Set Up a Real-Time AI Call Assistant
before your first call.
Follow this detailed guide to install Haide AI Call Assistant on Windows, set up VB-CABLE audio routing, configure your Windows audio and microphone settings, add your provider API keys, prepare and embed your knowledge documents, route call audio, and verify everything with a test call.
Haide transcribes voice communications. You are responsible for complying with applicable laws and obtaining any required consent from call participants.
DODownload the x64 version for 64-bit Windows, or the 32-bit version for 32-bit Windows, then install Haide AI Call Assistant.
DOExtract the ZIP file.
OPTCheck administrator access. VB-CABLE installs a Windows audio driver, so Windows may require administrator privileges during installation. If you want to confirm that your Windows account has administrator access:
- Open Computer Management.
- Go to Local Users and Groups → Users.
- Open your Windows user account.
- Select the Member Of tab.
- Confirm that Administrators appears in the list.
NOTEThis is only a quick check. If Administrators is already listed under Member Of, no changes are needed.
DORun the VB-CABLE installer that matches your Windows architecture. For 64-bit Windows, use VBCABLE_Setup_x64.exe; for 32-bit Windows, use the 32-bit installer. Right-click it and choose Run as administrator.
DOClick Install Driver and approve any Windows driver/UAC prompt.
OPTRestart if Windows asks you to.
DOConfirm Windows shows VB-CABLE Input and VB-CABLE Output.
Advanced: Repeated UAC prompts
OPTAvoid repeated UAC prompts. If Windows repeatedly asks for administrator approval and this interferes with normal use, Windows provides an advanced security policy that controls elevation prompts for administrator accounts.
- Press Win + R.
- Type secpol.msc and press Enter.
- Navigate to Security Settings → Local Policies → Security Options.
- Find User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode.
- Open it and select Elevate without prompting.
NOTEThis setting is optional and is not required for normal Haide or VB-CABLE setup. It changes UAC behavior across Windows and reduces the protection provided by elevation prompts. Leave the Windows default unchanged unless repeated prompts are causing a specific problem and you understand the security implications.
SETIn Windows Settings > System > Sound, set Output to your normal speakers or headphones. This is where you will hear the caller.
SETSet Input to your normal microphone. Do not set VB-CABLE Output as the Windows default microphone. Haide AI Call Assistant selects VB-CABLE Output directly for call audio capture.
SETOpen Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone and make sure Allow apps to access your microphone is enabled.
SETMake sure Allow desktop apps to access your microphone is also enabled. Haide AI Call Assistant is a Windows desktop application.
SETOpen Windows Sound settings or Control Panel > Sound > Recording, select VB-CABLE Output, open Properties, then open the Advanced tab.
SETSet VB-CABLE Output to 1 channel, 16 bit, 48000 Hz (DVD Quality).
OPTStereo is also acceptable if Windows does not offer a mono option.
NOTEHaide AI Call Assistant automatically converts captured audio to AssemblyAI's recommended 16 kHz mono PCM stream.
WARNUnder Exclusive Mode, turn off both Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device and Give exclusive mode applications priority.
DOOpen Control Panel > Sound > Recording.
DORight-click VB-CABLE Output and open Properties.
SETOn the Listen tab, enable Listen to this device.
SETChoose your headphones or speakers under Playback through this device.
TIPUse headphones if you hear echo or feedback.
SETIn desktop apps such as Zoom, Teams, MicroSIP, or Webex, set Speaker, Playback, or Output Device to VB-CABLE Input.
NOTEThe screenshots below show how to route speaker output to VB-CABLE Input in Teams, Zoom, and MicroSIP.
SETFor browser calls on Windows 11, start the call or play audio first, then open Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer. Under Apps, find Chrome, Edge, or Firefox and set Output device to VB-CABLE Input.
SETFor browser calls on Windows 10, start the call or play audio first, then open Settings > System > Sound > App volume and device preferences. Find the browser and set Output to VB-CABLE Input.
OPTAlternative: set VB-CABLE Input as the Windows default playback device. This can route browser calls into Haide Call Assistant, but system sounds and other app audio may also be transcribed.
TIPKeep your microphone unchanged unless you intentionally want to route both sides of a conversation.
DOOpen Haide AI Call Assistant Settings.
NOTEAssemblyAI - live transcription
AssemblyAI powers Haide's live speech-to-text. Provider offers and prices can change. At the time of writing, new accounts can start without a credit card and include up to 330 free hours. After free hours, transcription for a 30-minute Haide call is about $0.075.
Create an AssemblyAI API key at assemblyai.com/dashboard/signup.
SETPaste your AssemblyAI API key for live transcription.
NOTEOpenAI - document-grounded suggestions
Haide uses gpt-4o-mini for document-grounded suggestions. It was selected because it is fast, low-cost, and strong for short focused answers during live calls. Based on current pricing, OpenAI usage is usually below $0.01 for a typical 30-minute call.
Create a new OpenAI API key at platform.openai.com.
SETPaste your OpenAI API key for document-grounded suggestions.
