diff --git a/modules/module-lua-scripting/api/api.c b/modules/module-lua-scripting/api/api.c
index f7741176..7a58ed1e 100644
--- a/modules/module-lua-scripting/api/api.c
+++ b/modules/module-lua-scripting/api/api.c
@@ -1619,37 +1619,103 @@ impl_module_new (lua_State *L)
 /* WpConf */
 
 static int
-conf_get_section (lua_State *L)
+conf_get_section_as_properties (lua_State *L)
 {
+  const char *section = luaL_checkstring (L, 1);
+  g_autoptr (WpConf) conf = wp_core_get_conf (get_wp_core (L));
+  g_autoptr (WpSpaJson) s = NULL;
+  g_autoptr (WpProperties) props = NULL;
+
+  if (lua_istable (L, 2))
+    props = wplua_table_to_properties (L, 2);
+  else
+    props = wp_properties_new_empty ();
+
+  if (conf) {
+    s = wp_conf_get_section (conf, section);
+    if (s && wp_spa_json_is_object (s))
+      wp_properties_update_from_json (props, s);
+  }
+  wplua_properties_to_table (L, props);
+  return 1;
+}
+
+static int
+conf_get_section_as_object (lua_State *L)
+{
+  const char *section = luaL_checkstring (L, 1);
   g_autoptr (WpConf) conf = wp_core_get_conf (get_wp_core (L));
-  const char *section;
-  g_autoptr (WpSpaJson) fb = NULL;
   g_autoptr (WpSpaJson) s = NULL;
 
-  if (!conf) {
-    lua_pushnil (L);
-    return 1;
+  if (conf) {
+    s = wp_conf_get_section (conf, section);
+    if (s && wp_spa_json_is_object (s)) {
+      push_luajson (L, s, INT_MAX);
+      return 1;
+    }
   }
 
-  section = luaL_checkstring (L, 1);
-  if (lua_isuserdata (L, 2)) {
-    WpSpaJson *v = wplua_checkboxed (L, 2, WP_TYPE_SPA_JSON);
-    if (v)
-      fb = wp_spa_json_ref (v);
-  }
-
-  s = wp_conf_get_section (conf, section);
-  if (s)
-    wplua_pushboxed (L, WP_TYPE_SPA_JSON, g_steal_pointer (&s));
-  else if (fb)
-    wplua_pushboxed (L, WP_TYPE_SPA_JSON, g_steal_pointer (&fb));
+  if (lua_istable (L, 2))
+    lua_pushvalue (L, 2);
   else
-    lua_pushnil (L);
+    lua_newtable (L);
+  return 1;
+}
+
+static int
+conf_get_section_as_array (lua_State *L)
+{
+  const char *section = luaL_checkstring (L, 1);
+  g_autoptr (WpConf) conf = wp_core_get_conf (get_wp_core (L));
+  g_autoptr (WpSpaJson) s = NULL;
+
+  if (conf) {
+    s = wp_conf_get_section (conf, section);
+    if (s && wp_spa_json_is_array (s)) {
+      push_luajson (L, s, INT_MAX);
+      return 1;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (lua_istable (L, 2))
+    lua_pushvalue (L, 2);
+  else
+    lua_newtable (L);
+  return 1;
+}
+
+static int
+conf_get_section_as_json (lua_State *L)
+{
+  const char *section = luaL_checkstring (L, 1);
+  g_autoptr (WpConf) conf = NULL;
+  g_autoptr (WpSpaJson) s = NULL;
+  WpSpaJson *fb = NULL;
+
+  if (lua_isuserdata (L, 2))
+    fb = wplua_checkboxed (L, 2, WP_TYPE_SPA_JSON);
+
+  conf = wp_core_get_conf (get_wp_core (L));
+  if (conf) {
+    s = wp_conf_get_section (conf, section);
+    if (!s && fb)
+      s = wp_spa_json_ref (fb);
+    if (s) {
+      wplua_pushboxed (L, WP_TYPE_SPA_JSON,
+          wp_spa_json_ensure_unique_owner (g_steal_pointer (&s)));
+      return 1;
+    }
+  }
+
+  lua_pushnil (L);
   return 1;
 }
 
