Push to talk

A radio's push-to-talk key: it listens only while held, and letting go stops it. Nothing records by accident. For voice input to agents, walkie-talkie chat and dictation.

Voice notes to an agent

Hold the key, or Space, to record a note. Let go to send it.

Not listening

Installation

Add with the CLI

Once per project, add the Bevel registry to components.json.

components.json

{
  "registries": {
    "@bevel": "https://bevel-ui.vercel.app/r/{name}.json"
  }
}

Add Push to talk. This brings in the Bevel foundation, installs cn, and merges the styles into your global CSS.
Terminal
```
npx shadcn@latest add @bevel/push-to-talk
```

Install manually

Install the dependencies.
Terminal
```
pnpm add cn
```

Add the Bevel foundation, if you haven't already. Light, depth, materials, motion and shape tokens, plus the utilities components use to apply them.

styles/bevel.css

/*
 * Bevel foundation. Every component builds on these tokens and utilities;
 * component stylesheets only add their own palettes and shapes.
 *
 * Layers:
 *   1. Light     one source, above and slightly in front of the screen.
 *   2. Depth     named elevations built from the light: recessed, flush,
 *                raised, pressed, object.
 *   3. Material  a surface recipe (leather, plastic, metal) that reads
 *                --bevel-material and --bevel-material-edge.
 *   4. Motion    two curves, a spring, and durations named by purpose.
 *   5. Shape     radii, stitching, and the type scale for amounts.
 */

:root {
  /* 1. Light */
  --bevel-highlight: oklch(1 0 0 / 0.22);
  --bevel-highlight-strong: oklch(1 0 0 / 0.35);
  --bevel-shade: oklch(0 0 0 / 0.32);
  --bevel-shade-strong: oklch(0 0 0 / 0.5);
  --bevel-cast: oklch(0.25 0.03 50 / 0.22);
  /* Stamped into a surface: shaded on the upper inner edge, lit below. */
  --bevel-deboss: 0 -1px 0 oklch(0 0 0 / 0.45), 0 1px 0 oklch(1 0 0 / 0.12);

  /* 3. Material defaults; components and variants override these. */
  --bevel-material: oklch(0.47 0.085 52);
  --bevel-material-edge: oklch(0.3 0.06 44);
  --bevel-material-recess: oklch(0.2 0.008 260); /* neutral dark; materials set their own */
  --bevel-grain: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='180' height='180'%3E%3Cfilter id='g'%3E%3CfeTurbulence type='fractalNoise' baseFrequency='.7' numOctaves='3' stitchTiles='stitch'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .7 0 0 0 0'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' filter='url(%23g)'/%3E%3C/svg%3E");
  --bevel-grain-size: 180px;

  /* 2. Depth */
  --bevel-depth-recessed:
    inset 0 1px 2px var(--bevel-shade-strong),
    0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight);
  --bevel-depth-flush:
    inset 0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight),
    inset 0 -1px 0 var(--bevel-shade);
  --bevel-depth-raised:
    inset 0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight),
    0 1px 0 var(--bevel-material-edge),
    0 2px 0 var(--bevel-material-edge),
    0 3px 5px var(--bevel-shade);
  --bevel-depth-pressed:
    inset 0 1px 2px var(--bevel-shade),
    0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight);
  /* A whole object resting on the page. */
  --bevel-depth-object:
    inset 0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight),
    inset 0 -1px 0 var(--bevel-shade),
    0 0 0 1px var(--bevel-material-edge),
    0 1px 1px var(--bevel-cast),
    0 6px 12px -2px var(--bevel-cast),
    0 18px 32px -8px var(--bevel-cast);
  /* The shadow under a loose object, for filter: drop-shadow(). */
  --bevel-depth-cast-sm: 0 4px 6px var(--bevel-cast);
  /* A thin object (a card) lying on another surface. */
  --bevel-depth-sheet:
    inset 0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight-strong),
    inset 0 0 0 1px oklch(0 0 0 / 0.12),
    0 -1px 2px oklch(0 0 0 / 0.18);

