Ready to build something real? This guide walks you through every setting, so by the end you’ll have a fully configured agent ready to take calls. Don’t worry if some of this feels new — we’ll explain everything as we go.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.blackbox.dasha.ai/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
New to Dasha BlackBox? If you haven’t tried the Quickstart yet, start there. It takes 5 minutes and gives you a feel for how things work.
Before you start
You’ll need:- A Dasha BlackBox account — sign up here if you haven’t already
- An idea of what you want your agent to do (support calls? appointment booking? lead qualification?)
- A rough draft of what you want it to say
What we’re setting up
Here’s everything you can configure. Don’t let the list intimidate you — only the first three are required:| Setting | What it does | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Info | Name, language, personality | ✓ |
| AI Model | The brain that powers conversations | ✓ |
| Voice | How your agent sounds | ✓ |
| Tools | Actions your agent can take (check orders, book appointments) | |
| Schedule | When your agent is available | |
| Features | Extra capabilities like call transfers, knowledge bases | |
| Webhooks | Get notified when calls happen | |
| Phone Setup | Connect to real phone numbers |
Step 1: Basic information
This is where you give your agent an identity.Open the agent builder
Sign in at blackbox.dasha.ai and click Create Agent.
Give it a name
Pick something descriptive — “Customer Support Agent” or “Appointment Scheduler” works well. You’ll thank yourself later when you have multiple agents.
Choose a language
Select your agent’s main language. Don’t worry, you can add more languages later if you need them.
Write the system prompt
This is the most important part. Your system prompt tells the agent who it is and how to behave.Start simple — something like:
“You are a friendly customer support agent for [Your Company]. Help customers with their questions. Be concise and helpful. If you don’t know something, say so.”You’ll refine this based on test conversations, so don’t overthink it now.
Step 2: Choose your AI model
The AI model is your agent’s brain — it determines how smart and natural the conversations feel.Pick a provider
We support OpenAI, Groq, DeepSeek, and others. OpenAI is a safe choice if you’re not sure.
Select a model
For most use cases, GPT-4.1-mini hits the sweet spot between quality and speed. If you need maximum intelligence, try GPT-4.1. If speed is critical, Groq models are lightning fast.
Dive deeper into LLM settings
Learn about all the model options and when to use each one
Step 3: Pick a voice
This is where your agent gets its sound. It’s worth spending a few minutes here — the right voice makes a big difference.Choose a provider
ElevenLabs has the most natural-sounding voices. Cartesia is the fastest. Try a few and see what feels right for your brand.
Browse voices
Click Preview on any voice to hear a sample. Look for one that matches the personality you want — professional, friendly, calm, energetic.
Explore all voice options
Compare providers, preview voices, and learn about voice cloning
Step 4: Add tools (optional)
Tools let your agent do things, not just talk. Want it to check order status? Book appointments? Look up customer info? That’s what tools are for.Describe what it does
Write a clear description — this helps the AI know when to use it. Example: “Use this when the customer asks about their order status.”
Learn how tools work
Full guide to setting up tools, webhooks, and integrations
Step 5: Set a schedule (optional)
By default, your agent is available 24/7. If you want it to follow business hours, set that up here.
What happens outside business hours? You can have the agent:
- Tell callers your hours and end the call
- Take a message
- Transfer to an after-hours number
Scheduling options
Set up business hours, holidays, and after-hours handling
Step 6: Enable features (optional)
These are extra capabilities you can turn on:- Fillers — Add natural “um” and “uh” sounds while thinking
- Call transfers — Hand off to humans when needed
- Knowledge base — Give your agent documents to reference
- Silence management — Handle awkward pauses gracefully
Explore all features
Full list of available features and how to configure them
Step 7: Set up webhooks (optional)
Webhooks notify your systems when things happen — a call starts, a call ends, the agent needs help.Add a start webhook
Get notified when a call begins. Useful for logging or pulling up customer info.
Webhook setup guide
Learn about webhook events, payloads, and security
Step 8: Save and test
Almost there! Let’s make sure everything works.
Congratulations! You’ve built a complete voice agent. From here, it’s all about testing, learning, and refining.
Building with the API?
If you prefer code, here’s how to create an agent programmatically:API example: Create an agent
API example: Create an agent
What’s next?
Test your agent
Learn testing strategies and how to debug issues
Get a phone number
Put your agent on a real phone line
Add to your website
Embed your agent as a web widget
Go to production
Everything to check before going live