diff --git a/platypush/plugins/sound/__init__.py b/platypush/plugins/sound/__init__.py
index d3fa12de..5cfe958c 100644
--- a/platypush/plugins/sound/__init__.py
+++ b/platypush/plugins/sound/__init__.py
@@ -86,8 +86,11 @@ class SoundPlugin(RunnablePlugin):
         sample_rate: Optional[int] = None,
         channels: int = 2,
         volume: float = 100,
+        dtype: Optional[str] = None,
+        format: Optional[str] = None,  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
         stream_name: Optional[str] = None,
         stream_index: Optional[int] = None,
+        join: bool = False,
     ):
         """
         Plays an audio file/URL (any audio format supported by ffmpeg works) or
@@ -159,6 +162,12 @@ class SoundPlugin(RunnablePlugin):
         :param channels: Number of audio channels. Default: number of channels
             in the audio file in file mode, 1 if in synth mode
         :param volume: Playback volume, between 0 and 100. Default: 100.
+        :param dtype: Data type for the audio samples, if playing raw PCM audio
+            frames. Supported types: 'float64', 'float32', 'int32', 'int16',
+            'int8', 'uint8'.
+        :param format: Output audio format, if you want to convert the audio to
+            another format before playing it. The list of available formats can
+            be retrieved through the ``ffmpeg -formats`` command. Default: None
         :param stream_index: If specified, play to an already active stream
             index (you can get them through :meth:`.query_streams`). Default:
             creates a new audio stream through PortAudio.
@@ -167,6 +176,8 @@ class SoundPlugin(RunnablePlugin):
             name will be created. If not set, and ``stream_index`` is not set
             either, then a new stream will be created on the next available
             index and named ``platypush-stream-<index>``.
+        :param join: If True, then the method will block until the playback is
+            completed. Default: False.
         """
 
         dev = self._manager.get_device(device=device, type=StreamType.OUTPUT)
@@ -193,7 +204,13 @@ class SoundPlugin(RunnablePlugin):
             stream_index,
         )
 
-        self._manager.create_player(
+        player_kwargs = {}
+        if dtype:
+            player_kwargs['dtype'] = dtype
+        if format:
+            player_kwargs['format'] = format
+
+        player = self._manager.create_player(
             device=dev.index,
             infile=resource,
             sound=sound,
@@ -203,7 +220,12 @@ class SoundPlugin(RunnablePlugin):
             channels=channels,
             volume=volume,
             stream_name=stream_name,
-        ).start()
+            **player_kwargs,
+        )
+
+        player.start()
+        if join:
+            player.join()
 
     @action
     def stream_recording(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -255,7 +277,7 @@ class SoundPlugin(RunnablePlugin):
         :param sample_rate: Recording sample rate (default: device default rate)
         :param dtype: Data type for the audio samples. Supported types:
             'float64', 'float32', 'int32', 'int16', 'int8', 'uint8'. Default:
-            float32
+            int16.
         :param blocksize: Audio block size (default: configured
             `input_blocksize` or 2048)
         :param play_audio: If True, then the recorded audio will be played in
diff --git a/platypush/plugins/sound/_converters/_base.py b/platypush/plugins/sound/_converters/_base.py
index 3c81b908..17f57310 100644
--- a/platypush/plugins/sound/_converters/_base.py
+++ b/platypush/plugins/sound/_converters/_base.py
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ from threading import Event, RLock, Thread
 from typing import Any, Callable, Coroutine, Iterable, Optional
 
 from platypush.context import get_or_create_event_loop
+from platypush.utils import is_debug_enabled
 
-_dtype_to_ffmpeg_format = {
+dtype_to_ffmpeg_format = {
     'int8': 's8',
     'uint8': 'u8',
     'int16': 's16le',
@@ -46,7 +47,8 @@ class AudioConverter(Thread, ABC):
         volume: float,
         dtype: str,
         chunk_size: int,
-        format: Optional[str] = None,  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
+        input_format: Optional[str] = None,  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
+        output_format: Optional[str] = None,  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
         on_exit: Optional[Callable[[], Any]] = None,
         **kwargs,
     ):
@@ -58,24 +60,20 @@ class AudioConverter(Thread, ABC):
         :param dtype: The (numpy) data type of the raw input/output audio.
         :param chunk_size: Number of bytes that will be read at once from the
             ffmpeg process.
-        :param format: Input/output audio format.
+        :param input_format: Input audio format.
+        :param output_format: Output audio format.
         :param on_exit: Function to call when the ffmpeg process exits.
         """
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        ffmpeg_format = _dtype_to_ffmpeg_format.get(dtype)
-        assert ffmpeg_format, (
-            f'Unsupported data type: {dtype}. Supported data types: '
-            f'{list(_dtype_to_ffmpeg_format.keys())}'
-        )
-
         self._ffmpeg_bin = ffmpeg_bin
-        self._ffmpeg_format = ffmpeg_format
         self._ffmpeg_task: Optional[Coroutine] = None
         self._sample_rate = sample_rate
         self._channels = channels
         self._chunk_size = chunk_size
-        self._format = format
+        self._input_format = input_format
+        self._output_format = output_format
+        self._dtype = dtype
         self._closed = False
         self._out_queue = Queue()
         self.ffmpeg = None
@@ -120,7 +118,8 @@ class AudioConverter(Thread, ABC):
         """
         Set of arguments common to all ffmpeg converter instances.
         """
-        return ('-hide_banner', '-loglevel', 'warning', '-y')
+        log_level = 'debug' if is_debug_enabled() else 'warning'
+        return ('-hide_banner', '-loglevel', log_level, '-y')
 
