How do I provide an OpenAI API key?

Set the OPENAI_API_KEY environment variable to use OpenAI-compatible cloud services as fallback.

What are the system dependencies?

Depends on platform; typically includes ffmpeg, portaudio, pulseaudio, and development headers.

How do I start a voice conversation?

Use the provided CLI commands or integrate with Claude Code plugin commands to start voice interactions.

Voice MCP

Q: Can I use it entirely offline?

Yes, local speech-to-text (Whisper.cpp) and text-to-speech (Kokoro) services enable offline use.

text-to-speechspeech-to-textvoicereal-timelocal

Local and cloud voice interaction server supporting speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and real-time voice conversations.

Quick Install

Automated & IDE Setup

Copy the AI prompt to install this server into Claude Code, Cursor, or another agent — or use 1-click editor setup below.

Add to Cursor Add to VS Code

Not yet automatically verified

We haven't yet run this listing's install command through our automated sandbox check. This isn't a red flag — we're steadily working through the catalog.

Manual Client & Custom JSON ConfigExpand JSON ▾

Client Config & Setup

Choose your client or environment

Target File:~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mbailey-voice-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "voice-mode-install"
      ]
    }
  }
}

💡 Paste the JSON block into your client's configuration file under mcpServers, then restart the application.

Overview

This server enables natural voice conversations with AI agents by integrating local microphone input, OpenAI-compatible APIs, and LiveKit for real-time voice. It supports offline use with local speech-to-text (Whisper.cpp) and text-to-speech (Kokoro) services, providing low-latency, privacy-conscious voice interactions. Use it to add voice input/output capabilities to AI agents where hands-free or eyes-free operation is desired.

Use cases

Enable hands-free voice conversations with AI agents

Add local speech-to-text and text-to-speech capabilities

Integrate real-time voice chat via LiveKit

Fallback to OpenAI-compatible APIs for cloud speech services

Support voice interaction on Linux, macOS, Windows, and NixOS

Key features

Natural, low-latency voice conversations

Offline local speech-to-text and text-to-speech services

Smart silence detection to stop recording automatically

Seamless switching between local and cloud speech services

Configurable via environment variables and config files

Cross-platform support including WSL2

Capabilities & Tool Schemas

Inspect callable tools, capabilities, and parameters exposed to AI agents by Voice MCP.

Extracted Tool Capabilities

Natural, low-latency voice conversations

Offline local speech-to-text and text-to-speech services

Smart silence detection to stop recording automatically

Seamless switching between local and cloud speech services

Configurable via environment variables and config files

Cross-platform support including WSL2

Documentation Overview

VoiceMode

Natural voice conversations with Claude Code (and other MCP capable agents)

VoiceMode enables natural voice conversations with Claude Code. Voice isn't about replacing typing - it's about being available when typing isn't.

Perfect for:

Walking to your next meeting
Cooking while debugging
Giving your eyes a break after hours of screen time
Holding a coffee (or a dog)
Any moment when your hands or eyes are busy

See It In Action

Quick Start

Requirements: Computer with microphone and speakers

Option 1: Claude Code Plugin (Recommended)

The fastest way for Claude Code users to get started:

bash

# Add the VoiceMode marketplace
claude plugin marketplace add mbailey/voicemode

# Install VoiceMode plugin
claude plugin install voicemode@voicemode

## Install dependencies (CLI, Local Voice Services)

/voicemode:install

# Start talking!
/voicemode:converse

Option 2: Python installer package

Installs dependencies and the VoiceMode Python package.

server.ts

# Install UV package manager (if needed)
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

# Run the installer (sets up dependencies and local voice services)
uvx voice-mode-install

# Add to Claude Code
claude mcp add --scope user voicemode -- uvx --refresh --from voice-mode voicemode-mcp-launcher

# Optional: Add OpenAI API key as fallback for local services
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your-openai-key

# Start a conversation
claude converse

For manual setup, see the Getting Started Guide.

Features

Natural conversations - speak naturally, hear responses immediately
Works offline - optional local voice services (Whisper STT, Kokoro TTS)
Low latency - fast enough to feel like a real conversation
Smart silence detection - stops recording when you stop speaking
Privacy options - run entirely locally or use cloud services

Compatibility

Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows (native or WSL), NixOS Python: 3.10-3.14

Configuration

VoiceMode works out of the box. For customization:

server.ts

# Set OpenAI API key (if using cloud services)
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key"

# Or configure via file
voicemode config edit

See the Configuration Guide for all options.