  /* 4. Motion */
  --bevel-ease-out: cubic-bezier(0.23, 1, 0.32, 1);
  --bevel-ease-in-out: cubic-bezier(0.77, 0, 0.175, 1);
  /* Underdamped spring, ~8% overshoot. Pure CSS; pair with --bevel-duration-move or longer. */
  --bevel-ease-spring: linear(0, 0.06, 0.202, 0.38, 0.561, 0.723, 0.856, 0.955, 1.023, 1.062, 1.081, 1.083, 1.075, 1.062, 1.047, 1.032, 1.019, 1.009, 1.002, 0.997, 0.994, 0.993, 0.993, 0.994, 1);
  --bevel-duration-press: 100ms; /* a control giving under a finger */
  --bevel-duration-small: 200ms; /* hover lifts, tabs, small state changes */
  --bevel-duration-move: 300ms; /* objects moving: cards, drawers */
  --bevel-duration-ambient: 520ms; /* whole-scene changes: lighting */
  --bevel-stagger: 30ms;
  --bevel-lift: 3px; /* how far an object rises on hover */
  --bevel-perspective: 30rem; /* viewing distance for parts that turn in 3D (covers, flaps) */
  /* Unchosen items in a group sit back in shadow. */
  --bevel-dim: 0.82;

  /* 5. Shape */
  --bevel-radius-xs: 0.25rem;
  --bevel-radius-sm: 0.5rem;
  --bevel-radius-md: 0.625rem;
  --bevel-radius-lg: 1rem;
  --bevel-radius-xl: 1.5rem;
  --bevel-stitch-width: 1.5px;
  --bevel-stitch-inset: 0.375rem;
  /* Amounts: the figure, its secondary parts (currency, cents), labels, fine print. */
  --bevel-amount: 2.25rem;
  --bevel-amount-minor: 1.25rem;
  --bevel-label: 0.75rem;
  --bevel-fine: 0.6875rem;
  --bevel-tracking-label: 0.08em; /* stamped labels */
  --bevel-tracking-print: 0.06em; /* printed marks on cards */

  /* Paper and ink */
  --bevel-paper: oklch(0.975 0.008 85);
  --bevel-paper-foreground: oklch(0.28 0.02 260);
  --bevel-paper-muted: oklch(0.48 0.015 260);
  --bevel-paper-rule: oklch(0.78 0.04 240 / 0.45);
  --bevel-paper-margin: oklch(0.68 0.14 25 / 0.45);
  --bevel-fibre: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='240' height='240'%3E%3Cfilter id='f'%3E%3CfeTurbulence type='fractalNoise' baseFrequency='.9 .35' numOctaves='2' stitchTiles='stitch'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .18 0 0 0 0'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' filter='url(%23f)'/%3E%3C/svg%3E");
  /* Ink soaks unevenly: mostly solid with pale specks. Used as a mask. */
  --bevel-ink-texture: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='160' height='160'%3E%3Cfilter id='i'%3E%3CfeTurbulence type='fractalNoise' baseFrequency='.85' numOctaves='2' stitchTiles='stitch'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -2.4 0 0 0 2.1'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' filter='url(%23i)'/%3E%3C/svg%3E");
  --bevel-ink-red: oklch(0.52 0.19 27);
  --bevel-ink-blue: oklch(0.44 0.14 262);
  --bevel-ink-green: oklch(0.5 0.12 155);
  --bevel-ink-black: oklch(0.3 0.01 260);
  --bevel-ink-amber: oklch(0.55 0.13 65);

  /* Brass and ivory: instrument hardware and dial faces */
  --bevel-brass: oklch(0.76 0.11 82);
  --bevel-brass-edge: oklch(0.52 0.08 70);
  --bevel-ivory: oklch(0.95 0.025 90);
  --bevel-ivory-foreground: oklch(0.25 0.015 60);
  --bevel-needle: oklch(0.55 0.2 27);

  /* Desk stationery: legal pads, pens, pencils, exhibit stickers */
  --bevel-pad: oklch(0.95 0.075 98); /* yellow legal pad */
  --bevel-pad-foreground: oklch(0.27 0.03 255);
  --bevel-pad-rule: oklch(0.72 0.06 235 / 0.45);
  --bevel-pad-margin: oklch(0.62 0.16 25 / 0.55);
  --bevel-pen-red: oklch(0.52 0.2 27); /* correcting pen */
  --bevel-pen-blue: oklch(0.42 0.15 262); /* writing pen */
  --bevel-pencil: oklch(0.55 0.01 260); /* not written in ink yet */
  --bevel-sticker: oklch(0.9 0.12 95); /* exhibit sticker */
  --bevel-sticker-foreground: oklch(0.26 0.03 70);
  /* Handwriting. Bring a marker font (e.g. Permanent Marker) for the full effect; these are fallbacks. */
  --bevel-font-marker: "Permanent Marker", "Marker Felt", "Chalkboard SE", ui-rounded, "Arial Rounded MT Bold", system-ui, sans-serif;
}