     @property
     @abstractmethod
@@ -150,20 +149,6 @@ class AudioConverter(Thread, ABC):
             return args + ('-channel_layout', 'stereo')
         return args
 
-    @property
-    def _raw_ffmpeg_args(self) -> Iterable[str]:
-        """
-        Ffmpeg arguments for raw audio input/output given the current
-        configuration.
-        """
-        return (
-            '-f',
-            self._ffmpeg_format,
-            '-ar',
-            str(self._sample_rate),
-            *self._channel_layout_args,
-        )
-
     @property
     def _audio_volume_args(self) -> Iterable[str]:
         """
@@ -197,23 +182,6 @@ class AudioConverter(Thread, ABC):
         """
         return PIPE
 
-    @property
-    def _compressed_ffmpeg_args(self) -> Iterable[str]:
-        """
-        Ffmpeg arguments for the compressed audio given the current
-        configuration.
-        """
-        if not self._format:
-            return ()
-
-        ffmpeg_args = self._format_to_ffmpeg_args.get(self._format)
-        assert ffmpeg_args, (
-            f'Unsupported output format: {self._format}. Supported formats: '
-            f'{list(self._format_to_ffmpeg_args.keys())}'
-        )
-
-        return ffmpeg_args
-
     async def _audio_proxy(self, timeout: Optional[float] = None):
         """
         Proxy the converted audio stream to the output queue for downstream
@@ -236,11 +204,6 @@ class AudioConverter(Thread, ABC):
 
         self.logger.info('Running ffmpeg: %s', ' '.join(ffmpeg_args))
 
-        try:
-            await asyncio.wait_for(self.ffmpeg.wait(), 0.1)
-        except asyncio.TimeoutError:
-            pass
-
         while (
             self._loop
             and self.ffmpeg
@@ -298,6 +261,9 @@ class AudioConverter(Thread, ABC):
             self._loop.run_until_complete(self._ffmpeg_task)
         except RuntimeError as e:
             self.logger.warning(e)
+        except Exception as e:
+            self.logger.warning('Audio converter error: %s', e)
+            self.logger.exception(e)
         finally:
             self.stop()
 
diff --git a/platypush/plugins/sound/_converters/_from_raw.py b/platypush/plugins/sound/_converters/_from_raw.py
index f67f94de..7ca58e73 100644
--- a/platypush/plugins/sound/_converters/_from_raw.py
+++ b/platypush/plugins/sound/_converters/_from_raw.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from typing import Iterable
 
-from ._base import AudioConverter
+from ._base import AudioConverter, dtype_to_ffmpeg_format
 
 
 class RawInputAudioConverter(AudioConverter):
@@ -8,13 +8,42 @@ class RawInputAudioConverter(AudioConverter):
     Converts raw audio input to a compressed media format.
     """
 
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        if self._dtype and not self._input_format:
+            ffmpeg_format = dtype_to_ffmpeg_format.get(self._dtype)
+            assert ffmpeg_format, (
+                f'Unsupported data type: {self._dtype}. Supported data types: '
+                f'{list(dtype_to_ffmpeg_format.keys())}'
+            )
+
+            self._input_format = ffmpeg_format
+
     @property
     def _input_format_args(self) -> Iterable[str]:
-        return self._raw_ffmpeg_args
+        args = (
+            '-ar',
+            str(self._sample_rate),
+            *self._channel_layout_args,
+        )
+
+        if self._input_format:
+            args = ('-f', self._input_format) + args
+
+        return args
 
     @property
     def _output_format_args(self) -> Iterable[str]:
-        return self._compressed_ffmpeg_args
+        if not self._output_format:
+            return ()
+
+        ffmpeg_args = self._format_to_ffmpeg_args.get(self._output_format)
+        assert ffmpeg_args, (
+            f'Unsupported output format: {self._output_format}. Supported formats: '
+            f'{list(self._format_to_ffmpeg_args.keys())}'
+        )
+
+        return ffmpeg_args
 
 
 # vim:sw=4:ts=4:et:
diff --git a/platypush/plugins/sound/_converters/_to_raw.py b/platypush/plugins/sound/_converters/_to_raw.py
index 024256af..89f1964c 100644
--- a/platypush/plugins/sound/_converters/_to_raw.py
+++ b/platypush/plugins/sound/_converters/_to_raw.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from typing import Iterable
 
-from ._base import AudioConverter
+from ._base import AudioConverter, dtype_to_ffmpeg_format
 
 
 class RawOutputAudioConverter(AudioConverter):
@@ -8,13 +8,40 @@ class RawOutputAudioConverter(AudioConverter):
     Converts input audio to raw audio output.
     """
 