Permissions Setup (Optional)

To use VoiceMode without permission prompts, add to ~/.claude/settings.json:

config.json

{
  "permissions": {
    "allow": [
      "mcp__voicemode__converse",
      "mcp__voicemode__service"
    ]
  }
}

See the Permissions Guide for more options.

Local Voice Services

For privacy or offline use, install local speech services:

Whisper.cpp - Local speech-to-text
Kokoro - Local text-to-speech with multiple voices

These provide the same API as OpenAI, so VoiceMode switches seamlessly between them.

Installation Details

System Dependencies by Platform

Ubuntu/Debian

bash

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y ffmpeg gcc libasound2-dev libasound2-plugins libportaudio2 portaudio19-dev pulseaudio pulseaudio-utils python3-dev

WSL2 users: The pulseaudio packages above are required for microphone access.

Fedora/RHEL

bash

sudo dnf install alsa-lib-devel ffmpeg gcc portaudio portaudio-devel python3-devel

macOS

bash

brew install ffmpeg node portaudio

NixOS

bash

# Use development shell
nix develop github:mbailey/voicemode

# Or install system-wide
nix profile install github:mbailey/voicemode

Alternative Installation Methods

From source

bash

git clone https://github.com/mbailey/voicemode.git
cd voicemode
uv tool install -e .

NixOS system-wide

nix

# In /etc/nixos/configuration.nix
environment.systemPackages = [
  (builtins.getFlake "github:mbailey/voicemode").packages.${pkgs.system}.default
];

Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
No microphone access	Check terminal/app permissions. WSL2 needs pulseaudio packages.
UV not found	Run `curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh \| sh`
OpenAI API error	Verify `OPENAI_API_KEY` is set correctly
No audio output	Check system audio settings and available devices

Save Audio for Debugging

server.ts

export VOICEMODE_SAVE_AUDIO=true
# Files saved to ~/.voicemode/audio/YYYY/MM/

Documentation

Getting Started - Full setup guide
Configuration - All environment variables
Whisper Setup - Local speech-to-text
Kokoro Setup - Local text-to-speech
Development Setup - Contributing guide

Full documentation: voicemode.dev

License

MIT - A Failmode Project

mcp-name: dev.voicemode/voicemode

Read the full README →View source on GitHub →

Related MCP Servers

View all in Text-to-Speech View all alternatives

Adoption & maintenance

Factual signals from GitHub, npm, and our automated checks — not a rating.

GitHub stars

1.4k

Stargazers on the source repository.

Last commit

1mo ago

Most recent push to the default branch.

Directory activity

2 views

Config copies, upvotes, and views on AllMCPs.

Reviews

No reviews yet — be the first to share how this listing worked for you.

Frequently Asked Questions about Voice MCP

It supports Linux, macOS, Windows (native or WSL), and NixOS.

AllMCPs Directory Badge

Full Badge Customizer

Showcase your server listing on GitHub or your project documentation. Embed this dynamic SVG badge to highlight official listing status and live engagement.

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<a href="https://allmcps.com/mcp/mbailey-voice-mcp"><img src="https://allmcps.com/api/badge/mbailey-voice-mcp?style=directory" alt="Voice MCP on AllMCPs" /></a>

Technical Specs & Signals

CategoryText-to-Speech

PricingBring your own API key (usage-based cost)

56Quality signal: Good · 56/100How this signal is calculated ▾

Server availabilityNot measured

Not scored for repo-hosted servers — we can't reach the running server, only its GitHub page. Hosted MCP endpoints are health-checked live.

Verified ownership10/20

Documentation & tools24/30

Adoption & activity8/15

Community engagement0/10

A guidance signal from public completeness & health data — not a user rating. New listings start lower and rise as they add docs, get verified, and grow adoption. Signals we can't observe for a listing are skipped, not counted against it.

Supply-chain signal

No high-severity advisories surfaced by our automated scan.

Critical 0High 0Medium 0Low 0

Scanned 23d ago via OSV.dev · voice-mode-install (PyPI)

★ Spotlight Slot

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Explore more

More in 🎧 Text-to-Speech →Alternatives to Voice MCP →Install in Claude Desktop Install in Cursor Install in VS Code

Voice MCP

text-to-speechspeech-to-textvoicereal-timelocal

Local and cloud voice interaction server supporting speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and real-time voice conversations.

Quick Install

Automated & IDE Setup

Copy the AI prompt to install this server into Claude Code, Cursor, or another agent — or use 1-click editor setup below.

Add to Cursor Add to VS Code

Not yet automatically verified

We haven't yet run this listing's install command through our automated sandbox check. This isn't a red flag — we're steadily working through the catalog.

