VAPI•3mo ago

SSML parsing working inconsistently - delivering a system for a client asap

Hi,

I've configured one of my voice agents to parse SSML. However this only works occasionally. I'm building this system for a client and would like SSML parsing to work 100% of the time.

My VAPI account is james.knotter@gmail.com, this is for my Probate Cold Caller assistant.

Here is my prompt (see step 2) as well as my JSON for the agent and its voice settings. Any assistance is appreciated. Thanks.

James Knotter

Vapi Support BotAPP•10/13/25, 9:41 AM

To quickly verify and isolate SSML parsing issues, use the Vapi dashboard's "Talk to Assistant" feature and input a simple SSML string, such as:

<speak>Hello, <break time="500ms"/> this is a test of SSML parsing.</speak>

<speak>Hello, <break time="500ms"/> this is a test of SSML parsing.</speak>

If this works consistently, the issue may be with your SSML formatting or content elsewhere. If it fails, double-check that your assistant's voice model is set to an ElevenLabs model that supports SSML and that "Enable SSML Parsing" is set to

true

true

in your configuration.

Sources:

⤵️ Mention @Vapi Support Bot for follow-ups 🐥

Uuninterested-olive Hi, I've configured one of my voice agents to parse SSML. However this only wor...

exclusive-coral•10/13/25, 9:45 PM

Hey James, I can help ensure SSML parsing works consistently with your ElevenLabs setup. The issue often occurs when the SSML tags aren’t being passed correctly or the model input type isn’t set to ssml. I can review your agent’s configuration and suggest fixes for stable parsing. Could you confirm if your assistant sends text as rawText or ssml format?
@Logos

Eexclusive-coral Hey James, I can help ensure SSML parsing works consistently with your ElevenLab...

uninterested-oliveOP•10/13/25, 11:05 PM

Thanks. Check the images attached to the post for more information

uninterested-oliveOP•10/14/25, 2:59 AM

@LordXcel

VapiAPP•10/14/25, 7:07 PM

Hi Logos,

For SSML parsing issues, ensure that your voice agent is properly configured to support SSML inputs. SSML parsing might not function consistently due to varying factors such as incorrect SSML syntax or voice agent settings.

To troubleshoot, consider the following steps:

Check SSML Syntax: Ensure that your SSML is correctly formatted. Each tag should be properly closed and nested according to the SSML specification.
Review Voice Agent Settings: Ensure that the voice profile you are using supports SSML. Not all voice profiles have SSML capabilities.
Validate Inputs: Confirm that inputs containing SSML are reaching the voice agent without being altered or stripped of tags.
Test with Different Providers: If using a non-native provider, verify their SSML support, as some providers may have limited or different SSML capabilities.

For further details, you can refer to the API Reference.

If these do not resolve the issue, consider examining logs for errors related to SSML parsing which may provide more insight into specific problems.

uninterested-oliveOP•10/15/25, 3:44 AM

Check the images I've uploaded for more details. I've tried what you have suggested and am not seeing a difference

VapiAPP•10/16/25, 8:05 PM

Hey there, we reviewed the details of your request and brought this to our team's attention. We will be getting back to you as soon as we can. Thank you for your continued patience!

Ccomprehensive-tomato Hey there, we reviewed the details of your request and brought this to our team'...

uninterested-oliveOP•11/4/25, 5:44 AM

Appreciate it

VapiAPP•11/6/25, 1:51 AM

Hi James,

Thanks for the update. Could you please share a few call IDs where you noticed the SSML parsing issues? That’ll help us review the logs and pinpoint what’s causing the inconsistency.

Best,
Vapi Support

SSML parsing working inconsistently - delivering a system for a client asap

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