raspOVOS

Troubleshoot audio

Most “it doesn’t answer” reports are audio plumbing. Work down this list.

1. See what the system sees

ovos-audio-diagnostics

This prints the detected sound server (PipeWire on stock images), the available outputs, and the current default. No output devices listed → hardware/cabling problem. Wrong default → step 3.

2. Is the mic heard?

wpctl status                 # find your source (microphone) id
arecord -d 3 test.wav && aplay test.wav   # record 3s and play it back

If the recording is silent, check wpctl volume/mute on the source: wpctl set-volume <id> 1.0 / wpctl set-mute <id> 0.

3. Wrong output selected

The image auto-picks USB → HAT/DAC → headphone jack → HDMI at boot and on USB hot-plug. To re-run the selection or pick manually:

sudo systemctl restart autoconfigure_soundcard.service   # re-run auto pick
ovos-audio-setup                                          # interactive menu

4. HAT not detected

cat /etc/OpenVoiceOS/i2c_platform     # empty? the board wasn't recognized
sudo i2cdetect -y 1                   # is the board on the bus at all?
sudo systemctl restart i2csound.service

5. Services healthy?

systemctl --user status ovos-listener ovos-audio
journalctl --user -u ovos-listener -e   # listener log (wake word, STT)

Still stuck

Generate a support bundle and ask in the OVOS community channels.

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