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

# FAQ

> Frequently asked questions about CARTER

## General Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What is CARTER?">
    CARTER is an experimental voice AI built with Cartesia's Sonic model and deployed on Solana. It demonstrates real-world voice AI integration with genuine emotional expression and an unfiltered, creative personality.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is CARTER production-ready?">
    No. CARTER is intentionally experimental and unstable. It's built as a demonstration of Cartesia's capabilities and to inspire developers, not for production use as-is.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use CARTER in my project?">
    CARTER itself isn't meant for direct integration, but you can use the same technology (Cartesia's Sonic model) to build your own voice AI. Check our [Developer Guide](/developers/overview).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why does CARTER have an unfiltered personality?">
    To showcase the creative potential of AI when guardrails are removed. It demonstrates that voice AI can have genuine personality beyond standard chatbot responses.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Technical Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What technology powers CARTER's voice?">
    CARTER uses **Cartesia's Sonic model**, which provides:

    * Sub-6ms latency
    * Real emotional expression
    * Multiple voice options
    * Streaming audio generation
    * Natural-sounding speech
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why Solana blockchain?">
    Solana provides:

    * Ultra-fast transaction processing
    * Scalability for high-volume requests
    * Low transaction costs
    * Decentralized infrastructure

    Perfect for real-time voice applications.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How does CARTER achieve such low latency?">
    Through a combination of:

    * Cartesia's optimized Sonic model (6ms average)
    * WebSocket connections for streaming
    * Solana's fast blockchain
    * Efficient audio encoding (PCM)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I access CARTER's source code?">
    The integration patterns and architecture are documented in our [Developer Section](/developers/overview). For specific implementation details, contact the team.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Usage Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Why do I get rate limit errors?">
    Rate limits are intentional to demonstrate real-world API constraints. They show how to handle limits in production applications.

    If you encounter limits, try:

    * Waiting a moment and retrying
    * Using the Cartesia playground: [https://play.cartesia.ai/text-to-speech](https://play.cartesia.ai/text-to-speech)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I use voice input?">
    1. Click the "VOICE INPUT" button
    2. Allow microphone access when prompted
    3. Speak clearly into your microphone
    4. Wait for CARTER's voice response

    Note: Voice input may trigger rate limits during high usage.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why isn't CARTER responding?">
    Common reasons:

    * Rate limits exceeded (wait and retry)
    * Server overload (try later)
    * Network connectivity issues
    * Browser compatibility (use Chrome/Firefox/Safari/Edge)

    Alternative: Try [https://play.cartesia.ai/text-to-speech](https://play.cartesia.ai/text-to-speech)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does CARTER remember previous conversations?">
    Currently, CARTER maintains context within a single session but doesn't persist conversations across sessions. This is intentional for the demo.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Developer Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How can I build something like CARTER?">
    Follow these steps:

    1. Sign up for Cartesia API access
    2. Review our [Integration Guide](/developers/integration)
    3. Study the [Code Examples](/developers/examples)
    4. Check the [Voice API Reference](/developers/voice-api)
    5. Start with simple TTS, then add streaming
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What programming languages are supported?">
    Cartesia provides SDKs for:

    * **JavaScript/TypeScript** (`@cartesia/cartesia-js`)
    * **Python** (`cartesia`)

    You can also use the REST API directly from any language.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How much does Cartesia cost?">
    Cartesia offers multiple pricing tiers:

    * **Free**: Limited requests for testing
    * **Pro**: Higher limits for production
    * **Enterprise**: Custom limits and support

    Visit [cartesia.ai](https://cartesia.ai) for current pricing.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I clone CARTER's voice?">
    CARTER uses a pre-built Cartesia voice. You can clone your own voices using Cartesia's voice cloning feature. See our [Voice API Reference](/developers/voice-api#voice-cloning) for details.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What's the difference between SSE and WebSocket?">
    **Server-Sent Events (SSE)**:

    * One-way server→client streaming
    * Simpler to implement
    * Good for web applications

    **WebSocket**:

    * Two-way communication
    * Lower latency
    * Better for real-time chat

    Choose based on your needs. See [Integration Guide](/developers/integration).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Microphone permission denied">
    **Solution:**

    1. Check browser settings (Settings → Privacy → Microphone)
    2. Ensure HTTPS connection (required for mic access)
    3. Try a different browser
    4. Check system microphone permissions
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="No audio output">
    **Solution:**

    1. Check system volume
    2. Verify browser audio isn't muted
    3. Try headphones/speakers
    4. Check audio output device in system settings
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="High latency responses">
    **Possible causes:**

    * Network connectivity
    * Server load
    * Using MP3 instead of PCM format
    * Not using WebSocket for real-time

    **Solution:** Use WebSocket with PCM format for lowest latency.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="API errors">
    **Common errors:**

    * **401 Unauthorized**: Invalid API key
    * **429 Rate Limit**: Too many requests
    * **500 Server Error**: Temporary issue, retry

    Implement exponential backoff and retry logic.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Project Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Who built CARTER?">
    CARTER was built as a demonstration of Cartesia's Sonic model capabilities, showcasing real-world integration patterns for voice AI.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is CARTER open source?">
    The architecture and integration patterns are documented and shared. Check the [Developer Section](/developers/overview) for implementation details.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How can I contribute?">
    Currently, CARTER is a reference implementation. To contribute to the ecosystem:

    * Build your own voice AI projects with Cartesia
    * Share your implementations
    * Provide feedback on the documentation
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Will CARTER be updated?">
    CARTER serves as a snapshot of current Cartesia capabilities. Updates may occur to showcase new features or improvements.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Getting Help

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Developer Docs" icon="book" href="/developers/overview">
    Technical documentation
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cartesia Docs" icon="external-link" href="https://docs.cartesia.ai">
    Official Cartesia documentation
  </Card>

  <Card title="Try CARTER" icon="microphone" href="https://carter.ac/app">
    Experience the interface
  </Card>

  <Card title="Contact" icon="envelope" href="https://x.com/unhingedcarter">
    Reach out on X (Twitter)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

<Note>
  **Still have questions?** Reach out on [X (Twitter)](https://x.com/unhingedcarter) or check the [Cartesia documentation](https://docs.cartesia.ai).
</Note>