# Frequently Asked Questions Common questions about Audion and audio streaming. ## General Questions ### What is Audion? Audion is a Mac app that streams audio from your computer to smartphones, tablets, and other devices on your local WiFi network. It's designed for churches and organizations to provide assistive listening services without expensive hardware. ### How much does it cost? **Free.** No subscriptions, no ads, no hidden costs. ### What are the system requirements? - **Mac:** macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later - **Listeners:** Any device with a web browser - **Network:** Local WiFi (internet not required) ### Do listeners need to download an app? **No.** Audion works entirely in the web browser. Listeners just scan a QR code or visit a URL. --- ## Technical Questions ### Does this work over the internet? No. Audion is designed for **local network use only**. This ensures: - Better audio quality - Lower latency - Enhanced security - No bandwidth limits - Privacy protection ### How many people can listen at once? **Unlimited.** Your WiFi network capacity is the only limiting factor. Most modern routers can handle 50+ simultaneous listeners without issues. ### What's the audio quality? **CD-quality or better:** - 44.1kHz or 48kHz sample rate (auto-detected) - Uncompressed PCM streaming - Mono or stereo (auto-mixed to mono) - 16-bit depth ### What's the latency? **80-150 milliseconds typically.** This means listeners hear audio about 0.1 seconds after it happens live. This is rarely noticeable for listening purposes. Factors affecting latency: - WiFi network quality - Distance from router - Device processing speed - Browser performance ### Will it work with my soundboard? **Yes!** Audion works with any audio source your Mac can hear: - USB audio interfaces - Direct soundboard connections - Built-in microphone - Aggregate audio devices - Virtual audio routing ### Can I use this for outdoor services? **Yes**, as long as: - Your WiFi reaches the outdoor area - Listeners' devices connect to your network - You have adequate WiFi coverage Consider WiFi range extenders for larger areas. --- ## Device Compatibility ### What devices can listen? Any device with a modern web browser: - ✅ iPhone (iOS 12+) - ✅ iPad (iOS 12+) - ✅ Android phones (Android 7+) - ✅ Android tablets - ✅ Laptops and computers - ✅ Most modern devices ### Does it work on old phones? Generally yes, if the device: - Has a modern browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) - Can connect to WiFi - Runs iOS 12+ or Android 7+ Older devices may work but performance isn't guaranteed. ### Do headphones work? **Yes!** Works with: - Wired headphones (3.5mm jack or Lightning) - Bluetooth headphones (may add slight delay) - USB-C headphones - Device speakers (not recommended for privacy) --- ## Network Questions ### What if my organization has guest WiFi? **Guest networks often isolate devices.** This prevents them from accessing Audion on the main network. **Solutions:** 1. Use main network for listeners (preferred) 2. Configure guest network to allow local access 3. Create separate network for streaming 4. Consult your IT administrator ### Will this use cellular data? **No**, as long as the device is connected to WiFi. Audion streams only over WiFi. **Important:** Make sure listeners connect to your organization's WiFi, not cellular data. ### Do we need internet access? **No.** Audion works entirely on your local network. Internet is not required for streaming. You do need internet to: - Download Audion initially - Access these help docs - Update the software ### Can we use our existing WiFi? **Probably yes.** Most modern WiFi networks work fine. **Minimum recommendations:** - 802.11n or newer - 2.4GHz or 5GHz - Consumer-grade router or better - Not extremely overloaded **For best results:** - 802.11ac or 802.11ax (WiFi 5/6) - 5GHz preferred - Business-grade access points - Professional installation --- ## Privacy & Security ### Is the audio recorded? **No.** Audion streams live audio only. Nothing is recorded or stored. ### What data do you collect? **None.** Audion: - Doesn't collect personal information - Doesn't require accounts - Doesn't track users - Doesn't send data to servers - Works entirely locally ### Can people outside our building listen? **Only if they connect to your WiFi.** Since streaming requires: 1. Connection to your specific WiFi network 2. Knowledge of the local IP address People outside your building typically can't access it. ### Is it secure? **Yes, for local use.