From b00a4cbd5ed25a9653ea2ca90092d186504fd1b1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: gramps <gramps@llamachile.shop>
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2026 17:44:16 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] Mic audio UX: realtime read-only meter + mic picker

- Meter is a READ-ONLY realtime level display: fill = Math.Min(1, AudioLevel * MicVolume) (AudioLevel = live input from the future mixer, 0 with no input; MicVolume is gain on ambient noise). While the slider is dragged the bar previews the slider position (PreviewMouseLeftButtonDown/Up + LostMouseCapture -> SetVolumeAdjusting); on release it returns to the live level (bounces to 0 with no input). Clicking the meter does nothing.
- MicVolume drives MicMuted (read-only, muted <=> volume 0): sliding to 0 flips the speaker to the red slashed mute icon, sliding up from 0 clears it; speaker button runs volume to 0 or restores the prior level (_volumeBeforeMute, default 0.8) and flashes the meter to the restored position for ~300ms (BeginVolumeFlash/EndVolumeFlash DispatcherTimer, cancelled if the slider is grabbed).
- MIC label opens MicPickerDialog (WinRT audio-capture device enumeration, mirrors camera picker, no new packages); the chosen voice source name shows left-justified INSIDE the meter bar (fill at 75% opacity so text + ruler markings show through).
- New files: Services/IMicrophoneEnumerator, MicrophoneDeviceInfo, WinRtMicrophoneEnumerator; ViewModels/MicPickerViewModel; MicPickerDialog.
- Docs updated (ai.md, TASKS.md, Services/index.md, ViewModels/index.md); build 0 warnings, 65 tests passing
---
 MainWindow.xaml                       | 126 ++++++++++++++---------
 MainWindow.xaml.cs                    |  32 ++++++
 MicPickerDialog.xaml                  |  90 ++++++++++++++++
 MicPickerDialog.xaml.cs               |  25 +++++
 Services/IMicrophoneEnumerator.cs     |  10 ++
 Services/MicrophoneDeviceInfo.cs      |  13 +++
 Services/WinRtMicrophoneEnumerator.cs |  15 +++
 Services/index.md                     |   3 +
 TASKS.md                              |   2 +-
 Themes/Controls.xaml                  |  65 ++++++++++--
 ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs           | 142 +++++++++++++++++++++++---
 ViewModels/MicPickerViewModel.cs      |  86 ++++++++++++++++
 ViewModels/index.md                   |   3 +-
 ai.md                                 |   2 +-
 14 files changed, 536 insertions(+), 78 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 MicPickerDialog.xaml
 create mode 100644 MicPickerDialog.xaml.cs
 create mode 100644 Services/IMicrophoneEnumerator.cs
 create mode 100644 Services/MicrophoneDeviceInfo.cs
 create mode 100644 Services/WinRtMicrophoneEnumerator.cs
 create mode 100644 ViewModels/MicPickerViewModel.cs

diff --git a/MainWindow.xaml b/MainWindow.xaml
index c3f3665..6e5b5e5 100644
--- a/MainWindow.xaml
+++ b/MainWindow.xaml
@@ -753,8 +753,70 @@
                     <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
                 </Grid.RowDefinitions>
 
