callmac

What This Skill Does

The Callmac skill is a powerful automation tool designed for macOS users to bridge the gap between messaging platforms and local system audio. It leverages the Microsoft Edge-TTS engine to convert text into high-quality, human-sounding speech. Whether you are using Telegram or WhatsApp, you can send text-based commands to your Mac, triggering instant audio announcements, alarms, or custom narrative playback. The system intelligently detects mixed language inputs, allowing for seamless transitions between English and Chinese speech synthesis. Beyond simple text-to-speech, Callmac offers robust control over the Mac's audio output, including volume adjustment, loop repetition, and file management, making it an ideal companion for smart home automation or personal productivity workflows.

Installation

To integrate this skill into your OpenClaw environment, execute the following command in your terminal: clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/jooey/callmac Ensure that you have python3 installed on your macOS system, as the skill relies on internal scripts for handling the Edge-TTS processing and interfacing with the afplay system utility for local audio output. After installation, verify the environment by running a test command through the provided scripts directory.

Use Cases

• Remote Announcements: Broadcast reminders or quick notifications to family members at home while you are away.
• Smart Alarms: Trigger wake-up calls or time-sensitive reminders for children or housemates using custom phrases.
• Language Practice: Utilize the mixed-language support to hear phrases read aloud in native-sounding voices for both Chinese and English segments.
• Background Ambient Sound: Use the looping feature to play stories or soft announcements repeatedly throughout a designated room.

Example Prompts

1. "/callmac Hello, please start getting ready for school in five minutes."
2. "/voice 记得把餐桌收拾一下，Thank you!"
3. "/callmac 播放闹钟，音量设置为50，循环3次，内容：该起床了！"

Tips & Limitations

To maximize the effectiveness of the Callmac skill, ensure your Mac is not muted and that the system output volume is set to an audible level. While the skill supports advanced SSML (Speech Synthesis Markup Language) for precise control over pauses and pitch, keep in mind that excessive use of complex tags may increase generation latency. The skill is highly dependent on an active internet connection to communicate with the Edge-TTS servers, so it may experience delays if your network is unstable. Always test your voice configurations locally to find the best-sounding neural voice for your specific content, as different voices (e.g., JennyNeural vs. XiaoxiaoNeural) offer significantly different tonal qualities.