VoiceControl

VoiceControl is a SourceMod FULL AI extension and plugin package for TF2 voice processing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckvYGmQS1B4

.
  AMBuilder / AMBuildScript / configure.py
  Dockerfile / docker-compose.yml
  voicecontrol_extension.cpp
  voicecontrol_processor.cpp
  voicecontrol_extension.h
  voicecontrol_processor.h
  asm/
  CDetour/
  include/
  libudis86/
  sm-public/       Bundled x64 CDetour/asm/libudis86 build support.
  scripts/

SourceMod/
  addons/sourcemod/gamedata/voicecontrol.txt
  addons/sourcemod/scripting/voicecontrol.sp
  addons/sourcemod/scripting/include/voicecontrol.inc

builds/
  tf2-linux-x86/   Ready 32-bit TF2 extension layout.
  tf2-linux-x64/   Ready 64-bit TF2 extension layout.
  runtime/         Shared SourceMod files: gamedata, plugin, scripting include, autoload.

Install

Copy the matching build folder and runtime folder into the game server root.

For TF2 32-bit:

builds/tf2-linux-x86/addons/* -> server/addons/*
builds/runtime/addons/*       -> server/addons/*

For TF2 64-bit:

builds/tf2-linux-x64/addons/* -> server/addons/*
builds/runtime/addons/*       -> server/addons/*

Then check on the server:

sm exts load voicecontrol
sm exts list

Configuration

Start with this baseline in server.cfg or a separate cfg loaded after SourceMod:

// VoiceControl master switch
vc_enabled 1

// Automatic loudness leveling
vc_agc_enabled 1
vc_agc_target_rms 0.12
vc_agc_noise_floor_rms 0.0015
vc_agc_max_boost_db 18
vc_agc_max_cut_db -12
vc_limiter_ceiling 0.95

// Lightweight cleanup
vc_dsp_enabled 1
vc_highpass_enabled 1
vc_highpass_cutoff_hz 100
vc_noise_gate_enabled 1
vc_noise_gate_threshold_rms 0.002
vc_noise_gate_hysteresis_rms 0.001
vc_noise_gate_atten_db -8
vc_noise_gate_attack_ms 5
vc_noise_gate_release_ms 120
vc_softclip_enabled 1
vc_softclip_threshold 0.85

// Sending and diagnostics
vc_respect_hearing 1
vc_include_sourcetv 0
vc_send_via_netchannel 0
vc_debug 0
vc_debug_recipients 0

// Optional proximity voice
vc_proximity_enabled 0
vc_proximity_max_distance 1200
vc_proximity_falloff_enabled 1
vc_proximity_full_volume_distance 300
vc_proximity_min_gain_db -24

Cvar Reference

Core

Cvar	Default	Description
vc_enabled	1	Master switch. 1 enables all VoiceControl processing, 0 disables custom gain, AGC, DSP, and proximity handling.

Auto Volume / AGC

Cvar	Default	Description
vc_agc_enabled	1	Enables automatic gain control. It brings quiet and loud microphones closer to the target loudness.
vc_agc_target_rms	0.12	Target normalized RMS loudness. Raise for louder normalized voice, lower if voices sound too aggressive.
vc_agc_noise_floor_rms	0.0015	Input RMS below which AGC will not boost. Raise this if background noise gets amplified.
vc_agc_max_boost_db	18	Maximum boost for quiet microphones, in dB. Higher values help weak mics but increase noise risk.
vc_agc_max_cut_db	-12	Maximum reduction for loud microphones, in dB. This value should stay negative.
vc_limiter_ceiling	0.95	Final hard limiter ceiling for normalized samples. Prevents full-scale clipping after gain changes.

Tuning rules:

Problem	Change
Quiet players are still too quiet	Increase vc_agc_target_rms slightly or raise vc_agc_max_boost_db.
Background noise becomes loud	Increase vc_agc_noise_floor_rms or lower vc_agc_max_boost_db.
Loud players still clip	Lower vc_limiter_ceiling slightly or keep vc_softclip_enabled 1.
Everyone sounds too compressed	Lower vc_agc_target_rms or reduce vc_agc_max_boost_db.

