Same-Language Mode — Real-Time Transcription at 10x Lower Cost
March 2026
Live Translate Live is built for real-time translation between two languages — but what if both people speak the same language? Set your source and target language to the same value and the app switches to same-language transcription mode: a single full-screen scrolling marquee that displays live speech-to-text captions with no translation step at all.
How to Activate Same-Language Mode
There is nothing extra to install or configure. Open Live Translate Live, and set both the "Your Language" and "Their Language" dropdowns to the same language — for example, both set to English. That's it. The app automatically detects the match and switches to transcription-only mode.
When same-language mode is active, the marquee changes from a split two-row display to a single full-height panel. Only your speech-to-text transcription scrolls across the screen — no translation row, no split layout, just one clean stream of captions.
Credits Last 10x Longer
Because same-language mode skips the translation step entirely, it costs significantly less to run. In normal translation mode, credits are consumed at 1 per second. In same-language mode, the rate drops to 1 credit per 10 seconds — that's 10x cheaper. A 900-credit package that gives you 15 minutes of translation will last 2.5 hours in transcription-only mode.
Use Cases for Same-Language Transcription
Same-language mode turns Live Translate Live into a versatile real-time captioning tool. Here are some ways people are using it:
- Accessibility and hearing support — Display live captions on a screen so deaf or hard-of-hearing audience members can follow along in real time
- Presentations and lectures — Show scrolling captions on a projector or TV behind the speaker so the audience can read along
- Meeting transcription — Run live captions on a shared screen during team meetings for reference and note-taking
- Live streaming with OBS — Add the marquee as a browser source in OBS to overlay real-time captions on your stream
- Houses of worship — Display sermon or liturgy captions on a large screen for the congregation
- Noisy environments — When audio is hard to hear, a visual text display helps everyone follow the conversation
Full-Screen Single-Panel Display
In normal translation mode, the marquee splits into two rows: one for each language. In same-language mode, the entire screen is used for a single row of scrolling text. This means larger text and better readability — especially useful when the display is across a room or projected on a wall.
All of the existing marquee features still work: adjustable scroll speed, font scaling, push-to-talk mode, standalone marquee URLs, and OBS browser source compatibility. The only difference is the layout — one row instead of two.
Works With Everything You Already Use
Same-language mode is not a separate feature — it is the same app in a different configuration. Everything you have set up continues to work:
- Standalone marquee — Open the marquee in a separate browser tab or window, or share the URL with a smart TV
- OBS browser source — Your existing OBS setup works unchanged; the marquee automatically switches to single-panel mode
- Push-to-talk — Hold the button to transcribe, release to stop
- Conversation history — All transcriptions are saved to your history for later review
Switch back to translation mode at any time by selecting a different target language. The marquee will restore the two-row layout and resume translating.
Try It Now
Sign in to Live Translate Live, set both languages to the same value, and start speaking. You will see a single full-screen marquee scrolling your words in real time — at a fraction of the cost. Whether you need live captions for accessibility, a presentation display, or just a way to see your own speech on screen, same-language mode has you covered.