AUDIO_INPUT_FIX.md

Audio Input Display Fix

Issue

The audio input (microphone button) was not displaying in the ChatInterface multimodal textbox.

Root Cause

When multimodal=True is set on gr.ChatInterface, it should automatically show image and audio buttons. However:

1. The buttons might be hidden in a dropdown menu
2. Browser permissions might be blocking microphone access
3. The file_types parameter might not have been explicitly set

Fix Applied

1. Added file_types Parameter

Explicitly specified which file types are accepted to ensure audio is enabled:

gr.ChatInterface(
    fn=research_agent,
    multimodal=True,
    file_types=["image", "audio", "video"],  # Explicitly enable image, audio, and video
    ...
)

File: src/app.py (line 929)

2. Enhanced UI Description

Updated the description to make it clearer where to find the audio input:

• Added explicit instructions about clicking the 📷 and 🎤 icons
• Added a tip about looking for icons in the text input box
• Clarified drag & drop functionality

File: src/app.py (lines 942-948)

How It Works Now

1. Audio Recording Button: The 🎤 microphone icon should appear in the textbox toolbar when multimodal=True is set
2. File Upload: Users can drag & drop audio files or click to upload
3. Browser Permissions: Browser will prompt for microphone access when user clicks the audio button

Testing

To verify the fix:

1. Look for the 🎤 microphone icon in the text input box
2. Click it to start recording (browser will ask for microphone permission)
3. Alternatively, drag & drop an audio file into the textbox
4. Check browser console for any permission errors

Browser Requirements

• Chrome/Edge: Should work with microphone permissions
• Firefox: Should work with microphone permissions
• Safari: May require additional configuration
• HTTPS Required: Microphone access typically requires HTTPS (or localhost)

Troubleshooting

If audio input still doesn't appear:

1. Check Browser Permissions:

   • Open browser settings
   • Check microphone permissions for the site
   • Ensure microphone is not blocked

2. Check Browser Console:

   • Open Developer Tools (F12)
   • Look for permission errors or warnings
   • Check for any JavaScript errors

3. Try Different Browser:

   • Some browsers have stricter permission policies
   • Try Chrome or Firefox if Safari doesn't work

4. Check Gradio Version:

   • Ensure gradio>=6.0.0 is installed
   • Update if needed: pip install --upgrade gradio

5. HTTPS Requirement:

   • Microphone access requires HTTPS (or localhost)
   • If deploying, ensure SSL is configured

Additional Notes

• The audio button is part of the MultimodalTextbox component
• It should appear as an icon in the textbox toolbar
• If it's still not visible, it might be in a dropdown menu (click the "+" or "..." button)
• The file_types parameter ensures audio files are accepted for upload