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        if self._dtype and not self._output_format:
+            ffmpeg_format = dtype_to_ffmpeg_format.get(self._dtype)
+            assert ffmpeg_format, (
+                f'Unsupported data type: {self._dtype}. Supported data types: '
+                f'{list(dtype_to_ffmpeg_format.keys())}'
+            )
+
+            self._output_format = ffmpeg_format
+
     @property
     def _input_format_args(self) -> Iterable[str]:
-        return self._compressed_ffmpeg_args
+        if not self._input_format:
+            return ()
+
+        ffmpeg_args = self._format_to_ffmpeg_args.get(self._input_format)
+        if not ffmpeg_args:
+            return ('-f', self._input_format)
+
+        return ffmpeg_args
 
     @property
     def _output_format_args(self) -> Iterable[str]:
-        return self._raw_ffmpeg_args
+        args = (
+            '-ar',
+            str(self._sample_rate),
+            *self._channel_layout_args,
+        )
+
+        if self._output_format:
+            args = ('-f', self._output_format) + args
+
+        return args
 
 
 class RawOutputAudioFromFileConverter(RawOutputAudioConverter):
diff --git a/platypush/plugins/sound/_manager/_main.py b/platypush/plugins/sound/_manager/_main.py
index 92784758..9a1d96cf 100644
--- a/platypush/plugins/sound/_manager/_main.py
+++ b/platypush/plugins/sound/_manager/_main.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ class AudioManager:
         duration: Optional[float] = None,
         sample_rate: Optional[int] = None,
         dtype: str = 'int16',
+        format: Optional[str] = None,  # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
         blocksize: Optional[int] = None,
         latency: Union[float, str] = 'high',
         stream_name: Optional[str] = None,
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ class AudioManager:
         :param duration: Duration of the stream in seconds.
         :param sample_rate: Sample rate of the stream.
         :param dtype: Data type of the stream.
+        :param format: Output format of the stream.
         :param blocksize: Block size of the stream.
         :param latency: Latency of the stream.
         :param stream_name: Name of the stream.
@@ -93,6 +95,7 @@ class AudioManager:
             blocksize=blocksize or self.output_blocksize,
             latency=latency,
             channels=channels,
+            output_format=format,
             queue_size=self.queue_size,
             should_stop=self._should_stop,
         )
diff --git a/platypush/plugins/sound/_streams/_base.py b/platypush/plugins/sound/_streams/_base.py
index 6c369fe5..d3526810 100644
--- a/platypush/plugins/sound/_streams/_base.py
+++ b/platypush/plugins/sound/_streams/_base.py
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ class AudioThread(Thread, ABC):
         infile: Optional[str] = None,
         outfile: Optional[str] = None,
         duration: Optional[float] = None,
+        input_format: Optional[str] = None,
+        output_format: Optional[str] = None,
         latency: Union[float, str] = 'high',
         redis_queue: Optional[str] = None,
         should_stop: Optional[Event] = None,
@@ -66,6 +68,8 @@ class AudioThread(Thread, ABC):
             stream.
         :param outfile: Path to the output file.
         :param duration: Duration of the audio stream.
+        :param input_format: Input format override.
+        :param output_format: Output format override.
         :param latency: Latency to use.
         :param redis_queue: Redis queue to use.
         :param should_stop: Synchronize with upstream stop events.
@@ -83,6 +87,8 @@ class AudioThread(Thread, ABC):
         self.volume = volume
         self.sample_rate = sample_rate
         self.dtype = dtype
+        self.input_format = input_format
+        self.output_format = output_format
         self.stream = stream
         self.duration = duration
         self.blocksize = blocksize * channels
@@ -349,6 +355,9 @@ class AudioThread(Thread, ABC):
             self.logger.warning(
                 'Audio callback timeout for %s', self.__class__.__name__
             )
+        except Exception as e:
+            self.logger.warning('Unhandled sound on %s', self.__class__.__name__)
+            self.logger.exception(e)
         finally:
             self.notify_stop()
 
diff --git a/platypush/plugins/sound/_streams/_player/_resource.py b/platypush/plugins/sound/_streams/_player/_resource.py
index 5186d5e7..43c4a92f 100644
--- a/platypush/plugins/sound/_streams/_player/_resource.py
+++ b/platypush/plugins/sound/_streams/_player/_resource.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ class AudioResourcePlayer(AudioPlayer):
     def _converter_args(self) -> dict:
         return {
             'infile': self.infile,
+            'output_format': self.output_format,
             **super()._converter_args,
         }
 
diff --git a/platypush/plugins/sound/_streams/_recorder.py b/platypush/plugins/sound/_streams/_recorder.py
index abec81da..5d6ea71c 100644
--- a/platypush/plugins/sound/_streams/_recorder.py
+++ b/platypush/plugins/sound/_streams/_recorder.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class AudioRecorder(AudioThread):
     @property
     def _converter_args(self) -> dict:
         return {
-            'format': self.output_format,
+            'output_format': self.output_format,
             **super()._converter_args,
         }