Manual Client & Custom JSON ConfigExpand JSON ▾

Client Config & Setup

Choose your client or environment

Target File:~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mbailey-voice-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "voice-mode-install"
      ]
    }
  }
}

💡 Paste the JSON block into your client's configuration file under mcpServers, then restart the application.

Overview

Use cases

Enable hands-free voice conversations with AI agents

Add local speech-to-text and text-to-speech capabilities

Integrate real-time voice chat via LiveKit

Fallback to OpenAI-compatible APIs for cloud speech services

Support voice interaction on Linux, macOS, Windows, and NixOS

Key features

Natural, low-latency voice conversations

Offline local speech-to-text and text-to-speech services

Smart silence detection to stop recording automatically

Seamless switching between local and cloud speech services

Configurable via environment variables and config files

Cross-platform support including WSL2

Capabilities & Tool Schemas

Inspect callable tools, capabilities, and parameters exposed to AI agents by Voice MCP.

Extracted Tool Capabilities

Natural, low-latency voice conversations

Offline local speech-to-text and text-to-speech services

Smart silence detection to stop recording automatically

Seamless switching between local and cloud speech services

Configurable via environment variables and config files

Cross-platform support including WSL2

Documentation Overview

VoiceMode

Natural voice conversations with Claude Code (and other MCP capable agents)

VoiceMode enables natural voice conversations with Claude Code. Voice isn't about replacing typing - it's about being available when typing isn't.

Perfect for:

Walking to your next meeting
Cooking while debugging
Giving your eyes a break after hours of screen time
Holding a coffee (or a dog)
Any moment when your hands or eyes are busy

See It In Action

Quick Start

Requirements: Computer with microphone and speakers

Option 1: Claude Code Plugin (Recommended)

The fastest way for Claude Code users to get started:

bash

# Add the VoiceMode marketplace
claude plugin marketplace add mbailey/voicemode

# Install VoiceMode plugin
claude plugin install voicemode@voicemode

## Install dependencies (CLI, Local Voice Services)

/voicemode:install

# Start talking!
/voicemode:converse

Option 2: Python installer package

Installs dependencies and the VoiceMode Python package.

server.ts

# Install UV package manager (if needed)
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

# Run the installer (sets up dependencies and local voice services)
uvx voice-mode-install

# Add to Claude Code
claude mcp add --scope user voicemode -- uvx --refresh --from voice-mode voicemode-mcp-launcher

# Optional: Add OpenAI API key as fallback for local services
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your-openai-key

# Start a conversation
claude converse

For manual setup, see the Getting Started Guide.

Features

Natural conversations - speak naturally, hear responses immediately
Works offline - optional local voice services (Whisper STT, Kokoro TTS)
Low latency - fast enough to feel like a real conversation
Smart silence detection - stops recording when you stop speaking
Privacy options - run entirely locally or use cloud services

Compatibility

Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows (native or WSL), NixOS Python: 3.10-3.14

Configuration

VoiceMode works out of the box. For customization:

server.ts

# Set OpenAI API key (if using cloud services)
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key"

# Or configure via file
voicemode config edit

See the Configuration Guide for all options.

Permissions Setup (Optional)

To use VoiceMode without permission prompts, add to ~/.claude/settings.json:

config.json

{
  "permissions": {
    "allow": [
      "mcp__voicemode__converse",
      "mcp__voicemode__service"
    ]
  }
}

See the Permissions Guide for more options.

Local Voice Services

For privacy or offline use, install local speech services:

Whisper.cpp - Local speech-to-text
Kokoro - Local text-to-speech with multiple voices

These provide the same API as OpenAI, so VoiceMode switches seamlessly between them.

Installation Details

System Dependencies by Platform

Ubuntu/Debian

bash

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y ffmpeg gcc libasound2-dev libasound2-plugins libportaudio2 portaudio19-dev pulseaudio pulseaudio-utils python3-dev

WSL2 users: The pulseaudio packages above are required for microphone access.

Fedora/RHEL

bash

sudo dnf install alsa-lib-devel ffmpeg gcc portaudio portaudio-devel python3-devel

macOS

bash

brew install ffmpeg node portaudio

NixOS

bash

# Use development shell
nix develop github:mbailey/voicemode

# Or install system-wide
nix profile install github:mbailey/voicemode

Alternative Installation Methods

From source

bash

git clone https://github.com/mbailey/voicemode.git
cd voicemode
uv tool install -e .

