diff --git a/platformio.ini b/platformio.ini
index 11ff132c..bdd6fe4d 100644
--- a/platformio.ini
+++ b/platformio.ini
@@ -778,7 +778,7 @@ build_flags = ${esp32_4MB_V4_max_base.build_flags}
   ; RAM:   [==        ]  24.8% (used 81316 bytes from 327680 bytes)
   ; Flash: [=======   ]  72.9% (used 1528253 bytes from 2097152 bytes)
 
-;; experiemtal environment for boards with PSRAM (needs ESP-IDF 4.4.1). 
+;; experimental environment for boards with PSRAM (needs ESP-IDF 4.4.1). 
 ; esp32_4MB_PSRAM_max: bin entry, uses esp32_4MB_V4_max_base and adds specific settings
 [env:esp32_4MB_PSRAM_max]
 extends = esp32_4MB_V4_max_base
diff --git a/usermods/audioreactive/audio_reactive.h b/usermods/audioreactive/audio_reactive.h
index 21ae6547..841e544d 100644
--- a/usermods/audioreactive/audio_reactive.h
+++ b/usermods/audioreactive/audio_reactive.h
@@ -1252,7 +1252,11 @@ class AudioReactive : public Usermod {
       if (enabled) disableSoundProcessing = false;       // all good - enable audio processing
 
       if((!audioSource) || (!audioSource->isInitialized())) {  // audio source failed to initialize. Still stay "enabled", as there might be input arriving via UDP Sound Sync 
+      #ifdef WLED_DEBUG
+        DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("AR: Failed to initialize sound input driver. Please check input PIN settings."));
+      #else
         DEBUGSR_PRINTLN(F("AR: Failed to initialize sound input driver. Please check input PIN settings."));
+      #endif
         disableSoundProcessing = true;
       }
 
@@ -1853,13 +1857,13 @@ class AudioReactive : public Usermod {
       oappend(SET_F("addOption(dd,'Send',1);"));
       oappend(SET_F("addOption(dd,'Receive',2);"));
       oappend(SET_F("addInfo('AudioReactive:digitalmic:type',1,'<i>requires reboot!</i>');"));  // 0 is field type, 1 is actual field
-      oappend(SET_F("addInfo('AudioReactive:digitalmic:pin[]',0,'I2S Serial Data: SD / DOUT /DATA');"));
+      oappend(SET_F("addInfo('AudioReactive:digitalmic:pin[]',0,'I2S Serial Data: SD / DOUT / DATA');"));
       oappend(SET_F("addInfo('AudioReactive:digitalmic:pin[]',1,'I2S Left/Right Clock: WS / LRCK / CLK');"));
       oappend(SET_F("addInfo('AudioReactive:digitalmic:pin[]',2,'I2S Serial Clock: SCK / BCLK');"));
       #if !defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32S2) && !defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32C3) && !defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32S3)
-        oappend(SET_F("addInfo('AudioReactive:digitalmic:pin[]',3,'MCLK - I2S Master CLK<br/><i>only use -1, 0, 1 or 3 for MCLK</i>');"));
+        oappend(SET_F("addInfo('AudioReactive:digitalmic:pin[]',3,'MCLK: I2S Master CLK<br/><i>only use -1, 0, 1 or 3 for MCLK</i>');"));
       #else
-        oappend(SET_F("addInfo('AudioReactive:digitalmic:pin[]',3,'MCLK - I2S Master CLK');"));
+        oappend(SET_F("addInfo('AudioReactive:digitalmic:pin[]',3,'MCLK: I2S Master CLK');"));
       #endif
       oappend(SET_F("addInfo('AudioReactive:digitalmic:pin[]',4,'ES7243 I2C: SDA');"));
       oappend(SET_F("addInfo('AudioReactive:digitalmic:pin[]',5,'ES7243 I2C: SCL');"));
diff --git a/usermods/audioreactive/audio_source.h b/usermods/audioreactive/audio_source.h
index 50627dc5..e32eff1a 100644
--- a/usermods/audioreactive/audio_source.h
+++ b/usermods/audioreactive/audio_source.h
@@ -271,6 +271,8 @@ class I2SSource : public AudioSource {
         .data_in_num = i2ssdPin
       };
 
+      //DEBUGSR_PRINTF("[AR] I2S: SD=%d, WS=%d, SCK=%d, MCLK=%d\n", i2ssdPin, i2swsPin, i2sckPin, mclkPin);
+
       esp_err_t err = i2s_driver_install(I2S_NUM_0, &_config, 0, nullptr);
       if (err != ESP_OK) {
         DEBUGSR_PRINTF("AR: Failed to install i2s driver: %d\n", err);
@@ -282,7 +284,8 @@ class I2SSource : public AudioSource {
       if(_config.mode & I2S_MODE_MASTER) {
         if (_config.mode & I2S_MODE_PDM)
           DEBUGSR_PRINTLN(F("AR: I2S#0 driver installed in PDM MASTER mode."));
-        else DEBUGSR_PRINTLN(F("AR: I2S#0 driver installed in MASTER mode."));
+        else 
+          DEBUGSR_PRINTLN(F("AR: I2S#0 driver installed in MASTER mode."));
       } else
         DEBUGSR_PRINTLN(F("AR: I2S#0 driver installed in SLAVE mode."));
 
@@ -425,6 +428,12 @@ public:
         DEBUGSR_PRINTF("\nAR: invalid ES7243 I2C pins: SDA=%d, SCL=%d\n", sdaPin, sclPin); 
         return;
       }
+
+      if ((i2sckPin < 0) || (mclkPin < 0)) {
+        DEBUGSR_PRINTF("\nAR: invalid I2S pin: SCK=%d, MCLK=%d\n", i2sckPin, mclkPin); 
+        return;
+      }
+
       // Reserve SDA and SCL pins of the I2C interface
       PinManagerPinType es7243Pins[2] = { { sdaPin, true }, { sclPin, true } };
       if (!pinManager.allocateMultiplePins(es7243Pins, 2, PinOwner::HW_I2C)) {