
+                    <Border Width="26" Height="26" CornerRadius="13" Background="#16213e" ClipToBounds="True"
+                            Margin="0,0,8,0" VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                            ToolTip="{Binding AccountDisplayName}"
+                            Visibility="{Binding IsConnected, Converter={StaticResource BoolToVis}}">
+                        <Image Source="{Binding AccountAvatarUrl}" Stretch="UniformToFill"/>
+                    </Border>
                     <Button Content="Start Stream" Style="{StaticResource YtButton}"
                             Command="{Binding StartStreamCommand}"
                             Visibility="{Binding ShowStartStream, Converter={StaticResource BoolToVis}}"/>
@@ -128,9 +134,9 @@
                 <Grid>
                     <Grid.RowDefinitions>
                         <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
-                        <RowDefinition Height="*"/>
                         <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
-                        <RowDefinition Height="180"/>
+                        <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
+                        <RowDefinition Height="*"/>
                     </Grid.RowDefinitions>
 
                     <!-- Scenes: the app has five canonical scenes. Work with less,
@@ -244,7 +250,7 @@
                     </Helpers:FocusPreservingListBox>
 
                     <!-- Sources (for active scene) -->
-                    <StackPanel Grid.Row="2" Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="0,12,0,0">
+                    <StackPanel Grid.Row="2" Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="0,8,0,0">
                         <TextBlock Text="SOURCES" Style="{StaticResource SectionHeader}" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
                         <Button ToolTip="Add Source" Style="{StaticResource IconButton}" Margin="4,-4,0,0"
                                 Click="AddSourceButton_Click">
@@ -739,64 +745,109 @@
             </Border>
         </Grid>
 
-        <!-- ═══ BOTTOM BAR: Stream Health ═══ -->
+        <!-- ═══ BOTTOM BAR: Stream Health + Audio ═══ -->
         <Border Grid.Row="2" Background="#0f3460" Padding="16,6">
             <Grid>
-                <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
-                    <ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
-                    <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
-                </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                <Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                    <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
+                    <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
+                </Grid.RowDefinitions>
 
-                <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
-                    <TextBlock Text="Bitrate:" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}" Margin="0,0,4,0"/>
-                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}"
-                               Foreground="White" Margin="0,0,20,0">
-                        <Run Text="{Binding CurrentHealth.CurrentBitrate, Mode=OneWay}"/>
-                        <Run Text=" Mbps"/>
-                    </TextBlock>
+                <!-- Line 1: bitrate / fps · quality -->
+                <Grid Grid.Row="0">
+                    <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                        <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
+                        <ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
+                        <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
+                    </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
 
-                    <TextBlock Text="FPS:" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}" Margin="0,0,4,0"/>
-                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}"
-                               Foreground="White" Margin="0,0,20,0">
-                        <Run Text="{Binding CurrentHealth.FPS, Mode=OneWay, StringFormat={}{0:0}}"/>
-                    </TextBlock>
+                    <StackPanel Grid.Column="0" Orientation="Horizontal" VerticalAlignment="Center">
+                        <TextBlock Text="Bitrate:" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}" Margin="0,0,4,0"/>
+                        <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}"
+                                   Foreground="White" Margin="0,0,20,0">
+                            <Run Text="{Binding CurrentHealth.CurrentBitrate, Mode=OneWay}"/>
+                            <Run Text=" Mbps"/>
+                        </TextBlock>
 
-                    <TextBlock Text="Dropped:" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}" Margin="0,0,4,0"/>
-                    <TextBlock Text="{Binding CurrentHealth.DroppedFrames}" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}"
-                               Foreground="White" Margin="0,0,20,0"/>
+                        <TextBlock Text="FPS:" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}" Margin="0,0,4,0"/>
+                        <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}"
+                                   Foreground="White">
+                            <Run Text="{Binding CurrentHealth.FPS, Mode=OneWay, StringFormat={}{0:0}}"/>
+                        </TextBlock>
+                    </StackPanel>
 
