Getting started
From installation and connecting your account to your first translation: setting up bblx step by step.
Before you begin
Prepare a computer, a stable internet connection, a speech source, and headphones. Downloading is free and requires no sign-in; translation itself requires an account and hours on your balance. Listeners only need a phone browser: local listening requires a shared network with the operator's computer, and the Internet link requires internet access.
1. Install the app
Open the download page and choose the published installer for your system. No development tools are required.
- On macOS, open the
.pkg, then launch bblx from «Applications». - On Windows, run the
.exeand follow the installer; it may need internet access to install WebView2. - On Linux, install the
.debpackage withsudo apt install ./bblx-*.deb, then launch bblx from the applications menu.
On the first launch after installation, choose your interface language; English is selected by default. All 78 languages are available. You can change it later using “Interface language” in the sidebar. This setting is independent of the translation language and does not restart audio.
After selecting a language, grant the requested audio permissions. If macOS displays a preparation screen, follow its prompts: microphone and app audio permissions are granted separately. The routing diagram will appear once preparation is complete.
2. Connect your account
Register with a passkey or email and password. For email registration, complete verification with the code in the message. New accounts have a zero balance: open «Translation hours» in the dashboard and buy the amount you need.
In the app, open «Account» and click «Connect in browser». A website opens with the device code filled in. Sign in, review the request, and confirm the connection. Return to the app. You do not need to create a token manually for this method.
3. Set up routing and check the audio
In “Translation”, click “+ Source”, select the speech source, and check the desired input channel. Use “+ Language” to add the output language. Use “+ Device” to add headphones or a mixer output, and check the output channels.
Connect the circular ports: source channel → the language's “Speech”, then “Translation” → output channel. You can drag a wire with the mouse; to use the keyboard, use Tab and Enter on the ports. For listeners on phones, check “Local network” or “Internet” in the language card. Step-by-step audio setup · Connecting Behringer X32 via USB
With translation stopped, click “Check microphone” on the source card or “Check input” for app audio or system audio, say a phrase, and check the meter. The local input check does not use up hours and does not test the translation at the output.
4. Make your first translation
Click «Start translation» and say, for example: «Welcome. The next talk will begin in five minutes». Check the translation in your headphones, the selected language, and that there is no echo. Do not expect a fixed delay: it depends on the language, acoustics, and connection.
For an audience, use the QR and copy-link buttons directly at the «Local network» and «Internet» outputs on the diagram. Do not give listeners the remote control QR at the bottom of the diagram. Connecting listeners and showing QR. When finished, click stop and confirm. Wait for the «Translation stopped» status. Connecting an account does not start a paid session, and silence during an active translation does not replace stopping it.
A five-minute trial with one language requires about 5 minutes of balance. Each additional language enabled at the same time consumes time separately. Learn more about hours
Translation text
Open “Translation text”.
Original · Translation · Back to live translation
After stopping the broadcast, click Save TXT to save all of its text to your computer.
Updating the program
When a new version is available and translation is stopped, “Update” appears next to the version number at the bottom of the sidebar. Click this button: the program will download the installer, verify its integrity, and start installation. Progress and errors are displayed in the same place; after an error, “Try again” is available. The update button is hidden during translation — stop the session first.
You can check for updates manually through the bblx → “Check for Updates…” menu. Alternatively, download the latest installer from the download page and run it. The program will close during installation; the system may request administrator privileges. Your settings and connected account are retained.
Reinstalling the app
Remove the app and install it again from the download page. The language, audio routing, and license key are stored in the configuration folder and survive removal: after reinstalling, the app works with the previous settings and does not ask for a connection code. For a clean reset, delete the configuration folder: %APPDATA%\bblx on Windows, ~/Library/Application Support/bblx on macOS, ~/.config/bblx on Linux.
Removing the app
On Windows, open Settings → Apps → Installed apps, find bblx, and choose Uninstall; the Start menu → bblx → «Uninstall bblx» shortcut works too. A running app closes automatically.
On macOS, quit bblx, move bblx.app from Applications to the Trash, and remove /usr/local/bin/bblx; on Linux, quit bblx and run sudo apt remove bblx. The configuration folder (%APPDATA%\bblx on Windows, ~/Library/Application Support/bblx on macOS, ~/.config/bblx on Linux) is not removed — delete it if you want to erase the settings as well.