LiveKit integration
Bridge a LiveKit room into Speech Engine using a LiveKit Agents worker.
This guide shows how to use ElevenLabs Speech Engine as the voice layer for a LiveKit room. A LiveKit Agents worker joins the room as a participant, subscribes to the user’s audio track, opens a WebSocket to Speech Engine, and publishes Speech Engine’s synthesized audio back to the room as its own track.
Architecture
Section titled “Architecture”Speech Engine accepts two kinds of WebSocket connections:
- The brain WebSocket that the ElevenLabs API connects to. Your server runs this with the Speech Engine SDK (
engine.serve()/engine.attach()) and receives transcripts to respond to. - The conversation WebSocket that clients connect to. Browsers connect via a WebRTC token; non-browser clients (like a LiveKit Agents worker) connect via a signed URL and stream raw PCM audio in both directions.
The LiveKit worker uses the second connection. It acts as a “client” of Speech Engine on behalf of the participants in the LiveKit room.
The brain server is unchanged from the Speech Engine quickstart — the LiveKit worker replaces the browser as the audio source but the LLM logic stays the same.
When to use this pattern
Section titled “When to use this pattern”Reach for the LiveKit bridge when the room itself is part of the experience:
- Multi-participant sessions where users speak with the agent alongside each other
- Existing LiveKit deployments where switching transports would break clients
- Voice agents sharing a room with screen share, video, or text chat
- SIP-to-LiveKit dispatched calls that need an AI agent on the line
If you only need a browser-to-Speech-Engine voice loop with no other participants, the WebRTC client in the Speech Engine quickstart is simpler — Speech Engine speaks WebRTC directly to the browser, no LiveKit room required.
Prerequisites
Section titled “Prerequisites”- A LiveKit project (either LiveKit Cloud or a self-hosted server). The worker needs
LIVEKIT_URL,LIVEKIT_API_KEY, andLIVEKIT_API_SECRET. - An ElevenLabs Speech Engine. Follow the Speech Engine quickstart to create one and run the brain server.
- Python 3.9+ or Node.js 18+.
Configure Speech Engine audio formats
Section titled “Configure Speech Engine audio formats”LiveKit’s AudioStream resamples incoming Opus tracks to whatever PCM sample rate you request, so you can match Speech Engine’s input directly. Update the Speech Engine to accept 16 kHz PCM for ASR input and emit 24 kHz PCM for TTS output.
import asyncio
import os
from elevenlabs import AsyncElevenLabs
elevenlabs = AsyncElevenLabs(api_key=os.environ["ELEVENLABS_API_KEY"])
async def update_engine():
await elevenlabs.speech_engine.update(
speech_engine_id="seng_8k3m9xr4hjnfg983brhmhkd98n6",
asr={"user_input_audio_format": "pcm_16000"},
tts={"agent_output_audio_format": "pcm_24000"},
)
asyncio.run(update_engine())import { ElevenLabsClient } from "@elevenlabs/elevenlabs-js";
import "dotenv/config";
const elevenlabs = new ElevenLabsClient({
apiKey: process.env.ELEVENLABS_API_KEY,
});
await elevenlabs.speechEngine.update("seng_8k3m9xr4hjnfg983brhmhkd98n6", {
asr: { userInputAudioFormat: "pcm_16000" },
tts: { agentOutputAudioFormat: "pcm_24000" },
});Speech Engine PCM is signed 16-bit little-endian throughout. See the audio format reference for other supported rates.
import asyncio
import os
from elevenlabs import AsyncElevenLabs
elevenlabs = AsyncElevenLabs(api_key=os.environ["ELEVENLABS_API_KEY"])
async def update_engine():
await elevenlabs.speech_engine.update(
speech_engine_id="seng_8k3m9xr4hjnfg983brhmhkd98n6",
asr={"user_input_audio_format": "pcm_16000"},
tts={"agent_output_audio_format": "pcm_24000"},
)
asyncio.run(update_engine())Speech Engine PCM is signed 16-bit little-endian throughout. See the audio format reference for other supported rates.
Build the bridge worker
Section titled “Build the bridge worker”The worker is a long-running process that connects to your LiveKit server, waits for jobs, joins assigned rooms, and bridges audio between the room and Speech Engine.