DSP Cleanup

Cvar	Default	Description
vc_dsp_enabled	1	Master switch for lightweight cleanup DSP. Controls high-pass and noise gate processing.
vc_highpass_enabled	1	Removes low-frequency rumble, mic bumps, and hum.
vc_highpass_cutoff_hz	100	High-pass cutoff in Hz. 100 is a safe voice-focused default.
vc_noise_gate_enabled	1	Enables soft noise gate/expander for quiet background noise.
vc_noise_gate_threshold_rms	0.002	RMS level below which the gate starts closing. Higher values are more aggressive.
vc_noise_gate_hysteresis_rms	0.001	Extra margin to avoid rapid gate open/close flicker.
vc_noise_gate_atten_db	-8	Gain applied when the gate is closed. Negative value attenuates noise without hard muting.
vc_noise_gate_attack_ms	5	Gate opening time in milliseconds. Lower values react faster to speech.
vc_noise_gate_release_ms	120	Gate closing time in milliseconds. Higher values avoid chopping word endings.
vc_softclip_enabled	1	Enables soft clipping before the limiter, making overloads less harsh.
vc_softclip_threshold	0.85	Level where soft clipping starts before the limiter ceiling.

Sending, Hearing Rules, And Debug

Cvar	Default	Description
vc_respect_hearing	1	Uses engine IsHearingClient filtering. Keep 1 to respect normal voice rules and masks.
vc_include_sourcetv	0	Allows SourceTV/Replay to receive custom processed voice. Usually keep disabled.
vc_send_via_netchannel	0	Send transport. 0 uses IClient::SendNetMsg; 1 uses INetChannel::SendNetMsg(..., bVoice=true) with fallback.
vc_debug	0	Logs per-packet audio stats such as RMS, AGC gain, clips, and gate state.
vc_debug_recipients	0	Logs recipient filtering and send diagnostics. Use this for proximity debugging.

Debug AGC:

vc_debug 1

Expected fields: in_rms, out_rms, agc, clips, gate_open, gate_db.

Debug recipients:

vc_debug_recipients 1

Expected fields: recipients, not_hearing, too_far, send_ok, send_fail, send, msg_proximity.

Proximity Voice

Cvar	Default	Description
vc_proximity_enabled	0	Enables server-side proximity filtering. The engine proximity flag stays disabled.
vc_proximity_max_distance	1200	Maximum distance in Hammer units for live player-to-player voice. Farther live listeners do not receive the packet.
vc_proximity_falloff_enabled	1	Enables distance-based volume falloff. If 0, proximity is cutoff-only.
vc_proximity_full_volume_distance	300	Distance where voice stays full volume before falloff starts.
vc_proximity_min_gain_db	-24	Gain at max distance. After max distance the packet is not sent.

Proximity is implemented by VoiceControl itself:

Mode	Behavior
vc_proximity_enabled 0	No distance filtering. Voice is processed and sent normally.
vc_proximity_enabled 1	Extension checks distance and recipients server-side.
Engine proximity flag	Always kept off: m_bProximity = false.

Dead players, observers, SourceTV, and Replay are not treated as normal spatial listeners. They bypass live distance cutoff according to the extension rules and cvars.

SourceMod Plugin

Cvar / Command	Default	Description
vc_database	default	Database config name from databases.cfg. Used by voicecontrol.smx to store manual per-player gain.
sm_vc	n/a	Admin menu for manual player gain and presets. Requires generic admin flag.
vc_dump_stringtables	n/a	Diagnostic server command for network string table usage.

Proximity Tests

vc_proximity_enabled 1
vc_proximity_max_distance 1200
vc_debug_recipients 1
vc_send_via_netchannel 1

Expected debug line:

[VoiceControl] recipients ... recipients=N ... not_hearing=... msg_proximity=0 ... send_ok=N send=netchan

Cutoff test:

vc_proximity_max_distance 300
vc_proximity_falloff_enabled 0

Falloff test:

vc_proximity_falloff_enabled 1
vc_proximity_full_volume_distance 300
vc_proximity_max_distance 1200
vc_proximity_min_gain_db -24

Build

Run from this folder:

docker compose run --rm extension-build
docker compose run --rm extension-build-x64

Both build scripts use --voicecontrol-only. The x64 build uses the bundled sm-public/ files, so this folder does not depend on another local project checkout.

Outputs:

build/package/addons/sourcemod/extensions/voicecontrol.ext.2.tf2.so
build-x64/package/addons/sourcemod/extensions/x64/voicecontrol.ext.2.tf2.so

Verify format:

docker compose run --rm --entrypoint /bin/bash extension-build -lc "file /extension/build/package/addons/sourcemod/extensions/voicecontrol.ext.2.tf2.so"
docker compose run --rm --entrypoint /bin/bash extension-build-x64 -lc "file /extension/build-x64/package/addons/sourcemod/extensions/x64/voicecontrol.ext.2.tf2.so"

Plugin API / Include

VoiceControl can be used from other SourceMod plugins through its include file:

#include <voicecontrol>

Install path:

addons/sourcemod/scripting/include/voicecontrol.inc

The include must be available to spcomp when compiling your plugin. The VoiceControl extension must also be loaded on the server:

sm exts load voicecontrol

If the extension is not loaded, plugins that call VoiceControl natives will not work correctly.

