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Chime Sets

Chime Sets let Chime TTS select a random chime from a group (Chime Set) each time an action runs. They are useful when a notification should stay recognisable without sounding identical every time.

Beta

Chime Sets are currently in beta. Their panel workflow and configuration details may change between releases.

For example, create a Reminder set with ear-catching chimes, and then use that Reminder as the chime for an announcement.

Create and manage sets from the sidebar panel​

  1. In Home Assistant, open Settings → Devices & services → Chime TTS → Configure.
  2. Open Chime Sets.
  3. Select Add Set.
  4. Enter a name, select one or more chimes, and optionally set an offset for each selected chime.
  5. Save the changes.

Saved sets appear wherever a chime can be selected, including Start Chime and End Chime, prefixed with the 🎲 icon. They can also be used by notification profiles. The name is required, must be unique (case-insensitively), and a set must contain at least one chime.

Use a set in an action​

Chime TTS uses the Chime Set's displayed name as its action value. Chime Set names must be unique, including names that differ only by letter case.

Use that reference with either chime_path or end_chime_path:

action: chime_tts.say
target:
  entity_id: media_player.kitchen
data:
  message: Someone is at the front door.
  chime_path: Reminder

Use the panel selector when possible, because it supplies the exact name automatically. Renaming a set changes the value used by actions and notification profiles, so update any YAML automations or scripts that reference the previous name.

How selection works​

Chime TTS selects one available member from the set at runtime. When a set has more than one available chime, it avoids immediately repeating the last successfully selected member for that set where possible.

If a member cannot be loaded, Chime TTS skips it and tries another member. Nested Chime Sets are not supported: select actual chimes in a set rather than another Chime Set.

Per-chime offsets​

Each selected chime can have an optional offset, in milliseconds. This offset applies when that specific member is chosen and overrides the action's regular offset value for that selected set member.

  • A positive value adds silence before the following audio segment.
  • A negative value overlaps the chime and the following audio segment.
  • Leave the field empty to use the action or configured default offset.

For instance, a long doorbell chime can use a negative offset so the spoken announcement begins before the chime has fully finished, while a short alert can keep the normal action offset.

Restart behavior​

Adding, removing, or renaming a Chime Set requires a Home Assistant restart before the change is available to Chime TTS actions. Editing the chimes selected within an existing set, including their per-chime offsets, does not require a restart.

Empty state​

The slot-machine displayed when no sets exist is an illustrative animation only. It does not create or configure a Chime Set.

See Chimes for custom files and individual offsets, and Notification Profiles for reusable notification services.

tip

Give sets descriptive names such as Doorbell, Success, or Reminder. The name is shown in panel selectors and is the value used by actions and notification profiles.