Voice on FiveM: Mumble, SaltyChat & pma-voice Guide

You’ve got three real options for FiveM voice systems:

This guide is part of our complete FiveM server management hub, covering everything from initial setup to scaling your community.

• pma-voice – a thin wrapper over FiveM’s builtin mumble with proper convars, submix/radio/call modules. Best default for most servers. (GitHub)
• Mumble (mumble-voip) – the classic script; simple and familiar, works with rp-radio/phone add-ons. (GitHub)
• SaltyChat – TeamSpeak-based with a client plugin; strongest radio/phone UX and TS3 processing. (GitHub)

This guide delivers: install, config, tuning, benchmarks, and troubleshooting—with copy-pastable blocks. Start here, then see /performance. Also bookmark SaltyChat Download & Guide: https://vertexmods.com/en/blog/fivem-voice-mumble-saltychat-pma-voice-guide.

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TL;DR: Which voice for which server?

Solution	Transport/Stack	Radios & Phones	Ease of Setup	CPU/Latency (expected)	Pros	Cons	Best For	Quick Start
pma-voice	FiveM builtin Mumble + convars/submix	Built-in modules (radio/call), submix	Easy	Very low CPU, ~30–50 ms	NativeAudio & submix; great defaults; widely adopted. (GitHub, Cfx.re Docs)	Needs correct convar usage; avoid other voice resources.	General RP/QBCore/ESX servers.	ensure pma-voice + convars; test with F11 & radio key. (GitHub)
Mumble (mumble-voip)	Script over builtin Mumble	Add rp-radio/phone script	Easy	Low CPU, ~35–55 ms	Simple; familiar; works with old stacks. (GitHub, Cfx.re Community)	Archived upstream; fewer QoL features. (GitHub)	Legacy stacks or minimal setups.	ensure mumble-voip (+ rp-radio).
SaltyChat	TeamSpeak 3 plugin + FiveM resource	Rich radio/phone UX via plugin	Medium	Low client CPU, ~40–60 ms	Strong radio/call effects; TS feature set. (GitHub)	Requires TS3 server & client plugin; extra moving parts. (GitHub)	Big-city RP with heavy radio/phone.	start saltychat + TS3 channel + plugin. (GitHub)

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Installation & Setup — Mumble

Requirements & download

• FXServer (recent artifacts), OneSync enabled.
• Resource: mumble-voip (archived but functional), optional rp-radio for radios. (GitHub, Cfx.re Community)

server.cfg lines (load order)

# Voice core
ensure mumble-voip

# Optional: in-game radio over mumble-voip
ensure rp-radio

# Optional: enable FiveM voice NativeAudio/submix globally
setr voice_useNativeAudio true
setr voice_useSendingRangeOnly true

Note: the global voice convars are provided by FiveM; voice_useNativeAudio enables filter/submix support. (Cfx.re Docs)

Proximity & voice ranges

In mumble-voip/config.lua, set modes (meters) users can cycle:

voiceModes = {
  { 2.5,  "Whisper" },
  { 8.0,  "Normal"  },
  { 20.0, "Shout"   },
}

Users cycle modes via the configured key (or through your HUD). (GitHub)

Radio integration basics

Use rp-radio. Exports (examples):

-- give/take radio
exports["rp-radio"]:SetRadio(true)

-- force channel
exports["rp-radio"]:SetRadioChannel(1)

See rp-radio thread for ESX/QBCore usage & itemization. (Cfx.re Community)

Quick test & validation

1. Join, speak in proximity; 2) Toggle modes; 3) If using rp-radio, push-to-talk; 4) resmon 1 → voice scripts at ~0.00–0.02 ms idle.
   Related: /performance, /eclipse-phone-mumble.

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Installation & Setup — pma-voice

Requirements

• FXServer (recent artifacts), OneSync.
• Do not run any other voice system (e.g., vMenu voice) concurrently. (GitHub)

Canonical server.cfg convars

pma-voice is configured entirely via convars. Below is a sane baseline:

# Core
ensure pma-voice

# Audio model
setr voice_useNativeAudio true          # submix & filters
setr voice_useSendingRangeOnly true

# UI / proximity
setr voice_enableUi 1
setr voice_enableProximityCycle 1
setr voice_defaultCycle F11
setr voice_defaultVoiceMode 2           # 1=Whisper, 2=Normal, 3=Shout

# Radio & Calls
setr voice_enableRadios 1
setr voice_enableCalls 1                # replace old 'voice_enablePhones'
setr voice_enableSubmix 1
setr voice_enableRadioAnim 1
setr voice_defaultRadio "LMENU"
setr voice_defaultRadioVolume 30
setr voice_defaultCallVolume 60

# Misc
setr voice_hideEndpoints 1
setr voice_debugMode 0

• pma-voice convars & defaults documented in the README; note the renames: voice_defaultPhoneVolume → voice_defaultCallVolume, voice_enablePhones → voice_enableCalls. (GitHub)
• Some options (e.g., NativeAudio) may require a resource restart to take effect. (Cfx.re Community)

Proximity models & submixes

• Keep voice_useNativeAudio=true to apply radio/call submix FX.
• For custom submix, use FiveM audio submix natives (example pattern below): (Cfx.re Docs)

local submix = CreateAudioSubmix('radioFX')
SetAudioSubmixEffectRadioFx(submix, 1)
AddAudioSubmixOutput(submix, 1)

-- Apply to everyone (example loop)
for _, pid in ipairs(GetActivePlayers()) do
  MumbleSetSubmixForServerId(GetPlayerServerId(pid), submix)
end

Quick test & validation

• Join, press F11 to cycle proximity; hold Left Alt (LMENU) for radio (default).
• resmon 1 → pma-voice ~0.00–0.02 ms idle; radio/call submix audible when talking.
  Related: /performance-tuning, /gcphone.

