Saima-AI · paskhalyan · Apr 2, 2026
diff --git a/docs.json b/docs.json
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@
             "group": "Features",
             "pages": [
               "guides/features/pipecat-flows",
+              "guides/features/hecttor",
               "guides/features/krisp-viva",
               "guides/features/whatsapp",
               "guides/features/gemini-live",
@@ -271,6 +272,7 @@
                 "pages": [
                   "server/utilities/audio/aic-filter",
                   "server/utilities/audio/audio-buffer-processor",
+                  "server/utilities/audio/hecttor-filter",
                   "server/utilities/audio/koala-filter",
                   "server/utilities/audio/krisp-viva-filter",
                   "server/utilities/audio/krisp-viva-vad-analyzer",

diff --git a/guides/features/hecttor.mdx b/guides/features/hecttor.mdx
@@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
+---
+title: "Hecttor"
+sidebarTitle: "Hecttor"
+description: "Learn how to integrate Hecttor's audio denoising into your Pipecat application"
+---
+
+## Overview
+
+Hecttor's SDK provides real-time audio denoising for Pipecat applications using deep learning. It removes background noise and enhances speech clarity with two specialized modes:
+
+- **ASR Mode** — Optimized for speech recognition pipelines. Preserves speech characteristics important for transcription accuracy, leading to fewer errors and better STT results.
+- **Human Mode** — Optimized for human listeners. Includes optional voice boost (multi-band compressor) that increases speech loudness and clarity.
+
+<CardGroup cols={2}>
+  <Card
+    title="HecttorFilter Reference"
+    icon="code"
+    href="/server/utilities/audio/hecttor-filter"
+  >
+    API reference for audio denoising
+  </Card>
+  <Card
+    title="Hecttor Example"
+    icon="play"
+    href="https://github.com/pipecat-ai/pipecat/blob/main/examples/foundational/07zm-interruptible-hecttor.py"
+  >
+    Complete example with Hecttor denoising
+  </Card>
+  <Card
+    title="Hecttor"
+    icon="globe"
+    href="https://hecttor.ai"
+  >
+    Learn more about Hecttor
+  </Card>
+</CardGroup>
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+To use Hecttor with Pipecat, you need:
+
+1. A Hecttor API key
+2. The `hecttor_sdk` Python wheel for your platform
+
+<Tip>
+  Get your API key and download the SDK from the [Hecttor admin panel](https://admin.hecttor.ai).
+</Tip>
+
+## Setup
+
+### Download the Python SDK
+
+1. Log in to the [Hecttor admin panel](https://admin.hecttor.ai)
+2. Download the `hecttor_sdk` wheel file for your platform and Python version
+
+### Install the SDK
+
+Install the wheel file you downloaded:
+
+```bash
+pip install hecttor_sdk-<version>-<python>-<platform>.whl
+```
+
+For example, on macOS ARM64 with Python 3.10:
+
+```bash
+pip install hecttor_sdk-2.1.0-cp310-cp310-macosx_15_0_arm64.whl
+```
+
+Then install the pipecat Hecttor extra:
+
+```bash
+pip install "pipecat-ai[hecttor]"
+```
+
+### Set up environment variables
+
+Add your Hecttor API key to your `.env` file:
+
+```bash
+HECTTOR_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
+```
+
+## Test the integration
+
+You're ready to test! Try running the [Hecttor foundational example](https://github.com/pipecat-ai/pipecat/blob/main/examples/foundational/07zm-interruptible-hecttor.py), which demonstrates audio denoising with Deepgram STT, OpenAI LLM, and Cartesia TTS.
+
+<Tip>
+  Learn how to [run foundational
+  examples](https://github.com/pipecat-ai/pipecat/blob/main/examples/README.md)
+  in Pipecat.
+</Tip>
+
+## Audio Denoising
+
+`HecttorFilter` removes background noise from the user's audio in real-time. Add it to any transport via the `audio_in_filter` parameter.
