feat(clients): persist input settings, add mic input gain, fix iOS chat + VoiceOver

Input mode (VAD/PTT/Always-On), VAD threshold, and the new mic gain were
applied to the core + UI but never saved, so every relaunch reset to VAD
defaults. Each client now persists them and re-applies on connect:
  - iOS: UserDefaults (SessionState.loadAndApplyVoiceSettings + setter writes)
  - macOS: UserDefaults via MainWindowController didSet + loadPersistedAudioSettings
    (settings window also restores the VAD slider from the stored threshold)
  - Windows: new Models/VoiceSettings.cs (JSON at %AppData%\VoiceCat\voice.json,
    mirrors FeedbackSettings) loaded/applied in MainForm

Add global send-side mic gain API vc_set_input_gain (applied to MIC PCM in
on_capture_frame before the VAD gate, clamped to int16) + Swift/C# bindings,
and a 0-300% (default 100%) mic-volume slider on all three clients.

Fix iOS chat: ChatView called sendText(scope:.channel) with no targetId (0),
so channel messages went nowhere; now passes session.currentChannelId.

Fix iOS per-user tuning for VoiceOver: the tuning sheet was long-press
.contextMenu only (invisible to VoiceOver); UserRow now also exposes the same
buttons via .accessibilityActions (no visual change).

Verified: core builds clean; ctest 24/27 (3 pre-existing teardown crashes,
reproduced with changes stashed); VoiceCatMac + VoiceCatiOS (arm64 sim) build
SUCCEEDED; VoiceCat.Interop dotnet build succeeded. Windows App not built
(WinForms can't build on macOS) — follows existing patterns.

clients/apple/Sources/VoiceCatCore/VoiceCatClient.swift

@@ -409,6 +409,14 @@ public final class VoiceCatClient {
         VoiceCatResult(vc_set_output_volume(handle, gain < 0 ? 0 : gain))
     }
 
+    /// Send-side microphone input gain. Applied to captured MIC PCM before the VAD/PTT gate and
+    /// Opus encode (so boosting a quiet mic also helps it cross the VAD threshold). gain 0.0 =
+    /// silent, 1.0 = unity (default), >1.0 amplifies (clamped to int16). Always LOCAL.
+    @discardableResult
+    public func setInputGain(_ gain: Float) -> VoiceCatResult {
+        VoiceCatResult(vc_set_input_gain(handle, gain < 0 ? 0 : gain))
+    }
+
     // MARK: - AVAudioSession interruption hooks (iOS)
 
     /// Pause miniaudio device I/O. Call when AVAudioSession interruption begins.

clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/SessionState.swift

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ struct VoiceState {
     var serverDeafened = false
     var inputMode: VoiceCatInputMode = .voiceActivation
     var vadThreshold: Float = 0.025
+    var inputGain: Float = 1.0
     var level: Float = 0.0
     var currentDeviceId: String?
     var localStreamId: UInt32 = 0
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ final class SessionState {
         self.client = client
         self.selfUserId = selfUserId
         self.permissions = permissions
+        loadAndApplyVoiceSettings()
         refreshChannels()
         refreshUsers()
         syncSelfChannel()
@@ -336,11 +338,46 @@ final class SessionState {
     func setInputMode(_ mode: VoiceCatInputMode) {
         client.setInputMode(mode)
         voiceState.inputMode = mode
+        UserDefaults.standard.set(Int(mode.rawValue), forKey: DefaultsKey.inputMode)
     }
 