-                    <TextBlock Text="Duration:" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}" Margin="0,0,4,0"/>
-                    <TextBlock Text="{Binding CurrentHealth.StreamDuration}" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}"
-                               Foreground="White"/>
+                    <StackPanel Grid.Column="2" Orientation="Horizontal" VerticalAlignment="Center">
+                        <ComboBox Style="{StaticResource YtComboBox}" MinWidth="150"
+                                  ItemsSource="{Binding QualityOptions}"
+                                  SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedQuality}"
+                                  DisplayMemberPath="Label"
+                                  ToolTip="{Binding ResolutionHelp}"
+                                  IsEnabled="{Binding IsOffline}"/>
+                        <Button ToolTip="Menu" Style="{StaticResource IconButton}" Click="GearButton_Click">
+                        <Button.ContextMenu>
+                            <ContextMenu DataContext="{Binding PlacementTarget.DataContext, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}">
+                                <MenuItem Header="Save Layout" Command="{Binding SaveLayoutCommand}"/>
+                                <MenuItem Header="Save Layout As…" Command="{Binding SaveLayoutAsCommand}"/>
+                                <MenuItem Header="Open Layout…" Command="{Binding OpenLayoutCommand}"/>
+                                <Separator/>
+                                <MenuItem Header="App Settings" Command="{Binding OpenSettingsCommand}"/>
+                                <MenuItem Header="Report Bug" Command="{Binding OpenBugCommand}"/>
+                                <MenuItem Header="Feature Request" Command="{Binding OpenFeatureCommand}"/>
+                                <MenuItem Header="About" Command="{Binding OpenAboutCommand}"/>
+                            </ContextMenu>
+                        </Button.ContextMenu>
+                        <Path Data="M19.14,12.94c0.04,-0.3 0.06,-0.61 0.06,-0.94c0,-0.32 -0.02,-0.64 -0.07,-0.94l2.03,-1.58c0.18,-0.14 0.23,-0.41 0.12,-0.61l-1.92,-3.32c-0.12,-0.22 -0.37,-0.29 -0.59,-0.22l-2.39,0.96c-0.5,-0.38 -1.03,-0.7 -1.62,-0.94L14.4,2.81c-0.04,-0.24 -0.24,-0.41 -0.48,-0.41h-3.84c-0.24,0 -0.43,0.17 -0.47,0.41L9.25,5.35C8.66,5.59 8.12,5.92 7.63,6.29L5.24,5.33c-0.22,-0.08 -0.47,0 -0.59,0.22L2.74,8.87C2.62,9.08 2.66,9.34 2.86,9.48l2.03,1.58C4.84,11.36 4.8,11.69 4.8,12s0.02,0.64 0.07,0.94l-2.03,1.58c-0.18,0.14 -0.23,0.41 -0.12,0.61l1.92,3.32c0.12,0.22 0.37,0.29 0.59,0.22l2.39,-0.96c0.5,0.38 1.03,0.7 1.62,0.94l0.36,2.54c0.05,0.24 0.24,0.41 0.48,0.41h3.84c0.24,0 0.44,-0.17 0.47,-0.41l0.36,-2.54c0.59,-0.24 1.13,-0.56 1.62,-0.94l2.39,0.96c0.22,0.08 0.47,0 0.59,-0.22l1.92,-3.32c0.12,-0.22 0.07,-0.47 -0.12,-0.61L19.14,12.94zM12,15.6c-1.98,0 -3.6,-1.62 -3.6,-3.6s1.62,-3.6 3.6,-3.6s3.6,1.62 3.6,3.6S13.98,15.6 12,15.6z"
+                              Fill="#d0d0d0" Width="16" Height="16" Stretch="Uniform"/>
+                        </Button>
+                    </StackPanel>
+                </Grid>
 
-                    <TextBlock Text="{Binding CurrentHealth.HealthMessage}" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}"
-                               Foreground="#e94560" Margin="20,0,0,0"/>
-                </StackPanel>
+                <!-- Line 2: dropped / duration (under bitrate / fps) + the MIC chip.
+                     Audio is KISS: desktop/game audio is automatic ("it just is" —
+                     WASAPI loopback at unity, zero UI). The creator's only audio
+                     control is the mic — meter, volume, mute. -->
+                <Grid Grid.Row="1" Margin="0,6,0,0">
+                    <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                        <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
+                        <ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
+                        <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
+                    </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
 
