diff --git a/modules/speech/speech.py b/modules/speech/speech.py
index 1043fc8..fd67957 100644
--- a/modules/speech/speech.py
+++ b/modules/speech/speech.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class voiceInput(object):
 	what = "??"
 	error = "ERROR"
 
-	def start( self, deviceIndex=30 ): # a generator for everything that is said
+	def start( self, deviceIndex=None ): # a generator for everything that is said
 		while( True ): # loop 
 			try:
 				if( not self.muted ): # this thing is not the NSA
diff --git a/speech_daemon.py b/speech_daemon.py
index 0683395..f5981f9 100755
--- a/speech_daemon.py
+++ b/speech_daemon.py
@@ -15,14 +15,12 @@ CONFIG = {}
 
 class speech_daemon(object):
 	voiceInpObj = None
-	deviceIndex = 30
+	deviceIndex = None
 
-	def __init__(self, deviceIndex=30):
+	def __init__(self):
 		self.voiceInpObj = voiceInput()
 		self.voiceInpObj.setMuted(False)
 
-		self.deviceIndex = deviceIndex
-
 	def loadconfig(self):
 		path = homedir + "/.config/roomcomputer/config.json"
 		# if no config path is 
@@ -36,6 +34,8 @@ class speech_daemon(object):
 		global CONFIG
 		CONFIG = cfg
 
+		self.deviceIndex = CONFIG["speech"]["device_index"]
+
 	def start(self):
 		controller.init()