AWS Polly python synthesize_speech delayed response

Question

I'm not sure if I'm doing things incorrectly, but sometimes it takes almost precisely a minute (60-61 secs) to get a response back. Most of the time it is < 1 sec, but sometimes it gets to 60.x secs - never longer, never shorter, always around that 1 minute mark. Some background:  
I'm using it in a Django application, and in a helper file, towards the top I initiate things:

```
session = Session(
        region_name="us-east-1",
        aws_access_key_id=...
        aws_secret_access_key=...
        )
polly = session.client("polly")
```

Then down in a function (in the helper file):

```
def some_function():
    time1 = time.time()
    response = polly.synthesize_speech(
                            Text=<....>,
                            OutputFormat="mp3",
                            VoiceId="Justin",
                            TextType="ssml"
                        )
    time2 = time.time()
```

Then in a views file (since this is used in Django), it will call on "some_function" when requests arrive.  
  
As mentioned, time2 - time1 is usually < 1 sec, but from time to time, it gets to 60-61 secs... I initially thought it was some sort of rate limiting, but I looked up the limits for AWS polly and it seems like I am far away from any throttling limits. I'm out of ideas, so any inspiration is much welcome! Thanks in advance!  
  
Also, not sure if relevant, but the Django app is hosted on Azure - would that cause any random in occurrence, but consistent in duration delays?

AWS-User-7152847 · Accepted Answer

Hi Mfxuus,  
  
Thank you for reaching out to us. It looks like the problem you are facing is related to the default boto3 timeout setting. You can change this setting and test if it helps with your issue.  
  
Here is a guide on how to change timeout setting:   
https://aws.amazon.com/premiumsupport/knowledge-center/lambda-function-retry-timeout-sdk/  
  
Please reach out to us, in case this does not solve your issue.  
  
Thanks,  
Fatih

mfxuus · Answer

Hi Fatih,  
  
Following up on this issue - I think it is indeed the timeout setting, and more specifically, it is the "read_timeout" causing the issue. Do you by any chance know if this "read_timeout" refers to the total time spent reading the response, or simply "time til I **start**  reading some response"? Just trying to figure out if setting it to say 5 secs would break anything in my app.  
  
Thanks again!  
  
Michael

mfxuus · Answer

Thank you! That does sound consistent with what we're experiencing. Will set a custom timeout and see if that fixes things!

AWS Polly python synthesize_speech delayed response

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