-                <StackPanel Grid.Column="1" Orientation="Horizontal" VerticalAlignment="Center">
-                    <ComboBox Style="{StaticResource YtComboBox}" MinWidth="150"
-                              ItemsSource="{Binding QualityOptions}"
-                              SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedQuality}"
-                              DisplayMemberPath="Label"
-                              ToolTip="{Binding ResolutionHelp}"
-                              IsEnabled="{Binding IsOffline}"/>
-                    <Button ToolTip="Menu" Style="{StaticResource IconButton}" Click="GearButton_Click">
-                    <Button.ContextMenu>
-                        <ContextMenu DataContext="{Binding PlacementTarget.DataContext, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}">
-                            <MenuItem Header="Save Layout" Command="{Binding SaveLayoutCommand}"/>
-                            <MenuItem Header="Save Layout As…" Command="{Binding SaveLayoutAsCommand}"/>
-                            <MenuItem Header="Open Layout…" Command="{Binding OpenLayoutCommand}"/>
-                            <Separator/>
-                            <MenuItem Header="App Settings" Command="{Binding OpenSettingsCommand}"/>
-                            <MenuItem Header="Report Bug" Command="{Binding OpenBugCommand}"/>
-                            <MenuItem Header="Feature Request" Command="{Binding OpenFeatureCommand}"/>
-                            <MenuItem Header="About" Command="{Binding OpenAboutCommand}"/>
-                        </ContextMenu>
-                    </Button.ContextMenu>
-                    <Path Data="M19.14,12.94c0.04,-0.3 0.06,-0.61 0.06,-0.94c0,-0.32 -0.02,-0.64 -0.07,-0.94l2.03,-1.58c0.18,-0.14 0.23,-0.41 0.12,-0.61l-1.92,-3.32c-0.12,-0.22 -0.37,-0.29 -0.59,-0.22l-2.39,0.96c-0.5,-0.38 -1.03,-0.7 -1.62,-0.94L14.4,2.81c-0.04,-0.24 -0.24,-0.41 -0.48,-0.41h-3.84c-0.24,0 -0.43,0.17 -0.47,0.41L9.25,5.35C8.66,5.59 8.12,5.92 7.63,6.29L5.24,5.33c-0.22,-0.08 -0.47,0 -0.59,0.22L2.74,8.87C2.62,9.08 2.66,9.34 2.86,9.48l2.03,1.58C4.84,11.36 4.8,11.69 4.8,12s0.02,0.64 0.07,0.94l-2.03,1.58c-0.18,0.14 -0.23,0.41 -0.12,0.61l1.92,3.32c0.12,0.22 0.37,0.29 0.59,0.22l2.39,-0.96c0.5,0.38 1.03,0.7 1.62,0.94l0.36,2.54c0.05,0.24 0.24,0.41 0.48,0.41h3.84c0.24,0 0.44,-0.17 0.47,-0.41l0.36,-2.54c0.59,-0.24 1.13,-0.56 1.62,-0.94l2.39,0.96c0.22,0.08 0.47,0 0.59,-0.22l1.92,-3.32c0.12,-0.22 0.07,-0.47 -0.12,-0.61L19.14,12.94zM12,15.6c-1.98,0 -3.6,-1.62 -3.6,-3.6s1.62,-3.6 3.6,-3.6s3.6,1.62 3.6,3.6S13.98,15.6 12,15.6z"
-                          Fill="#d0d0d0" Width="16" Height="16" Stretch="Uniform"/>
-                    </Button>
-                </StackPanel>
+                    <StackPanel Grid.Column="0" Orientation="Horizontal" VerticalAlignment="Center">
+                        <TextBlock Text="Dropped:" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}" Margin="0,0,4,0"/>
+                        <TextBlock Text="{Binding CurrentHealth.DroppedFrames}" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}"
+                                   Foreground="White" Margin="0,0,20,0"/>
+
+                        <TextBlock Text="Duration:" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}" Margin="0,0,4,0"/>
+                        <TextBlock Text="{Binding CurrentHealth.StreamDuration}" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}"
+                                   Foreground="White"/>
+
+                        <TextBlock Text="{Binding CurrentHealth.HealthMessage}" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}"
+                                   Foreground="#e94560" Margin="20,0,0,0"/>
+                    </StackPanel>
+
+                    <!-- Sound meter: plain filled bar, blank → green → yellow → red,
+                         with zone markers at the yellow (60%) and red (80%) starts. -->
+                    <StackPanel Grid.Column="1" Orientation="Horizontal" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center">
+                        <TextBlock Text="MIC" Foreground="#a0a0b0" FontSize="11" FontWeight="SemiBold" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
+                        <Border Width="360" Height="14" CornerRadius="7" Background="#1a1a2e" Margin="8,0,8,0"
+                                ClipToBounds="True" VerticalAlignment="Center">
+                            <Grid>
+                                <Border HorizontalAlignment="Left" Width="{Binding MeterFillWidth}"
+                                        Background="{Binding MeterBrush}"/>
+                                <Rectangle Width="2" Fill="#00000080" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="216,0,0,0"
+                                           VerticalAlignment="Stretch"/>
+                                <Rectangle Width="2" Fill="#00000080" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="288,0,0,0"
+                                           VerticalAlignment="Stretch"/>
+                            </Grid>
+                        </Border>
+                        <Slider Width="130" Minimum="0" Maximum="1"
+                                Value="{Binding MicVolume, Mode=TwoWay}" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
+                        <Button Content="{Binding MicMuteText}" Style="{StaticResource YtButtonSecondary}"
+                                Padding="10,3" Margin="8,0,0,0" Command="{Binding ToggleMicMuteCommand}"
+                                VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
+                    </StackPanel>
+                </Grid>
             </Grid>
         </Border>
 
