# Simple Voice Chat

## What It Is
Simple Voice Chat is pretty much exactly what it says - it provides a way to incorporate voice chat on the Minecraft server without going through a 3rd party service like Discord.

## Client-Side Setup

While the Simple Voice Chat plugin is installed on the server, you *also* need to install a client-side plugin so that you can connect to the server and chat with other players.


**Important Note:** For Simple Voice Chat to function correctly, the client-side mod must precisely match the Minecraft version. Our server is currently running **Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.8**. Ensure you download the corresponding 1.21.5 versions of Fabric and Simple Voice Chat.

---

### Install Plugin Loader

If you already have Fabric or Forge installed - great!  Skip to the Simple Voice Chat section.  If not, here's how to install Fabric - a lightweight, modern mod loader necessary to run the Simple Voice Chat mod.

1.  **Download the Fabric Installer:**
    *   Navigate to the official Fabric website in your web browser:
        ```
        https://fabricmc.net/use/
        ```
    *   Click on the "**Download installer (Universal Jar)**" button. Save the `.jar` file to your computer (e.g., in your `Downloads` folder).

2.  **Run the Fabric Installer:**
    *   Locate the downloaded `.jar` file (it will typically have a coffee cup icon).
    *   **Double-click** the file to execute the installer.
        *   **Troubleshooting:** If the installer does not launch, ensure you have Java installed. You may need to right-click the file, select "Open With," and then choose "Java(TM) Platform SE Binary" or "Java."
    *   In the Fabric Installer window:
        *   Verify that the "Minecraft Version" is set to server version (see the top of this page for the current server version).
        *   Leave the "Loader Version" as the recommended default.
        *   Confirm the "Install location" is correct (it usually defaults to your `.minecraft` folder).
        *   Click the green "**Install**" button.
    *   A confirmation message "Successfully installed Fabric Loader" will appear. Click "OK."

3.  **Verify Fabric Installation in Minecraft Launcher:**
    *   Close your Minecraft Launcher if it is currently open, then re-open it.
    *   In the bottom-left corner of the Launcher, next to the "Play" button, you should now see a new installation profile. It will typically be named `fabric-loader-1.21.8` or similar. This indicates Fabric has been successfully added.

---

### Install Simple Voice Chat Client-Side Mod

With your mod loader installed, you can add the voice chat mod itself.

1.  **Download the Simple Voice Chat Mod File:**
    *   Open your web browser and go to the official Modrinth page for Simple Voice Chat:
        ```
        https://modrinth.com/mod/simple-voice-chat
        ```
    *   Navigate to the "**Versions**" tab.
    *   Locate the version corresponding to **Minecraft `1.21.8-2.5.35`**.  You might have to go back a few pages (at the time I checked, it was 4 pages back).
    *   **Crucially, ensure you download the proper version for your mod loader!** This will be explicitly stated next to the Minecraft version. So if you're using Fabric, get the `-fabric.jar` version.
    *   Click the download button next to the correct version. Save the `.jar` file (e.g., `simplevc-1.21.8-2.5.35-fabric.jar`) to your computer.

2.  **Locate Your Minecraft `mods` Folder:**
    *   Open your Minecraft Launcher.
    *   Go to the "**Installations**" tab at the top.
    *   Hover your mouse over the `fabric-loader-1.21.8` profile you created in Step 1.
    *   A **folder icon** will appear on the right side. Click this icon. This will open your Minecraft game directory (`.minecraft`).
    *   Inside the `.minecraft` folder, look for a folder named `mods`.
        *   If the `mods` folder exists, open it.
        *   If the `mods` folder does not exist, create it: Right-click in an empty space within the `.minecraft` folder, select "New" > "Folder," and type `mods` (all lowercase). Then, open this new folder.

3.  **Place the Simple Voice Chat Mod in the `mods` Folder:**
    *   Drag and drop the `simplevc-1.21.8-2.5.35-fabric.jar` file you downloaded from your `Downloads` folder directly into the `mods` folder you just opened.

---

### Launch and Configure Voice Chat

With both Fabric and the Simple Voice Chat mod installed, you're ready to use in-game voice.

1.  **Launch Minecraft with Fabric:**
    *   Open the Minecraft Launcher.
    *   Confirm that the correct mod-loader profile is selected in the bottom-left dropdown. (for example, `fabric-loader-1.21.8`)
    *   Click the green "**Play**" button.

2.  **Join the Flora Family Minecraft Server.**

3.  **Configure Voice Chat Settings (In-Game):**
    *   Once in-game, press `v` to open the Voice Chat Settings.
    *   Within these settings, you can:
        *   Select your primary **Microphone** device.
        *   Adjust input/output volumes.
        *   Choose your activation mode (e.g., "Push to Talk" or "Voice Activity").
    *   Make sure your keybind doesn't conflict with another command.  You can verify thise under `Options...` > `Controls...` > `Key Binds`.

### Troubleshooting

#### Microphone Permissions on Windows

Windows security settings may block microphone access for new applications. If your microphone isn't working in-game:
1.  Open the Windows **Start Menu**.
2.  Type "Microphone privacy settings" and press Enter.
3.  Ensure that "**Allow apps to access your microphone**" is toggled to **ON**.
4.  Also, ensure "**Allow desktop apps to access your microphone**" is toggled to **ON**.

#### Microphone Permissions on MacOS

Since the Minecraft app doesn't request Microphone permissions, there's no way to enable them through the minecraft executable.  Instead, you'll need to use a minecraft launcher.
* https://prismlauncher.org