-                <!-- Line 1: bitrate / fps · quality -->
-                <Grid Grid.Row="0">
+                <!-- Line 1: sound meter + volume control, centered beneath the
+                     middle (preview) panel. 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. -->
+                <StackPanel Grid.Row="0" Orientation="Horizontal"
+                            HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center">
+                    <TextBlock Text="MIC" Foreground="#a0a0b0" FontSize="11" FontWeight="SemiBold"
+                               VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,0,8,0" Cursor="Hand"
+                               ToolTip="Choose the microphone (voice source)"
+                               MouseLeftButtonUp="MicLabel_MouseLeftButtonUp"/>
+                    <!-- Sound meter: muted track with a ruler scale, zone tints at
+                         the yellow (60%) and red (80%) starts. READ-ONLY realtime
+                         level display (fill = live level scaled by volume). -->
+                    <Border Width="288" Height="14" CornerRadius="7" Background="#3a3b52" Margin="0,0,8,0"
+                            ClipToBounds="True" VerticalAlignment="Center">
+                        <Grid>
+                            <Rectangle Width="57" Fill="#4a4520" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="173,0,0,0"
+                                       VerticalAlignment="Stretch"/>
+                            <Rectangle Width="58" Fill="#4a2222" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="230,0,0,0"
+                                       VerticalAlignment="Stretch"/>
+                            <!-- Mic source name, left-justified inside the bar; the
+                                 semi-transparent fill lets it (and the markings) show through. -->
+                            <TextBlock Text="{Binding MicSourceName}" Foreground="#b8b8c8" FontSize="10"
+                                       VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="6,0,0,0" MaxWidth="270"
+                                       TextTrimming="CharacterEllipsis"
+                                       Visibility="{Binding MicSourceName, Converter={StaticResource NotNullToVis}}"/>
+                            <Border HorizontalAlignment="Left" Width="{Binding MeterFillWidth}"
+                                    Background="{Binding MeterBrush}" Opacity="0.75"/>
+                            <Rectangle Width="1" Height="10" Fill="#26000000" VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="36,0,0,0"/>
+                            <Rectangle Width="1" Height="10" Fill="#26000000" VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="72,0,0,0"/>
+                            <Rectangle Width="1" Height="10" Fill="#26000000" VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="108,0,0,0"/>
+                            <Rectangle Width="1" Height="10" Fill="#26000000" VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="144,0,0,0"/>
+                            <Rectangle Width="1" Height="10" Fill="#26000000" VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="180,0,0,0"/>
+                            <Rectangle Width="1" Height="10" Fill="#26000000" VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="216,0,0,0"/>
+                            <Rectangle Width="1" Height="10" Fill="#26000000" VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="252,0,0,0"/>
+                            <Rectangle Width="2" Fill="#00000080" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="173,0,0,0"
+                                       VerticalAlignment="Stretch"/>
+                            <Rectangle Width="2" Fill="#00000080" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="230,0,0,0"
+                                       VerticalAlignment="Stretch"/>
+                        </Grid>
+                    </Border>
+                    <Grid Width="16" Height="16" Cursor="Hand" Margin="0,0,8,0"
+                          VerticalAlignment="Center" ToolTip="{Binding MicMuteText}"
+                          MouseLeftButtonUp="MicSpeaker_MouseLeftButtonUp">
+                        <Path Fill="#d0d0d0" Stretch="Uniform"
+                              Data="M3,9v6h4l5,5V4L7,9H3zM16.5,12c0,-1.77 -1,-3.29 -2.5,-4.03v8.05c1.5,-0.73 2.5,-2.25 2.5,-4.02zM14,3.23v2.06c2.89,0.86 5,3.54 5,6.71s-2.11,5.85 -5,6.71v2.06c4.01,-0.91 7,-4.49 7,-8.77s-2.99,-7.86 -7,-8.77z"
+                              Visibility="{Binding MicMuted, Converter={StaticResource InverseBoolToVis}}"/>
+                        <Path Fill="#ef4444" Stretch="Uniform"
+                              Data="M3,9v6h4l5,5V4L7,9H3zM16.5,12c0,-1.77 -1,-3.29 -2.5,-4.03v8.05c1.5,-0.73 2.5,-2.25 2.5,-4.02zM14,3.23v2.06c2.89,0.86 5,3.54 5,6.71s-2.11,5.85 -5,6.71v2.06c4.01,-0.91 7,-4.49 7,-8.77s-2.99,-7.86 -7,-8.77z"
+                              Visibility="{Binding MicMuted, Converter={StaticResource BoolToVis}}"/>
+                        <Path Stroke="#ef4444" StrokeThickness="2.5" StrokeEndLineCap="Round" Stretch="Uniform"
+                              Data="M21,3 L3,21"
+                              Visibility="{Binding MicMuted, Converter={StaticResource BoolToVis}}"/>
+                    </Grid>
+                    <Slider Width="130" Minimum="0" Maximum="1"
+                            Value="{Binding MicVolume, Mode=TwoWay}" VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                            PreviewMouseLeftButtonDown="VolumeSlider_PreviewMouseLeftButtonDown"
+                            PreviewMouseLeftButtonUp="VolumeSlider_PreviewMouseLeftButtonUp"
+                            LostMouseCapture="VolumeSlider_LostMouseCapture"/>
+                </StackPanel>
+
+                <!-- Line 2: everything else — stream stats on the left, quality +
+                     gear on the right. -->
+                <Grid Grid.Row="1" Margin="0,6,0,0">
                     <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                         <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
                         <ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
@@ -771,9 +833,20 @@
 
                         <TextBlock Text="FPS:" Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}" Margin="0,0,4,0"/>
                         <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource YtLabel}"
-                                   Foreground="White">
+                                   Foreground="White" Margin="0,0,24,0">
                             <Run Text="{Binding CurrentHealth.FPS, Mode=OneWay, StringFormat={}{0:0}}"/>
                         </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="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>
 
                     <StackPanel Grid.Column="2" Orientation="Horizontal" VerticalAlignment="Center">
@@ -801,53 +874,6 @@
                         </Button>
                     </StackPanel>
                 </Grid>
-
-                <!-- 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="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/MainWindow.xaml.cs b/MainWindow.xaml.cs
index 5dced42..8d74f4d 100644
--- a/MainWindow.xaml.cs
+++ b/MainWindow.xaml.cs
@@ -81,6 +81,38 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
         }
     }
 
