Setup Guide (BlackHole Audio) Setup Guide (Audio Proxy) Setup Guide (LiveAvatar) Setup Guide (Video) Face Swap Installer User Guide

Setup Guide: BlackHole & Zoom (Audio)

To route the AI voice directly into Zoom, you need a virtual audio cable. We recommend BlackHole on macOS.

1. Install BlackHole

If you don't have it installed yet:

  • Option A (Homebrew): Run brew install blackhole-2ch in your terminal.
  • Option B (Manual): Download the installer from existential.audio/blackhole.

2. Configure System Audio

Once installed, you need to route the browser's audio output to BlackHole.

  1. Open Audio MIDI Setup on your Mac (Command + Space, type "Audio MIDI Setup").
  2. Ensure BlackHole 2ch is visible and active.
  3. Crucial Step: When running the StallingsMachine Proxy page, you must ensure the audio playing from the browser goes to BlackHole.
    • You can set your entire System Output to BlackHole 2ch via the Sound icon in the menu bar.
    • Note: You won't hear the audio yourself if you do this, but Zoom will hear it.
    • To hear it yourself and send to Zoom, create a Multi-Output Device in Audio MIDI Setup that includes both "BlackHole 2ch" and your "Headphones/Speakers". Select this Multi-Output Device as your System Output.

3. Configure Zoom

  1. Open Zoom Settings > Audio.
  2. Set Microphone to BlackHole 2ch.
  3. Now, any audio playing from your computer (specifically the browser running this app) will be treated as your microphone input in Zoom.
  4. Speak into the Proxy App (Stallings Machine) -> AI Voice Generated -> Plays to BlackHole -> Zoom broadcasts AI Voice.
Troubleshooting:
If Zoom doesn't hear anything, check that the browser tab is not muted and that your System Output is correctly set to BlackHole.

Alternative Option: The "No-Install" Method

If you or your proxy speaker cannot (or do not want to) install BlackHole, you can use the "acoustic" method. This is lower quality but requires zero installation. Note: This requires a two-device setup.

  1. The AI Machine (Laptop 1): This runs the StallingsMachine browser. Let the LiveAvatar audio play normally out of this laptop's physical speakers.
    • In Zoom, set your Microphone to the laptop's Built-in Microphone.
    • Mute Zoom's output on this machine! (Turn Zoom's speaker volume to 0). If you don't, the other attendees' voices will come out of the speakers, go right back into the mic, and cause a massive echo loop.
    • CRITICAL STEP: You must disable Zoom's noise cancellation! In Zoom Audio Settings, find "Audio Profile" and change it to "Original Sound for Musicians". Ensure "High fidelity music mode" is checked.
  2. The Listening Machine (Laptop 2 / Phone): Because the first laptop's Zoom output is muted, your proxy speaker needs a second device to actually hear what people on the Zoom call are saying. They should log into the Zoom call on a phone or second laptop as a standard attendee (with headphones on) to listen to the questions.
  3. When the AI speaks from Laptop 1's speakers, Laptop 1's microphone will pick it up and broadcast it to the Zoom room.