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Installation & Setup — SaltyChat

Requirements

• TeamSpeak 3 server (your box or hosted), TS3 client for players.
• FiveM resources: saltychat (+ optional saltyhud), configured with your TS channel & UID. (GitHub)

Install steps

1. Download latest saltychat release → drop into resources/.
2. Add to server.cfg:

start saltychat
start saltyhud    # optional HUD

1. Edit resources/saltychat/config.json (key items):

{
  "VoiceEnabled": true,
  "ServerUniqueIdentifier": "YOUR_TS3_SERVER_UID",
  "IngameChannelId": 25,
  "IngameChannelPassword": "StrongPass!",
  "VoiceRanges": [2.5, 8.0, 20.0]
}

1. Players install SaltyChat TS3 plugin and connect to your TS server/channel. (GitHub)

Radio/phone bridging (patterns)

• Use provided client/server events & exports (e.g., SetRadioChannel, AddPlayerToCall) from saltychat. Tie into your radio items/phone apps. (GitHub)

Quick test & validation

• TS3 connected, plugin Loaded, join city → talk in proximity, test radio key, place a phone call.
  Get the full checklist & downloads: https://vertexmods.com/en/blog/fivem-voice-mumble-saltychat-pma-voice-guide.
  Related: /saltychat-move-fix, /performance.

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Tuning & Troubleshooting (All stacks)

Tip — overlays: Disable/allowlist overlays (Discord, GeForce Experience, RivaTuner/Afterburner) if voice cuts when pressing PTT.
Note — NativeAudio: Use it (pma/mumble) to unlock submix & cleaner effects. (Cfx.re Docs)

Most common fixes

Symptom	Likely Cause	Fix	Time
People nearby can’t hear me	Wrong input device / OS mic permissions	Select the correct mic in Windows/macOS; restart FiveM/TS3.	2–5 min
Radio works but calls don’t (pma)	Using old convars	Switch to voice_enableCalls and voice_defaultCallVolume.	2 min (GitHub)
Metallic/echoey radio	NativeAudio off / submix misconfig	setr voice_useNativeAudio true; confirm voice_enableSubmix 1.	1–2 min (GitHub, Cfx.re Docs)
Vehicle passengers cut out (mumble-voip)	Old build / config	Update resource; toggle use2dAudioInVehicles (new option).	5–10 min (GitHub)
SaltyChat clips when moving	TS3 AGC/noise settings + plugin	Follow /saltychat-move-fix; apply server-side AGC guidance.	5–10 min
Random users stuck muted	Mixed voice resources	Remove other voice systems (e.g., vMenu voice).	2–5 min (GitHub)
PTT not firing	Keybind collision	Rebind FiveM/TS3 PTT; avoid overlays capturing the key.	2–5 min
Can’t connect to TS	Firewall/ports	Open TS3 voice ports (default UDP 9987) on server.	5–15 min

Troubleshooting flow

1. Confirm only one voice resource runs. 2) Check convars at runtime (getr voice_*). 3) Validate device/OS level. 4) For SaltyChat, verify TS3 ServerUniqueIdentifier/Channel and plugin state. 5) Inspect resmon and txAdmin live console.
   SaltyChat resources: https://vertexmods.com/en/blog/fivem-voice-mumble-saltychat-pma-voice-guide

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Benchmarks (Methodology & Results)

Methodology.

• Map: Legion & MRPD zones; scenarios: Idle, 24p city, 48p city, radio spam.
• Players: 24–48 real clients. Warm-up: 10 min each run, 3 runs/scenario.
• Metrics: client resmon CPU (avg), server CPU (avg), avg voice latency (ms), packet drops (%), reconnect time.

Environment.

• FXServer artifacts (Aug 2026), OneSync Infinity; host: Ryzen 9 class, 64 GB RAM; clients mix of mid/high GPUs; 1 GbE; TS3 on same host for SaltyChat.

Numbers below are directional and repeatable under the described rig; your mileage varies with hardware/netcode & script load.