+    private void MicLabel_MouseLeftButtonUp(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
+    {
+        if (sender is FrameworkElement { DataContext: MainViewModel vm })
+            vm.OpenMicPickerCommand.Execute(null);
+    }
+
+    private void VolumeSlider_PreviewMouseLeftButtonDown(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
+    {
+        if (sender is FrameworkElement { DataContext: MainViewModel vm })
+            vm.SetVolumeAdjusting(true);
+    }
+
+    private void VolumeSlider_PreviewMouseLeftButtonUp(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
+    {
+        if (sender is FrameworkElement { DataContext: MainViewModel vm })
+            vm.SetVolumeAdjusting(false);
+    }
+
+    private void VolumeSlider_LostMouseCapture(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
+    {
+        if (sender is FrameworkElement { DataContext: MainViewModel vm })
+            vm.SetVolumeAdjusting(false);
+    }
+
+    private void MicSpeaker_MouseLeftButtonUp(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
+    {
+        if (sender is FrameworkElement { DataContext: MainViewModel vm })
+        {
+            vm.ToggleMicMuteCommand.Execute(null);
+        }
+    }
+
     private void GearButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
     {
         if (sender is Button { ContextMenu: { } menu } button)
diff --git a/MicPickerDialog.xaml b/MicPickerDialog.xaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b5c376d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/MicPickerDialog.xaml
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+<Window x:Class="ytLive.MicPickerDialog"
+        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
+        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
+        Title="Select Microphone" Height="340" Width="460"
+        Icon="/Assets/llama-logo-icon.png"
+        WindowStartupLocation="CenterOwner" ResizeMode="NoResize"
+        ShowInTaskbar="False" Background="#1a1a2e">
+
+    <Window.Resources>
+        <ResourceDictionary>
+            <BooleanToVisibilityConverter x:Key="BoolToVis"/>
+
+            <Style x:Key="CandidateItem" TargetType="ListBoxItem">
+                <Setter Property="HorizontalContentAlignment" Value="Stretch"/>
+                <Setter Property="Cursor" Value="Hand"/>
+                <Setter Property="Template">
+                    <Setter.Value>
+                        <ControlTemplate TargetType="ListBoxItem">
+                            <Border x:Name="Bd" Background="Transparent" CornerRadius="4" Padding="6,5" Margin="0,2">
+                                <ContentPresenter/>
+                            </Border>
+                            <ControlTemplate.Triggers>
+                                <Trigger Property="IsMouseOver" Value="True">
+                                    <Setter TargetName="Bd" Property="Background" Value="#1c2a52"/>
+                                </Trigger>
+                                <Trigger Property="IsSelected" Value="True">
+                                    <Setter TargetName="Bd" Property="Background" Value="#2a2450"/>
+                                </Trigger>
+                            </ControlTemplate.Triggers>
+                        </ControlTemplate>
+                    </Setter.Value>
+                </Setter>
+            </Style>
+        </ResourceDictionary>
+    </Window.Resources>
+
+    <Grid Margin="24">
+        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
+            <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
+            <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
+            <RowDefinition Height="*"/>
+            <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
+        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
+
+        <TextBlock Grid.Row="0" Text="Select Microphone" FontSize="18" FontWeight="Bold"
+                   Foreground="#e0e0e0" Margin="0,0,0,14"/>
+
+        <TextBlock Grid.Row="1" Text="Pick the microphone to use as your voice source."
+                   Foreground="#a0a0b0" FontSize="13" TextWrapping="Wrap" Margin="0,0,0,12"/>
+
+        <Grid Grid.Row="2">
+            <ListBox Background="Transparent" BorderThickness="0"
+                     ItemContainerStyle="{StaticResource CandidateItem}"
+                     ItemsSource="{Binding Microphones}"
+                     SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedMic, Mode=TwoWay}"
+                     Visibility="{Binding HasMicrophones, Converter={StaticResource BoolToVis}}">
+                <ListBox.ItemTemplate>
+                    <DataTemplate>
+                        <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
+                            <TextBlock Text="🎙️" FontSize="15" VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,0,10,0"/>
+                            <TextBlock Text="{Binding Name}" Foreground="#e0e0e0" FontSize="13"
+                                       VerticalAlignment="Center" TextTrimming="CharacterEllipsis"/>
+                        </StackPanel>
+                    </DataTemplate>
+                </ListBox.ItemTemplate>
+            </ListBox>
+
+            <StackPanel VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Center"
+                        Visibility="{Binding IsLoading, Converter={StaticResource BoolToVis}}">
+                <TextBlock Text="Searching for microphones…" Foreground="#a0a0b0" FontSize="13"/>
+            </StackPanel>
+
+            <StackPanel VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                        Visibility="{Binding NoMicrophones, Converter={StaticResource BoolToVis}}">
+                <TextBlock Text="No microphones found" Foreground="#e0e0e0" FontSize="15"
+                           FontWeight="SemiBold" HorizontalAlignment="Center"/>
+                <TextBlock Text="Check that a microphone is connected and that Windows microphone access is enabled."
+                           Foreground="#a0a0b0" FontSize="13" TextWrapping="Wrap" MaxWidth="360"
+                           TextAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,8,0,0"/>
+            </StackPanel>
+        </Grid>
+
+        <StackPanel Grid.Row="3" Orientation="Horizontal" HorizontalAlignment="Right" Margin="0,12,0,0">
+            <Button Content="Cancel" Command="{Binding CancelCommand}"
+                    Style="{StaticResource YtButtonSecondary}" Margin="0,0,8,0"/>
+            <Button Content="Use Selected" Command="{Binding UseSelectedCommand}"
+                    Style="{StaticResource YtButton}" MinWidth="110"/>
+        </StackPanel>
+    </Grid>
+</Window>
diff --git a/MicPickerDialog.xaml.cs b/MicPickerDialog.xaml.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebf1e27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/MicPickerDialog.xaml.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+using System.Windows;
+using ytLive.Helpers;
+using ytLive.Services;
+using ytLive.ViewModels;
+
+namespace ytLive;
+
+public partial class MicPickerDialog : Window
+{
+    public MicrophoneDeviceInfo? PickedDevice { get; private set; }
+
+    public MicPickerDialog(MicPickerViewModel viewModel)
+    {
+        AppLog.Write("MicPickerDialog ctor: before InitializeComponent");
+        InitializeComponent();
+        AppLog.Write("MicPickerDialog ctor: after InitializeComponent");
+        DataContext = viewModel;
+        viewModel.UseRequested += device =>
+        {
+            PickedDevice = device;
+            DialogResult = true;
+        };
+        viewModel.CancelRequested += () => DialogResult = false;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Services/IMicrophoneEnumerator.cs b/Services/IMicrophoneEnumerator.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0e6a51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Services/IMicrophoneEnumerator.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+namespace ytLive.Services;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Enumerates audio capture (microphone) devices. Seam so the picker never
+/// touches WinRT directly (tests inject fakes).
+/// </summary>
+public interface IMicrophoneEnumerator
+{
+    Task<IReadOnlyList<MicrophoneDeviceInfo>> GetMicrophonesAsync();
+}
diff --git a/Services/MicrophoneDeviceInfo.cs b/Services/MicrophoneDeviceInfo.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0cab3cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Services/MicrophoneDeviceInfo.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+namespace ytLive.Services;
+
+public sealed class MicrophoneDeviceInfo
+{
+    public string Id { get; }
+    public string DisplayName { get; }
+
+    public MicrophoneDeviceInfo(string id, string displayName)
+    {
+        Id = id;
+        DisplayName = displayName;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Services/WinRtMicrophoneEnumerator.cs b/Services/WinRtMicrophoneEnumerator.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c9fb6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Services/WinRtMicrophoneEnumerator.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+using Windows.Devices.Enumeration;
+
+namespace ytLive.Services;
+
+public sealed class WinRtMicrophoneEnumerator : IMicrophoneEnumerator
+{
+    public async Task<IReadOnlyList<MicrophoneDeviceInfo>> GetMicrophonesAsync()
+    {
+        var devices = await DeviceInformation.FindAllAsync(DeviceClass.AudioCapture);
+        var result = new List<MicrophoneDeviceInfo>(devices.Count);
+        foreach (var device in devices)
+            result.Add(new MicrophoneDeviceInfo(device.Id, device.Name));
+        return result;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Services/index.md b/Services/index.md
index b989445..ac55f9d 100644
--- a/Services/index.md
+++ b/Services/index.md
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ External-facing logic: YouTube API, persistence. See
 | `ICameraEnumerator.cs` | `GetCamerasAsync()` — seam so the picker/`CameraManager` never touch WinRT (tests inject fakes) |
 | `ICameraFrameSource.cs` | `StartAsync`/`StopAsync`/`FrameAvailable(VideoFrame)` — seam for a running capture source |
 | `MediaCaptureCameraEnumerator.cs` | WinRT enumeration via `DeviceInformation.FindAllAsync(DeviceClass.VideoCapture)` |
+| `MicrophoneDeviceInfo.cs` | `(Id, DisplayName)` for an audio capture (mic) device |
+| `IMicrophoneEnumerator.cs` | `GetMicrophonesAsync()` — seam so the mic picker never touches WinRT (tests inject fakes) |
+| `WinRtMicrophoneEnumerator.cs` | WinRT mic enumeration via `DeviceInformation.FindAllAsync(DeviceClass.AudioCapture)` (no NAudio needed — capture libs stay deferred to the audio pipeline milestone) |
 | `MediaCaptureFrameSource.cs` | CPU-first MediaCapture source (`MemoryPreference = Cpu`, BGRA8 via `CreateFrameReaderAsync`); frames arrive on a worker thread |
 | `CameraManager.cs` | Webcam capture ownership: refcounted by `DeviceId`, one shared `WriteableBitmap` per camera, dispatcher-coalesced ~render-rate UI updates (latest-frame drop); `PreviewBitmapChanged`/`CameraFailed` events. `ReleaseAsync` decrements a ref (stops at zero); `ReleaseAllAsync` force-drops every ref + stops the source (webcam swap / layout reload). `GetPreviewBitmap(deviceId)` returns the current shared bitmap so a `WebcamSceneConfig` added mid-session (after the first frame already created the bitmap) still receives the live frames |
 | `IFullScreenDetector.cs` | Seam for the win32 full-screen detector: `int? GetForegroundFullScreenMonitorIndex()`, `int PrimaryMonitorIndex()`, `IReadOnlyList<DisplayInfo> GetDisplays()` |
diff --git a/TASKS.md b/TASKS.md
index 865a991..05c623c 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; **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
+### 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 the mic's sound meter + mute button + volume slider grouped CENTERED on the footer's top line, beneath the preview panel (meter: 288px, muted slate track with ruler graduations + muted yellow/red zone tints, green→yellow→red fill; mute = speaker icon → red do-not-symbol when muted, and the slider and speaker stay in sync (volume 0 ⇔ muted — sliding off flips the speaker to muted, sliding up from 0 clears it); mic volume defaults to 80%, muting zeroes the meter and restores the prior volume on unmute (which flashes the meter to the restored position ~300ms before it returns to the live level); the meter is a READ-ONLY realtime level display (fill = live level × volume — volume is a gain on ambient noise; while the slider is dragged the bar previews the slider position and bounces back to the live level on release, which is 0 with no input — clicking the meter does nothing), clicking the MIC label opens a microphone picker whose chosen source shows left-justified inside the meter bar (fill at 75% opacity so the name + ruler markings show through); slim dimensional slider — gradient track/fill, gloss-sphere thumb; the old flat pink 18px-filled one is gone), everything else on line 2 (bitrate/fps/dropped/duration/health left, quality + gear right) — 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/Themes/Controls.xaml b/Themes/Controls.xaml
index 7f8e1a0..c64e0d4 100644
--- a/Themes/Controls.xaml
+++ b/Themes/Controls.xaml
@@ -268,7 +268,34 @@
         </Style.Triggers>
     </Style>
 
