> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vivi.bot/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Overview

Realtime agents listen and respond with voice as a conversation happens. Enable **Realtime Voice** when your agent needs to handle live conversations through supported voice-enabled channels. The agent still uses its assigned prompt, model, knowledge bases, and integrations.

When configuring a realtime agent, you can choose the voice model and synthesized voice, decide whether callers can interrupt the agent, and select the sound played while the agent completes tool calls. Phone-based agents can also use **Call Recording** and **Call-Start Execution** — see the pages below for each.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable Realtime Voice">
    Open the agent's settings and toggle **Realtime Voice** to **Enabled**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a Model and Voice">
    Select the realtime model that will power the conversation, then preview and choose the voice that best fits the agent's purpose.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Conversation Behavior">
    Choose whether callers can interrupt the agent while it is speaking. You can also select the processing sound, volume, and speed used while the agent works through tool calls.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Phone Call Features">
    For Phone, SIP, and Five9 channels, enable Call Recording or Call-Start Execution if the agent needs those features.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test the Agent">
    Test the opening, interruption behavior, tool calls, and fallback responses before assigning the agent to a live channel.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Advanced Phone Features

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Call Recording" color="#0066ff" icon="microphone" iconType="regular" href="/documentation/core-concepts/agents/realtime-voice/call-recording">
    Review both sides of calls handled by a realtime agent, with a required recording disclaimer.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Call-Start Execution" color="#0066ff" icon="phone-arrow-down-left" iconType="regular" href="/documentation/core-concepts/agents/realtime-voice/call-start-execution">
    Look up caller information or run a startup action as a phone call begins.
  </Card>
</Columns>

***

## General Best Practices

* Write prompts for speech. Use short sentences, pronounceable terms, and clear questions.
* Add instructions for how to recover when it cannot hear or understand the caller.
* Keep spoken menus short and state transfer keypad options explicitly.
* Test calling with background noise, interruptions, silence, and unexpected answers.