There is a master on/off switch on the battery to power the sound module and the PIC so when it is "off" it is really "off" to everything. I'm not worried about draining anything.

I just want to ensure when both circuits are active that when I want the pin low it stays low and when I want it high it stays high. I don't want to take the chance that it floats or changes state for no reason.

Since that diagram and article didn't mention connecting it to a PIC output I question that second resistor. I have a feeling it would keep everything too high all the time.

I also would like everything to start up low, but I think the PIC is fast enough that it reads my mute flag and shifts the pin before there is enough time to even notice a delay.

Bart