+
+### ASR Mode (for STT pipelines)
+
+Use ASR mode when the audio will be processed by a speech-to-text service. This mode preserves speech features that are important for accurate transcription.
+
+```python
+import os
+from pipecat.audio.filters.hecttor_filter import HecttorFilter
+from pipecat.transports.base_transport import TransportParams
+
+hecttor_filter = HecttorFilter(
+    api_key=os.getenv("HECTTOR_API_KEY"),
+    mode="asr",
+)
+
+transport = SmallWebRTCTransport(
+    webrtc_connection=webrtc_connection,
+    params=TransportParams(
+        audio_in_enabled=True,
+        audio_in_filter=hecttor_filter,
+        audio_out_enabled=True,
+    ),
+)
+```
+
+### Human Mode (with voice boost)
+
+Use Human mode when the audio will be heard by human listeners (e.g., recordings or call forwarding). Enable voice boost for louder, clearer speech.
+
+```python
+import os
+from pipecat.audio.filters.hecttor_filter import HecttorFilter
+from pipecat.transports.daily.transport import DailyParams, DailyTransport
+
+hecttor_filter = HecttorFilter(
+    api_key=os.getenv("HECTTOR_API_KEY"),
+    mode="human",
+    enable_voice_boost=True,
+)
+
+transport = DailyTransport(
+    room_url,
+    token,
+    "Respond bot",
+    DailyParams(
+        audio_in_enabled=True,
+        audio_in_filter=hecttor_filter,
+        audio_out_enabled=True,
+    ),
+)
+```
+
+### Fine-tuning Enhancement
+
+Use the `enhancer_weight` parameter to blend between original and enhanced audio:
+
+```python
+hecttor_filter = HecttorFilter(
+    api_key=os.getenv("HECTTOR_API_KEY"),
+    mode="asr",
+    enhancer_weight=0.8,  # 80% enhanced, 20% original
+)
+```
+
+### Runtime Toggle
+
+Disable and re-enable denoising at runtime using `FilterEnableFrame`:
+
+```python
+from pipecat.frames.frames import FilterEnableFrame
+
+# Disable denoising
+await task.queue_frame(FilterEnableFrame(False))
+
+# Re-enable denoising
+await task.queue_frame(FilterEnableFrame(True))
+```
+
+See the [HecttorFilter reference](/server/utilities/audio/hecttor-filter) for all configuration options.
diff --git a/server/utilities/audio/hecttor-filter.mdx b/server/utilities/audio/hecttor-filter.mdx
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+---
+title: "HecttorFilter"
+description: "Audio denoising filter using the Hecttor SDK"
+---
+
+## Overview
+
+`HecttorFilter` is an audio processor that enhances speech in real-time audio streams using the Hecttor SDK's neural network-based denoising. It inherits from `BaseAudioFilter` and processes audio frames to remove background noise before they reach the STT service.
+
+Two enhancement modes are available:
+
+- **ASR mode** — Optimized for speech recognition pipelines. Preserves speech characteristics important for transcription accuracy.
+- **Human mode** — Optimized for human listeners. Includes optional voice boost (multi-band compressor) for speech loudness.
+
+To use Hecttor, you need an API key from the [Hecttor admin panel](https://admin.hecttor.ai).
+
+## Installation
+
+The `hecttor_sdk` package is not available on PyPI. Download the wheel for your platform from the [Hecttor admin panel](https://admin.hecttor.ai) and install it manually:
+
+```bash
+pip install hecttor_sdk-<version>-<platform>.whl
+```
+
+Then install the pipecat Hecttor extra (for dependency tracking):
+
+```bash
+pip install "pipecat-ai[hecttor]"
+```
+
+## Environment Variables
+
+<ParamField path="HECTTOR_API_KEY" type="string" required>
+  Hecttor API key for authentication and usage tracking. Can also be passed directly via the `api_key` constructor parameter.
+</ParamField>
+
+## Constructor Parameters
+
+<ParamField path="api_key" type="str" default="None">
+  Hecttor API key. If not provided, falls back to the `HECTTOR_API_KEY` environment variable.