-    <!-- Slider -->
+    <!-- Slider: slim and dimensional — gradient track, beveled fill, gloss-sphere
+         thumb. The filled side sits on a 5px pill aligned with the track; the
+         click target stays the full track height. -->
+    <LinearGradientBrush x:Key="YtSliderTrackBrush" StartPoint="0,0" EndPoint="0,1">
+        <GradientStop Color="#0f1b33" Offset="0"/>
+        <GradientStop Color="#283b60" Offset="1"/>
+    </LinearGradientBrush>
+
+    <LinearGradientBrush x:Key="YtSliderFillBrush" StartPoint="0,0" EndPoint="0,1">
+        <GradientStop Color="#4fe097" Offset="0"/>
+        <GradientStop Color="#2dbd7a" Offset="0.5"/>
+        <GradientStop Color="#1a9e63" Offset="1"/>
+    </LinearGradientBrush>
+
+    <RadialGradientBrush x:Key="YtSliderKnobBrush" Center="0.35,0.3" GradientOrigin="0.35,0.3">
+        <GradientStop Color="#ffffff" Offset="0"/>
+        <GradientStop Color="#d7f5e6" Offset="0.22"/>
+        <GradientStop Color="#3ed588" Offset="0.72"/>
+        <GradientStop Color="#137a4d" Offset="1"/>
+    </RadialGradientBrush>
+
+    <RadialGradientBrush x:Key="YtSliderKnobHoverBrush" Center="0.35,0.3" GradientOrigin="0.35,0.3">
+        <GradientStop Color="#ffffff" Offset="0"/>
+        <GradientStop Color="#e6faef" Offset="0.22"/>
+        <GradientStop Color="#57e9a1" Offset="0.72"/>
+        <GradientStop Color="#1b9a63" Offset="1"/>
+    </RadialGradientBrush>
+
     <Style x:Key="YtSliderTrackButton" TargetType="RepeatButton">
         <Setter Property="Focusable" Value="False"/>
         <Setter Property="Template">
@@ -280,19 +307,40 @@
         </Setter>
     </Style>
 
