u/TheReadingExplorer

Hey coders,

What is Krisp? For those who don't know, Krisp is a specialized "virtual microphone" app that uses AI to separate your voice from everything else. It "listens" to your audio and instantly deletes barking dogs, crying babies, and keyboard clicks before the sound reaches your Zoom or Teams call. It’s a lifesaver for professional audio, but it’s currently locked behind a $120/year subscription that prices out many students and freelancers.

We’ve all reached "subscription fatigue." Paying that much for a basic utility feels like a "tax on quiet."

The Vision:

I’m calling on the dev community to build (or surface) a 100% free, open-source, AI-powered noise cancellation app for macOS and iOS. We have the tech (DeepFilterNet3, RNNoise), but we lack a unified, user-friendly "Krisp Killer" that works system-wide.

The "Absolute Best" Requirements:

• Universal Compatibility: Must be a Universal Binary supporting both Intel-based Macs (AVX/CPU optimized) and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4). We need to ensure students and others on a budget with older hardware aren't left behind.
• 100% Offline & Private: No "home-calling," zero telemetry, and zero logs. All AI processing stays on-device. By being 100% offline, we eliminate the risk of a server-side breach leaking private meeting audio.
• Pro Features for Free: Include Room Echo Removal (Dereverberation) and "Studio Quality" voice enhancement. Unlike proprietary apps, open-source allows for community-tuned "Natural Voice" profiles that avoid that "robotic" processed sound.
• High Performance: The goal is real-time performance with low latency (<20ms)—faster than the human ear can detect.

Why this is the perfect project right now:

1. Hardware is Ready: Modern Macs have dedicated Neural Engines ($ANE$), and Intel Macs have the raw power for optimized models like DeepFilterNet3. Leveraging the $ANE$ on Silicon means the laptop won't sound like a jet engine or drain the battery just to stay quiet.
2. Vibecoding & AI Tools: With current AI coding assistants, building the system-wide audio driver (AudioDriverKit) and the GUI is more accessible than ever for a solo dev or small team.
3. The Tech Gap: Windows has NVIDIA Broadcast. Mac/iOS users are trapped between "basic" built-in tools and expensive, privacy-invasive subscriptions.

Who benefits the most?

• Privacy-Conscious Users: Open-source means the code is auditable. Your meetings never touch a cloud.
• The "Coffee Shop" Freelancer: Professional audio in a chaotic environment without the monthly fee.
• Low-Income Students: High-quality remote education shouldn't be gated behind a subscription. A free tool levels the playing field for global equity.

Real-World Use Cases:

• The "Mechanical Keyboard" Coder: Pair-programming while your tactile switches sound like a machine gun to your partner.
• The "Emergency Child/Pet" Interruption: Joining a high-stakes interview while the dog is barking at the door.
• The "Airport Gate" Professional: Taking a Teams call from a noisy terminal using only an iPhone or iPad.

The Challenge:

Who is interested in starting a Repo? Let’s make professional-grade, private communication a right, not a subscription service.

>"On va travailler sur un système avec des amendes. S’ils sont reconnus coupables, les gens pourraient être bannis de la location pendant un certain temps. Ça va être beaucoup plus dissuasif de ne pas être légal." - Soraya Martinez Ferrada, mairesse de Montréal