kalamo.ai

Translation rooms

One microphone, a whole audience. The host captures the speaker once, and everyone reads live captions in their own language, on their phones and on the big screen. Built for conferences, lectures, services, town halls, and classrooms.

On this page
  1. How a room works
  2. What you need
  3. Create a room
  4. How people join
  5. Show it on a screen
  6. Slides and translation on one screen
  7. Captions in a livestream
  8. During the session
  9. Event Pass & limits
  10. Ending a room
  11. FAQ

How a room works

In a room, the host captures the speaker's audio one time. Kalamo translates that audio into each of the room's languages and fans the captions out to every listener. Each listener chooses which language to read, so a single talk can reach an audience in several languages at once, with no headsets or hardware.

What you need

  1. A Kalamo Event Pass (this is what unlocks hosting; listeners need nothing).
  2. A device with a microphone to capture the speaker, on the venue Wi-Fi or any connection.

Create a room

  1. Sign in at kalamo.ai/org and open Host a room.
  2. Choose the spoken language.
  3. Add the languages to translate into (up to three, depending on your plan).
  4. Press Start room. Kalamo gives you a room code and a QR code to share.
  5. Begin speaking, or place the device near the speaker. Captions start flowing to listeners.

How people join

Listeners have two ways in, and there is no limit on how many can join:

  • Scan the QR code shown on the host screen or the big screen.
  • Type the code: go to kalamo.ai, tap Join a room, and enter the code (for example ABC123).

Once in, each person picks their language and reads the live captions full-screen, scaling the text to taste and reading back through the transcript if they miss something.

Show it on a screen

To put the room on a TV for the audience, connect the host device to the screen by HDMI and use Present on screen in the host console. The stage display shows:

  • A large QR code and join code so the audience can connect.
  • A toggle to hide the QR and show the live translation big, with a small join code kept in the corner for latecomers.
  • Language tabs to switch which language the screen shows.
HDMI is a full opaque picture meant for the room audience. To overlay captions on a video feed instead, use the livestream option below.

Slides and translation on one screen

The big screen can show the speaker's slides with the live translation in a band underneath. Kalamo also reads each slide, so names and technical terms on it are spelled correctly in the translation. In the host console, under Slides, choose one of two ways:

  • Upload PDF: in PowerPoint, File › Export › PDF. Works with one computer and one screen; a clicker or the arrow keys move the slides. Videos and animations show as still images.
  • Share a window (on a computer): videos and animations keep playing. It needs two screens, see below.

Share a window: two screens

To show a shared window with Present on screen, you need the computer's own screen for the slide show and the projector or TV as a second, extended display (not mirrored). With one screen, use Upload PDF instead. (When the slides go out through vMix or OBS, one screen is enough.)

  1. Connect the projector or TV and set it to extend. Mac: System Settings › Displays › Use as: Extended display. Windows: press Windows+P › Extend.
  2. Start the slide show in a window and keep it on the computer's own screen. PowerPoint: Slide Show › Set Up Slide Show › Browsed by an individual (window), then start the slide show.
  3. In the host console, press Share a window and pick the slide show window. The console shows a live preview.
  4. Drag the Kalamo browser window to the projector or TV and press Present on screen.
  5. Press the clicker once to go from the join code to the slides.
  6. Click the slide show window on the computer once. The clicker now moves the slides, and the big screen follows.

Captions in a livestream

Running a stream? Kalamo captions drop straight into vMix and OBS as a transparent overlay or a vMix title data source. See the vMix & OBS integration guide for step-by-step setup.

During the session

  • The host console shows live listener counts per language.
  • A built-in monitor lets the host see the captions as they are produced.
  • Listeners can expand the transcript to read back, and download it afterward.

Event Pass & limits

An Event Pass covers one event day:

  • 24 hours from purchase: host as many rooms as you need in that time.
  • Languages per room: up to three.
  • Unlimited listeners.

For a conference over several days or a series of events, ask us for a package.

Ending a room

Press End room when the session is over. A room also ends automatically after about ten minutes with no audio, so an abandoned room does not stay open.

FAQ

What is a translation room?

A room is “one person speaks, many people read”. A host captures the speaker’s audio once, Kalamo translates it into each chosen language, and every listener reads live captions in the language they pick, on their own phone.

How many people can listen?

Listeners are unlimited on every plan. Only the host needs an account; listeners just open a link or scan a QR code and pick a language.

How do people join a room?

They scan the QR code on the screen, or go to kalamo.ai, tap Join a room, and enter the room code. Then they choose their language and start reading.

How many languages can a room have?

Up to three target languages per room, depending on your plan. Listeners each choose one of those languages to read.

Can I show captions on a TV or in a livestream?

Yes. Use Present on screen to show a full-screen display over HDMI for the room, or send captions into vMix or OBS for a livestream. See the vMix and OBS integration guide.

What do I need to host?

A Kalamo Event Pass: one event day (24 hours from purchase) with up to 3 languages per room and unlimited listeners. You can try it free for a few minutes first.

Just need to translate for yourself on your own phone? See personal translation.