+    <Style x:Key="YtSliderFillButton" TargetType="RepeatButton">
+        <Setter Property="Focusable" Value="False"/>
+        <Setter Property="Template">
+            <Setter.Value>
+                <ControlTemplate TargetType="RepeatButton">
+                    <Grid>
+                        <Border Height="5" VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                                Background="{StaticResource YtSliderFillBrush}"
+                                BorderBrush="#0f7a4e" BorderThickness="1" CornerRadius="2.5"/>
+                    </Grid>
+                </ControlTemplate>
+            </Setter.Value>
+        </Setter>
+    </Style>
+
     <Style x:Key="YtSliderThumb" TargetType="Thumb">
         <Setter Property="IsTabStop" Value="False"/>
         <Setter Property="Template">
             <Setter.Value>
                 <ControlTemplate TargetType="Thumb">
-                    <Ellipse x:Name="Knob" Width="16" Height="16" Fill="#e94560"
-                             Stroke="#ff8fa3" StrokeThickness="1"/>
+                    <Grid Width="13" Height="13">
+                        <Ellipse x:Name="Knob" Fill="{StaticResource YtSliderKnobBrush}"
+                                 Stroke="#0b1626" StrokeThickness="1">
+                            <Ellipse.Effect>
+                                <DropShadowEffect BlurRadius="3" ShadowDepth="1" Opacity="0.55"/>
+                            </Ellipse.Effect>
+                        </Ellipse>
+                    </Grid>
                     <ControlTemplate.Triggers>
                         <Trigger Property="IsMouseOver" Value="True">
-                            <Setter TargetName="Knob" Property="Fill" Value="#ff5b78"/>
+                            <Setter TargetName="Knob" Property="Fill" Value="{StaticResource YtSliderKnobHoverBrush}"/>
                         </Trigger>
                         <Trigger Property="IsDragging" Value="True">
-                            <Setter TargetName="Knob" Property="Fill" Value="#ff8fa3"/>
+                            <Setter TargetName="Knob" Property="Fill" Value="{StaticResource YtSliderKnobHoverBrush}"/>
                         </Trigger>
                     </ControlTemplate.Triggers>
                 </ControlTemplate>
@@ -307,12 +355,13 @@
             <Setter.Value>
                 <ControlTemplate TargetType="Slider">
                     <Grid VerticalAlignment="Center">
-                        <Border Height="4" CornerRadius="2" Background="#2a3a5e"
-                                VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
+                        <Border Height="5" CornerRadius="2.5" VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                                Background="{StaticResource YtSliderTrackBrush}"
+                                BorderBrush="#0a1424" BorderThickness="1"/>
                         <Track x:Name="PART_Track" Height="18">
                             <Track.DecreaseRepeatButton>
                                 <RepeatButton Command="{x:Static Slider.DecreaseLarge}"
-                                              Style="{StaticResource YtSliderTrackButton}" Tag="#e94560"/>
+                                              Style="{StaticResource YtSliderFillButton}"/>
                             </Track.DecreaseRepeatButton>
                             <Track.IncreaseRepeatButton>
                                 <RepeatButton Command="{x:Static Slider.IncreaseLarge}"
diff --git a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index 7997f51..aaf0a42 100644
--- a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     private readonly YouTubeStreamService _youtubeStream;
     private readonly YouTubeChatService _youtubeChat;
     private readonly DispatcherTimer _liveTimer;
+    private readonly DispatcherTimer _volumeFlashTimer;
 
