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What is Audio for VATSIM (AFV)?

Audio for VATSIM (AFV) is the integrated voice-over-IP system used across the entire VATSIM network. It simulates realistic radio communication, including line-of-sight reception, distance-based signal quality, and simultaneous multi-frequency monitoring. AFV is built into every VATSIM pilot client - vPilot, xPilot, and Swift all include it. There is no separate software to download or install for voice communication.

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Configuring Your Audio

1

Open your pilot client's audio settings

In vPilot, go to Settings and then Audio. In xPilot, open Settings and look for the audio section. In Swift, audio configuration is part of the setup wizard and also available in settings.
2

Select your input device (microphone)

Choose the microphone you want to use for transmitting. If you use a headset with a built-in microphone, select that device. Make sure you are not accidentally selecting a webcam microphone or other unintended input.
3

Select your output device

Choose where you want to hear ATC and other pilot transmissions. A headset is strongly recommended over speakers to prevent echo and feedback.
4

Test your microphone

Speak at a normal conversational volume and watch the audio level indicator in your pilot client. The bar should move into the green zone when you speak. If it barely moves or stays in the red, adjust your system microphone level.
5

Assign your push-to-talk key

Set a key, mouse button, or joystick button as your push-to-talk (PTT) trigger. You must press and hold this button whenever you want to transmit on a radio frequency. Choose something comfortable that you can reach without taking your hands off essential flight controls.
6

Test push-to-talk

Press and hold your PTT key while speaking. The TX (transmit) indicator in your pilot client should light up. Release the key when you are done talking. Practice the rhythm of press-speak-release before your first controlled flight.

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Microphone Best Practices

Good microphone technique makes a significant difference in how clearly controllers can understand you.
  • Use a headset microphone for the best combination of audio quality and echo prevention. Headset mics are positioned close to your mouth and naturally reject background noise.
  • Desktop or boom microphones should be positioned approximately 6 to 8 inches from your mouth - roughly one hand span. Speaking too close causes distortion and plosive pops, while speaking too far away makes you quiet and hard to understand.
  • Do not let the microphone touch your lips. This causes muffled audio and heavy breathing sounds on transmission.
  • Reduce background noise before connecting. Close nearby windows, turn off fans that are close to your microphone, and minimize other sources of ambient sound.

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Volume Balancing

Balancing audio between VATSIM voice and your simulator is important for situational awareness.
  • VATSIM audio should be clearly audible over simulator sounds. If you find yourself straining to hear ATC, reduce your simulator’s engine and environmental sound levels rather than maxing out VATSIM volume.
  • Most pilot clients have independent volume controls for incoming voice. Use these to fine-tune the balance without affecting your system volume.
  • Consider reducing cockpit ambient sounds in your simulator’s audio settings. Engine drone and wind noise can mask controller transmissions, especially during critical phases of flight.
Use COM2 to monitor ATIS frequencies while actively communicating with ATC on COM1. This lets you listen to airport weather and approach information without having to leave your active ATC frequency.

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Understanding COM Radios

Your aircraft has at least two communication radios - COM1 and COM2. Each can be set to transmit (TX), receive (RX), or both.
  • COM1 is typically your active ATC communication frequency. Set it to both TX and RX.
  • COM2 is commonly used for monitoring additional frequencies such as ATIS, UNICOM (122.800), or a secondary ATC frequency. Set it to RX only unless you need to transmit on it.
  • Make sure at least one COM radio has TX enabled, or controllers will not hear your transmissions even with PTT pressed.

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Troubleshooting

This is almost always caused by using speakers instead of headphones. When ATC audio plays through your speakers, your microphone picks it up and retransmits it as an echo. Switch to headphones or a headset to eliminate this. If you must use speakers, enable the noise gate feature in your pilot client’s audio settings if available.
Choppy or distorted incoming audio usually indicates an unstable internet connection. Try switching from Wi-Fi to a wired ethernet connection. Close bandwidth-heavy applications (streaming, large downloads) while flying. If the issue only occurs with specific controllers, it may be on their end rather than yours.
This happens when you release the PTT key before you finish speaking. Hold your push-to-talk button for the entire duration of your message and release it only after you have completed your transmission. A common beginner mistake is to release PTT mid-sentence or immediately after the last word, clipping the final syllable.
Check your aircraft’s COM radio panel in the simulator. The COM radio must be powered on, tuned to a valid frequency, and set to receive and/or transmit. In some aircraft, you need to explicitly enable TX on a COM radio using a switch or knob. Also verify that the avionics master switch (if applicable) is turned on.
Your pilot client may be using a different audio device than your operating system default. Open your pilot client’s audio settings and explicitly select the correct input and output devices - do not rely on “Default Device” as this can change unexpectedly. Also verify that no other application (such as Discord or Teams) has exclusive control of your audio device.
Adjust your microphone level at the operating system level first. On Windows, go to Sound Settings, select your microphone, and adjust the input volume. On macOS, go to System Settings, then Sound, then Input. Aim for the level bar to reach the green zone during normal speech. If your pilot client has its own gain or volume control, use it for fine adjustments after setting a good baseline at the OS level.

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Audio Setup Checklist