.dark {
  --bevel-highlight: oklch(1 0 0 / 0.14);
  /* Paper under dim light, not inverted: it's still paper. */
  --bevel-paper: oklch(0.88 0.008 85);
  --bevel-ivory: oklch(0.86 0.022 90);
  --bevel-pad: oklch(0.86 0.07 98);
  --bevel-cast: oklch(0 0 0 / 0.55);
}

/* Depth */
@utility bevel-recessed {
  background-color: var(--bevel-material-recess);
  box-shadow: var(--bevel-depth-recessed);
}
@utility bevel-flush {
  box-shadow: var(--bevel-depth-flush);
}
@utility bevel-raised {
  background-color: color-mix(in oklch, var(--bevel-material), white 7%);
  background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--bevel-highlight), transparent 60%);
  box-shadow: var(--bevel-depth-raised);
}
@utility bevel-pressed {
  background-color: color-mix(in oklch, var(--bevel-material), black 4%);
  background-image: none;
  box-shadow: var(--bevel-depth-pressed);
}
@utility bevel-object {
  box-shadow: var(--bevel-depth-object);
}

/* Materials */
@utility bevel-leather {
  background-color: var(--bevel-material);
  background-image:
    var(--bevel-grain),
    linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--bevel-highlight), transparent 28%, transparent 72%, var(--bevel-shade));
  background-size: var(--bevel-grain-size) var(--bevel-grain-size), 100% 100%;
  background-blend-mode: soft-light, normal;
}
@utility bevel-plastic {
  background-color: var(--bevel-material);
  background-image:
    linear-gradient(115deg, var(--bevel-highlight-strong), transparent 40%),
    linear-gradient(to bottom, transparent 25%, oklch(0 0 0 / 0.45));
  box-shadow: var(--bevel-depth-sheet);
}
@utility bevel-metal {
  background-color: var(--bevel-material);
  background-image:
    linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--bevel-highlight-strong), transparent 45%, var(--bevel-shade) 100%),
    repeating-linear-gradient(90deg, oklch(1 0 0 / 0.06) 0 1px, transparent 1px 3px);
  box-shadow:
    inset 0 0 0 1px oklch(0 0 0 / 0.25),
    inset 0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight-strong);
}

/* Details */
@utility bevel-deboss {
  text-shadow: var(--bevel-deboss);
}
@utility bevel-stitch {
  border-color: var(--bevel-stitch, oklch(0.88 0.05 82 / 0.8));
  border-style: dashed;
  border-width: var(--bevel-stitch-width);
  filter: drop-shadow(0 1px 0 var(--bevel-shade));
}
/* A lit fill sitting in a recess (meters, progress). Colour from --bevel-fill. */
@utility bevel-fill {
  background-color: var(--bevel-fill);
  background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, oklch(1 0 0 / 0.55), transparent 55%, oklch(0 0 0 / 0.18));
  box-shadow: 0 0 6px -1px var(--bevel-fill);
}
/* A small indicator light. Colour from --bevel-led. */
@utility bevel-led {
  background-color: var(--bevel-led);
  background-image: radial-gradient(circle at 35% 30%, oklch(1 0 0 / 0.85), transparent 45%);
  box-shadow:
    0 0 6px var(--bevel-led),
    inset 0 -1px 1px oklch(0 0 0 / 0.35),
    0 1px 0 var(--bevel-highlight);
}

/* Paper: a sheet resting on the surface, with fibre in it. */
@utility bevel-paper {
  background-color: var(--bevel-paper);
  background-image: var(--bevel-fibre);
  background-size: 240px 240px;
  color: var(--bevel-paper-foreground);
  box-shadow:
    0 1px 1px var(--bevel-cast),
    0 6px 14px -4px var(--bevel-cast);
}
/* Ink on paper: multiplies into the surface and soaks unevenly. Colour from --bevel-ink. */
@utility bevel-ink {
  color: var(--bevel-ink, var(--bevel-ink-red));
  border-color: currentColor;
  mix-blend-mode: multiply;
  mask-image: var(--bevel-ink-texture);
  mask-size: 160px 160px;
}
/* Glass over an instrument window: one reflection from the light above. Put on an overlay element. */
@utility bevel-glass {
  pointer-events: none;
  background-image: linear-gradient(165deg, var(--bevel-highlight-strong) 0%, transparent 38%, transparent 70%, var(--bevel-shade) 100%);
}

