# Core features

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The Video SDK for macOS lets you control user audio during a session: check whether a user is connected to audio, connect, mute and unmute, and disconnect. For host-level controls over everyone's audio, see [Host audio controls](/docs/video-sdk/macos/audio/host-controls/).

> Prior to using audio controls, you must **request permission to use the microphone**. For details, see [Requesting Authorization for Media Capture on macOS](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfoundation/cameras_and_media_capture/requesting_authorization_for_media_capture_on_macos?language=objc).

## Check if the user is connected to audio

Before you can use audio controls, check if the user is connected to audio by getting the user's `ZMVideoSDKAudioType`.

```swift
// Get the user's audioStatus.
if let audioStatus = user.getAudioStatus() {
    // Get the user's audioType.
    let audioType = audioStatus.getAudioType()
}
```

```objectivec
// Get the user's audioStatus.
ZMVideoSDKAudioStatus *audioStatus = [user getAudioStatus];
// Get the user's audioType.
ZMVideoSDKAudioType audioType = [audioStatus getAudioType];
```

## Connect to audio

If the user is not already connected, connect to the audio through the `ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper`.

```swift
if audioType == ZMVideoSDKAudioType_None {
    // User's audio is not connected.
    // Get the ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper to perform audio actions.
    if let audioHelper = ZMVideoSDK.shared()?.getAudioHelper() {
        // Connect user's audio.
        audioHelper.startAudio()
    }
} else {
    // User is already connected to audio.
}
```

```objectivec
if (audioType == ZMVideoSDKAudioType_None) {
    // User's audio is not connected.
    // Get the ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper to perform audio actions.
    ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper *audioHelper = [[ZMVideoSDK sharedVideoSDK] getAudioHelper];
    if (audioHelper) {
        // Connect user's audio.
        [audioHelper startAudio];
    }
} else {
    // User is already connected to audio.
}
```

## Mute audio

Once connected, mute a user's audio by calling `muteAudio` with the user.

```swift
// Get the ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper to perform audio actions.
if let audioHelper = ZMVideoSDK.shared()?.getAudioHelper() {
    // Mute user.
    audioHelper.muteAudio(user)
}
```

```objectivec
// Get the ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper to perform audio actions.
ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper *audioHelper = [[ZMVideoSDK sharedVideoSDK] getAudioHelper];
if (audioHelper) {
    // Mute user.
    [audioHelper muteAudio:user];
}
```

## Unmute audio

Unmute a user's audio in a similar manner using `unMuteAudio`.

```swift
// Get the ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper to perform audio actions.
if let audioHelper = ZMVideoSDK.shared()?.getAudioHelper() {
    // Unmute user.
    audioHelper.unMuteAudio(user)
}
```

```objectivec
// Get the ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper to perform audio actions.
ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper *audioHelper = [[ZMVideoSDK sharedVideoSDK] getAudioHelper];
if (audioHelper) {
    // Unmute user.
    [audioHelper unMuteAudio:user];
}
```

## Disconnect from audio

To disconnect completely from audio, use `stopAudio`.

```swift
// Get the ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper to perform audio actions.
if let audioHelper = ZMVideoSDK.shared()?.getAudioHelper() {
    // Disconnect user's audio.
    audioHelper.stopAudio()
}
```

```objectivec
// Get the ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper to perform audio actions.
ZMVideoSDKAudioHelper *audioHelper = [[ZMVideoSDK sharedVideoSDK] getAudioHelper];
if (audioHelper) {
    // Disconnect user's audio.
    [audioHelper stopAudio];
}
```

To react to audio status changes, implement the [audio events](/docs/video-sdk/macos/audio/audio-events/).