** Security measures: - Local network only - No internet exposure - No cloud services - No user accounts - No data collection **Note:** Don't deliberately expose port 8080 to the internet. --- ## Usage Questions ### Can we use custom branding? **Yes!** You can: - Upload your organization's logo - Customize title text - Customize subtitle text - Generate QR codes with your branding See [Customization](customization.md) for details. ### Can we control it remotely? **Yes, with MIDI control.** You can: - Trigger streaming from ProPresenter - Control from lighting console - Use MIDI foot pedals - Integrate with show control See [MIDI Control](midi-control.md) for details. ### What if we have multiple services? **Options:** **1. Same stream for all:** - Keep Audion running all day - Start streaming for each service - Stop between services **2. Different audio for each:** - Switch audio input devices - Different soundboard outputs - Multiple Macs (advanced) ### Can we use it for translation? **Yes!** Common setup: - Translator listens to main service (headphones) - Speaks translation into microphone - Connect Mac to translator's mic - Audion streams translated audio - Separate URL/QR code for translated stream --- ## Troubleshooting Questions ### Why can't my phone connect? **Most common causes:** 1. Phone on different WiFi network 2. Phone using cellular data 3. Firewall blocking connection 4. IP address changed See [Troubleshooting](troubleshooting.md#connection-issues) for solutions. ### Why does audio stop when my iPhone locks? **iOS limitation.** Safari pauses media when the screen locks. **Solution:** Keep screen on during service: - Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock → Never - Remember to change back after ### The QR code isn't working **Common issues:** 1. QR code too small/blurry 2. Camera not focusing 3. Poor lighting 4. Outdated QR code (IP changed) **Solutions:** - Generate high-quality QR code (1000x1000px) - Print clearly - Regenerate if IP address changed ### Audio is cutting out **Usually WiFi issues:** - Weak signal strength - Network congestion - Too many devices **Solutions:** - Move closer to router - Upgrade WiFi equipment - Use 5GHz network - Reduce other network traffic See [Troubleshooting](troubleshooting.md) for more solutions. --- ## Feature Questions ### Can I adjust the listener volume? **Listeners control their own volume** using their device's volume buttons or controls. You can enable **Auto Gain** to normalize volume automatically at the source. ### Can I see who's listening? **Not individually.** You can see: - Total number of active listeners - Real-time count in app - Dock badge with count But not: - Names of listeners - Device types - IP addresses ### Can we record the stream? **Not directly in Audion.** To record: - Use separate recording software - Record the same audio source - Audion is for live streaming only ### Can we have multiple streams? **Requires multiple Macs.** Each Mac can run one Audion instance: - Different audio inputs - Different URLs - Different QR codes Use cases: - Main service + translation - Multiple rooms - Different events --- ## Setup Questions ### Do we need special audio equipment? **Minimum:** Just your Mac and its built-in mic **Recommended:** USB audio interface **Professional:** - USB audio interface - Connection from soundboard - Isolated audio feed - Professional microphone (if needed) ### How do we print QR codes? 1. Generate QR code in Audion (1000x1000px PNG) 2. Import into your bulletin software 3. Add brief instructions: "Scan to Listen" 4. Print as part of bulletin Or: - Print on cardstock for signs - Display on screen/projector - Share digitally via email/text ### What audio input should we use? **Depends on your setup:** **Small venue / Testing:** - Built-in microphone - Simple and free - Good for getting started **Medium venue:** - USB audio interface - Soundboard aux send - Clear, professional audio **Large venue:** - Professional USB interface - Dedicated mix for streaming - Custom EQ and processing See [Audio Setup](audio-setup.md) for details. ### Can we try it before committing? **Absolutely!