Frequently Asked Questions
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💰 Cost & Licensing
Is the software free to use?
Yes! GoGospelNow is open source and completely free to use.
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| Software | Free (open source) |
| Local models (Ollama, Whisper, Kokoro) | Free |
| Cloud APIs (optional) | Pay-per-use (minimal) |
| Installation help (optional) | $75/hour |
What are the ongoing costs?
Fully Offline (Local Models): $0/month
If you use local models for transcription (Whisper), translation (Ollama), and TTS (Kokoro), there are no ongoing costs. Everything runs on your computer.
With Cloud APIs: Minimal costs
| Service | Typical Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Google Cloud TTS | $0-5/month | Free tier covers most churches |
| Groq API | $0.01-0.10/month | Extremely affordable |
| OpenAI/Mistral API | $0.05-0.50/month | Slightly more expensive |
Bottom line: For most churches using cloud APIs, the cost is essentially negligible - less than a few dollars per month for a typical church!
Can I translate to multiple languages at the same time?
Yes! You can run multiple translations simultaneously during the same service.
Recommended Setup: For best results, use a separate computer for each language.
| Languages | Setup | Investment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 language | 1 computer | Your existing PC/laptop |
| 2 languages | 2 computers | + $300-500 (mini PC) |
| 3 languages | 3 computers | + $600-1000 (3 mini PCs) |
Recommended Hardware:
- Mac Mini M4 ($599+) - ⭐ Excellent choice! Unified memory acts as GPU.
- Ryzen 7/9 + 32GB RAM ($600-900) - Matches Mac Mini performance
- AMD Ryzen 5 mini PC ($300-400) - Good mid-range option
- Intel N95/N100 mini PC ($150-200) - Budget option (use with cloud APIs)
📱 Mobile Listener App
How much battery does the listener app use?
The app is designed to be lightweight. Estimated battery usage: ~20-35% per hour.
Recommendation: Arrive with 50%+ battery for a 1-hour service, or 70%+ for longer services.
Tips to extend battery:
- Lower screen brightness
- Use wired earbuds (uses less than Bluetooth)
- Close other apps
- Enable Low Power Mode
How many phones can connect at once?
| Congregation Size | Network Needed |
|---|---|
| Up to 50 phones | Standard WiFi router |
| 50-150 phones | Dual-band router or 2 access points |
| 150-300 phones | Business-grade WiFi |
| 300+ phones | Multiple access points |
Each phone uses only ~30-50 kbps of bandwidth - very light.
Do phones need internet access?
No! Phones only need to connect to the same WiFi network as the translator computer. The WiFi router does NOT need an internet connection. This is perfect for:
- Mission trips without internet
- Remote locations
- Buildings with poor connectivity
Why does my screen turn off during long services?
Android: Use the native Android app instead of the web page - it uses a native wake lock that keeps the screen on indefinitely.
iPhone: Go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock → Set to "Never" (temporarily).
🌍 Languages & Accuracy
How many languages are supported?
| Mode | Translation Languages | TTS Voices |
|---|---|---|
| With Internet (APIs) | 100+ languages | 50+ languages |
| Offline (Local models) | 20-30 common languages | 8 languages |
For less common languages, use cloud APIs for best results.
How accurate is the translation?
With base Whisper and a small local model like gemma3n:e2b, we're seeing
approximately 90% accuracy.
What translates well:
- ✅ Core sermon content and theology
- ✅ Biblical references and quotes
- ✅ Everyday vocabulary and phrases
What may not translate perfectly:
- ⚠️ Pop culture references and idioms
- ⚠️ Local slang or colloquialisms
- ⚠️ Jokes that rely on wordplay
AI translation creates logs that can be reviewed after the fact to check accuracy.
🖥️ Server / Translator
Is the program hard to use?
No, but initial setup requires some technical knowledge.
| Phase | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Moderate | 30-60 min first time |
| Configuration | Moderate | 15-30 min to optimize |
| Daily use | Easy | Just click Start! |
Daily operators don't need technical skills - once it's set up, anyone can run it.
What operating systems are supported?
- ✅ Windows 10/11
- ✅ macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon)
- ✅ Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, etc.)
Can the system run completely offline?
Yes! Using local models (Whisper, Ollama, Kokoro), no internet connection is required. All processing happens on the local computer.
How much computer power do I need?
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 8 GB (API only) | 16 GB+ |
| GPU | None (CPU works) | NVIDIA GPU for faster Whisper |
| Storage | 10 GB free | SSD preferred |
🔊 Audio Setup
How do I prevent audio feedback loops?
The translated audio should NOT be picked up by the input microphone. Options:
- Use a separate aux send for the translator input
- Use headphones/earbuds for translated audio output
- Keep the translator audio isolated from the main sound system
Can I use the computer's built-in microphone?
Yes, but for best results use:
- A dedicated USB microphone close to speaker or speakers
- A direct audio feed from the sound board into the PC
🔧 Troubleshooting
The phone can't connect to the server
- Make sure both devices are on the same WiFi network
- Check the server IP address is correct (shown in the app header)
- Use port 8000
- Check Windows Firewall isn't blocking the connection
Audio won't play on my phone
- Make sure your phone's volume is up
- Check that the phone isn't in silent/vibrate mode
- On iOS: Tap the ▶ play button to unlock audio
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting
The translation seems slow
- Check your computer's CPU usage and make adjustments
- Consider using a faster translation model
- Use a GPU if available for Whisper
- Reduce the Whisper model size (use "base" instead of "large")
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