Install dependencies
Python pip install "livekit-agents" "livekit-api" "elevenlabs" "aiohttp" "python-dotenv"Node npm install @livekit/agents @livekit/rtc-node @elevenlabs/elevenlabs-js ws dotenvBash pip install "livekit-agents" "livekit-api" "elevenlabs" "aiohttp" "python-dotenv"Mint a Speech Engine signed URL
The worker requests a short-lived signed URL for the Speech Engine conversation WebSocket. The signed URL embeds the engine ID and a one-time signature, so the worker can open the WebSocket without exposing your API key.
bridge.py from elevenlabs import AsyncElevenLabs elevenlabs = AsyncElevenLabs(api_key=os.environ["ELEVENLABS_API_KEY"]) async def signed_url() -> str: response = await elevenlabs.conversational_ai.conversations.get_signed_url( agent_id=os.environ["SPEECH_ENGINE_ID"], ) return response.signed_urlbridge.mts import { ElevenLabsClient } from "@elevenlabs/elevenlabs-js"; const elevenlabs = new ElevenLabsClient({ apiKey: process.env.ELEVENLABS_API_KEY, }); async function signedUrl(): Promise<string> { const response = await elevenlabs.conversationalAi.conversations.getSignedUrl({ agentId: process.env.SPEECH_ENGINE_ID!, }); return response.signedUrl; }Python from elevenlabs import AsyncElevenLabs elevenlabs = AsyncElevenLabs(api_key=os.environ["ELEVENLABS_API_KEY"]) async def signed_url() -> str: response = await elevenlabs.conversational_ai.conversations.get_signed_url( agent_id=os.environ["SPEECH_ENGINE_ID"], ) return response.signed_urlDefine the worker entrypoint
Each time the worker is dispatched to a room, its entrypoint runs. The entrypoint connects to the room, opens a Speech Engine conversation WebSocket, and starts two audio bridges: one for caller audio going to Speech Engine, and one for synthesized audio coming back.
bridge.py import asyncio import base64 import json import os import aiohttp from dotenv import load_dotenv from elevenlabs import AsyncElevenLabs from livekit import agents, rtc from livekit.agents import JobContext, WorkerOptions, cli load_dotenv() elevenlabs = AsyncElevenLabs(api_key=os.environ["ELEVENLABS_API_KEY"]) SPEECH_ENGINE_ID = os.environ["SPEECH_ENGINE_ID"] USER_INPUT_RATE = 16000 AGENT_OUTPUT_RATE = 24000 async def signed_url() -> str: response = await elevenlabs.conversational_ai.conversations.get_signed_url( agent_id=SPEECH_ENGINE_ID, ) return response.signed_url async def entrypoint(ctx: JobContext): el_ws_ready: asyncio.Future[aiohttp.ClientWebSocketResponse] = ( asyncio.get_running_loop().create_future() ) async def pump_user_audio(track: rtc.Track): el_ws = await el_ws_ready stream = rtc.AudioStream( track, sample_rate=USER_INPUT_RATE, num_channels=1, ) async for event in stream: payload = base64.b64encode(bytes(event.frame.data)).decode() await el_ws.send_str(json.dumps({"user_audio_chunk": payload})) # Register the subscriber BEFORE ctx.connect() so we don't miss tracks # that get auto-subscribed during the connection handshake. @ctx.room.on("track_subscribed") def on_track_subscribed(track, publication, participant): if track.kind != rtc.TrackKind.KIND_AUDIO: return if participant.identity == ctx.room.local_participant.identity: return asyncio.create_task(pump_user_audio(track)) await ctx.connect() # Publish a track for the agent's synthesized audio. source = rtc.AudioSource(sample_rate=AGENT_OUTPUT_RATE, num_channels=1) track = rtc.LocalAudioTrack.create_audio_track("elevenlabs-agent", source) await ctx.room.local_participant.publish_track( track, rtc.TrackPublishOptions(source=rtc.TrackSource.SOURCE_MICROPHONE), ) # Open the Speech Engine conversation WebSocket. http = aiohttp.ClientSession() el_ws = await http.ws_connect(await signed_url()) await el_ws.send_str(json.dumps({"type": "conversation_initiation_client_data"})) el_ws_ready.set_result(el_ws) async def el_to_room(): async for msg in el_ws: if msg.type != aiohttp.WSMsgType.TEXT: continue event = json.loads(msg.data) etype = event.get("type") if etype == "audio": pcm = base64.b64decode(event["audio_event"]["audio_base_64"]) samples_per_channel = len(pcm) // 2 frame = rtc.AudioFrame( pcm, AGENT_OUTPUT_RATE, 1, samples_per_channel, ) await source.capture_frame(frame) elif etype == "interruption": source.clear_queue() elif