/* Material families: one per screen. Set on the screen's container. */
[data-bevel-family="leather"] {
  --bevel-cast: oklch(0.25 0.03 50 / 0.22);
}
[data-bevel-family="paper"] {
  --bevel-cast: oklch(0.3 0.01 250 / 0.16);
}
.dark :is([data-bevel-family="leather"], [data-bevel-family="paper"]) {
  --bevel-cast: oklch(0 0 0 / 0.55);
}

/*
 * Ruled paper: rules every --bevel-rule-height and a margin line at
 * --bevel-rule-margin. Set --bevel-sheet for the paper colour. The ruling
 * scrolls with the content.
 */
@utility bevel-ruled {
  background-color: var(--bevel-sheet, var(--bevel-paper));
  background-image:
    linear-gradient(
      to right,
      transparent calc(var(--bevel-rule-margin) - 1px),
      var(--bevel-sheet-margin, var(--bevel-paper-margin)) calc(var(--bevel-rule-margin) - 1px) calc(var(--bevel-rule-margin) + 1px),
      transparent calc(var(--bevel-rule-margin) + 1px)
    ),
    repeating-linear-gradient(
      to bottom,
      transparent 0 calc(var(--bevel-rule-height) - 1px),
      var(--bevel-sheet-rule, var(--bevel-paper-rule)) calc(var(--bevel-rule-height) - 1px) var(--bevel-rule-height)
    ),
    var(--bevel-fibre);
  background-size: 100% 100%, 100% 100%, 240px 240px;
  background-attachment: local;
  color: var(--bevel-paper-foreground);
  box-shadow:
    0 1px 1px var(--bevel-cast),
    0 6px 14px -4px var(--bevel-cast);
}

Copy push-to-talk.tsx into components/ui.

components/push-to-talk.tsx

"use client"

import * as React from "react"
import { cn } from "cn"

type PushToTalkContextValue = { talking: boolean; disabled: boolean; setTalking: (talking: boolean) => void }

const PushToTalkContext = React.createContext<PushToTalkContextValue | null>(null)

function usePushToTalk() {
  const context = React.useContext(PushToTalkContext)
  if (!context) throw new Error("PushToTalk parts must be inside <PushToTalk>")
  return context
}

type PushToTalkProps = Omit<React.ComponentProps<"div">, "onChange"> & {
  /** Whether the key is held right now. Set it from onTalkingChange. */
  talking: boolean
  /** Called with true when the key goes down and false when it's let go. */
  onTalkingChange?: (talking: boolean) => void
  disabled?: boolean
}

/**
 * A push-to-talk radio: it listens only while the key is held, with the
 * pointer or Space. Letting go, leaving, or losing focus stops it.
 */
function PushToTalk({ className, talking, onTalkingChange, disabled = false, children, ...props }: PushToTalkProps) {
  return (
    <PushToTalkContext value={{ talking, disabled, setTalking: (t) => onTalkingChange?.(t) }}>
      <div
        data-slot="push-to-talk"
        data-talking={talking ? "" : undefined}
        className={cn(
          "bevel-plastic bevel-object flex w-56 flex-col items-center gap-4 rounded-(--bevel-radius-xl) p-5 text-(--bevel-ivory)",
          className
        )}
        {...props}
      >
        <span aria-hidden className="push-to-talk-grille h-12 w-full rounded-(--bevel-radius-md) shadow-(--bevel-depth-recessed)" />
        {children}
      </div>
    </PushToTalkContext>
  )
}