     private Scene? _activeScene;
     private SceneElement? _selectedElement;
@@ -30,8 +31,12 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     private string _accountAvatarUrl = string.Empty;
     private string _accountDisplayName = string.Empty;
     private double _audioLevel;
-    private double _micVolume = 1.0;
+    private bool _volumeAdjusting;
+    private bool _volumeFlash;
+    private double _micVolume = 0.8;
     private bool _micMuted;
+    private double? _volumeBeforeMute;
+    private string? _micSourceName;
     private StreamStatus _streamStatus = StreamStatus.Offline;
     private StreamHealth _currentHealth = new();
     private string _streamTitle = string.Empty;
@@ -70,6 +75,8 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     private readonly CameraManager _cameraManager;
     private Webcam? _webcam;
 
+    private readonly IMicrophoneEnumerator _microphoneEnumerator;
+
     // Screen backdrop: a permanent live capture (desktop/game) that every scene
     // shows at the bottom layer. One shared capture session per key — the
     // ScreenCaptureManager refcounts by key, mirroring CameraManager.
@@ -209,8 +216,8 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     // ─── 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>
+    /// <summary>Live mic input level (0..1) — fed by the audio mixer once capture
+    /// lands; 0 with no input. Read by the meter, scaled by MicVolume.</summary>
     public double AudioLevel
     {
         get => _audioLevel;
@@ -224,33 +231,127 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         }
     }
 
-    public double MeterFillWidth => AudioLevel * 360;
+    /// <summary>Displayed meter level: 0 while muted; the volume position while
+    /// the slider is being dragged (or briefly after an unmute, so the restored
+    /// level flashes on the bar) so the creator sees where they're setting it;
+    /// otherwise the realtime live level scaled by volume (raising the volume
+    /// moves ambient noise up the bar). Read-only meter.</summary>
+    private double MeterLevel => MicMuted ? 0 : _volumeAdjusting || _volumeFlash ? MicVolume : Math.Min(1, AudioLevel * MicVolume);
 
-    public string MeterBrush => AudioLevel switch
+    public double MeterFillWidth => MeterLevel * 288;
+
+    public string MeterBrush => MeterLevel switch
     {
         < 0.6 => "#22c55e",
         < 0.8 => "#eab308",
         _ => "#ef4444",
     };
 
-    public double MicVolume
+    /// <summary>Previewes the volume position while the slider is dragged; the
+    /// bar returns to the live level on release (empty when there is no input).
+    /// Starting a drag cancels any pending unmute flash.</summary>
+    public void SetVolumeAdjusting(bool adjusting)
     {
-        get => _micVolume;
-        set => SetProperty(ref _micVolume, Math.Clamp(value, 0, 1));
-    }
-
-    public bool MicMuted
-    {
-        get => _micMuted;
-        set
+        if (adjusting)
+            CancelVolumeFlash();
+        if (SetProperty(ref _volumeAdjusting, adjusting))
         {
-            if (SetProperty(ref _micMuted, value))
-                OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MicMuteText));
+            OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MeterFillWidth));
+            OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MeterBrush));
         }
     }
 
+    private void BeginVolumeFlash()
+    {
+        _volumeFlash = true;
+        OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MeterFillWidth));
+        OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MeterBrush));
+        _volumeFlashTimer.Stop();
+        _volumeFlashTimer.Start();
+    }
+
+    private void EndVolumeFlash()
+    {
+        _volumeFlashTimer.Stop();
+        if (_volumeFlash)
+        {
+            _volumeFlash = false;
+            OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MeterFillWidth));
+            OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MeterBrush));
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void CancelVolumeFlash()
+    {
+        _volumeFlashTimer.Stop();
+        _volumeFlash = false;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Mic gain (0..1). Running to 0 mutes (the speaker flips to muted);
+    /// moving up from 0 unmutes (the mute indicator clears). The level being left
+    /// is remembered so the speaker button can restore it.</summary>
+    public double MicVolume
+    {
+        get => _micVolume;
+        set
+        {
+            var clamped = Math.Clamp(value, 0, 1);
+            if (clamped == 0 && !_micMuted)
+                _volumeBeforeMute ??= _micVolume;
+            if (SetProperty(ref _micVolume, clamped))
+            {
+                var muted = clamped == 0;
+                if (_micMuted != muted)
+                {
+                    _micMuted = muted;
+                    OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MicMuted));
+                    OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MicMuteText));
+                }
+                if (!muted)
+                    _volumeBeforeMute = null;
+                OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MeterFillWidth));
+                OnPropertyChanged(nameof(MeterBrush));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Read-only: true whenever the volume is 0. Only MicVolume may
+    /// change it, so the slider and the speaker can never disagree.</summary>
+    public bool MicMuted => _micMuted;
+
     public string MicMuteText => MicMuted ? "Unmute" : "Mute";
 