     func setVadThreshold(_ threshold: Float) {
         client.setVadThreshold(threshold)
         voiceState.vadThreshold = threshold
+        UserDefaults.standard.set(threshold, forKey: DefaultsKey.vadThreshold)
+    }
+
+    func setInputGain(_ gain: Float) {
+        client.setInputGain(gain)
+        voiceState.inputGain = gain
+        UserDefaults.standard.set(gain, forKey: DefaultsKey.inputGain)
+    }
+
+    // MARK: - Persisted input settings
+
+    private enum DefaultsKey {
+        static let inputMode    = "voice.inputMode"
+        static let vadThreshold = "voice.vadThreshold"
+        static let inputGain    = "voice.inputGain"
+    }
+
+    /// Restore the saved input mode / VAD threshold / mic gain and push them into the core so a
+    /// relaunch keeps the user's transmission settings instead of resetting to VAD defaults.
+    private func loadAndApplyVoiceSettings() {
+        let d = UserDefaults.standard
+        if d.object(forKey: DefaultsKey.inputMode) != nil {
+            let raw = UInt32(d.integer(forKey: DefaultsKey.inputMode))
+            voiceState.inputMode = VoiceCatInputMode(rawValue: raw) ?? .voiceActivation
+        }
+        if d.object(forKey: DefaultsKey.vadThreshold) != nil {
+            voiceState.vadThreshold = d.float(forKey: DefaultsKey.vadThreshold)
+        }
+        if d.object(forKey: DefaultsKey.inputGain) != nil {
+            voiceState.inputGain = d.float(forKey: DefaultsKey.inputGain)
+        }
+        client.setInputMode(voiceState.inputMode)
+        client.setVadThreshold(voiceState.vadThreshold)
+        client.setInputGain(voiceState.inputGain)
     }
 
     private var pttEngaged = false

clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/Views/ChatView.swift

@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ struct ChatView: View {
     private func sendMessage() {
         let text = composeText.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
         guard !text.isEmpty else { return }
-        session.sendText(text, scope: .channel)
+        session.sendText(text, scope: .channel, targetId: session.currentChannelId)
         composeText = ""
     }
 }

clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/Views/SettingsView.swift

@@ -237,6 +237,20 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                             .accessibilityLabel("Voice activation threshold")
                         }
                     }
+
+                    VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 4) {
+                        Text("Mic Volume: \(Int((session.voiceState.inputGain * 100).rounded()))%")
+                            .font(.caption)
+                        Slider(
+                            value: Binding(
+                                get: { Double(session.voiceState.inputGain) },
+                                set: { session.setInputGain(Float($0)) }
+                            ),
+                            in: 0...3, step: 0.05
+                        )
+                        .accessibilityLabel("Microphone volume")
+                        .accessibilityValue("\(Int((session.voiceState.inputGain * 100).rounded())) percent")
+                    }
                 }
 
                 // MARK: - Notifications

clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/Views/UserRow.swift

@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ struct UserRow: View {
     var body: some View {
         UserRowView(user: user, isSelf: user.id == session.selfUserId)
             .contextMenu { contextMenu }
+            // The context menu is long-press only, which VoiceOver doesn't surface — mirror the
+            // same buttons as accessibility actions so VoiceOver users can reach per-user tuning
+            // (and the admin actions) via the actions rotor on the focused row.
+            .accessibilityActions { contextMenu }
             .sheet(item: $activeSheet) { sheet in
                 switch sheet {
                 case .tuning:      PerUserTuningView(user: user, session: session)

clients/apple/macOS/VoiceCatMac/Windows/MainWindowController.swift

@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
     private var screenCapture: ScreenAudioCapture?
     // Last app/exclusion choice from the share picker; reused as the default next time.
     private var screenAudioSelection: ScreenAudioSelection = .default
-    internal var pttKeyCode: UInt16 = 0x60  // F8
+    internal var pttKeyCode: UInt16 = 0x60 {  // F8
+        didSet { UserDefaults.standard.set(Int(pttKeyCode), forKey: AudioDefaults.pttKeyCode) }
+    }
     private var pttMonitor: Any?
     private var pttEngaged = false  // guards the PTT cue against key-repeat
     private var serverMuted = false
@@ -49,9 +51,26 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
     private var settingsWindowController: SettingsWindowController?
 
     // MARK: - Audio settings state (source of truth — read/written by SettingsWindowController)
+    // The input mode / VAD threshold / mic gain / PTT key persist via UserDefaults (didSet below)
+    // so they survive relaunch; loadPersistedAudioSettings() restores them at startup and they are
+    // pushed into the core when the mic stream starts (micToggleClicked).
 