Presets

enum VoiceControlPreset
{
    VC_Preset_Normal = 0,
    VC_Preset_QuietMic,
    VC_Preset_NoisyMic,
    VC_Preset_LoudMic
};

Preset	Description
VC_Preset_Normal	Normal processing without a special preset.
VC_Preset_QuietMic	For players with quiet microphones. Helps make the voice more audible.
VC_Preset_NoisyMic	For players with noisy microphones. Uses processing that is safer around background noise.
VC_Preset_LoudMic	For players with loud or clipping microphones. Reduces overload risk.

Main Natives

Native	Description
VC_SetPlayerGain(client, gainDb)	Sets manual voice gain for a player in dB. Positive values make voice louder, negative values make it quieter.
VC_ClearPlayerGain(client)	Clears the player's manual gain.
VC_GetPlayerGain(client)	Returns the player's current manual gain in dB.
VC_SetPlayerPreset(client, preset)	Applies a VoiceControl preset to a player.
VC_ClearPlayerPreset(client)	Clears the player's preset.
VC_GetPlayerPreset(client)	Returns the player's current preset.
VC_SetAutoLevelEnabled(enabled)	Globally enables or disables auto-level / AGC.
VC_GetAutoLevelEnabled()	Returns whether auto-level / AGC is enabled.
VC_ReloadSettings()	Reloads extension-side runtime settings.

Duck Gain

Duck gain is a separate additional gain layer. It is useful for temporary volume changes, for example lowering a player's voice during an event without changing their main gain.

Native	Description
VC_SetPlayerDuckGain(client, gainDb)	Sets additional temporary gain in dB.
VC_ClearPlayerDuckGain(client)	Clears duck gain.
VC_GetPlayerDuckGain(client)	Returns the player's current duck gain in dB.

Example:

VC_SetPlayerGain(client, 6.0);       // main gain: +6 dB
VC_SetPlayerDuckGain(client, -12.0); // temporary duck: -12 dB

The final processed voice uses both layers.

Example Plugin

#include <sourcemod>
#include <voicecontrol>

public void OnPluginStart()
{
    RegAdminCmd("sm_voice_quiet", Command_QuietMic, ADMFLAG_GENERIC);
    RegAdminCmd("sm_voice_loud", Command_LoudMic, ADMFLAG_GENERIC);
    RegAdminCmd("sm_voice_reset", Command_ResetVoice, ADMFLAG_GENERIC);
}

public Action Command_QuietMic(int client, int args)
{
    if (!IsValidClient(client))
    {
        return Plugin_Handled;
    }

    VC_SetPlayerPreset(client, VC_Preset_QuietMic);
    VC_SetPlayerGain(client, 6.0);

    PrintToChat(client, "[VoiceControl] Quiet microphone preset enabled.");
    return Plugin_Handled;
}

public Action Command_LoudMic(int client, int args)
{
    if (!IsValidClient(client))
    {
        return Plugin_Handled;
    }

    VC_SetPlayerPreset(client, VC_Preset_LoudMic);
    VC_SetPlayerGain(client, -6.0);

    PrintToChat(client, "[VoiceControl] Loud microphone preset enabled.");
    return Plugin_Handled;
}

public Action Command_ResetVoice(int client, int args)
{
    if (!IsValidClient(client))
    {
        return Plugin_Handled;
    }

    VC_ClearPlayerPreset(client);
    VC_ClearPlayerGain(client);
    VC_ClearPlayerDuckGain(client);

    PrintToChat(client, "[VoiceControl] Voice settings reset.");
    return Plugin_Handled;
}

bool IsValidClient(int client)
{
    return client > 0 && client <= MaxClients && IsClientInGame(client);
}

Notes

• client must be a valid player index from 1 to MaxClients.

• gainDb values are in decibels.

• 0.0 dB means no volume change.

• Positive gain makes voice louder.

• Negative gain makes voice quieter.

• To fully reset a player, call VC_ClearPlayerPreset, VC_ClearPlayerGain, and VC_ClearPlayerDuckGain.

• TF2 builds define REPLAY_ENABLED, so IClient::IsHearingClient() uses the correct TF2 vtable layout.

• vc_proximity_enabled no longer relies on the engine proximity voice flag.

• Debug logging is split into short audio and recipients lines to avoid console truncation.

• NetChannel sending has safe fallback to IClient::SendNetMsg().