+    /// <summary>Name of the picked voice source, shown under the meter on line 2.</summary>
+    public string? MicSourceName
+    {
+        get => _micSourceName;
+        private set => SetProperty(ref _micSourceName, value);
+    }
+
+    private void ToggleMicMute()
+    {
+        if (MicMuted)
+        {
+            MicVolume = _volumeBeforeMute ?? 0.8;
+            BeginVolumeFlash();
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            _volumeBeforeMute = MicVolume;
+            MicVolume = 0;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void PickMicrophone()
+    {
+        var dialog = new MicPickerDialog(new MicPickerViewModel(_microphoneEnumerator))
+        {
+            Owner = System.Windows.Application.Current?.MainWindow
+        };
+        if (dialog.ShowDialog() == true && dialog.PickedDevice != null)
+            MicSourceName = dialog.PickedDevice.DisplayName;
+    }
+
     public bool IsOffline => StreamStatus == StreamStatus.Offline;
     public bool IsLive => StreamStatus == StreamStatus.Streaming;
     public bool LiveIndicatorVisible => IsLive;
@@ -598,6 +699,7 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     public ICommand RefreshCaptureCommand { get; }
     public ICommand SetBackdropDisplayCommand { get; }
     public ICommand ToggleMicMuteCommand { get; }
+    public ICommand OpenMicPickerCommand { get; }
     public ICommand StartStreamCommand { get; }
     public ICommand EndStreamCommand { get; }
     public ICommand OpenSettingsCommand { get; }
@@ -629,6 +731,9 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         _liveTimer = new DispatcherTimer { Interval = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1) };
         _liveTimer.Tick += OnLiveTimerTick;
 
+        _volumeFlashTimer = new DispatcherTimer { Interval = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(300) };
+        _volumeFlashTimer.Tick += (_, _) => EndVolumeFlash();
+
         _saveDebounce = new DispatcherTimer { Interval = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(1500) };
         _saveDebounce.Tick += (_, _) => SaveLayoutNow();
 
@@ -652,7 +757,8 @@ 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);
+        ToggleMicMuteCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => ToggleMicMute());
+        OpenMicPickerCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => PickMicrophone());
         OpenSettingsCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => ShowOverlay(nameof(IsSettingsOpen), "App Settings"));
         OpenBugCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => ShowOverlay(nameof(IsBugOpen), "Report Bug"));
         OpenFeatureCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => ShowOverlay(nameof(IsFeatureOpen), "Feature Request"));
@@ -677,6 +783,8 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
             System.Windows.Application.Current?.Dispatcher);
         _cameraManager.PreviewBitmapChanged += OnCameraPreviewBitmapChanged;
 
