We currently have a voice agent implemented using automatic turn detection (VAD) that works well, but we'd like to add push-to-talk (PTT) functionality as an option for users who prefer more explicit control over when they're speaking. ## Current Implementation Our agent uses:

python
session = AgentSession(
    _stt_=deepgram.STT(
        _model_="nova",
        _interim_results_=False,
        _endpointing_ms_=4000,
        _punctuate_=True,
        _smart_format_=True
    ),
    _tts_=deepgram.TTS(_model_="aura"),
    _vad_=silero.VAD.load(),
    _turn_detection_=MultilingualModel(),
    _allow_interruptions_=False,
    _min_interruption_duration_=0.5,
    _min_endpointing_delay_=4.0,
    _max_endpointing_delay_=120.0
)

## Questions 1. Hybrid Mode Support: Is it possible to support both VAD and PTT modes in the same agent deployment? For example, could we: - Check room metadata or participant metadata on connection - Dynamically set

turn_detection="manual"

vs

MultilingualModel()

based on user preference - Or do we need separate agent deployments for each mode? 2. Graceful Degradation: If we set

turn_detection="manual"

but the client doesn't implement the RPC methods (

start_turn

,

end_turn

), what happens? Does it fall back to any default behavior or will the agent simply not receive any audio? 3. Audio Input Control Scope: When using

room.set_audio_input_enabled(False)

in PTT mode: - Does this only affect the agent's ability to receive audio from that specific participant? - Or does it affect the entire room's audio configuration? - How does this interact with multiple participants in the same room? 4. Transcript Handling in PTT: - In the PTT example,

commit_user_turn(transcript_timeout=3)

is used. What happens if the STT service hasn't returned a final transcript within this timeout? - Is the partial transcript used, or does it wait indefinitely? - How should we handle cases where users release the button mid-word? 5. State Management: - If a user is mid-sentence and accidentally releases the PTT button, then presses it again quickly, how can we ensure continuity in the conversation context? - Should we implement a "grace period" where releasing the button briefly doesn't end the turn? 6. Implementation Architecture: - Can we change turn detection mode after

session.start()

has been called? - Or must this be decided at session initialization time? 7. Client-Side Requirements: - Are there any specific client SDK versions required for PTT support? - Any example implementations for React Native/Expo clients? Any guidance on best practices for implementing PTT alongside our existing VAD setup would be greatly appreciated! Thank you,

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