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Voice chat translation

Translate live Discord voice calls into readable text in your voice channel chat.

Use this when people talk in a Discord voice channel and others need to read translations in the voice channel's text chat.

Not the same as voice notes

Voice notes are short audio clips posted in text channels. Voice chat translation is for live calls — you talk in voice, and BabelBot posts translated text while the session is running.

For server admins

Before you start: your server needs an Ultra or Lifetime plan, at least two target languages in settings, and BabelBot installed with permission to use the voice channels you care about.

Turn the feature on

  1. Open the dashboard and select your server.
  2. Go to Settings → Voice chat translation.
  3. Enable Allow voice chat translation.

Choose how translations look

Pick one Voice message style:

  • Clean speaker messages — translated text appears under the speaker's name and profile picture. Best if you want the chat to feel like people are posting.
  • Detailed embeds — BabelBot posts a card with what was said, the detected language, and the translation. Best if mods want more context.

Check bot permissions in voice channels

BabelBot needs to view, connect to, and send messages in the voice channels you use.

If you chose Clean speaker messages, it also needs Manage Webhooks in those channels. Re-invite BabelBot from babelbot.xyz if you recently changed roles or permissions.

Once this is set up, any member can start translation in voice. You do not have to run the call yourself.

For members

Join voice first

Connect to the voice channel you want translated.

Start translation

In any text channel in the same server, run /voice start.

A setup message appears only for you. Pick two languages for this call (for example English and Dutch), then click Start translation.

Read along in voice channel chat

Open the text chat for that voice channel. As people speak, BabelBot posts translations there.

BabelBot listens in voice but does not speak back. Translations are text only.

Stop translation

Any of these work:

  • Run /voice stop
  • Click Stop translation on the start message in voice channel chat
  • If you started the session, or you are in the voice channel, or you can manage the server — you can stop it

The session also stops on its own when everyone leaves the voice channel.

Limits worth knowing

WhatLimit
PlanUltra or Lifetime
Languages per callExactly 2 (chosen when you start)
Active calls per server1 at a time
Longest call4 hours — run /voice start again if you need more
Quiet callStops after 30 minutes with nothing new posted
RecordingsBabelBot does not keep voice recordings
Message quotaVoice chat does not use your normal AI message limit

If BabelBot restarts (for example during an update), the call translation stops. Start again with /voice start.

Tips for better results

  • Pause briefly between sentences so BabelBot can catch a full thought.
  • Use a voice channel where BabelBot has the permissions listed above.
  • Make sure your server has at least two target languages configured before starting.

BabelBot dashboard guide

Manage Discord translation settings, channels, bridges, and billing from the BabelBot dashboard.

Discord translator bot commands

BabelBot slash commands and message context menus — permissions, scope, and behavior.

On this page

For server adminsTurn the feature onChoose how translations lookCheck bot permissions in voice channelsFor membersJoin voice firstStart translationRead along in voice channel chatStop translationLimits worth knowingTips for better resultsRelated pages