> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.suki.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Stream Ambient Audio - Overview
> Overview: Stream Ambient audio over WebSocket on GET /ws/stream, then retrieve final results with REST APIs
This guide explains how to stream live audio to GET /ws/stream after creating an ambient session.
The WebSocket is responsible only for streaming audio and receiving control messages. Use the ambient REST APIs to:
* End the session after streaming
* Poll session status and retrieve transcripts, notes, and structured data
For related guides:
## How Ambient streaming works
Suki for Partners ambient streaming works as follows:
1. Create an [Ambient session](/api-reference/ambient-sessions/create) and [Seed session context](/api-reference/ambient-sessions/context).
2. Open a WebSocket connection to **`GET /ws/stream`**.
3. Send one **`START_TIME`** message for the stream segment.
4. Send one JSON message per audio chunk.
5. Optionally send **`EVENT`** messages, such as **`PAUSE`**, **`RESUME`**, or **`KEEP_ALIVE`**, when control is needed.
6. Send the ambient end marker as the final **`AUDIO`** message.
7. Close the socket, then use [End ambient session](/api-reference/ambient-sessions/end) to end the session and retrieve results.
Ambient streaming uses JSON text frames. Do not send raw binary audio frames to this endpoint.
## Send JSON text frames
Every message you send on **`/ws/stream`** must be a **UTF-8 JSON text frame**.
* Each WebSocket frame must contain **exactly one JSON object**.
* Each client **`send`** should contain **one logical message**.
* Audio bytes go inside a **JSON string field**, not in a binary WebSocket frame.
Do not:
* Send binary WebSocket frames.
* Send multiple JSON objects in one frame.
* Stream raw audio through HTTP, for example with **`Content-Type: application/json`**.
If the server receives non-JSON payloads, it returns parsing errors, such as invalid character or null byte errors.
## Audio streaming recommendations
Suki streams audio at **16 kHz**, which captures the full range of clinical speech.
Send a **single mono channel** of audio, not stereo or multi-channel.
Encode as **LINEAR16** (PCM signed 16-bit little-endian). Remove WAV headers or decode to raw PCM before you send.
Suki supports **100 ms** chunks to balance recognition quality, latency, and efficiency. At 16 kHz mono 16-bit, that is about **3200 bytes** of raw PCM per chunk.
Pace audio chunks to match their actual duration and stream at or near real time, rather than sending buffered audio as fast as possible.
For encoding steps and the message order, see [WebSocket streaming wire format](/documentation/how-to/audio-streaming/websocket-streaming-wire-format#audio-format-and-chunking). For capture guidance before you open the socket, see [Audio capture best practices](/documentation/how-to/audio-streaming/audio-capture-best-practices).
## References
Ambient message types (`START_TIME`, `AUDIO`, `EVENT`, `RU9G`), required order, example flow, and audio format and chunking.
Capture format, environment, gain, and network readiness before you stream.
Close the socket, end the session with REST, fetch results, and use the streaming error reference.
End-to-end Python, TypeScript, and Go example: login, create session, seed context, stream, and handle errors.
Endpoint reference, handshake details, and API code samples for `GET /ws/stream`.
## Available tutorials
## Next steps
Open the ambient tab in [WebSocket streaming wire format](/documentation/how-to/audio-streaming/websocket-streaming-wire-format)
Follow [Complete the session after streaming](/documentation/how-to/audio-streaming/websocket-streaming-complete-session)
Copy the [Ambient WebSocket client code example](/documentation/tutorials/ambient-websocket-code-example)