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

# FaceTime Audio vs. Video

> Choose the right media experience for each call.

<Note>
  FaceTime Video supports audio and video in both directions: your agent can hear and see the caller, and the caller can hear and see your agent. FaceTime Audio carries audio only.
</Note>

Outbound BYOR currently supports **audio only** on enabled lines. The video guidance below applies to enabled inbound video calls. See [Outbound](/facetime/outbound).

<a id="comparison" />

## Media comparison

|                       | FaceTime Video                            | FaceTime Audio                                          |
| --------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Avatar                | Animated persona or participant video     | No video track; voice only                              |
| Connecting experience | Branded holding screen for \~5–10 seconds | Silence during initialization; holding audio is planned |
| Assistant config      | Same assistant; avatar is rendered        | Same assistant; avatar\_id is unused                    |
| Sessions              | Audio and video in both directions        | Audio in both directions                                |
| Call record           | `media: { audio: true, video: true }`     | `media: { audio: true, video: false }`                  |

<a id="guidance" />

## Practical guidance

For coaching and movement analysis, connect the caller's video frames to your own vision pipeline. Media transport supplies the track; your agent supplies the perception and coaching behavior. Use [BYOR](/facetime/bring-your-own-room) with your own agent, even when Chert operates the FaceTime line.

* Keep greetings concise. For outbound, wait for `bridge_ready` or the corresponding outbound `call.started` notification before speaking.
* Inbound audio and video use the incoming-decision webhook. Outbound audio starts with an API request.
* During design-partner rollout, `call.incoming` includes `media`, allowing different accept or decline logic by call type.

For BYOR, subscribe to the bridge participant's `facetime-remote-audio` and `facetime-remote-video` tracks. Handle camera mute and track changes throughout the call.