USB conference Mic/Speaker plugged into Raspberry with HA

[nimble moon]

Hello everyone,

I am running Home Assistant OS on a Raspberry Pi and would like to use a local connected USB conference mic/speaker device for local voice control (wake word, speech input, and audio output).

From ha audio info, the device is detected correctly as an ALSA/PipeWire input and output, but I am unsure about the correct way to configure it properly. Has anyone successfully managed to run a USB microphone/speaker on Home Assistant OS?

I am even not able to play a sound on the speaker via USB.

If so, I would appreciate a short description of the working configuration and any pitfalls to avoid.

Thank you in advance.

[latent thunder]

this is not really something that is supported, for the most part people don't plug these devices into their server...

[viscid ocean]

Why is this? Just not implemented?

I ask because Home Assistent normally runs in an environment where this actually does make some sense.

[latent thunder]

I would disagree with this statement. most people tend to have their server out of the way.

[last nest]

Yeah, server should be hidden. Satellites can be visible (if there's no good way to hide them as well).

[viscid ocean]

Where are they generally located? Serious question. This came as a genuine surprise to me.

In my case (with the server just on a table somewhere) having a local USB speaker seemed like the obvious choice. Also, the existence of the PulseAudio addon suggested that local sound devices are meant to be used, as otherwise there would be no reason for this addon to exist.

In my case, setting up a satellite is annoying because I use iOS and my server requires client certificate authentication via NGINX. I’ll have to switch to a VPN instead, which opens up an auth bypass because of an unpatched vulnerability in the NGINX addon only does so if session reuse is enabled.

[latent thunder]

I imagine the most common place people have them is say next to their router for ease of plugging it into it.
mine is in the server rack under the stairs (which I guess is next to my router too 😛)

There are a bunch of addons that do allow for various things to be done. but addons are additional containers to run additional software that is not part of the core system.
some people have got stuff working directly plugged in but its not really the intended way.

[viscid ocean]

My router happens to be in the living room, which is also where I want the speaker to be. I am actually surprised this is not more common. Are most uses of Home Assistant in large homes?

[latent thunder]

home assistant is used in all manner of homes (and other places) but i am sure than in general that most people hide the servers away somewhat.