-    internal var selectedInputMode: VoiceCatInputMode = .voiceActivation
-    internal var vadThresholdValue: Float = 0.05
+    enum AudioDefaults {
+        static let inputMode    = "voice.inputMode"
+        static let vadThreshold = "voice.vadThreshold"
+        static let inputGain    = "voice.inputGain"
+        static let pttKeyCode   = "voice.pttKeyCode"
+    }
+
+    internal var selectedInputMode: VoiceCatInputMode = .voiceActivation {
+        didSet { UserDefaults.standard.set(Int(selectedInputMode.rawValue), forKey: AudioDefaults.inputMode) }
+    }
+    internal var vadThresholdValue: Float = 0.05 {
+        didSet { UserDefaults.standard.set(vadThresholdValue, forKey: AudioDefaults.vadThreshold) }
+    }
+    internal var inputGain: Float = 1.0 {
+        didSet { UserDefaults.standard.set(inputGain, forKey: AudioDefaults.inputGain) }
+    }
     internal var selectedInputDeviceId: String?
 
     // MARK: - UI components
@@ -97,12 +116,32 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
         super.init(window: window)
         window.delegate = self
 
+        loadPersistedAudioSettings()
         buildUI()
         buildToolbar()
         wireEvents()
         bootstrap()
     }
 
+    /// Restore the saved input mode / VAD threshold / mic gain / PTT key from UserDefaults so a
+    /// relaunch keeps the user's transmission settings instead of resetting to VAD defaults.
+    private func loadPersistedAudioSettings() {
+        let d = UserDefaults.standard
+        if d.object(forKey: AudioDefaults.inputMode) != nil {
+            let raw = UInt32(d.integer(forKey: AudioDefaults.inputMode))
+            selectedInputMode = VoiceCatInputMode(rawValue: raw) ?? .voiceActivation
+        }
+        if d.object(forKey: AudioDefaults.vadThreshold) != nil {
+            vadThresholdValue = d.float(forKey: AudioDefaults.vadThreshold)
+        }
+        if d.object(forKey: AudioDefaults.inputGain) != nil {
+            inputGain = d.float(forKey: AudioDefaults.inputGain)
+        }
+        if d.object(forKey: AudioDefaults.pttKeyCode) != nil {
+            pttKeyCode = UInt16(d.integer(forKey: AudioDefaults.pttKeyCode))
+        }
+    }
+
     required init?(coder: NSCoder) { fatalError() }
 
     deinit {
@@ -712,6 +751,7 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
                 if selectedInputMode == .voiceActivation {
                     client.setVadThreshold(vadThresholdValue)
                 }
+                client.setInputGain(inputGain)
                 setVoiceJoinedState(true)
                 addActivity("Joined voice — microphone active")
                 EventFeedback.shared.play(.voiceOn)

clients/apple/macOS/VoiceCatMac/Windows/SettingsWindowController.swift

@@ -50,6 +50,14 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
     // Cached VAD slider position so we can restore it when the window reopens.
     private var vadSliderValue: Double = 50
 
+    // Mic input gain: 0–300 % (100 = unity). Persisted via MainWindowController.inputGain.
+    private let inputGainSlider: NSSlider = {
+        let s = NSSlider(value: 100, minValue: 0, maxValue: 300, target: nil, action: nil)
+        s.numberOfTickMarks = 0
+        return s
+    }()
+    private let inputGainValueLabel = NSTextField(labelWithString: "100%")
+
     // Notification feedback controls. Read/write UserDefaults with the same keys VoiceCatCore's
     // FeedbackSettings reads, so EventFeedback honours these immediately.
     private let soundsCheckbox = NSButton(checkboxWithTitle: "Event sounds", target: nil, action: nil)
@@ -135,6 +143,14 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
         levelMeter.setAccessibilityLabel("Microphone input level")
         levelMeter.setAccessibilityHelp("Shows current microphone volume level")
 
