Voice Channels and Video Calls

Vacua supports real-time audio and video communication through voice channels and direct message calls. This guide explains how to use them effectively.

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Joining a voice channel

1. In the left panel, click any channel with a speaker icon (🔊).
2. You'll automatically connect and appear in the member list for that channel.
3. A voice control bar appears at the bottom of the screen with mute, deafen, and disconnect buttons.

Voice control bar explained

Button	Action
Microphone	Toggle your microphone on/off
Headphones	Toggle deafen (mute your own audio output)
Video camera	Toggle your camera
Screen	Start screen sharing
Phone	Disconnect from the channel

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Audio settings

Configure your audio before joining or during a call via User Settings → Voice & Video.

Input device

Select your microphone from the dropdown. Use the Input Test button to check your levels.

Input sensitivity

• Automatic — Vacua adjusts the threshold dynamically (recommended)
• Manual — set a fixed dB threshold; only sounds above this level will transmit

Output device

Select your speakers or headphones. Use the Output Test button to hear a test tone.

Noise suppression

Enable Noise Suppression to filter out background noise like fans, keyboard clicks, and ambient room sound. Powered by Krisp AI — runs locally on your device.

Echo cancellation

Enable this if others in the call can hear themselves echoed back. Usually caused by using speakers instead of headphones.

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Video calls

To enable your camera in a voice channel:

1. Click the camera icon in the voice control bar.
2. Your video feed will appear as a tile in the channel view.
3. Other participants can see each other's video tiles in the grid.

Vacua+ subscribers can stream at up to 1080p resolution.

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Screen sharing

To share your screen with channel participants:

1. Click the screen icon in the voice control bar.
2. Choose what to share: entire screen, a specific application window, or a browser tab.
3. Set your preferred frame rate (up to 60 fps with Vacua+).
4. Click Go Live.

Participants can click on your stream to watch it full screen.

Stopping a stream

Click the screen icon again (it will be green while active) or click Stop Streaming.

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Direct message calls

You can call any friend or DM contact directly without a server:

1. Open a DM conversation.
2. Click the phone icon (audio call) or video camera icon (video call) in the top right.
3. The other person will receive an incoming call notification.
4. Once accepted, the call interface opens with the same controls as a voice channel.

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Creating a voice channel (server owners/admins)

1. Hover over a category in the channel list and click +.
2. Select Voice Channel.
3. Name it and optionally set a user limit (e.g. max 5 people).
4. Configure permissions to restrict access to specific roles if needed.

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Troubleshooting audio issues

No one can hear me

• Check that the correct microphone is selected in User Settings → Voice & Video → Input Device
• Make sure you're not muted (microphone icon in the control bar)
• Check system-level permissions — Vacua may need microphone access in your OS settings

I can't hear anyone

• Check that the correct output device is selected
• Make sure you're not deafened (headphones icon)
• Increase the individual volume for other users by right-clicking their name in the channel

Audio is cutting out

• Move closer to your router or switch to a wired connection
• Lower the voice bitrate in the channel settings (server admins: Edit Channel → Bitrate)
• Disable hardware acceleration in User Settings → Advanced

Echo or feedback

• Use headphones instead of speakers
• Enable Echo Cancellation in User Settings → Voice & Video
• Ask if other participants have the same issue — it may be on their end

Screen share is laggy

• Lower the frame rate in the stream settings
• Share a specific window rather than the entire screen
• Close other bandwidth-intensive applications