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Live translations for your multilingual event

Need guests to hear an interpreter while the speaker continues in the room? RoomCast lets an interpreter speak into a Mac and streams that translation over the venue Wi‑Fi. Listeners scan a QR poster and hear in their phone browser — no receiver kits to hire or hand out.

How do live translations work?

One Mac runs RoomCast. The interpreter’s microphone (or a dedicated interpreter channel from the desk) is the broadcast source. Guests who want that language join the stream on their phones; everyone else keeps listening to the floor language in the room.

• Interpreter → Mac — a USB or XLR interface, or a headset mic plugged into the Mac.
• Broadcast on venue Wi‑Fi — press Broadcast and print the QR poster. Phones join the same local network (internet not required).
• Listeners choose — only people who want the translation scan and listen on earbuds; the main PA keeps serving the floor language.

How do I set it up?

1. 1

   Pick the interpreter feed

   Choose that input in RoomCast. Keep the interpreter in a quiet spot so room noise doesn’t swamp the translation.

2. 2

   Show the QR for that language

   Label the poster clearly (for example “Español” / “العربية”). If you ever need a second language, that means a second Mac and a second RoomCast broadcast — one stream per Mac.

3. 3

   Tell people how to join

   Mention it from the stage and on slides: “For live translation, join this Wi‑Fi and scan the code.”

What tips help on the day?

• Test with a few bilingual listeners before doors open.
• Guests control phone volume; you can also trim RoomCast’s broadcast level.
• About 50 phones on a modern Wi-Fi router can listen at once. The real number depends on the router, other traffic on the network, distance and walls, and the quality setting — test on your network.
• The delay is usually around half a second, even on busy Wi-Fi. Fine for speech translation; not for lip-sync to a video of the speaker.

What else should I read?

• Overflow & parents’ room audio — same Wi‑Fi path for seating outside the hall.
• FAQ: audio delay · How many can listen?

More questions? Read the RoomCast FAQ →