Aethera Voice How-to Guide

Step-by-step walkthroughs for desktop and table voice.

Aethera Voice docs

Voice · How-to

Aethera Voice how-to guide

Get into voice fast: install the desktop app or join in the browser, set up your mic and camera, configure push-to-talk, and run linked voice rooms for your table. For the full feature reference, see the Aethera Voice docs.

Download Open hosted Voice

Choose desktop or browser

Aethera Voice works two ways, and both use the same Aethera account:

  • Desktop app (Windows). Best for regular play — you get a tray menu, a global push-to-talk hotkey, and device controls that keep working when your browser isn’t focused.
  • Hosted Voice (browser). Best for jumping in quickly or on non-Windows machines — open /voice and go.

The downloadable installer is published for Windows (x64). On other platforms, use hosted Voice in the browser.

Install the desktop app

  1. Download from the Download button (/downloads/aethera-voice/latest). To confirm the version and signing details first, open /api/downloads/aethera-voice/latest.
  2. Run the installer. You can change the install directory; it creates desktop and Start Menu shortcuts. The release is code-signed by Aethera.TV.
  3. Sign in with your Aethera account on first launch.
  4. (Optional) Launch on Login. Enable it from the tray menu so Voice is ready whenever you start your machine.

Updates are built in — use Check for Updates in the tray menu. The app asks before restarting to apply an update.

Join in the browser

  1. Open /voice and sign in with your Aethera account.
  2. Allow microphone (and camera, if you’ll use video) access when the browser prompts.
  3. To verify your devices before a session, open /voice/?openSettings=devices — the “Voice readiness” view.

Set up your devices

  1. Pick your microphone and camera. Choose them from the device dropdowns (Mic and Camera), and watch the live mic-level indicator to confirm input.
  2. Check OS permissions (desktop). If your mic isn’t detected, open your operating system’s microphone privacy settings, then refresh the app’s media diagnostics.
  3. Test before everyone arrives. Use the readiness view (/voice/?openSettings=devices) to confirm levels and connection health ahead of the session.

Configure push-to-talk

Push-to-talk keeps you muted until you hold a key — ideal for noisy rooms.

  1. Toggle Push-to-talk from the in-call controls or the desktop tray menu.
  2. On the desktop app, the global hotkey defaults to Alt + Space and works even when another window is focused. Rebind it in settings if it clashes with another shortcut.
  3. Hold the key to talk; release to go quiet. Prefer open mic? Leave push-to-talk off and use Mute / Unmute instead.

Run voice for your table (GM)

In a VTT campaign, the GM drives voice from the right sidebar’s Voice Link panel.

  1. Link your rooms. Open Voice Link, create/link the campaign’s voice rooms, and save. Players can then join table audio from their browser.
  2. Split the party. In Voice Moderation, select players and Move selected to side room or Move selected to GM private. Affected players get a visible room notice; Restore everyone to main brings them back.
  3. Spotlight a narrator. Use the priority-speaker / narration spotlight so an important voice carries over the table.
  4. Record with consent (optional). Save a linked-room recording into your GM-only journal — recorded consent is required before recording.
  5. If the link drops, reopen Voice Link and refresh it.

Join a linked table (player)

  1. Join the campaign from your GM’s invite (see the VTT player quick-start).
  2. Connect to voice from the table once the GM has linked rooms — no separate subscription is needed to talk at a linked table.
  3. Manage yourself. Mute or unmute from your avatar badge. If your GM moves you to a side room or private consult, you’ll see a room notice.

Fix common problems

  • Mic not detected (desktop). Open OS microphone privacy settings, then refresh media diagnostics in the app.
  • No notifications (desktop). Open OS notification settings, then refresh attention diagnostics.
  • Table voice dropped. The GM should reopen the Voice Link panel and refresh the link.
  • Connection failed. Contact support with the visible support trace from the diagnostics section.
  • Is it me or the service? Check /status.html for Runtime, RTC route, Auth bridge, and Desktop updates.

Next steps