etype == "ping": event_id = event.get("ping_event", {}).get("event_id") await el_ws.send_str(json.dumps({ "type": "pong", "event_id": event_id, })) pump_task = asyncio.create_task(el_to_room()) async def cleanup(): pump_task.cancel() await el_ws.close() await http.close() ctx.add_shutdown_callback(cleanup) if __name__ == "__main__": cli.run_app(WorkerOptions( entrypoint_fnc=entrypoint, agent_name="elevenlabs-bridge", ))bridge.mts import { type JobContext, WorkerOptions, cli, defineAgent, } from "@livekit/agents"; import { AudioFrame, AudioSource, AudioStream, LocalAudioTrack, RoomEvent, TrackKind, TrackPublishOptions, TrackSource, } from "@livekit/rtc-node"; import { ElevenLabsClient } from "@elevenlabs/elevenlabs-js"; import WebSocket from "ws"; import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url"; import "dotenv/config"; const elevenlabs = new ElevenLabsClient({ apiKey: process.env.ELEVENLABS_API_KEY, }); const SPEECH_ENGINE_ID = process.env.SPEECH_ENGINE_ID!; const USER_INPUT_RATE = 16000; const AGENT_OUTPUT_RATE = 24000; async function signedUrl(): Promise<string> { const response = await elevenlabs.conversationalAi.conversations.getSignedUrl({ agentId: SPEECH_ENGINE_ID, }); return response.signedUrl; } export default defineAgent({ entry: async (ctx: JobContext) => { let resolveElReady: (ws: WebSocket) => void; const elReady = new Promise<WebSocket>((resolve) => { resolveElReady = resolve; }); // Register the subscriber BEFORE ctx.connect() so we don't miss // tracks that get auto-subscribed during the connection handshake. ctx.room.on(RoomEvent.TrackSubscribed, (track, _pub, participant) => { if (track.kind !== TrackKind.KIND_AUDIO) return; if (participant.identity === ctx.room.localParticipant?.identity) return; (async () => { const ws = await elReady; const stream = new AudioStream(track, { sampleRate: USER_INPUT_RATE, numChannels: 1, }); for await (const frame of stream) { const payload = Buffer.from( frame.data.buffer, frame.data.byteOffset, frame.data.byteLength, ).toString("base64"); ws.send(JSON.stringify({ user_audio_chunk: payload })); } })(); }); await ctx.connect(); const source = new AudioSource(AGENT_OUTPUT_RATE, 1); const track = LocalAudioTrack.createAudioTrack("elevenlabs-agent", source); const publishOptions = new TrackPublishOptions(); publishOptions.source = TrackSource.SOURCE_MICROPHONE; await ctx.room.localParticipant!.publishTrack(track, publishOptions); const ws = new WebSocket(await signedUrl()); await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => { ws.once("open", () => resolve()); ws.once("error", reject); }); ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type: "conversation_initiation_client_data" })); resolveElReady!(ws); // Serialize captureFrame calls — concurrent captures throw // InvalidState in the rtc-node native layer. let captureChain: Promise<unknown> = Promise.resolve(); ws.on("message", (raw) => { const event = JSON.parse(raw.toString()); if (event.type === "audio") { const pcm = Buffer.from(event.audio_event.audio_base_64, "base64"); const samples = new Int16Array( pcm.buffer, pcm.byteOffset, pcm.byteLength / 2, ); const frame = new AudioFrame( samples, AGENT_OUTPUT_RATE, 1, samples.length, ); captureChain = captureChain .then(() => source.captureFrame(frame)) .catch((err) => console.warn("captureFrame:", err.message)); } else if (event.type === "interruption") { source.clearQueue(); } else if (event.type === "ping") { ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type: "pong", event_id: event.ping_event?.event_id, })); } }); ctx.addShutdownCallback(async () => { ws.close(); }); }, }); cli.runApp(new WorkerOptions({ agent: fileURLToPath(import.meta.url), agentName: "elevenlabs-bridge", }));The worker filters out its own published audio in the
track_subscribedhandler by comparing against the local participant's identity. Without this check, the worker would try to send its own synthesized audio back to Speech Engine.Two ordering details matter for correctness:
- Listener timing:
TrackSubscribedis registered beforectx.connect(). LiveKit auto-subscribes to existing tracks during the connection handshake, and a listener registered afterwards may miss the event. The audio pump waits on aFuture/Promisefor the Speech Engine WebSocket so it can subscribe immediately and forward audio as soon as the connection is open. - TypeScript only — capture serialization:
@livekit/rtc-node'sAudioSource.captureFramethrowsInvalidStateif called concurrently. The TypeScript handler serializes captures with a promise chain. Python's singleasync for el_to_roomloop is naturally sequential and does not need this.
Python import asyncio import base64 import json import os import aiohttp from dotenv import load_dotenv from elevenlabs import AsyncElevenLabs from livekit import agents, rtc from livekit.agents import JobContext, WorkerOptions, cli load_dotenv() elevenlabs = AsyncElevenLabs(api_key=os.environ["ELEVENLABS_API_KEY"]) SPEECH_ENGINE_ID = os.environ["SPEECH_ENGINE_ID"] USER_INPUT_RATE = 16000 AGENT_OUTPUT_RATE = 24000 async def signed_url() -> str: response = await elevenlabs.conversational_ai.conversations.get_signed_url( agent_id=SPEECH_ENGINE_ID, ) return response.signed_url async def entrypoint(ctx: JobContext): el_ws_ready: asyncio.Future[aiohttp.ClientWebSocketResponse] = ( asyncio.get_running_loop().create_future() ) async def pump_user_audio(track: rtc.Track): el_ws = await el_ws_ready stream = rtc.AudioStream( track, sample_rate=USER_INPUT_RATE, num_channels=1, ) async for event in stream: payload = base64.b64encode(bytes(event.frame.data)).decode() await el_ws.send_str(json.dumps({"user_audio_chunk": payload})) # Register the subscriber BEFORE ctx.connect() so we don't miss tracks # that get auto-subscribed during the connection handshake. @ctx.room.on("track_subscribed") def on_track_subscribed(track, publication, participant): if track.kind != rtc.TrackKind.KIND_AUDIO: return if participant.identity == ctx.room.local_participant.identity: return asyncio.create_task(pump_user_audio(track)) await ctx.connect() # Publish a track for the agent's synthesized audio. source = rtc.AudioSource(sample_rate=AGENT_OUTPUT_RATE, num_channels=1) track = rtc.LocalAudioTrack.create_audio_track("elevenlabs-agent", source) await ctx.room.local_participant.publish_track( track, rtc.TrackPublishOptions(source=rtc.TrackSource.SOURCE_MICROPHONE), ) # Open the Speech Engine conversation WebSocket. http = aiohttp.ClientSession() el_ws = await http.ws_connect(await signed_url()) await el_ws.send_str(json.dumps({"type": "conversation_initiation_client_data"})) el_ws_ready.set_result(el_ws) async def el_to_room(): async for msg in el_ws: if msg.type != aiohttp.WSMsgType.TEXT: continue event = json.loads(msg.data) etype = event.get("type") if etype == "audio": pcm = base64.b64decode(event["audio_event"]["audio_base_64"]) samples_per_channel = len(pcm) // 2 frame = rtc.AudioFrame( pcm, AGENT_OUTPUT_RATE, 1, samples_per_channel, ) await source.capture_frame(frame) elif etype == "interruption": source.clear_queue() elif etype == "ping": event_id = event.get("ping_event", {}).get("event_id") await el_ws.send_str(json.dumps({ "type": "pong", "event_id": event_id, })) pump_task = asyncio.create_task(el_to_room()) async def cleanup(): pump_task.cancel() await el_ws.close() await http.close() ctx.add_shutdown_callback(cleanup) if __name__ == "__main__": cli.run_app(WorkerOptions( entrypoint_fnc=entrypoint, agent_name="elevenlabs-bridge", ))The worker filters out its own published audio in the
track_subscribedhandler by comparing against the local participant’s identity. Without this check, the worker would try to send its own synthesized audio back to Speech Engine.Two ordering details matter for correctness:
- Listener timing:
TrackSubscribedis registered beforectx.connect(). LiveKit auto-subscribes to existing tracks during the connection handshake, and a listener registered afterwards may miss the event. The audio pump waits on aFuture/Promisefor the Speech Engine WebSocket so it can subscribe immediately and forward audio as soon as the connection is open. - TypeScript only — capture serialization:
@livekit/rtc-node’sAudioSource.captureFramethrowsInvalidStateif called concurrently. The TypeScript handler serializes captures with a promise chain. Python’s singleasync for el_to_roomloop is naturally sequential and does not need this.
