Public audio devices
Compatible calling apps and browser calls select TCVoiceAI Mic and TCVoiceAI Speaker, the two user-facing routes for translated or original audio.
Virtual microphone translator
Virtual microphone translation on macOS with TCVoiceAI Mic
TCVoiceAI uses app-owned virtual audio devices for Translated voice, Original audio, and normal pass-through while the main app is idle. The public devices are TCVoiceAI Mic for outgoing call audio and TCVoiceAI Speaker for incoming partner audio.
One-sided setup: The background helper only relays audio between the selected physical and virtual devices. It does not recognize speech, create transcripts, translate, record, store, inspect, or upload conversation content, and it does not contact the server.
Signed and notarized for macOS. The production installer is signed with Developer ID and checked by Apple’s automated notarization service, allowing macOS Gatekeeper to verify its integrity and confirm that it is not known malware.
Setup steps
How the virtual audio route works.
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01
Open the calling-app guide
Choose an installed app in TCVoiceAI for exact device steps, or configure FaceTime automatically with permission.
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02
Start a foreground session
The main app takes exclusive ownership of the audio routes only while Translated voice or Original audio is running.
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03
Use or switch the conversation mode
Translated voice speaks translations. Original audio keeps real voices and optional History; bilingual sessions can switch modes live.
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04
Return routing to the helper
When the session stops or the app closes, the background helper resumes original-audio pass-through so the calling app can keep using the virtual devices.
Product details
One virtual route, with clear foreground and background roles.
Translated voice ownership
During Translated voice, the foreground app recognizes and translates both directions, then sends Mac voice playback to the correct listener.
Suggested reply playback
After you review a reply suggestion in Translated voice, Speak to partner sends its partner-language audio through the same TCVoiceAI Mic route.
Original audio ownership
During Original audio, pass-through remains live while optional History stores a bilingual translation or same-language transcript without spoken translation.
Safe live mode switching
A bilingual session can change route ownership between Translated voice and Original audio without stopping. If the new route cannot complete, the previous mode is restored.
Independent foreground paths
The foreground app gives each call direction its own recognition and translation flow. Translated voice also has a separate playback queue for each direction. Both directions can progress at the same time, while phrases remain ordered within their own direction.
Background helper
While the app is Ready, Stopped, or closed, the helper relays the selected physical microphone to the virtual mic and virtual speaker audio to the selected physical output.
Routing only, not listening or collecting
The helper handles audio buffers only to keep the route working. It performs no speech recognition, transcription, translation, recording, storage, content analysis, upload, or server request.
Internal endpoints stay hidden
TCVoiceAI Mic Feed and TCVoiceAI Speaker Tap are internal endpoints used by the app and should not be selected in calling apps.
From the macOS app
Confirmed from the app implementation.
- TCVoiceAI Mic is the virtual microphone that compatible calling apps or browser calls can select as input.
- TCVoiceAI Speaker is the virtual speaker or output route that compatible calling apps or browser calls use to carry partner audio back into the translator.
- Only the Mac running TCVoiceAI needs these virtual audio devices.
- TCVoiceAI Mic sends the translated Mac voice into the call; it does not recreate the caller’s original voice.
- In Translated voice, an approved suggested reply can be spoken to the partner through TCVoiceAI Mic. It is never played automatically without the user action.
- Original audio mode sends the caller’s real voice through the route while the foreground app can create bilingual or same-language History.
- Same-language sessions use Original audio; transcription-only turns require no translation request or translated-word allowance.
- Bilingual sessions can switch modes live, with rollback if the route transition cannot complete safely.
- Translated voice uses separate per-direction queues so new voice waits for earlier voice in the same direction, without blocking voice that belongs to the opposite direction.
- The foreground app exclusively owns audio only while a conversation session is active.
- When available, the background helper owns original-audio pass-through while the app is idle, stopped, or closed.
- The helper exists only to improve routing convenience and does not listen to, analyze, collect, record, store, or upload conversation content.
- No speech recognition, translation, text-to-speech, authentication, or server work runs in the background helper.
- If the helper is disabled, awaiting Login Items approval, or unavailable, idle pass-through is unavailable, but the foreground app can still claim the route when you open it and start a session.
- The calling app or browser call must allow the selected virtual microphone and virtual speaker/output devices.
- The packaged HAL backend exposes the public virtual microphone and speaker devices on macOS.
- The app excludes virtual, aggregate, auto-aggregate, and TCVoiceAI endpoints from physical device picker choices.
Related guides
Keep exploring TCVoiceAI.
Virtual microphone translation on macOS with TCVoiceAI Mic
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