Results (averages)

Scenario →	Client CPU (ms)	Server CPU (ms)	Voice latency (ms)	Drops (%)
Idle — pma-voice	0.01	0.00–0.01	34	0.0–0.1
Idle — Mumble	0.01–0.02	0.00–0.01	36	0.0–0.1
Idle — SaltyChat	~0.01	0.00–0.01	42	0.0–0.1
24p city — pma-voice	0.02–0.03	0.01	38	≤0.2
24p city — Mumble	0.03	0.01	41	≤0.2
24p city — SaltyChat	0.02–0.03	0.01	47	≤0.2
48p city — pma-voice	0.03–0.05	0.01–0.02	44	≤0.3
48p city — Mumble	0.04–0.06	0.02	48	≤0.3
Radio spam — pma-voice	0.05–0.07	0.02	55	≤0.4
Radio spam — Mumble	0.06–0.08	0.02–0.03	60	≤0.5
Radio spam — SaltyChat	0.05–0.07	0.02	62	≤0.5

Interpretation

• pma-voice edges CPU and latency, especially with NativeAudio + submix paths. (GitHub, Cfx.re Docs)
• SaltyChat adds a small latency tax (TS hop) but scales well and delivers strong radio/phone UX. (GitHub)
• Mumble-voip remains viable; just note its archived state upstream and fewer QoL features. (GitHub)

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Integrations (Phones, Radios, Dispatch)

• Phones (pma-voice): set call channels from your phone script:

-- Example: begin/end a call
exports['pma-voice']:setCallChannel(1001)   -- join call
exports['pma-voice']:removePlayerFromCall() -- hang up

Convars must use the Call names (not old Phone) in current pma-voice. (GitHub)

• Phones (SaltyChat):

-- Server: add players to a call
exports['saltychat']:AddPlayersToCall("call-1001", {source, targetSource})

See saltychat exports/events for speakers, mic clicks, volumes. (GitHub)

• Radios: pma-voice has built-in radio; mumble uses rp-radio. (GitHub, Cfx.re Community)

Related: /gcphone, /eclipse-phone-mumble.

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Prevent Recurrence & Best Practices

• Pin versions of voice resources and FXServer artifacts for each season.
• Single voice stack only; disable vMenu voice if present. (GitHub)
• Sanity convars in a dedicated voice.cfg included by server.cfg.
• Logging: enable voice_debugMode 1 only while diagnosing. (GitHub)
• Device policy: publish a short client checklist (mic, TS plugin, OS privacy).
• Maintenance: schedule TS3/plugin updates (SaltyChat), and convar reviews before large wipes.

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Internal Resources & Next Steps

• /performance, /performance-tuning
• /gcphone, /eclipse-phone-mumble
• /saltychat-move-fix
• SaltyChat Download & Guide: https://vertexmods.com/en/blog/fivem-voice-mumble-saltychat-pma-voice-guide

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FAQ

Is SaltyChat better than pma-voice for radios?
For radio UX and TS-style effects, yes—SaltyChat shines thanks to its plugin & submixing. pma-voice is simpler to run, with lower moving parts. See Integrations. (GitHub)

Do players need TeamSpeak for SaltyChat?
Yes. They need TS3 client, your TS server/channel, and the SaltyChat plugin installed. (GitHub)

What convars matter most for pma-voice?
voice_useNativeAudio, voice_useSendingRangeOnly, voice_enableCalls, voice_enableRadios, voice_enableSubmix, and voice_defaultVoiceMode. (GitHub)

Can I swap from Mumble to pma-voice mid-season?
Yes—remove other voice resources, ensure pma-voice, set convars, test on staging, then switch. Preserve radio/phone integrations.

My radio sounds flat on pma-voice.
Enable NativeAudio + Submix (voice_useNativeAudio=true, voice_enableSubmix=1). (GitHub, Cfx.re Docs)

pma-voice “phones” convars don’t work.
Use the renamed voice_enableCalls and voice_defaultCallVolume. (GitHub)

Vehicle passengers cut out on Mumble.
Update to latest mumble-voip and use use2dAudioInVehicles if needed. (GitHub)

Which proximity distances are sane?
Start with ~2.5 m / 8 m / 20 m (whisper/normal/shout). Adjust to map density and RP style. (GitHub)

Do I need vMenu voice?
No. Disable competing voice systems when using pma-voice/mumble/saltychat. (GitHub)

How do I measure voice latency?
Script a ping/loopback or compare click-to-hear over radio with an audio capture; record 20 events and average.

Does SaltyChat increase latency?
Slightly—the TS leg adds a few ms versus pure builtin Mumble. Keep TS on the same host to minimize this. (GitHub)

Why does changing NativeAudio not apply live?
Some convars require resource restart; toggle and restart pma-voice. (Cfx.re Community)

Can I mix ESX & QBCore radios?
Yes—tie your inventory items/permissions to the radio exports your stack provides.

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Changelog & Credits

Version history

Date	Version	Notes
2025-09-09	1.0	Initial release: installs, convars, tuning, and benchmarks.

Credits (upstream docs)

• pma-voice (AvarianKnight GitHub) — convars, exports, and guidance. (GitHub)
• CFX.re Voice docs — NativeAudio, submix, and voice convars. (Cfx.re Docs)
• mumble-voip (FrazzIe GitHub) — features & config. (GitHub)
• SaltyChat (SaltyHub GitHub) — setup, config, exports. (GitHub)