- Listener timing:
Start the worker
Python python bridge.py devNode npx tsx bridge.mts devdevenables hot reload and colored logs. Usestartin production for JSON logs and graceful shutdown.The worker connects to your LiveKit server and waits for job assignments. It does not join any rooms until it is dispatched.
Bash python bridge.py devdevenables hot reload and colored logs. Usestartin production for JSON logs and graceful shutdown.The worker connects to your LiveKit server and waits for job assignments. It does not join any rooms until it is dispatched.
Dispatch the worker to a room
Section titled “Dispatch the worker to a room”Because the worker has an agent_name, it uses explicit dispatch — it only joins rooms when your backend tells it to. The simplest pattern is to include a RoomAgentDispatch in the LiveKit access token that the browser uses to connect.
import os
from dotenv import load_dotenv
from flask import Flask, jsonify, request
from livekit.api import AccessToken, RoomAgentDispatch, VideoGrants
load_dotenv()
app = Flask(**name**)
@app.route("/api/livekit-token")
def get_token():
room_name = request.args.get("room", "demo-room")
identity = request.args.get("identity", "web-user")
token = (
AccessToken(
os.environ["LIVEKIT_API_KEY"],
os.environ["LIVEKIT_API_SECRET"],
)
.with_identity(identity)
.with_grants(VideoGrants(room_join=True, room=room_name))
.with_room_config(
room_configuration={
"agents": [RoomAgentDispatch(agent_name="elevenlabs-bridge")],
},
)
)
return jsonify(token=token.to_jwt(), url=os.environ["LIVEKIT_URL"])
if **name** == "**main**":
app.run(port=3002)
import express from "express";
import { AccessToken } from "livekit-server-sdk";
import "dotenv/config";
const app = express();
app.get("/api/livekit-token", async (req, res) => {
const room = (req.query.room as string) ?? "demo-room";
const identity = (req.query.identity as string) ?? "web-user";
const token = new AccessToken(
process.env.LIVEKIT_API_KEY!,
process.env.LIVEKIT_API_SECRET!,
{ identity },
);
token.addGrant({ roomJoin: true, room });
token.roomConfig = {
agents: [{ agentName: "elevenlabs-bridge" }],
};
res.json({
token: await token.toJwt(),
url: process.env.LIVEKIT_URL,
});
});
app.listen(3002, () => {
console.log("Token server listening on port 3002");
});When a browser uses this token to create or join a room, LiveKit dispatches the bridge worker into the same room automatically.
import os
from dotenv import load_dotenv
from flask import Flask, jsonify, request
from livekit.api import AccessToken, RoomAgentDispatch, VideoGrants
load_dotenv()
app = Flask(**name**)
@app.route("/api/livekit-token")
def get_token():
room_name = request.args.get("room", "demo-room")
identity = request.args.get("identity", "web-user")
token = (
AccessToken(
os.environ["LIVEKIT_API_KEY"],
os.environ["LIVEKIT_API_SECRET"],
)
.with_identity(identity)
.with_grants(VideoGrants(room_join=True, room=room_name))
.with_room_config(
room_configuration={
"agents": [RoomAgentDispatch(agent_name="elevenlabs-bridge")],
},
)
)
return jsonify(token=token.to_jwt(), url=os.environ["LIVEKIT_URL"])
if **name** == "**main**":
app.run(port=3002)When a browser uses this token to create or join a room, LiveKit dispatches the bridge worker into the same room automatically.