/** The key. A toggle button that's pressed only while held. */
function PushToTalkKey({ className, children = "Hold to talk", ...props }: React.ComponentProps<"button">) {
  const { talking, disabled, setTalking } = usePushToTalk()
  // Pointer up, lost capture and blur can all arrive for one release: report it once.
  const held = React.useRef(false)
  const start = () => {
    if (disabled || held.current) return
    held.current = true
    setTalking(true)
  }
  const stop = () => {
    if (!held.current) return
    held.current = false
    setTalking(false)
  }
  return (
    <button
      type="button"
      data-slot="push-to-talk-key"
      aria-pressed={talking}
      disabled={disabled}
      onPointerDown={(event) => {
        if (event.button !== 0) return
        event.currentTarget.setPointerCapture(event.pointerId)
        start()
      }}
      onPointerUp={stop}
      onPointerCancel={stop}
      onLostPointerCapture={stop}
      onKeyDown={(event) => {
        if (event.key !== " ") return
        event.preventDefault()
        if (!event.repeat) start()
      }}
      onKeyUp={(event) => {
        if (event.key === " ") stop()
      }}
      // Enter can't be held the way Space can, so it does nothing.
      onClick={(event) => event.preventDefault()}
      onBlur={stop}
      onContextMenu={(event) => event.preventDefault()}
      className={cn(
        "bevel-raised flex h-24 w-full touch-none flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1 rounded-(--bevel-radius-lg) text-sm font-semibold outline-none select-none",
        "transition-[translate,box-shadow] duration-(--bevel-duration-press) ease-(--bevel-ease-out) motion-reduce:transition-none",
        "aria-pressed:translate-y-1 aria-pressed:bevel-pressed",
        "focus-visible:ring-3 focus-visible:ring-(--bevel-ivory)/50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50",
        className
      )}
      {...props}
    >
      <span aria-hidden className="h-1 w-10 rounded-full bg-(--bevel-shade-strong)" />
      {children}
      <span aria-hidden className="h-1 w-10 rounded-full bg-(--bevel-shade-strong)" />
    </button>
  )
}

/** The on-air lamp and what it means, in words. */
function PushToTalkStatus({ className, idle = "Not listening", live = "Listening", ...props }: React.ComponentProps<"p"> & { idle?: string; live?: string }) {
  const { talking } = usePushToTalk()
  return (
    <p data-slot="push-to-talk-status" className={cn("flex items-center gap-2 text-sm", className)} {...props}>
      <span
        aria-hidden
        className={cn(
          "size-2.5 rounded-full transition-opacity duration-(--bevel-duration-press) motion-reduce:transition-none",
          talking ? "bevel-led" : "bg-(--bevel-shade-strong)"
        )}
      />
      <span role="status">{talking ? live : idle}</span>
    </p>
  )
}

export { PushToTalk, PushToTalkKey, PushToTalkStatus }
export type { PushToTalkProps }

Copy push-to-talk.css into your styles.

styles/push-to-talk.css

/*
 * Push-to-talk: a big rubber key on a radio. It records only while held;
 * let go and it stops. Builds on bevel.css (plastic, raised, led).
 */

:root {
  --push-to-talk-body: oklch(0.26 0.01 260); /* handset plastic */
  --push-to-talk-body-edge: oklch(0.18 0.01 260);
  --push-to-talk-key: oklch(0.36 0.01 260); /* rubber key */
  --push-to-talk-live: oklch(0.62 0.22 27);
  --push-to-talk-grille: oklch(0.14 0.01 260);
}

[data-slot="push-to-talk"] {
  --bevel-material: var(--push-to-talk-body);
  --bevel-material-edge: var(--push-to-talk-body-edge);
  --bevel-led: var(--push-to-talk-live);
}
[data-slot="push-to-talk-key"] {
  --bevel-material: var(--push-to-talk-key);
}

/* Speaker grille: rows of holes. */
@utility push-to-talk-grille {
  background-image: radial-gradient(circle, var(--push-to-talk-grille) 35%, transparent 40%);
  background-size: 0.5rem 0.5rem;
}

Import the stylesheets after Tailwind in your global CSS, foundation first.
globals.css
```
@import "./bevel.css";
@import "./push-to-talk.css";
```

Anatomy

Each part is its own component. Leave out the ones you don't need.

Anatomy

<PushToTalk talking={talking} onTalkingChange={setTalking}>
  <PushToTalkKey />
  <PushToTalkStatus />
</PushToTalk>

Parts

Part	Renders	What it does
PushToTalk	div	talking, onTalkingChange(talking), disabled. The radio body and speaker grille.
PushToTalkKey	button (aria-pressed)	Pressed only while held, with the pointer or Space. Releasing, leaving the window or losing focus stops it; Enter does nothing, since it can't be held.
PushToTalkStatus	p + status	The on-air lamp and its words: idle and live, “Not listening” and “Listening” by default.