How To Use OndaHear

Getting Started

Welcome to OndaHear! Follow these steps to set up the app for the first time.

1. Download and Install - Get OndaHear from the App Store. Requires iOS 15+.
2. Grant Permissions - Allow Microphone, Speech Recognition, and Bluetooth access when prompted.
3. Connect Headphones - Pair your AirPods or plug in wired headphones. Headphones are required to prevent feedback.
4. Start Listening - Select "Listen" mode and tap the green START button!

Listen Mode

Listen Mode turns your iPhone into a powerful hearing amplifier.

1. Select "Listen" on the main screen
2. Tap the START button
3. Adjust the Volume Boost slider as needed
4. Position your device facing the person speaking
5. Tap STOP when done

Tip: Set your iPhone volume around 50% and the in-app Volume Boost to about 2× as a starting point. Raise either as needed for your environment.

Live Captions

See real-time text of what's being said.

1. Toggle "Live Captions" to ON
2. Start a listening session
3. Watch the caption box for transcribed text
4. Use the A buttons to adjust font size
5. Tap "Save Transcript" to save the conversation

Conversation Mode

Connect two iPhones for two-way communication.

1. Both devices need OndaHear installed
2. Connect to the same WiFi network
3. Select "Conversation" on both phones
4. One device hosts, the other joins
5. Speak normally - audio transmits between devices

Text Chat Mode

Push-to-talk messaging between two devices with built-in translation. Useful in quiet environments or when voice conversation isn't practical.

1. Select "Text Chat" on both devices
2. Each person picks their own language
3. Hold the big button to record your voice; release to send
4. Your speech becomes text and is translated to the other person's language before sending
5. Tap Play on any received message to hear the original voice

Translation Mode

Real-time speech translation. Requires iOS 26+.

1. Select "Translation" mode
2. Choose source and target languages
3. Tap START and speak clearly
4. View translated text on screen
5. Tap the swap button to switch languages

Pro Tips

• Position matters: Place your iPhone between you and the speaker, bottom of the device (mic) facing them.
• Tune the audio for your environment: OndaHear has built-in tools for tough rooms — turn on the Noise Gate to suppress AC hum and steady background noise, use Voice Enhance and the EQ presets (TV / Restaurant / Lecture) to make speech clearer, and let Compression even out loud and quiet voices. Run the in-app Hearing Test once to personalize the settings to your hearing.
• External mic helps a lot: A USB or wireless microphone placed near the speaker dramatically improves quality, especially in groups.
• Take breaks: Continuous amplification can be fatiguing — rest every hour during extended use.
• Save battery on long sessions: Tap the moon icon to dim the screen while audio keeps playing, or plug in / use a portable battery for extended listening.