diff --git a/TASKS.md b/TASKS.md
index f2fad2e..865a991 100644
--- a/TASKS.md
+++ b/TASKS.md
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ Preview shows the transition too (WYSIWYG). No wipes/slides/LUTs beyond the four
    - **Scenes list:** drag rows to reorder scenes
    - **Sources list:** drag rows to reorder sources (this *is* the z-order) — implemented
 
-### Status: 🔶 In progress — milestone 1 (webcam) shipped; **schema v3 (Ship Branch A) shipped**: multi-scene webcam (singleton `Webcam` + per-scene `WebcamSceneConfig`), right-click border/context menu, static OSB-style borders, 50%-per-dimension webcam size cap, device-swap (`ReleaseAllAsync`); **schema v4**: round→rect restore persisted (`WebcamSceneConfig.RectWidth`/`RectHeight`) + one-time legacy-square 16:9 heal on load — 25 tests passing; **screen backdrop (ship task #1) shipped**: live desktop/game capture as a permanent, non-deletable bottom layer (`Source.IsBackdrop`, schema v5), auto-detecting the full-screen game at launch/focus (else the **primary display** — never assumed monitor 0) via `Win32FullScreenDetector` (now with `GetDisplays()`/`PrimaryMonitorIndex()` for the in-app display picker), content re-designated via the OS `GraphicsCapturePicker` ("Change Capture…") or the in-app "Capture Display" submenu, refcounted/shared capture sessions in `ScreenCaptureManager` mirroring `CameraManager` — 45 tests passing; **schema v6**: `Scene.HasBackdrop`, now **Live-only by policy** — the backdrop is enforced by scene name on every load (`EnforceBackdropPolicy`: Starting/BRB/Chat/Ending never carry one; the one-time v5→v6 backfill covers all four), the scene context-menu "Backdrop" checkbox is gone (policy owns the flag), preview watermark hides when the backdrop renders, capture changed to `WindowsRuntimeMarshal.TryGetDataUnsafe` (the CsWinRT-safe frame-read) + downscale to the 1920×1080 master + 5s-throttled error logging (was flooding `startup.log` with 5 MB of cast errors and burning CPU), round webcam no longer re-rasterizes an `ImageBrush` every frame (Image + EllipseGeometry clip) — the live-mode stutter fix; **the five-scene catalog (`SceneCatalog`)**: Starting/Live/BRB/Chat/Ending is the product — work with less, never more; the (+) button only shows when a canonical scene is missing and re-adds it (its menu lists only the missing ones); **webcam-after-session-start fix**: a webcam added to a scene after the camera was already running (e.g. Chat) previously rendered a transparent container — `CameraManager.GetPreviewBitmap` + propagation in `AddWebcamToActiveSceneAsync`/`ReacquireWebcam` now hands the running shared frames to any newly added `WebcamSceneConfig` — 62 tests passing; the **Chat scene's webcam size cap** is raised from 50%-per-dimension (960×540) to half the screen AREA (~1358×764 @16:9, `MaxWebcamWidthFor`/`MaxWebcamHeightFor` keyed by canonical name) so the viewer sees the creator better — 65 tests passing; **"Add Webcam" always opens the camera picker** (deleting one scene's webcam then re-adding used to resurrect the old camera when another scene still used it — `SwapWebcamIdentityAsync` now swaps the app-wide identity if a different camera is chosen, same path as "Change Webcam…"); scenes/sources UI (add/reorder/rename, image + background overlays with move/resize/opacity/reuse) built; window capture, compositing, encoding pending
+### Status: 🔶 In progress — milestone 1 (webcam) shipped; **schema v3 (Ship Branch A) shipped**: multi-scene webcam (singleton `Webcam` + per-scene `WebcamSceneConfig`), right-click border/context menu, static OSB-style borders, 50%-per-dimension webcam size cap, device-swap (`ReleaseAllAsync`); **schema v4**: round→rect restore persisted (`WebcamSceneConfig.RectWidth`/`RectHeight`) + one-time legacy-square 16:9 heal on load — 25 tests passing; **screen backdrop (ship task #1) shipped**: live desktop/game capture as a permanent, non-deletable bottom layer (`Source.IsBackdrop`, schema v5), auto-detecting the full-screen game at launch/focus (else the **primary display** — never assumed monitor 0) via `Win32FullScreenDetector` (now with `GetDisplays()`/`PrimaryMonitorIndex()` for the in-app display picker), content re-designated via the OS `GraphicsCapturePicker` ("Change Capture…") or the in-app "Capture Display" submenu, refcounted/shared capture sessions in `ScreenCaptureManager` mirroring `CameraManager` — 45 tests passing; **schema v6**: `Scene.HasBackdrop`, now **Live-only by policy** — the backdrop is enforced by scene name on every load (`EnforceBackdropPolicy`: Starting/BRB/Chat/Ending never carry one; the one-time v5→v6 backfill covers all four), the scene context-menu "Backdrop" checkbox is gone (policy owns the flag), preview watermark hides when the backdrop renders, capture changed to `WindowsRuntimeMarshal.TryGetDataUnsafe` (the CsWinRT-safe frame-read) + downscale to the 1920×1080 master + 5s-throttled error logging (was flooding `startup.log` with 5 MB of cast errors and burning CPU), round webcam no longer re-rasterizes an `ImageBrush` every frame (Image + EllipseGeometry clip) — the live-mode stutter fix; **the five-scene catalog (`SceneCatalog`)**: Starting/Live/BRB/Chat/Ending is the product — work with less, never more; the (+) button only shows when a canonical scene is missing and re-adds it (its menu lists only the missing ones); **webcam-after-session-start fix**: a webcam added to a scene after the camera was already running (e.g. Chat) previously rendered a transparent container — `CameraManager.GetPreviewBitmap` + propagation in `AddWebcamToActiveSceneAsync`/`ReacquireWebcam` now hands the running shared frames to any newly added `WebcamSceneConfig` — 62 tests passing; the **Chat scene's webcam size cap** is raised from 50%-per-dimension (960×540) to half the screen AREA (~1358×764 @16:9, `MaxWebcamWidthFor`/`MaxWebcamHeightFor` keyed by canonical name) so the viewer sees the creator better — 65 tests passing; **"Add Webcam" always opens the camera picker** (deleting one scene's webcam then re-adding used to resurrect the old camera when another scene still used it — `SwapWebcamIdentityAsync` now swaps the app-wide identity if a different camera is chosen, same path as "Change Webcam…"); scenes/sources UI (add/reorder/rename, image + background overlays with move/resize/opacity/reuse) built; **audio UX shipped (UI)**: the bottom-bar footer is now two lines (dropped/duration moved under bitrate/fps), with a centered sound meter (plain filled bar, blank → green → yellow → red, zone markers at 60%/80%) + a MIC chip (volume slider + mute) — the creator's only audio control, desktop/game audio is automatic (KISS rule); the connected YouTube account's avatar/name shows in the top bar next to Start Stream (`SyncConnectedAccount`); the scenes list is content-height now (no dead space before SOURCES); window capture, compositing, encoding pending
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index c80b6af..7997f51 100644
--- a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     private SceneElement? _selectedElement;
     private ImageSource? _activeBackgroundImage;
     private bool _isConnected;
+    private string _accountAvatarUrl = string.Empty;
+    private string _accountDisplayName = string.Empty;
+    private double _audioLevel;
+    private double _micVolume = 1.0;
+    private bool _micMuted;
     private StreamStatus _streamStatus = StreamStatus.Offline;
     private StreamHealth _currentHealth = new();
     private string _streamTitle = string.Empty;
@@ -187,6 +192,65 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         }
     }
 
