diff --git a/pi/asound.conf b/pi/asound.conf
index 71b19816..5c9b48a0 100644
--- a/pi/asound.conf
+++ b/pi/asound.conf
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
-# Use the Google Voice HAT soundcard as index 0 (primary card)
+# Use the Google Voice HAT soundcard as the primary device by name (more robust than numeric card index)
 options snd_rpi_googlevoicehat_soundcard index=0
 
-# Simple defaults: direct playback/capture on card 0
+# Simple defaults: direct playback/capture on the voice HAT
 pcm.!default {
     type asym
-    playback.pcm "plughw:0,0"
-    capture.pcm "plughw:0,0"
+    playback.pcm "plughw:sndrpigooglevoicehat_soundcar,0"
+    capture.pcm "plughw:sndrpigooglevoicehat_soundcar,0"
 }
 
 ctl.!default {
     type hw
-    card 0
+    card sndrpigooglevoicehat_soundcar
 }
diff --git a/pi/bin/video-publisher.sh b/pi/bin/video-publisher.sh
index 80a7cff5..2369455c 100644
--- a/pi/bin/video-publisher.sh
+++ b/pi/bin/video-publisher.sh
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ AUDIO_BITRATE="${AUDIO_BITRATE:-64000}"
 
 # Normalize device if env still says "default"
 if [[ "${AUDIO_DEVICE}" == "default" ]]; then
-	AUDIO_DEVICE="plughw:0,0"
+	AUDIO_DEVICE="plughw:sndrpigooglevoicehat_soundcar,0"
 fi
 # Flip the camera 180deg (supported by rpicam-vid/libcamera-vid)
 FLIP_ARGS=(--rotation 180)