fix(twilio): add configurable startup delay to avoid initial audio jitter (fixes #1906) (#2033)

Author: Shraman123

examples/realtime/twilio/twilio_handler.py

@@ -34,7 +34,10 @@ def get_current_time() -> str:
 
 agent = RealtimeAgent(
     name="Twilio Assistant",
-    instructions="You are a helpful assistant that starts every conversation with a creative greeting. Keep responses concise and friendly since this is a phone conversation.",
+    instructions=(
+        "You are a helpful assistant that starts every conversation with a creative greeting. "
+        "Keep responses concise and friendly since this is a phone conversation."
+    ),
     tools=[get_weather, get_current_time],
 )
 
@@ -46,21 +49,39 @@ def __init__(self, twilio_websocket: WebSocket):
         self.session: RealtimeSession | None = None
         self.playback_tracker = RealtimePlaybackTracker()
 
-        # Audio buffering configuration (matching CLI demo)
-        self.CHUNK_LENGTH_S = 0.05  # 50ms chunks like CLI demo
-        self.SAMPLE_RATE = 8000  # Twilio uses 8kHz for g711_ulaw
-        self.BUFFER_SIZE_BYTES = int(self.SAMPLE_RATE * self.CHUNK_LENGTH_S)  # 50ms worth of audio
+        # Audio chunking (matches CLI demo)
+        self.CHUNK_LENGTH_S = 0.05  # 50ms chunks
+        self.SAMPLE_RATE = 8000  # Twilio g711_ulaw at 8kHz
+        self.BUFFER_SIZE_BYTES = int(self.SAMPLE_RATE * self.CHUNK_LENGTH_S)  # ~400 bytes per 50ms
 
         self._stream_sid: str | None = None
         self._audio_buffer: bytearray = bytearray()
         self._last_buffer_send_time = time.time()
 
-        # Mark event tracking for playback
+        # Playback tracking for outbound audio
         self._mark_counter = 0
         self._mark_data: dict[
             str, tuple[str, int, int]
         ] = {}  # mark_id -> (item_id, content_index, byte_count)
 
+        # ---- Deterministic startup warm-up (preferred over sleep) ----
+        # Buffer the first N chunks before sending to OpenAI; then mark warmed.
+        try:
+            self.STARTUP_BUFFER_CHUNKS = max(0, int(os.getenv("TWILIO_STARTUP_BUFFER_CHUNKS", "3")))
+        except Exception:
+            self.STARTUP_BUFFER_CHUNKS = 3
+
+        self._startup_buffer = bytearray()
+        self._startup_warmed = (
+            self.STARTUP_BUFFER_CHUNKS == 0
+        )  # if 0, considered warmed immediately
+
+        # Optional delay (defaults 0.0 because buffering is preferred)
+        try:
+            self.STARTUP_DELAY_S = float(os.getenv("TWILIO_STARTUP_DELAY_S", "0.0"))
+        except Exception:
+            self.STARTUP_DELAY_S = 0.0
+
     async def start(self) -> None:
         """Start the session."""
         runner = RealtimeRunner(agent)
@@ -89,6 +110,11 @@ async def start(self) -> None:
         await self.twilio_websocket.accept()
         print("Twilio WebSocket connection accepted")
 
+        # Optional tiny delay (kept configurable; default 0.0)
+        if self.STARTUP_DELAY_S > 0:
+            await asyncio.sleep(self.STARTUP_DELAY_S)
+
+        # Start loops after handshake
         self._realtime_session_task = asyncio.create_task(self._realtime_session_loop())
         self._message_loop_task = asyncio.create_task(self._twilio_message_loop())
         self._buffer_flush_task = asyncio.create_task(self._buffer_flush_loop())
@@ -197,7 +223,7 @@ async def _handle_media_event(self, message: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
                 # Add original µ-law to buffer for OpenAI (they expect µ-law)
                 self._audio_buffer.extend(ulaw_bytes)
 
-                # Send buffered audio if we have enough data
+                # Send buffered audio if we have enough data for one chunk
                 if len(self._audio_buffer) >= self.BUFFER_SIZE_BYTES:
                     await self._flush_audio_buffer()
 
@@ -210,47 +236,55 @@ async def _handle_mark_event(self, message: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
             mark_data = message.get("mark", {})
             mark_id = mark_data.get("name", "")
 
-            # Look up stored data for this mark ID
             if mark_id in self._mark_data:
                 item_id, item_content_index, byte_count = self._mark_data[mark_id]
-
-                # Convert byte count back to bytes for playback tracker
-                audio_bytes = b"\x00" * byte_count  # Placeholder bytes
-
-                # Update playback tracker
+                audio_bytes = b"\x00" * byte_count  # Placeholder bytes for tracker
                 self.playback_tracker.on_play_bytes(item_id, item_content_index, audio_bytes)
                 print(
                     f"Playback tracker updated: {item_id}, index {item_content_index}, {byte_count} bytes"
                 )
-
-                # Clean up the stored data
                 del self._mark_data[mark_id]
 
         except Exception as e:
             print(f"Error handling mark event: {e}")
 
     async def _flush_audio_buffer(self) -> None:
-        """Send buffered audio to OpenAI."""
+        """Send buffered audio to OpenAI with deterministic startup warm-up."""
         if not self._audio_buffer or not self.session:
             return
 
         try:
-            # Send the buffered audio
             buffer_data = bytes(self._audio_buffer)
-            await self.session.send_audio(buffer_data)
-
-            # Clear the buffer
             self._audio_buffer.clear()
             self._last_buffer_send_time = time.time()
 
+            # During startup, accumulate first N chunks before sending anything
+            if not self._startup_warmed:
+                self._startup_buffer.extend(buffer_data)
+
+                # target bytes = N chunks * bytes-per-chunk
+                target_bytes = self.BUFFER_SIZE_BYTES * max(0, self.STARTUP_BUFFER_CHUNKS)
+
+                if len(self._startup_buffer) >= target_bytes:
+                    # Warm-up complete: flush all buffered data in order
+                    await self.session.send_audio(bytes(self._startup_buffer))
+                    self._startup_buffer.clear()
+                    self._startup_warmed = True
+                else:
+                    # Not enough yet; keep buffering and return
+                    return
+            else:
+                # Already warmed: send immediately
+                await self.session.send_audio(buffer_data)
+
         except Exception as e:
             print(f"Error sending buffered audio to OpenAI: {e}")
 
     async def _buffer_flush_loop(self) -> None:
         """Periodically flush audio buffer to prevent stale data."""
         try:
             while True:
-                await asyncio.sleep(self.CHUNK_LENGTH_S)  # Check every 50ms
+                await asyncio.sleep(self.CHUNK_LENGTH_S)  # check every 50ms
 
                 # If buffer has data and it's been too long since last send, flush it
                 current_time = time.time()