+    /// <summary>The connected YouTube account's avatar + name — shown in the top
+    /// bar so the creator always sees WHICH account is about to go live.</summary>
+    public string AccountAvatarUrl
+    {
+        get => _accountAvatarUrl;
+        private set => SetProperty(ref _accountAvatarUrl, value);
+    }
+
+    public string AccountDisplayName
+    {
+        get => _accountDisplayName;
+        private set => SetProperty(ref _accountDisplayName, value);
+    }
+
+    // ─── Audio (KISS: desktop/game audio is automatic — zero UI. The creator's
+    // ─── only audio control is the mic: meter + volume + mute.) ───
+
+    /// <summary>Current level 0..1 — fed by the audio mixer once capture lands.
+    /// Drives the sound meter's fill width + zone color.</summary>
+    public double AudioLevel
+    {
+        get => _audioLevel;
+        set
+        {
+            if (SetProperty(ref _audioLevel, Math.Clamp(value, 0, 1)))
+            {
+                OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MeterFillWidth));
+                OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MeterBrush));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public double MeterFillWidth => AudioLevel * 360;
+
+    public string MeterBrush => AudioLevel switch
+    {
+        < 0.6 => "#22c55e",
+        < 0.8 => "#eab308",
+        _ => "#ef4444",
+    };
+
+    public double MicVolume
+    {
+        get => _micVolume;
+        set => SetProperty(ref _micVolume, Math.Clamp(value, 0, 1));
+    }
+
+    public bool MicMuted
+    {
+        get => _micMuted;
+        set
+        {
+            if (SetProperty(ref _micMuted, value))
+                OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MicMuteText));
+        }
+    }
+
+    public string MicMuteText => MicMuted ? "Unmute" : "Mute";
+
     public bool IsOffline => StreamStatus == StreamStatus.Offline;
     public bool IsLive => StreamStatus == StreamStatus.Streaming;
     public bool LiveIndicatorVisible => IsLive;
@@ -533,6 +597,7 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     public ICommand ChangeCaptureCommand { get; }
     public ICommand RefreshCaptureCommand { get; }
     public ICommand SetBackdropDisplayCommand { get; }
+    public ICommand ToggleMicMuteCommand { get; }
     public ICommand StartStreamCommand { get; }
     public ICommand EndStreamCommand { get; }
     public ICommand OpenSettingsCommand { get; }
@@ -587,6 +652,7 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         ChangeCaptureCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => _ = ChangeBackdropCaptureAsync());
         RefreshCaptureCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => RefreshBackdropAutoCapture());
         SetBackdropDisplayCommand = new RelayCommand(display => SetBackdropCapture(display as DisplayInfo));
+        ToggleMicMuteCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => MicMuted = !MicMuted);
         OpenSettingsCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => ShowOverlay(nameof(IsSettingsOpen), "App Settings"));
         OpenBugCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => ShowOverlay(nameof(IsBugOpen), "Report Bug"));
         OpenFeatureCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => ShowOverlay(nameof(IsFeatureOpen), "Feature Request"));
@@ -651,6 +717,7 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
             }
 