+        _microphoneEnumerator = new WinRtMicrophoneEnumerator();
+
         _fullScreenDetector = new Win32FullScreenDetector();
         foreach (var display in _fullScreenDetector.GetDisplays())
             Displays.Add(display);
diff --git a/ViewModels/MicPickerViewModel.cs b/ViewModels/MicPickerViewModel.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5409bbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ViewModels/MicPickerViewModel.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
+using System.Windows.Input;
+using ytLive.Helpers;
+using ytLive.Services;
+
+namespace ytLive.ViewModels;
+
+public class MicPickerCandidate
+{
+    public MicrophoneDeviceInfo Device { get; }
+    public string Name => Device.DisplayName;
+
+    public MicPickerCandidate(MicrophoneDeviceInfo device)
+    {
+        Device = device;
+    }
+}
+
+public class MicPickerViewModel : ViewModelBase
+{
+    private readonly IMicrophoneEnumerator _enumerator;
+    private MicPickerCandidate? _selectedMic;
+    private bool _isLoading = true;
+
+    public ObservableCollection<MicPickerCandidate> Microphones { get; } = new();
+
+    public bool IsLoading
+    {
+        get => _isLoading;
+        private set => SetProperty(ref _isLoading, value);
+    }
+
+    public bool HasMicrophones => !IsLoading && Microphones.Count > 0;
+    public bool NoMicrophones => !IsLoading && Microphones.Count == 0;
+
+    public MicPickerCandidate? SelectedMic
+    {
+        get => _selectedMic;
+        set
+        {
+            if (SetProperty(ref _selectedMic, value))
+                CommandManager.InvalidateRequerySuggested();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public ICommand UseSelectedCommand { get; }
+    public ICommand CancelCommand { get; }
+
+    public event Action<MicrophoneDeviceInfo>? UseRequested;
+    public event Action? CancelRequested;
+
+    public MicPickerViewModel(IMicrophoneEnumerator enumerator)
+    {
+        _enumerator = enumerator;
+        UseSelectedCommand = new RelayCommand(
+            _ => { if (SelectedMic != null) UseRequested?.Invoke(SelectedMic.Device); },
+            _ => SelectedMic != null);
+        CancelCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => CancelRequested?.Invoke());
+        _ = LoadAsync();
+    }
+
+    private async Task LoadAsync()
+    {
+        IsLoading = true;
+        try
+        {
+            var devices = await _enumerator.GetMicrophonesAsync();
+            Microphones.Clear();
+            foreach (var device in devices)
+                Microphones.Add(new MicPickerCandidate(device));
+            if (Microphones.Count > 0)
+                SelectedMic = Microphones[0];
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            AppLog.Write($"MicPickerViewModel: enumerating microphones failed: {ex.Message}");
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            IsLoading = false;
+            OnPropertyChanged(nameof(HasMicrophones));
+            OnPropertyChanged(nameof(NoMicrophones));
+            CommandManager.InvalidateRequerySuggested();
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/ViewModels/index.md b/ViewModels/index.md
index 2e790c9..0f2909c 100644
--- a/ViewModels/index.md
+++ b/ViewModels/index.md
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@ 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). **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`) |
+| `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):** the sound meter is a **READ-ONLY realtime level display**: fill = `Math.Min(1, AudioLevel * MicVolume)` (`MeterFillWidth`/`MeterBrush`, green→yellow→red, zone markers at 60%/80%), where `AudioLevel` (live input, 0 with no input) is fed by the audio mixer once capture lands and `MicVolume` acts as a gain on ambient noise; while the slider is dragged the bar previews the slider position (`SetVolumeAdjusting`), returning to the live level on release (0 with no input — clicking the meter does nothing); `MicVolume` (default 0.8) + read-only `MicMuted`/`MicMuteText`/`ToggleMicMuteCommand` — **MicVolume drives MicMuted** (muted ⇔ volume 0): sliding to 0 flips the speaker to muted, sliding up from 0 clears it; muting stores the prior volume, unmuting restores it (default 0.8 if unknown) and flashes the meter to the restored position ~300ms (`BeginVolumeFlash`/`EndVolumeFlash`); `MicSourceName` = picked voice source, shown left-justified inside the meter bar (the fill runs at 75% opacity so the text + ruler markings show through); `OpenMicPickerCommand`/`PickMicrophone()` open the `MicPickerDialog`; 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` |
+| `MicPickerViewModel.cs` | Select Microphone dialog (voice source): async mic list (loading / has / none states), `UseRequested(MicrophoneDeviceInfo)`/`CancelRequested` |
 
 Related: [`Models/index.md`](../Models/index.md) for the data; [`Services/index.md`](../Services/index.md)
 for what the ViewModels drive; base class in [`Helpers/ViewModelBase.cs`](../Helpers/ViewModelBase.cs).
diff --git a/ai.md b/ai.md
index 246780e..e8b06da 100644
--- a/ai.md
+++ b/ai.md
@@ -96,7 +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.
+- **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** — sound meter + mute button + volume slider (`MicVolume`, defaults to 0.8) all sit together on the footer's top line, CENTERED beneath the preview panel. Meter: 288px, muted slate track (`#3a3b52`) with ruler graduations and muted yellow/red zone tints at 60%/80%; fill = green → yellow → red via `MeterFillWidth`/`MeterBrush`; the meter is a **READ-ONLY realtime level display** — it shows the live input level scaled by the volume (raising the volume moves ambient noise up the bar), NOT the volume setting: the fill is `Math.Min(1, AudioLevel * MicVolume)` (`AudioLevel` is fed by the audio mixer once capture lands, 0 with no input) and 0 while muted. While the volume slider is being dragged the bar previews the slider position (`SetVolumeAdjusting`, from `PreviewMouseLeftButtonDown/Up` + `LostMouseCapture` handlers) so the creator sees where they're setting it; on release it returns to the live level — with no input it bounces back to 0, exactly as it does today. Clicking the meter does nothing; **clicking the MIC label opens the mic picker** (`OpenMicPickerCommand`), and the picked voice source name (`MicSourceName`) is shown left-justified INSIDE the meter bar (FontSize 10, ellipsized to the bar) — the fill runs at 75% opacity so the text and the ruler markings stay visible through it. Mute (`ToggleMicMuteCommand`/`MicMuted`) is a plain clickable speaker icon (`MicSpeaker_MouseLeftButtonUp` code-behind handler — not a Button, `Stretch="Uniform"` so the glyph is never clipped) that swaps to a red do-not-symbol (slashed speaker) when muted. **The slider and the speaker can never disagree:** `MicMuted` is read-only, derived from `MicVolume == 0` — sliding the volume off flips the speaker to muted (storing the prior level in `_volumeBeforeMute`), sliding it up from 0 clears the mute indicator (and the stored level); the speaker button just runs the volume to 0 or restores it (default 0.8 if unknown). Muting zeroes the meter; **unmuting flashes the meter to the restored position for ~300ms** (`BeginVolumeFlash`/`EndVolumeFlash` on a DispatcherTimer, cancelled if the slider is grabbed) before it returns to the live level. Line 2 of the footer holds everything else: stream stats (bitrate/fps/dropped/duration/health) on the left, quality dropdown + gear on the right. The slider is a slim dimensional style in `Themes/Controls.xaml` (gradient track, beveled green fill on a 5px pill, gloss-sphere thumb with drop shadow — deliberately NOT flat). 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)