Files
advanced-camera-card/docs/usage/2-way-audio.md
T
Dermot Duffy 85d6811761 fix: Release the microphone to the browser when a call ends (#2685)
The microphone is connected when a call needs it and released the moment
that
call ends, so the browser stops reporting it as in use at hangup rather
than
`disconnect_seconds` later.

Existing configurations are migrated automatically by the visual editor.

 - Closes: #2681 

BREAKING CHANGE: `live.microphone.disconnect_seconds` is removed. The
microphone is released when a call ends, so there is no idle countdown
to
configure. Use `live.microphone.always_connected` to hold it open
instead.

BREAKING CHANGE: The `microphone_connect` and `microphone_disconnect`
actions
are removed. The card owns the microphone lifecycle; `microphone_mute`
and
`microphone_unmute` remain.

BREAKING CHANGE: `call` is removed from `live.microphone.auto_mute`,
whose
default is now `[]`. The microphone is muted when a call ends regardless
of
this option.

BREAKING CHANGE: `microphone_unmute` has no effect outside a call.
Nothing
carries the audio at any other time, so the request is ignored rather
than
opening the microphone.
2026-08-14 16:17:31 -07:00

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Markdown

# 2-way Audio
This card supports 2-way audio (e.g. transmitting audio from a microphone to a
suitably equipped camera). In general, due to the myriad of different cameras,
security requirements and browser limitations getting 2-way to work may be
challenging.
## Requirements
### Environmental requirements
- Must have a camera that supports audio out (otherwise what's the point!)
- Camera must be supported by `go2rtc` for 2-way audio (see [supported cameras](https://github.com/AlexxIT/go2rtc#two-way-audio)).
- Must be accessing your Home Assistant instance over `https`. The browser will enforce this.
### Card requirements
- Only Frigate cameras are supported.
- Only the `go2rtc` and `go2rtc-experimental` live providers are supported.
- Only the `webrtc` mode supports 2-way audio.
If your setup supports 2-way audio but detection is intermittent on load:
- Increase `cameras[].go2rtc.metadata_fetch_timeout_seconds`.
- Or force the capability with `cameras[].capabilities.force: ['2-way-audio']`.
## Example configuration
```yaml
type: custom:advanced-camera-card
cameras:
- camera_entity: camera.office
live_provider: go2rtc
go2rtc:
modes:
- webrtc
# Optional: For slower cameras increase timeout (default: 2)
metadata_fetch_timeout_seconds: 10
```
## Usage
Two-way audio is driven by the **call** menu button (a phone icon). It is
enabled by default and appears in the `live` view whenever the selected camera
-- or one of its [dependencies](../configuration/cameras/README.md?id=dependencies)
-- supports 2-way audio.
- Tap the call button to start an **outbound** call. An on-screen overlay
appears with controls to mute/unmute the microphone, mute/unmute the inbound
audio, and end the call. When more than one 2-way-audio camera is available
the button becomes a submenu with one entry per camera.
- **Inbound** calls (started by a
[`view.triggers.actions.trigger: call`](../configuration/view.md?id=trigger-action-configuration)
trigger -- e.g. a doorbell) open the overlay in a ringing state with only
two buttons: a red **Reject** and a green **Answer**.
- The **call** menu button itself tracks the call state: tap it to start or
answer a call and to hang up an active one, and while an inbound call is
ringing **hold** it to reject. This lets you drive the whole call from the
menu when the standard call controls are hidden with
[`live.controls.call.enabled: false`](../configuration/live.md?id=call) -- see
[Driving calls from the menu](../examples.md?id=driving-calls-from-the-menu).
- When a call is answered (outbound calls are answered by definition) the
inbound audio is unmuted automatically, so the caller can be heard. The
microphone stays muted by default (push-to-talk) -- tap the microphone button
in the overlay to speak. Both behaviors are configurable via
[`live.microphone.auto_unmute`](../configuration/live.md?id=microphone) and
[`live.auto_unmute`](../configuration/live.md).
- The camera will always load _without_ the microphone connected, unless the
[`always_connected`](../configuration/live.md?id=microphone) microphone option
is set to `true`. On the first call there may be a brief `webrtc` connection
reset to include 2-way audio.
- The browser asks for microphone permission when a call needs it. How often it
asks depends on the browser: Chrome remembers the choice for the site, Safari
asks once per page load, and Firefox asks for every call unless _Remember this
decision_ is ticked. Set
[`always_connected`](../configuration/live.md?id=microphone) to `true` to be
asked once at card load instead.
- While a call is in progress the card locks disruptive actions (camera and
substream changes, casting, reload, etc.) so an accidental tap, swipe, or
button press doesn't cut the call off. Set
[`live.controls.call.lock`](../configuration/live.md?id=call) to `false` to
disable this.
- End the call with the overlay's end-call button. When the call ends the
microphone and inbound audio are muted again, and the microphone is
disconnected. The exception is
[`always_connected`](../configuration/live.md?id=microphone), which holds the
microphone connected for as long as the card is running.
Calls can also be controlled programmatically with the
[`call_start`](../configuration/actions/custom/README.md?id=call_start),
[`call_answer`](../configuration/actions/custom/README.md?id=call_answer), and
[`call_end`](../configuration/actions/custom/README.md?id=call_end) actions --
for example, from an [automation](../configuration/automations.md) that fires
when a doorbell sensor triggers. The [`call` condition](../configuration/conditions-triggers.md?id=call)
can be used to show or hide elements while a call is in progress.
### Call lifecycle
The diagram below traces a call from start to finish:
![Call lifecycle sequence diagram](../images/call-sequence.svg ':size=600')
## Talking with a single tap
By default, two taps are needed to speak: start (or answer) the call so you can
hear, then unmute the microphone via the in-call overlay so you can be heard.
This push-to-talk default keeps the microphone muted until you explicitly choose
to speak.
To collapse that to a single tap, unmute the microphone automatically when a
call is answered:
```yaml
live:
microphone:
auto_unmute: ['call']
```
For outbound calls the microphone opens the moment the call starts; for inbound
calls it opens the moment you press the green answer button. Leave
[`auto_unmute`](../configuration/live.md?id=microphone) empty (the default) to
always start muted regardless.