             IsConnected = true;
+            SyncConnectedAccount();
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
@@ -658,6 +725,13 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         }
     }
 
+    private void SyncConnectedAccount()
+    {
+        var channel = _youtubeAuth.CurrentChannel;
+        AccountAvatarUrl = channel?.ProfileImageUrl ?? string.Empty;
+        AccountDisplayName = channel?.DisplayName ?? string.Empty;
+    }
+
     private static string DefaultLayoutPath => Path.Combine(
         Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData),
         "ytLlive",
@@ -1443,6 +1517,7 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
             }
 
             IsConnected = true;
+            SyncConnectedAccount();
             return channel;
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
@@ -1494,6 +1569,7 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         _youtubeAuth.ClearSession();
         TokenStore.Clear();
         IsConnected = false;
+        SyncConnectedAccount();
         AppLog.Write("Stream ended; session signed out");
     }
 
diff --git a/ViewModels/index.md b/ViewModels/index.md
index 3a16bd2..2e790c9 100644
--- a/ViewModels/index.md
+++ b/ViewModels/index.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ MVVM layer. See [`schema.md`](../schema.md) for the memory-map conventions.
 
 | File | Purpose |
 |------|---------|
-| `MainViewModel.cs` | The app brain: scenes/elements collections + commands, stream state (`IsLive`/`IsOffline`/`IsConnected`), chat feed, overlays, layout save/open, **resolution dropdown** (`QualityOptions`, `SelectedQuality`, `ResolutionHelp`, `ApplyStreamQuality`) that computes the output rect over the 1920×1080 master (`OutputRectX/Y/W/H`, `DimRects`, `IsOutputCropped`, `ResolutionBadgeText`). Auth: loads the saved DPAPI session at startup (`LoadSavedSessionAsync`), `SignInAsync` feeds the GoLive dialog; **End Livestream signs out** (`StopStream` clears session + token — crash-safe). **Webcam:** owns `CameraManager` (MediaCapture), `AddWebcamToActiveSceneAsync` (picker → default 480×270 bottom-right placement → acquire; the Windows camera picker ALWAYS opens so the creator chooses — never silently reuses the previous camera; picking a different camera swaps the app-wide identity via `SwapWebcamIdentityAsync`, same path as `ChangeWebcamAsync`; propagates the running shared bitmap via `CameraManager.GetPreviewBitmap` first, so a webcam added mid-session never renders a transparent container; greys out when the active scene already has a config via `CanAddWebcamToActiveScene`), `ChangeWebcamAsync` (device swap — `ReleaseAllAsync` old + re-acquire), `ShowWebcamInActiveScene` (reveal hidden config / empty-canvas right-click), `ReacquireWebcam` after layout load (re-propagates the shared bitmap to every config), `OnCameraPreviewBitmapChanged` forwards the shared bitmap into every `WebcamSceneConfig.VideoImageSource`; `SelectedElement` drives the preview overlay + `internal ClampWebcamToBounds(config, sceneName)` (per-scene size cap seam: 50%-per-dimension everywhere, half-screen-AREA in Chat via `MaxWebcamWidthFor`/`MaxWebcamHeightFor`). **Scenes (five-scene catalog):** empty DB seeds Starting/Live/BRB/Chat/Ending (`SceneCatalog.All`); `AddScene(name)` accepts only canonical, missing names; `MissingScenes`/`ShowAddScene` drive the "+" button (hidden once all five exist; its menu lists only the missing scenes via `AddSceneCommand`). **Screen backdrop (Live-only by policy):** owns `ScreenCaptureManager` + `ScreenCaptureSourceFactory` (WinRT GraphicsCapture), `internal static EnsureBackdrop` heals one per backdrop-enabled scene (gated on `Scene.HasBackdrop`), `ReacquireScreenCaptures`/`RefreshBackdropAutoCapture`/`NoteBackgroundWindow` key by full-screen game monitor or the **primary display** via `Win32FullScreenDetector` (`GetDisplays()`/`PrimaryMonitorIndex()`), `ChangeBackdropCaptureAsync` (OS picker) + `SetBackdropCapture(DisplayInfo)` (in-app "Capture Display"), `RedesignateBackdropAsync` re-targets all backdrops and releases orphaned sessions, `internal static EnforceBackdropPolicy` normalizes `Scene.HasBackdrop` by name on every load + strips lingering non-Live backdrops, `CanChangeBackdrop` gates the capture menu to Live (the only scene with a backdrop), `BackdropImage` hides the preview watermark (`ShowPreviewPlaceholder`) |
