How to Use Speech to Speech

What is Speech to Speech?

Speech to Speech is QDub’s live conversation mode. It listens as you speak, translates what you said, and plays it back as natural speech in the other person’s language. A transcript appears on screen at the same time, so both of you can read along as well as listen.

Speech to Speech supports two speakers in a conversation.

How does split screen work?

QDub offers two ways to hold a conversation. You can pass the phone between speakers, or use split screen so both sides of the conversation are visible at once, facing each speaker.

Split screen is reached from the icon in the header.

How is the language detected?

Both languages are selected before the conversation starts. Within the conversation, QDub detects the voice automatically, so neither speaker has to tap anything to take their turn.

If you need to change one of the languages mid-conversation, you can do it from the language bar without restarting the session.

How many people can join a conversation?

Speech to Speech currently supports up to two speakers.

How to End a Session

There is no end button. A session finishes when you either close the app or switch to another tab, such as Text to Speech.

Can I replay or mute a translation?

A translation cannot be replayed once it has played. The voice output cannot be muted inside the app either, so if you want the transcript without the audio, turn your phone volume down.

How fast is the translation?

On a good connection, translated speech begins playing around half a second after you finish speaking. A weak connection adds delay, and voice output pauses until the connection recovers.

What affects translation accuracy?

For the best results:

• Speak clearly and at a natural pace.
• Keep background noise down where you can.
• Avoid two people speaking at the same time.
• Hold the phone at a consistent distance while speaking.
• Use headphones or an external microphone in noisy places.

QDub handles regional accents and dialects, and no language pair performs noticeably worse than any other.

Are my conversations saved?

Transcripts are generated during a session. Saving a conversation so you can return to it later is a Pro plan feature.