> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.retoneai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Global Settings

> Configure agent-wide settings and defaults

Global Settings apply to your entire flow agent. Access them from the left sidebar icons in the Flow Builder.

## Accessing Global Settings

In the Flow Builder, the left sidebar contains icons for:

| Icon            | Setting                              |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| **Prompt**      | System prompt and agent instructions |
| **Voice**       | Voice settings and TTS configuration |
| **KB**          | Knowledge base attachment            |
| **Environment** | Background sounds and ambience       |

## System Prompt (Global Instructions)

The system prompt defines your agent's core personality and behavior across all conversation nodes.

```yaml theme={null}
System Prompt: |
  You are Alex, a friendly customer service agent for Acme Corp.

  Core behaviors:
  - Always be helpful, patient, and professional
  - Use the customer's name when you know it
  - Keep responses concise (under 30 words when possible)
  - Never make promises you can't keep

  You represent Acme Corp, a technology company specializing
  in smart home devices. Our products include:
  - SmartHub (central controller)
  - SmartSensor (motion/temperature)
  - SmartLock (keyless entry)

  Business hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM Eastern
```

<Note>
  Node-specific prompts extend (don't replace) the global system prompt.
</Note>

## Voice Settings

Configure how your agent sounds:

### Voice Selection

| Setting      | Description                             |
| ------------ | --------------------------------------- |
| **Provider** | Cartesia or ElevenLabs                  |
| **Voice**    | Specific voice to use                   |
| **Speed**    | Playback rate (0.5 - 2.0, default: 1.0) |
| **Volume**   | Output volume (0 - 100)                 |

### Responsiveness

Control how quickly the agent responds:

```yaml theme={null}
Responsiveness: 7  # Scale of 1-10
```

Higher values = faster responses but may interrupt callers.

### Back-channeling

Natural acknowledgment sounds during conversation:

```yaml theme={null}
Back-channeling:
  Enabled: true
  Frequency: 5  # How often (0-10)
  Words: ["mm-hmm", "I see", "right", "okay", "got it"]
```

### Emotion (Cartesia Sonic 3)

Control emotional tone:

```yaml theme={null}
Emotion:
  Type: "friendly"  # neutral, excited, content, sympathetic, curious, confident
  Intensity: "medium"  # low, medium, high
```

### Pre-response Phrases

Filler phrases before responding:

```yaml theme={null}
Pre-response:
  Enabled: true
  Phrases:
    - "Let me check that for you..."
    - "One moment please..."
    - "Good question..."
```

### Pronunciation Overrides

Custom pronunciations for specific words:

```yaml theme={null}
Pronunciations:
  "Acme": "ACK-mee"
  "API": "A P I"
  "SQL": "sequel"
```

See [Voice Settings](/agent-config/voice-settings) for detailed configuration.

## Knowledge Base

Attach a default knowledge base for the entire agent:

```yaml theme={null}
Knowledge Base:
  Folder: /Company-FAQ
  Top-K: 5
  Reranking: true
```

* **Folder**: Which KB folder to use
* **Top-K**: Number of results to retrieve
* **Reranking**: Enable for better accuracy

<Tip>
  Individual nodes can override the global KB with node-specific folders.
</Tip>

See [Knowledge Base](/agent-config/knowledge-base) for setup instructions.

## Environment

Ambient sounds and effects:

### Background Ambience

```yaml theme={null}
Background:
  Enabled: true
  Sound: "office"  # office, cafe, call-center, quiet
  Volume: 30
```

### Thinking Sound

Audio feedback while AI processes:

```yaml theme={null}
Thinking Sound:
  Enabled: true
  Sound: "subtle-click"
  Volume: 20
```

See [Environment](/agent-config/environment) for all options.

## Agent Metadata

Basic agent information:

| Field           | Description                           |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| **Name**        | Display name for the agent            |
| **Description** | Internal notes about purpose          |
| **Language**    | Primary language (en-US, en-UK, etc.) |
| **Timezone**    | Default timezone for scheduling       |

## Settings Inheritance

Settings cascade from global to node-specific:

```
Global Settings
    │
    ├── Node Settings (extend/override)
    │       │
    │       └── Transition Settings
    │
    └── All other nodes inherit global
```

**Example:**

* Global KB: /Company-FAQ
* Billing Node KB: /Billing-FAQ (overrides for this node)
* Support Node: Uses /Company-FAQ (inherits global)

## Best Practices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Set Defaults Early" icon="clock">
    Configure global settings before building your flow. Nodes inherit these defaults.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Use Consistent Voice" icon="microphone">
    Choose one voice and stick with it. Changing mid-conversation is jarring.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Test Voice Settings" icon="vial">
    Use Test Call to verify voice, speed, and pronunciation sound natural.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Document System Prompt" icon="file-lines">
    Keep your system prompt organized with clear sections for different behaviors.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="System Prompt" icon="terminal" href="/agent-config/system-prompt">
    Detailed prompt configuration
  </Card>

  <Card title="Voice Settings" icon="microphone" href="/agent-config/voice-settings">
    Voice and speech configuration
  </Card>

  <Card title="Knowledge Base" icon="database" href="/agent-config/knowledge-base">
    Document and content management
  </Card>

  <Card title="Environment" icon="volume-high" href="/agent-config/environment">
    Ambient sounds and effects
  </Card>
</CardGroup>