fix(audio): address CoreML VAD review feedback

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -6,6 +6,17 @@ This project is expected to follow a Conventional Commits style workflow.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+
+- Apple CoreML-backed Silero VAD is now the preferred Apple voice
+  activity detector when the private sibling `silero-coreml` SwiftPM
+  package is available; WebRTC VAD remains the runtime fallback.
+
+### Changed
+
+- Apple platform floors are raised to iOS 16 and macOS 13 while the
+  CoreML VAD package is linked.
+
 ## [v1.0.0-rc.1] — MVP Public release candidate
 
 This is the first release candidate for the MVP public release per

README.md

@@ -46,13 +46,24 @@ Current platform policy:
 
 | Platform | Baseline |
 |---|---|
-| iOS / iPadOS runtime target | iOS 13+ unless Flutter, plugin, audio, or product constraints require raising it |
+| iOS / iPadOS runtime target | iOS 16+ while Apple CoreML Silero VAD is linked |
+| macOS runtime target | macOS 13+ while Apple CoreML Silero VAD is linked |
 | App Store Connect upload gate | Xcode 26+ with iOS 26 / iPadOS 26 SDK+ for upload on or after 2026-04-28 |
 | Android runtime target | Android API 24+ unless Flutter, plugin, audio, or product constraints require raising it |
 | Google Play target API | Target the Google Play-required API level on upload date |
 
 The App Store / Play Store upload gates are release requirements. They are separate from local development and internal testing requirements.
 
+Apple CoreML VAD development requires the private `silero-coreml` SwiftPM package checked out as a sibling of this repository, so the app checkout and package checkout share the same parent directory:
+
+```text
+workspace/
+  chanora/
+  silero-coreml/
+```
+
+The iOS and macOS Xcode projects reference that package via `../../../../silero-coreml` from their project files. GitHub CI skips the unsigned iOS build when the sibling package is unavailable, but local Apple builds need that checkout.
+
 ---
 
 ## Architecture Overview

crates/chanora_audio/src/audio_processing.rs

@@ -100,12 +100,6 @@ pub enum VadBackend {
     Disabled,
 }
 
-#[cfg(target_os = "ios")]
-fn default_vad_backend() -> VadBackend {
-    VadBackend::SileroOnnx
-}
-
-#[cfg(not(target_os = "ios"))]
 fn default_vad_backend() -> VadBackend {
     VadBackend::SileroOnnx
 }
@@ -114,6 +108,9 @@ impl VadBackend {
     /// Stable bridge/debug string.
     pub fn as_str(self) -> &'static str {
         match self {
+            #[cfg(any(target_os = "ios", target_os = "macos"))]
+            Self::SileroOnnx => "apple_coreml",
+            #[cfg(not(any(target_os = "ios", target_os = "macos")))]
             Self::SileroOnnx => "silero_vad_onnx",
             Self::WebrtcVad => "webrtc_vad",
             Self::EnergyDebug => "energy_debug",

crates/chanora_audio/src/engine.rs

@@ -312,7 +312,6 @@ pub struct AudioEngine {
     voice_activity_selector: Option<Arc<crate::TransmitModeSelector>>,
     #[cfg(any(target_os = "ios", target_os = "macos", target_os = "android"))]
     mic_gain: f32,
-    #[cfg(any(target_os = "ios", target_os = "macos"))]
     // Streams must be dropped to stop audio. Both are `!Send` because
     // cpal's Stream isn't Send on some backends; we keep them in an
     // Option wrapped by Mutex so stop() can move them out. On Linux

crates/chanora_audio/src/vad/apple_coreml.rs

@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ pub struct AppleCoreMlVad {
     handle: *mut c_void,
     symbols: AppleSileroSymbols,
     accum: Vec<f32>,
+    frame_scratch: Box<[f32; SILERO_COREML_FRAME_16K]>,
     last_probability: f32,
 }
 
@@ -130,6 +131,7 @@ impl AppleCoreMlVad {
             handle,
             symbols,
             accum: Vec::with_capacity(SILERO_COREML_FRAME_16K),
+            frame_scratch: Box::new([0.0; SILERO_COREML_FRAME_16K]),
             last_probability: 0.0,
         })
     }
@@ -148,14 +150,13 @@ impl AppleCoreMlVad {
         }
     }
 
-    fn calc_level(&mut self, audio_frame: &[f32]) -> f32 {
-        debug_assert_eq!(audio_frame.len(), SILERO_COREML_FRAME_16K);
+    fn calc_level(&mut self) -> f32 {
         let mut probability = self.last_probability;
         let rc = unsafe {
             (self.symbols.process)(
                 self.handle,
-                audio_frame.as_ptr(),
-                audio_frame.len(),
+                self.frame_scratch.as_ptr(),
+                self.frame_scratch.len(),
                 &mut probability,
             )
         };
@@ -183,11 +184,10 @@ impl VoiceActivityDetector for AppleCoreMlVad {
 
         self.accum.extend_from_slice(samples);
         if self.accum.len() >= SILERO_COREML_FRAME_16K {
-            let audio_frame: Vec<f32> = self.accum[..SILERO_COREML_FRAME_16K].to_vec();
-            self.calc_level(&audio_frame);
-            let overflow: Vec<f32> = self.accum.drain(SILERO_COREML_FRAME_16K..).collect();
-            self.accum.clear();
-            self.accum.extend_from_slice(&overflow);
+            self.frame_scratch
+                .copy_from_slice(&self.accum[..SILERO_COREML_FRAME_16K]);
+            self.calc_level();
+            drop(self.accum.drain(..SILERO_COREML_FRAME_16K));
         }
 
         VadOutput {

crates/chanora_audio/src/vad/mod.rs

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 //! Voice activity detection backends and helpers.
 //!
-//! iOS capture feeds VoiceProcessingIO-processed microphone frames into
-//! this module and uses the realtime-safe WebRTC fallback. Other
-//! platforms may use a model-backed detector when available so
-//! VoiceActivity mode never collapses back to Continuous transmit.
+//! Apple capture feeds VoiceProcessingIO/CoreAudio-processed microphone
+//! frames into this module and prefers Apple CoreML Silero VAD when the
+//! Swift bridge is linked. WebRTC VAD remains the realtime-safe fallback;
+//! non-Apple platforms may use ONNX-backed Silero when available.
 
 #[cfg(any(target_os = "ios", target_os = "macos"))]
 pub mod apple_coreml;

docs/security/flutter-license-inventory.md

@@ -294,6 +294,7 @@ OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 SOFTWARE.
 ```
 
+
 ### boolean_selector 2.1.2
 
 ```