+| `MainViewModel.cs` | The app brain: scenes/elements collections + commands, stream state (`IsLive`/`IsOffline`/`IsConnected`), chat feed, overlays, layout save/open, **resolution dropdown** (`QualityOptions`, `SelectedQuality`, `ResolutionHelp`, `ApplyStreamQuality`) that computes the output rect over the 1920×1080 master (`OutputRectX/Y/W/H`, `DimRects`, `IsOutputCropped`, `ResolutionBadgeText`). Auth: loads the saved DPAPI session at startup (`LoadSavedSessionAsync`), `SignInAsync` feeds the GoLive dialog; **End Livestream signs out** (`StopStream` clears session + token — crash-safe). **Connected account:** top-bar avatar/name (`AccountAvatarUrl`/`AccountDisplayName` via `SyncConnectedAccount`, cleared on End). **Audio (KISS — the mic is the creator's only audio control; capture pipeline still pending):** `AudioLevel` (0..1) drives the bottom-bar sound meter (`MeterFillWidth`/`MeterBrush`, green→yellow→red with zone markers at 60%/80%), `MicVolume` slider + `MicMuteText`/`ToggleMicMuteCommand`; desktop/game audio is automatic (WASAPI loopback at unity, zero UI). **Webcam:** owns `CameraManager` (MediaCapture), `AddWebcamToActiveSceneAsync` (picker → default 480×270 bottom-right placement → acquire; the Windows camera picker ALWAYS opens so the creator chooses — never silently reuses the previous camera; picking a different camera swaps the app-wide identity via `SwapWebcamIdentityAsync`, same path as `ChangeWebcamAsync`; propagates the running shared bitmap via `CameraManager.GetPreviewBitmap` first, so a webcam added mid-session never renders a transparent container; greys out when the active scene already has a config via `CanAddWebcamToActiveScene`), `ChangeWebcamAsync` (device swap — `ReleaseAllAsync` old + re-acquire), `ShowWebcamInActiveScene` (reveal hidden config / empty-canvas right-click), `ReacquireWebcam` after layout load (re-propagates the shared bitmap to every config), `OnCameraPreviewBitmapChanged` forwards the shared bitmap into every `WebcamSceneConfig.VideoImageSource`; `SelectedElement` drives the preview overlay + `internal ClampWebcamToBounds(config, sceneName)` (per-scene size cap seam: 50%-per-dimension everywhere, half-screen-AREA in Chat via `MaxWebcamWidthFor`/`MaxWebcamHeightFor`). **Scenes (five-scene catalog):** empty DB seeds Starting/Live/BRB/Chat/Ending (`SceneCatalog.All`); `AddScene(name)` accepts only canonical, missing names; `MissingScenes`/`ShowAddScene` drive the "+" button (hidden once all five exist; its menu lists only the missing scenes via `AddSceneCommand`). **Screen backdrop (Live-only by policy):** owns `ScreenCaptureManager` + `ScreenCaptureSourceFactory` (WinRT GraphicsCapture), `internal static EnsureBackdrop` heals one per backdrop-enabled scene (gated on `Scene.HasBackdrop`), `ReacquireScreenCaptures`/`RefreshBackdropAutoCapture`/`NoteBackgroundWindow` key by full-screen game monitor or the **primary display** via `Win32FullScreenDetector` (`GetDisplays()`/`PrimaryMonitorIndex()`), `ChangeBackdropCaptureAsync` (OS picker) + `SetBackdropCapture(DisplayInfo)` (in-app "Capture Display"), `RedesignateBackdropAsync` re-targets all backdrops and releases orphaned sessions, `internal static EnforceBackdropPolicy` normalizes `Scene.HasBackdrop` by name on every load + strips lingering non-Live backdrops, `CanChangeBackdrop` gates the capture menu to Live (the only scene with a backdrop), `BackdropImage` hides the preview watermark (`ShowPreviewPlaceholder`) |
 | `GoLiveViewModel.cs` | Start Stream dialog: **account row** (saved channel shown with Change Account, or Sign in to YouTube; Start gated on `IsSignedIn`/`IsBusy`) + title/description/visibility, start/cancel requests |
 | `ReuseImageViewModel.cs` | Add Image dialog: candidate list (`ReuseImageCandidate`), reuse/new/cancel |
 | `CameraPickerViewModel.cs` | Add Webcam dialog: async camera list (loading / has / none states), `UseRequested(CameraDeviceInfo)`/`CancelRequested` |
diff --git a/ai.md b/ai.md
index b4009fd..246780e 100644
--- a/ai.md
+++ b/ai.md
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ C# / WPF (.NET 8) following MVVM:
 