Connect from the browser
Section titled “Connect from the browser”The browser only needs the standard LiveKit client — it does not interact with Speech Engine directly.
App.tsx
import { Room, RoomEvent, Track } from "livekit-client";
import { useCallback, useState } from "react";
export default function App() {
const [room] = useState(() => new Room());
const join = useCallback(async () => {
const response = await fetch("/api/livekit-token");
const { token, url } = await response.json();
room.on(RoomEvent.TrackSubscribed, (track) => {
if (track.kind === Track.Kind.Audio) {
document.body.appendChild(track.attach());
}
});
await room.connect(url, token);
await room.localParticipant.setMicrophoneEnabled(true);
}, [room]);
return <button onClick={join}>Start conversation</button>;
}When the button is clicked, the browser fetches a LiveKit token, joins the room with the microphone enabled, and starts receiving the agent’s audio track. The worker is dispatched, opens its Speech Engine session, and bridges audio in both directions.
Audio format reference
Section titled “Audio format reference”Speech Engine supports the following audio formats. Configure them on the engine via asr.user_input_audio_format and tts.agent_output_audio_format.
| Format | Sample rate | Encoding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
pcm_8000 |
8 kHz | Signed 16-bit LE PCM | ASR input only. |
pcm_16000 |
16 kHz | Signed 16-bit LE PCM | Recommended for LiveKit user input. |
pcm_22050 |
22.05 kHz | Signed 16-bit LE PCM | |
pcm_24000 |
24 kHz | Signed 16-bit LE PCM | Recommended for LiveKit agent output. |
pcm_44100 |
44.1 kHz | Signed 16-bit LE PCM | TTS output requires Independent Publisher tier or above. |
pcm_48000 |
48 kHz | Signed 16-bit LE PCM | ASR input only. |
ulaw_8000 |
8 kHz | μ-law | Used by Twilio Media Streams. |
AudioStream and AudioSource in LiveKit handle resampling for you — you can request any sample rate from AudioStream and the SDK converts from the underlying 48 kHz Opus track.
Production considerations
Section titled “Production considerations”-
Explicit dispatch: Always set
agent_name/agentNameonWorkerOptions. Auto-dispatch fires the worker for every room created on your LiveKit project, which is rarely what you want. -
Brain server authentication: Set a shared secret on the Speech Engine and verify it in your brain server, so only the Speech Engine can reach your endpoint:
Python await elevenlabs.speech_engine.update( speech_engine_id="seng_8k3m9xr4hjnfg983brhmhkd98n6", speech_engine={"request_headers": {"x-api-key": os.environ["SHARED_SECRET"]}}, )The brain server then checks
request.headers["x-api-key"]before accepting the WebSocket upgrade. -
Token server: Mint LiveKit and Speech Engine tokens server-side. Never expose
LIVEKIT_API_SECRETorELEVENLABS_API_KEYto the browser. -
Event loop hygiene: Keep CPU-bound work off the worker’s event loop.
AudioSource.capture_frameandAudioStreamiteration are time-sensitive; long synchronous calls will delay or drop interruption events. Useasyncio.to_thread()(Python) orworker_threads(Node) for blocking work. -
Shutdown: Register
ctx.add_shutdown_callback/ctx.addShutdownCallbackto close the ElevenLabs WebSocket cleanly. By default, the room (and the job) is terminated when the last non-agent participant leaves.
Next steps
Section titled “Next steps”Speech Engine quickstart
Build the brain server that responds to transcripts.
Pipecat integration
Use Pipecat as the LLM pipeline behind Speech Engine.
Python SDK reference
Classes, methods, and events for the Speech Engine Python SDK.
JavaScript SDK reference
Classes, methods, and events for the Speech Engine JavaScript SDK.