** Audion is free, so: 1. Download and install 2. Test with built-in mic 3. Try with a few phones 4. Experiment with settings 5. Decide if it works for you No financial risk! --- ## Comparison Questions ### How is this different from FM transmitters? **FM Transmitters:** - Require special receivers ($50-150 each) - Limited range - Possible interference - More setup required **Audion:** - Uses devices people already own - WiFi range (expandable) - No interference - Simple setup ### How is this different from hearing loops? **Hearing Loops:** - Very expensive installation ($5,000+) - Fixed location - Requires special hearing aids - Professional installation **Audion:** - Free software - Portable - Works with any device - DIY installation ### How is this different from streaming apps? **Streaming Apps (Zoom, etc):** - Designed for two-way communication - More complex interface - Higher bandwidth usage - Requires internet **Audion:** - One-way audio only - Simple interface (just press button) - Lower bandwidth - Works without internet --- ## Business Questions ### Can we use this commercially? Absolutely, it's free! ### Can we modify the software? Audion is not open source. Modification requires permission. ### Can we request features? **Yes!** We'd love to hear your ideas: - Email: [me@josiaho.com](mailto:me@josiaho.com?subject=Re:Audion) - Describe your use case - Explain what you need - No guarantees, but we listen! ### Is there a Pro version? Currently, no. Audion is free for everyone with all features included. ### Will it always be free? The current plan is to keep Audion free. Any future changes would be clearly communicated. --- ## Live Transcription Questions ### What is Live Transcription? Live Transcription converts your audio into real-time text captions that appear on listeners' devices. It uses on-device speech recognition for privacy. ### How accurate is the transcription? **Accuracy depends on:** - Speaker clarity and pace - Audio quality and microphone setup - Background noise levels - Language and accent match - Technical vocabulary **Typical accuracy:** 85-95% for clear speech in optimal conditions. **Improve accuracy with:** - Text corrections (biblical terms, custom vocabulary) - Better microphone positioning - Reduced background noise - Speaking at moderate pace ### What languages are supported? **40+ languages** including English (US, UK, AU, CA), Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, and many more. See [Live Transcription](live-transcription.md#language-support) for the complete list. ### Do transcriptions work offline? **Yes!** All speech recognition happens on your Mac using Apple's on-device technology. No internet required. ### Is audio sent to the cloud? **No.** Everything is processed locally on your Mac. Your audio never leaves your building. ### Can listeners turn off captions? Not currently. When transcription is enabled, all listeners see captions. ### Does transcription slow down audio? **No.** Transcription and audio streaming are independent. Speech recognition happens in parallel without affecting audio quality or latency. ### Can I customize the vocabulary? **Yes!** Use text corrections to: - Add biblical/religious terms (built-in) - Create custom corrections for names, places, technical terms - Override default transcriptions See [Live Transcription](live-transcription.md#text-corrections) for details. ### Why do corrections not apply sometimes? **Common issues:** - Text corrections disabled in Preferences - Incorrect text doesn't exactly match what speech recognition produces - Case sensitivity (corrections are case-insensitive but must match words) **Debug:** Temporarily disable corrections to see raw transcription output, then add corrections based on exactly what appears. ### Can I export or save transcriptions? **No.** Audion doesn't save transcriptions. They're generated in real-time and disappear when streaming stops. For permanent records, use: - Screen recording software - Separate transcription/CART services - Note-taking while transcriptions display ### Does this replace professional CART services? **No.** Live Transcription is: - ✅ Great for real-time assistance - ✅ Helpful for following along - ✅ Useful for general accessibility But **not suitable for:** - ❌ Legal proceedings - ❌ Educational accommodation (where required) - ❌ Situations requiring certified accuracy - ❌ Permanent transcription records For professional settings, use certified CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) providers. --- ## Still Have Questions? **Can't find your answer?** - 📖 Read our [full documentation](README.md) - 📧 Email us: [me@josiaho.com](mailto:me@josiaho.com?subject=Re:Audion) - 🐛 Report bugs through our website We're here to help make your audio streaming successful!