NOTECerebras - optional speed-first answers
Haide uses Cerebras llama3.1-8b for optional speed-first answers. Cerebras currently has a free tier with rate limits and no credit card requirement. This model is extremely low-cost when paid usage is needed. Based on current pricing, it usually adds less than $0.01 to a 30-minute call.
Cerebras answers are faster, but do not search your documents. OpenAI remains the document-grounded answer path.
Create a Cerebras API key at cloud.cerebras.ai.
OPTOptionally paste a Cerebras API key for speed-first suggestions.
NOTEChoose the documents folder in Settings and place your .txt knowledge files there: resume, company notes, product notes, FAQs, sales scripts, or interview examples.
NOTEOpenAI suggestions use this document knowledge. Cerebras answers are speed-first and do not search your documents.
NOTEFor best results, format your help content as Q&A pairs using Q: and A:. This helps Haide AI Call Assistant return the answer as a whole rather than splitting it unpredictably. Haide AI Call Assistant lists RAG results as a source of truth, with the Match score showing how closely each result matches the question. You can use these results directly when answering questions.
NOTECustomize the Assistant Instructions to control how Haide's AI responds, including its role, style, tone, and how it uses your knowledge. Use {context} where you want retrieved knowledge to appear. When Haide generates an answer, {context} is automatically replaced with relevant content retrieved from your documents.
DOClick Save Settings.
NOTEProvider usage is billed directly by those providers, not by Haide AI Call Assistant.
NOTETypical cost
These estimates are based on provider pricing at the time of writing and may change. A typical 30-minute Haide call is often around $0.08-$0.12 in direct API usage after free transcription hours. During the AssemblyAI free-hours period, many calls cost only OpenAI/Cerebras usage, usually less than $0.01-$0.02.
For comparison, AWS Transcribe standard streaming is about $0.72 for a 30-minute call, and that is transcription only.
DOUpdate your plain .txt files such as resumes, project notes, product information, FAQs, sales scripts, or support notes.
WARNAvoid passwords, secrets, private customer data, and sensitive personal information.
SETSimply click Embed whenever documents are added, removed, or changed.
OPTAlternatively, select the documents folder in Haide AI Call Assistant Settings and save settings. If the folder contains .txt files, Haide AI Call Assistant automatically embeds them when settings are saved.
- NOTEHaide AI Call Assistant is installed.
- NOTEVB-CABLE Input and VB-CABLE Output are installed.
- NOTEWindows Output = your Speakers / Headphones.
- NOTEWindows Input = your Microphone.
- NOTEMicrophone access = ON.
- NOTEDesktop app microphone access = ON.
- NOTEVB-CABLE Output = 1 channel (or stereo if mono is unavailable), 16 bit, 48000 Hz.
- NOTEVB-CABLE Output Exclusive Mode = OFF.
- NOTEVB-CABLE Output → Listen to this device = ON.
- NOTEVB-CABLE Output playback device = your Speakers / Headphones.
- NOTECalling app Output = VB-CABLE Input.
- NOTEAssemblyAI API key = saved in Haide AI Call Assistant Settings.
- NOTEOpenAI API key = saved if using document-grounded suggestions.
- NOTECerebras API key = saved if using Cerebras suggestions.
- NOTEKnowledge documents are embedded if you want document-grounded answers.
- DOStart a test call or play a known audio source through the routed app.
- DOConfirm you can hear the audio normally.
- DOOpen Haide AI Call Assistant and click START.
- DOConfirm live text appears in the transcript.
- DOWait for a pause and confirm an AI suggestion appears.
- DOOpen RK or Retrieved Knowledge to verify document context when using OpenAI.
- WARNClick STOP when finished to avoid continued provider usage.
- NOTEUse Copy to copy the full transcript and AI answers to the clipboard, or Save to export as a .txt file.
- NOTEIf you hear echo, repeated audio, or feedback, your microphone may be picking up audio from your speakers. Use headphones or a headset, lower speaker volume, move the microphone away from speakers, or enable echo cancellation in your calling app. Haide can also transcribe dictation, voice notes, meetings, or both sides of a conversation if your microphone audio is routed through VB - Cable. For both - side transcription, headphones are strongly recommended.
Troubleshooting
Why is no transcript appearing?
Check that the calling app output is set to VB-CABLE Input, VB-CABLE Output appears under Windows Recording devices, your AssemblyAI API key is saved, and START has been clicked in Haide.
Why can't I hear the caller?
Enable Listen to this device for VB-CABLE Output and select your headphones or speakers as the playback device.
Why is Retrieved Knowledge empty?
Confirm that your knowledge files are .txt files, the correct documents folder is selected, and Embed was run after your latest document changes.
Why isn't audio processing or AI responding?
Haide uses an internet connection for transcription and AI responses. Your firewall, antivirus, VPN, proxy, or workplace network may be blocking Haide's connections.
Why does provider usage continue?
Click STOP when the call ends. If transcription remains active, your provider may continue processing audio and charging for usage.