Controlling distributed audio outputs to enable voice output

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• receiving, from an audio device by at least one server device, input audio data corresponding to an utterance;
• performing, by the at least one server device, speech processing on the input audio data to determine a first instruction;
• generating, by the at least one server device, voice output audio data that includes synthesized speech corresponding to the first instruction;
• determining a first output device associated with the audio device, the first output device controllable by a network-connected device;
• determining that the first output device is outputting first audio;
• sending a second instruction to the network-connected device to cause the network-connected device to reduce a volume level of the first audio from a first level to a second level;
• and
• sending, by the at least one server device, the voice output audio data to the audio device to cause the audio device to output, while the first audio is outputting at the second level, second audio generated from the voice output audio data.

A system, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one processor to configure the system to:
• receive, from an audio device, input audio data corresponding to an utterance;
• perform speech processing on the input audio data to determine a first instruction;
• generate voice output audio data that includes synthesized speech corresponding to the first instruction;
• determine a first output device associated with the audio device, the first output device controllable by a network-connected device;
• determine that the first output device is outputting first audio;
• send a second instruction to the network-connected device to cause the network-connected device to reduce a volume level of the first audio from a first level to a second level;
• and
• send the voice output audio data to the audio device to cause the audio device to output, while the first audio is outputting at the second level, second audio generated from the voice output audio data.