+        let inputGainLabel = NSTextField(labelWithString: "Mic volume:")
+        inputGainLabel.setAccessibilityLabel("Microphone volume")
+        inputGainSlider.target = self
+        inputGainSlider.action = #selector(inputGainChanged)
+        inputGainSlider.setAccessibilityLabel("Microphone volume")
+        inputGainSlider.setAccessibilityHelp("Boost a quiet microphone. 100% is unity.")
+        inputGainValueLabel.setAccessibilityLabel("Microphone volume value")
+
         let inputModeRow = NSStackView(views: [inputModeLabel, inputModeControl])
         inputModeRow.orientation = .horizontal
         inputModeRow.spacing = 8
@@ -155,6 +171,10 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
         levelRow.orientation = .horizontal
         levelRow.spacing = 8
 
+        let inputGainRow = NSStackView(views: [inputGainLabel, inputGainSlider, inputGainValueLabel])
+        inputGainRow.orientation = .horizontal
+        inputGainRow.spacing = 8
+
         // Notifications
         let notificationsHeader = NSTextField(labelWithString: "Notifications")
         notificationsHeader.font = .boldSystemFont(ofSize: NSFont.systemFontSize)
@@ -177,8 +197,8 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
         volumeRow.orientation = .horizontal
         volumeRow.spacing = 8
 
-        let stack = NSStackView(views: [inputModeRow, vadRow, pttRow, deviceRow, levelRow,
-                                        notificationsHeader, soundsCheckbox, volumeRow,
+        let stack = NSStackView(views: [inputModeRow, vadRow, inputGainRow, pttRow, deviceRow,
+                                        levelRow, notificationsHeader, soundsCheckbox, volumeRow,
                                         speechCheckbox, selfTalkCheckbox, pttSoundCheckbox])
         stack.orientation = .vertical
         stack.spacing = 12
@@ -194,6 +214,7 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
             stack.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: contentView.bottomAnchor),
 
             vadSlider.widthAnchor.constraint(greaterThanOrEqualToConstant: 200),
+            inputGainSlider.widthAnchor.constraint(greaterThanOrEqualToConstant: 180),
             levelMeter.widthAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: 200),
             devicePicker.widthAnchor.constraint(greaterThanOrEqualToConstant: 180),
             soundsVolumeSlider.widthAnchor.constraint(greaterThanOrEqualToConstant: 200),
@@ -235,9 +256,15 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
         case .alwaysOn:        inputModeControl.selectedSegment = 2
         }
 
+        // Restore the slider from the persisted threshold (invert vadThresholdFromSlider) so a
+        // relaunch shows the saved sensitivity, not the default mid-point.
+        vadSliderValue = vadSliderFromThreshold(mc.vadThresholdValue)
         vadSlider.doubleValue = vadSliderValue
         pttKeyLabel.stringValue = "(\(keyCodeName(mc.pttKeyCode)))"
 
+        inputGainSlider.doubleValue = Double(mc.inputGain * 100)
+        updateInputGainLabel()
+
         updateConditionalControls()
     }
 
@@ -275,6 +302,21 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
         }
     }
 
+    @objc private func inputGainChanged() {
+        let gain = Float(inputGainSlider.doubleValue) / 100.0
+        mainController?.inputGain = gain
+        updateInputGainLabel()
+        if let mc = mainController, mc.micStreamId != 0 {
+            client.setInputGain(gain)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func updateInputGainLabel() {
+        let pct = Int(inputGainSlider.doubleValue.rounded())
+        inputGainValueLabel.stringValue = "\(pct)%"
+        inputGainSlider.setAccessibilityValue("\(pct) percent")
+    }
+
     @objc private func changePttClicked() {
         guard let mc = mainController else { return }
         let sheet = PttKeyCaptureSheet(currentKeyCode: mc.pttKeyCode)
@@ -346,6 +388,12 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
         0.1 * (1.0 - Float(vadSlider.doubleValue - 1.0) / 99.0)
     }
 
+    /// Inverse of vadThresholdFromSlider: map a stored threshold back to a 1…100 slider position.
+    private func vadSliderFromThreshold(_ threshold: Float) -> Double {
+        let clamped = min(max(threshold, 0.0), 0.1)
+        return Double(1.0 + (1.0 - clamped / 0.1) * 99.0)
+    }
+
     private func presentSheet(_ vc: NSViewController) {
         if let cvc = window?.contentViewController {
             cvc.presentAsSheet(vc)