Voice Input settings
Settings → Voice Input controls how Kalam hears you and how transcribed text lands in other apps. Use it to pick a microphone, confirm permissions, tune silence detection and audio cleanup, and understand paste vs type insertion (including sensitive apps).
What you see
Three sections:
- Microphone — permissions, device picker, mic test
- Audio processing — silence detection and audio cleanup
- Text insertion — how text is delivered to the focused app
Microphone
Permissions & capabilities
A status panel shows whether Kalam can:
| Capability | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Microphone | Capture audio for dictation |
| Accessibility (Mac) / App input (Windows) | Insert text; on Mac, also read highlighted text for context-aware dictation |
| Global hotkey | Register dictation shortcuts system-wide |
When something needs action, use the buttons (for example Open Microphone settings, Open Accessibility settings, or Request accessibility prompt on Mac).
Device and test
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Microphone | Select your audio input device, or System default. Refresh the list if a new device was plugged in. |
| Test microphone | Record a short sample, watch the level meter, then Play it back to check levels. |
Use Open microphone settings (or privacy settings on Windows), then Refresh device list. Speak while recording — the level bar should move.
Audio processing
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Silence detection | How long Kalam waits for silence before ending the recording: Fast (0.8s), Balanced (1.5s), or Accurate (2.5s). |
| Audio cleanup | Pre-process audio before transcription (same chain as dictation and the mic test). |
Audio cleanup presets:
| Preset | What it does |
|---|---|
| Off — no processing | Raw microphone input |
| Light — gentle cleanup for most rooms | Best default for most mics: trims low rumble, light compression, consistent volume |
| Moderate — stronger noise reduction | Better in noisier rooms; may sound more processed |
| Custom — tune each step | Manual sliders: Bass roll-off, Background noise reduction, Volume leveling (ratio), Output loudness (normalize), Volume leveling (threshold) |
Long passages and quiet speech often benefit from Light or Moderate so levels stay even.
Text insertion
Dictated text is pasted into the focused app by default. Sensitive apps are typed instead so the transcript never hits the clipboard.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Default | How text lands in most apps — Paste on Windows/Linux; on Mac, Accessibility, then paste. |
| Sensitive apps | Password managers and apps on your Privacy list are Type automatically. Manage the list under Settings → Privacy. |
Clipboard behavior
Expand Clipboard behavior for details:
- After paste, Kalam restores your previous clipboard (including images).
- On Windows, dictation pastes are kept out of clipboard history and cloud sync.
See Sensitive apps and Context awareness.