+</ParamField>
+
+<ParamField path="mode" type="str" default='"asr"'>
+  Enhancement mode. Use `"asr"` for speech recognition pipelines or `"human"` for human listeners.
+</ParamField>
+
+<ParamField path="chunk_size_ms" type="int" default="16">
+  Chunk size in milliseconds for audio processing. Must be a positive multiple of 16.
+</ParamField>
+
+<ParamField path="enable_voice_boost" type="bool" default="False">
+  Enable voice boost post-processing (multi-band compressor for speech loudness). Only applies in `"human"` mode.
+</ParamField>
+
+<ParamField path="enhancer_weight" type="float" default="1.0">
+  Blend factor between original and enhanced audio. `1.0` = fully enhanced, `0.0` = original audio.
+</ParamField>
+
+## Supported Sample Rates
+
+The filter supports the following sample rates (the SDK automatically resamples internally):
+
+- 4000 Hz
+- 8000 Hz
+- 16000 Hz
+- 24000 Hz
+- 32000 Hz
+- 44100 Hz
+- 48000 Hz
+
+## Input Frames
+
+<ParamField path="FilterEnableFrame" type="Frame">
+  Control frame to toggle filtering on/off at runtime.
+
+```python
+from pipecat.frames.frames import FilterEnableFrame
+
+# Disable denoising
+await task.queue_frame(FilterEnableFrame(False))
+
+# Re-enable denoising
+await task.queue_frame(FilterEnableFrame(True))
+```
+
+</ParamField>
+
+## Usage Example
+
+### ASR Mode (for STT pipelines)
+
+```python
+import os
+from pipecat.audio.filters.hecttor_filter import HecttorFilter
+from pipecat.transports.daily.transport import DailyParams, DailyTransport
+
+hecttor_filter = HecttorFilter(
+    api_key=os.getenv("HECTTOR_API_KEY"),
+    mode="asr",
+)
+
+transport = DailyTransport(
+    room_url,
+    token,
+    "Respond bot",
+    DailyParams(
+        audio_in_enabled=True,
+        audio_in_filter=hecttor_filter,
+        audio_out_enabled=True,
+    ),
+)
+```
+
+### Human Mode (with voice boost)
+
+```python
+import os
+from pipecat.audio.filters.hecttor_filter import HecttorFilter
+from pipecat.transports.daily.transport import DailyParams, DailyTransport
+
+hecttor_filter = HecttorFilter(
+    api_key=os.getenv("HECTTOR_API_KEY"),
+    mode="human",
+    enable_voice_boost=True,
+)
+
+transport = DailyTransport(
+    room_url,
+    token,
+    "Respond bot",
+    DailyParams(
+        audio_in_enabled=True,
+        audio_in_filter=hecttor_filter,
+        audio_out_enabled=True,
+    ),
+)
+```
+
+### Other Transports
+
+The filter works with any transport that supports `audio_in_filter`:
+
+```python
+from pipecat.transports.websocket.fastapi import FastAPIWebsocketParams
+
+# Twilio / WebSocket
+params = FastAPIWebsocketParams(
+    audio_in_enabled=True,
+    audio_in_filter=hecttor_filter,
+    audio_out_enabled=True,
+)
+```
+
+## Notes
+
+- The Hecttor SDK is not publicly available on PyPI. Download the wheel from the [Hecttor admin panel](https://admin.hecttor.ai).
+- The SDK requires outbound HTTPS access for API key authentication on initialization.
+- ASR mode is recommended when the audio will be processed by a speech-to-text service.
+- Human mode with voice boost is recommended when the audio will be heard by human listeners.
+- The `enhancer_weight` parameter lets you blend between original and enhanced audio for fine-tuning.
+- The filter introduces minimal latency (~6ms processing per 16ms audio chunk).
+- Internal neural network state is maintained across chunks for seamless streaming.
+- Call `reset_caches()` via the filter's `stop()`/`start()` cycle to reset state for a new audio stream.