NixOS system-wide

nix

# In /etc/nixos/configuration.nix
environment.systemPackages = [
  (builtins.getFlake "github:mbailey/voicemode").packages.${pkgs.system}.default
];

Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
No microphone access	Check terminal/app permissions. WSL2 needs pulseaudio packages.
UV not found	Run `curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh \| sh`
OpenAI API error	Verify `OPENAI_API_KEY` is set correctly
No audio output	Check system audio settings and available devices

Save Audio for Debugging

server.ts

export VOICEMODE_SAVE_AUDIO=true
# Files saved to ~/.voicemode/audio/YYYY/MM/

Documentation

Getting Started - Full setup guide
Configuration - All environment variables
Whisper Setup - Local speech-to-text
Kokoro Setup - Local text-to-speech
Development Setup - Contributing guide

Full documentation: voicemode.dev

License

MIT - A Failmode Project

mcp-name: dev.voicemode/voicemode

Read the full README →View source on GitHub →

Related MCP Servers

View all in Text-to-Speech View all alternatives

Adoption & maintenance

Factual signals from GitHub, npm, and our automated checks — not a rating.

GitHub stars

1.4k

Stargazers on the source repository.

Last commit

1mo ago

Most recent push to the default branch.

Directory activity

2 views

Config copies, upvotes, and views on AllMCPs.

Reviews

No reviews yet — be the first to share how this listing worked for you.

Frequently Asked Questions about Voice MCP

It supports Linux, macOS, Windows (native or WSL), and NixOS.

AllMCPs Directory Badge

Full Badge Customizer

Showcase your server listing on GitHub or your project documentation. Embed this dynamic SVG badge to highlight official listing status and live engagement.

Badge Style:

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Markdown (GitHub README)

[![AllMCPs](https://allmcps.com/api/badge/mbailey-voice-mcp?style=directory)](https://allmcps.com/mcp/mbailey-voice-mcp)

HTML Embed

<a href="https://allmcps.com/mcp/mbailey-voice-mcp"><img src="https://allmcps.com/api/badge/mbailey-voice-mcp?style=directory" alt="Voice MCP on AllMCPs" /></a>

Technical Specs & Signals

CategoryText-to-Speech

PricingBring your own API key (usage-based cost)

56Quality signal: Good · 56/100How this signal is calculated ▾

Server availabilityNot measured

Not scored for repo-hosted servers — we can't reach the running server, only its GitHub page. Hosted MCP endpoints are health-checked live.

Verified ownership10/20

Documentation & tools24/30

Adoption & activity8/15

Community engagement0/10

Supply-chain signal

No high-severity advisories surfaced by our automated scan.

Critical 0High 0Medium 0Low 0

Scanned 23d ago via OSV.dev · voice-mode-install (PyPI)

★ Spotlight Slot

Feature Your MCP Server

Get maximum visibility for your server across our directory, search results, and detail pages.

Spotlight Your Server

Own this project?

Free dofollow backlink: add your website and place the AllMCPs badge on it — no claim needed. We detect it automatically and keep it verified as long as the badge stays live.

Claim & get free dofollow

Share & Embed

Add our SVG badge (dark/light directory styles) or embeddable widget to your site.

Explore more

More in 🎧 Text-to-Speech →Alternatives to Voice MCP →Install in Claude Desktop Install in Cursor Install in VS Code

Voice MCP

Quick Install

Client Config & Setup

Overview

Use cases

Key features

Capabilities & Tool Schemas

Documentation Overview

VoiceMode

See It In Action

Quick Start

Option 1: Claude Code Plugin (Recommended)

Option 2: Python installer package

Features

Compatibility

Configuration

Permissions Setup (Optional)

Local Voice Services

Installation Details

Ubuntu/Debian

Fedora/RHEL

macOS

NixOS

From source

NixOS system-wide

Troubleshooting

Save Audio for Debugging

Documentation

Links

License

Related MCP Servers

Adoption & maintenance

Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions about Voice MCP

AllMCPs Directory Badge

Technical Specs & Signals

Supply-chain signal

Feature Your MCP Server

Own this project?

Share & Embed

Explore more

Voice MCP

Quick Install

Client Config & Setup

Overview

Use cases

Key features

Capabilities & Tool Schemas

Documentation Overview

VoiceMode

See It In Action

Quick Start

Option 1: Claude Code Plugin (Recommended)

Option 2: Python installer package

Features

Compatibility

Configuration

Permissions Setup (Optional)

Local Voice Services

Installation Details

Ubuntu/Debian

Fedora/RHEL

macOS

NixOS

From source

NixOS system-wide

Troubleshooting

Save Audio for Debugging

Documentation

Links

License

Related MCP Servers

Adoption & maintenance

Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions about Voice MCP

AllMCPs Directory Badge

Technical Specs & Signals

Supply-chain signal

Feature Your MCP Server

Own this project?