diff --git a/server/src/plugins/soundboard/index.ts b/server/src/plugins/soundboard/index.ts
index b29b94f..b11657f 100644
--- a/server/src/plugins/soundboard/index.ts
+++ b/server/src/plugins/soundboard/index.ts
@@ -239,6 +239,8 @@ async function ensureConnectionReady(connection: VoiceConnection, channelId: str
   guildAudioState.delete(guildId);
   console.log(`${SB} Creating fresh connection (attempt 3)...`);
   const newConn = joinVoiceChannel({ channelId, guildId, adapterCreator: debugAdapterCreator(guild), selfMute: false, selfDeaf: false });
+  newConn.on('stateChange', (o: any, n: any) => console.log(`${SB} [fresh-conn] ${o.status} → ${n.status}`));
+  newConn.on('error', (err: any) => console.error(`${SB} [fresh-conn] ERROR: ${err?.message ?? err}`));
   try { await entersState(newConn, VoiceConnectionStatus.Ready, 15_000); console.log(`${SB} Connection ready (fresh)`); return newConn; }
   catch (e) { console.error(`${SB} All 3 connection attempts failed: ${(e as Error)?.message ?? e}`); try { newConn.destroy(); } catch {} guildAudioState.delete(guildId); throw new Error('Voice connection failed after 3 attempts'); }
 }
@@ -338,6 +340,14 @@ async function playFilePath(guildId: string, channelId: string, filePath: string
   if (!state) {
     console.log(`${SB} No existing audio state, creating new connection...`);
     const connection = joinVoiceChannel({ channelId, guildId, adapterCreator: debugAdapterCreator(guild), selfMute: false, selfDeaf: false });
+    // Debug: catch ALL state transitions and errors from the start
+    connection.on('stateChange', (o: any, n: any) => {
+      console.log(`${SB} [conn] ${o.status} → ${n.status}`);
+      // Log networking info if available
+      if (n.networking) console.log(`${SB} [conn] networking state: ${n.networking?.state?.code ?? 'unknown'}`);
+    });
+    connection.on('error', (err: any) => console.error(`${SB} [conn] ERROR: ${err?.message ?? err}`));
+    console.log(`${SB} Connection created, initial status=${connection.state.status}, state keys=${Object.keys(connection.state).join(',')}`);
     const player = createAudioPlayer({ behaviors: { noSubscriber: NoSubscriberBehavior.Play } });
     connection.subscribe(player);
     state = { connection, player, guildId, channelId, currentVolume: getPersistedVolume(guildId) };