 - `ViewModelBase.SetProperty<T>()` for property change notifications
 - `RelayCommand` for all button actions; commands gate on state (e.g. Start only when Offline). **Typed `CommandParameter`s — no stringly-typed command tokens:** menu items that pick a source type pass the enum value itself (`CommandParameter="{x:Static models:SourceType.DisplayCapture}"`), so a typo breaks the build instead of silently adding an Image; `AddSource` still falls back to `Enum.TryParse<SourceType>(..., true)` for safety. The webcam item is its own `AddWebcamCommand` (it greys out via `CanAddWebcamToActiveScene` and isn't a `SourceType` — webcams are `WebcamSceneConfig`, not `Source` rows)
+- **Audio is KISS by rule** — the whole of audio is *one knob*: **desktop/game audio is automatic** (WASAPI loopback from the default output at unity, zero UI — "it just is"); the **mic is the creator's only audio control**, a single bottom-bar MIC chip: sound meter (blank → green → yellow → red with zone markers at 60%/80%, `MeterFillWidth`/`MeterBrush` from `MainViewModel.AudioLevel`) + volume slider (`MicVolume`) + mute (`MicMuteText`). No device pickers (never show device names — no "install a device you didn't know existed"), no filter stacks, no monitoring, no routing — OBS's confusion (dynamic mixer, unintuitive names, four required filters) is deliberately absent. A production-ready mic chain (high-pass → noise gate → compressor) will be applied invisibly in the mixer, unconfigurable. Capture runs only while live (privacy indicator stays off otherwise). Capture pipeline = `IAudioSource` seam + NAudio `WasapiCapture`/`WasapiLoopbackCapture` + `AudioMixer` (pending — the UI is in place now). The connected account's avatar/name shows in the top bar next to Start Stream (`AccountAvatarUrl`/`AccountDisplayName` via `SyncConnectedAccount`), so the creator always sees WHICH account will go live.
 - ViewModels are constructed in XAML (`<vm:MainViewModel/>` as DataContext)
 - Services are currently instantiated in MainViewModel's constructor — no DI container yet
 - Layout persists to SQLite (`Microsoft.Data.Sqlite`); scenes/sources/asset bytes stored in the DB, asset identity is a SHA-256 content hash (1:M reuse, no file paths — assets are always available)