Speech to speech
Hear the other side in your language, and have them hear you in theirs: the full audio routing setup.
Speech to speech is voice-to-voice AI translation: JotMe listens, translates, and speaks the result, instead of only writing it down. Use it one direction at a time, or both at once.
Before you can turn it on#
In language settings, select Fast (Audio) and the translation output before opening the voice-to-voice menu. The menu unlocks when both are set. Fast must be selected before the session starts; its usage is covered once in Usage limits.
The modes#
Two families: an online meeting or event (Zoom, Teams, Meet: audio travelling through another app) and other (audio on this computer, including a room in front of you).
Online meeting#
| Mode | What happens |
|---|---|
| Listening only | You hear the other participant in your language |
| Speaking only | The other participant hears you in their language |
| Two-way | Both at once |
Other#
Use Other for audio playing on, or heard by, this computer.
Note
The audio source is locked during a session. Stop recording before switching between Microphone audio and System audio.
Virtual audio porting#
To put a translated voice into a meeting, JotMe needs a virtual audio device: a cable between JotMe and the meeting app. This is the part people get stuck on, so do it before the meeting, not during it.
macOS. BlackHole#
| Mode | Needs |
|---|---|
| One-way | BlackHole 2ch |
| Two-way | BlackHole 2ch and BlackHole 16ch |
Install
JotMe can install BlackHole for you: Install BlackHole 2ch, and Install BlackHole 16ch as well if you want two-way.
Restart if it does not appear
"Restart your Mac if the device does not appear." JotMe confirms when it sees them: "BlackHole 2ch detected — ready for virtual routing."
Point your meeting app at it
"Set your meeting app speaker and microphone to the exact BlackHole devices shown below." JotMe names the exact device for the mode you chose.
Audio MIDI Setup is linked from the panel if you need to inspect devices yourself.
Windows. VB-CABLE and VAC#
| Mode | Needs |
|---|---|
| Uplink (speaking) | VB-CABLE: meeting microphone = CABLE Output (VB-Audio Virtual Cable) |
| Two-way | Virtual Audio Cable Line 1: meeting microphone and speaker = Line 1 |
"VB-CABLE handles uplink. VAC Line 1 handles two-way meeting audio capture." If Line 1 does not show up after installing, restart Windows.
Routing recipes#
JotMe spells out the three combinations. Use the one that matches what you want:
| Goal | Settings |
|---|---|
| Both at once | Meeting capture → BlackHole 2ch. Outgoing → BlackHole 16ch. Incoming → your headphones. Turn on TTS my own voice. |
| Only uplink (they hear you translated) | Incoming stays same as outgoing, outgoing → BlackHole 2ch. Meeting mic = BlackHole 2ch, meeting speaker = headphones. |
| Only hear others translated | Meeting app speaker → BlackHole 2ch. JotMe captures others from BlackHole 2ch and sends the translation to your headphones. |
The signal path for the uplink case, in JotMe's own words: "Real mic → JotMe → translated TTS → BlackHole 2ch. Meeting mic = BlackHole 2ch."
Tip
Use headphones. With speakers, the translated voice comes out of your laptop, is picked up again by the microphone, and gets translated a second time.
TTS my own voice#
Turn this on "when JotMe sends translated speech to the meeting app through BlackHole": it is what makes your translated voice go to the meeting rather than to your own ears.
Starting#
Turn the section on, then start: "Turn on the section above before clicking Start." Use Start live translation in the top bar, then speak.
For participants instead#
If the people who need translated audio are guests rather than you, you do not need any of this routing: turn on voice translation for participants and they hear the session in their own language in the browser. See Captions or voice for participants.