How can I play a mp4 sound file when a

[cinder moat]

https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/media_player#service-media_playerplay_media

You need to have some media player integration configured and working though

[fervent wigeon]

yeah but I don't find it in, is it universal media player? because that and vlc are the only 2 things that show up

[cinder moat]

https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations#media-player

There's 80 built in options, plus countless custom ones

You need at least one of those set up, one that supports whatever you want to play the sound on

[fervent wigeon]

ah so I need to have one of those and then I can play the media?

but where do I select audio output device?

[cinder moat]

You select the media player entity you want

And that's provided by the integration

You need to go back to the start though - what do you want to play the sound on?

[fervent wigeon]

on the server that is running home assistant

I have a speaker connected to it

[cinder moat]

Yeah, that's ... going to be a challenge

[fervent wigeon]

how else can I do it?

[cinder moat]

Google found me https://community.home-assistant.io/t/required-a-step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-play-sounds-and-media-through-a-3-5mm-audio-jack/271478, but I've no idea if it works

Most people use some form of smart speaker, like Sonos

[fervent wigeon]

Ah okay, I've found this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq3gek41_-I but I couldn't get vlc working but according to this video it should work?

[cinder moat]

No idea

I use Google Home devices, or Sonos

Playing audio through a speaker on my HA host would be totally pointless given where it's located

[fervent wigeon]

ah okay but they are pretty expensive

[fervent wigeon]

for me it's perfectly fine

[cinder moat]

Well, I like listening to music, so Sonos makes a lot of sense

And Google Home devices are pretty cheap

(Also, Ikea do Sonos speakers at a fraction of the price of actual Sonos branded ones)