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

# Set call limits and voicemail behavior

> Configure duration, silence handling, recording, and a voicemail message for an assistant.

Use **Call Settings** to configure what happens during and after a voice call. Voice selection and speech tuning live in [Voice Studio](/v3/voice-studio).

## Set duration limits

1. Open the assistant and choose **Call Settings**.
2. In **Duration**, set **Max call time** in minutes.
3. Set **Silence timeout** in seconds.
4. Wait for the settings to save.
5. Publish the assistant.

Max call time is the overall call-duration limit. Silence timeout controls the allowed idle period; it is not the same as the conversational turn-taking threshold. Choose values that allow a caller to answer without leaving abandoned calls open unnecessarily.

The duration controls have validation bounds, and the voice provider also applies its supported limits. If a value is rejected or does not behave as expected, check the saved value and test a controlled call.

## Configure voicemail

In **Voicemail → Message**, enter the text to leave when voicemail is detected. Leave it blank if the assistant should stop without leaving that message. Publish the change and test against a voicemail box you control.

This setting specifies the response to detected voicemail; it is not a guarantee that every answering machine will be recognized. See [voicemail handling](/v3/guides/voice/voicemail).

## Review other settings

* **Recording:** configure call and transcript recording, including whether recording stops when the assistant conversation ends.
* **Ambient sound:** choose a soundscape and its volume if needed.
* **Incoming webhook / Post-call webhook:** configure an integration only when you have an endpoint prepared for the event and have verified its response.

## Settings reference

Defaults below describe a fresh settings form; an existing assistant loads its saved values.

| Setting | Options, units, and limits |
| - | - |
| **Record calls and transcripts** | On/off; on by default. Turning it off opts out of sensitive call-data storage. |
| **Stop recording when conversation ends** | On/off; off by default. Shown when recording is on. When enabled, recording stops when the assistant conversation ends, including assistant hangup or transfer, instead of waiting for the entire call to end. |
| **Max call time** | Minutes; minimum 1, default 30. The editor does not publish a maximum value; this is not a promise of unlimited carrier duration. |
| **Silence timeout** | Seconds; 10–14,400, default 60. Controls how long a silent conversation can remain open. |
| **Soundscape** | **Silence**, **Office**, **Coffee Shop**, **Convention Hall**, or **Outdoor**. Silence is the fresh-form default and plays no background sound. |
| **Volume** | Shown for a soundscape that supports volume. 0.1–1.0 in steps of 0.1; fresh-form starting value 0.5. This is background audio volume, not the assistant's speaking volume. |
| Voicemail **Message** | Blank by default. Nonempty text supplies the message to leave when voicemail is detected; blank stops without leaving a message. |
| **Incoming webhook** | Optional call-start URL; blank by default. Its response does not synchronously customize the opening conversation. |
| **Post-call webhook** | Optional results URL; blank by default. See the complete [webhook field reference](/v3/guides/call-results/webhooks). |

Each section's reset action returns that section to its form defaults. Changes auto-save; wait for **Saved** before testing. Voice-provider, greeting, and speech controls have their own [Voice Settings](/v3/voice-settings) and [Voice Studio](/v3/voice-studio) references.

## Verify the change

Run a short test that exercises the changed setting. Confirm the call's actual duration or ending, and inspect the resulting record or webhook receipt when applicable. A **Saved** indicator confirms the edit was stored; use Publish and a call to check the deployed behavior.

For greeting and voicemail API semantics, use [Voice Settings](/v3/voice-settings).


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.