 static const luaL_Reg conf_methods[] = {
-  { "get_section", conf_get_section },
+  { "get_section_as_properties", conf_get_section_as_properties },
+  { "get_section_as_object", conf_get_section_as_object },
+  { "get_section_as_array", conf_get_section_as_array },
+  { "get_section_as_json", conf_get_section_as_json },
   { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/scripts/client/access-default.lua b/src/scripts/client/access-default.lua
index 308bc1aa..a00f16e9 100644
--- a/src/scripts/client/access-default.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/client/access-default.lua
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ function getDefaultPermissions (properties)
 end
 
 function getPermissions (properties)
-  local section = Conf.get_section ("access.rules")
+  local section = Conf.get_section_as_json ("access.rules")
   if section then
     local matched, mprops = JsonUtils.match_rules_update_properties (
         section, properties)
diff --git a/src/scripts/lib/common-utils.lua b/src/scripts/lib/common-utils.lua
index a3ee1ab6..e302426a 100644
--- a/src/scripts/lib/common-utils.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/lib/common-utils.lua
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ function cutils.get_default_metadata_object ()
 end
 
 function cutils.evaluateRulesApplyProperties (properties, name)
-  local section = Conf.get_section (name)
+  local section = Conf.get_section_as_json (name)
   if not section then
     return
   end
@@ -112,26 +112,4 @@ function cutils.get_application_name ()
   return Core.get_properties()["application.name"] or "WirePlumber"
 end
 
-function cutils.get_config_section (name, defaults)
-  local section = Conf.get_section (name)
-  if not section then
-    section = defaults or {}
-  else
-    section = section:parse ()
-    if defaults then
-      for k, v in pairs (defaults) do
-        if section [k] == nil then
-          section [k] = v
-        end
-      end
-      for k, v in ipairs (defaults) do
-        if section [k] == nil then
-          section [k] = v
-        end
-      end
-    end
-  end
-  return section
-end
-
 return cutils
diff --git a/src/scripts/linking/find-virtual-target.lua b/src/scripts/linking/find-virtual-target.lua
index 4e81c780..14783d80 100644
--- a/src/scripts/linking/find-virtual-target.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/linking/find-virtual-target.lua
@@ -9,12 +9,8 @@
 lutils = require ("linking-utils")
 log = Log.open_topic ("s-linking")
 
-defaults = {}
-defaults.roles = Json.Object {}
-
 config = {}
-config.roles = Conf.get_section (
-    "virtual-item-roles", defaults.roles):parse ()
+config.roles = Conf.get_section_as_object ("virtual-item-roles")
 
 function findRole(role, tmc)
   if role and not config.roles[role] then
diff --git a/src/scripts/linking/rescan-virtual-links.lua b/src/scripts/linking/rescan-virtual-links.lua
index 89f806d3..bc96c31d 100644
--- a/src/scripts/linking/rescan-virtual-links.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/linking/rescan-virtual-links.lua
@@ -10,13 +10,10 @@ log = Log.open_topic ("s-linking")
 
 defaults = {}
 defaults.duck_level = 0.3
-defaults.roles = Json.Object {}
 
 config = {}
-config.duck_level = Conf.get_value_float ("wireplumber.settings",
-    "linking.default.duck-level", defaults.duck_level)
-config.roles = Conf.get_section (
-    "virtual-item-roles", defaults.roles):parse ()
+config.duck_level = default.duck_level -- FIXME
+config.roles = Conf.get_section_as_object ("virtual-item-roles")
 
 -- enable ducking if mixer-api is loaded
 mixer_api = Plugin.find("mixer-api")
diff --git a/src/scripts/monitors/alsa-midi.lua b/src/scripts/monitors/alsa-midi.lua
index 7b60d4f7..120b118e 100644
--- a/src/scripts/monitors/alsa-midi.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/monitors/alsa-midi.lua
@@ -8,9 +8,22 @@
 cutils = require ("common-utils")
 log = Log.open_topic ("s-monitors")
 
+defaults = {}
+defaults.node_properties = {  -- Midi bridge node properties
+  ["factory.name"] = "api.alsa.seq.bridge",
+
+  -- Name set for the node with ALSA MIDI ports
+  ["node.name"] = "Midi-Bridge",
+
+  -- Set priorities so that it can be used as a fallback driver (see pipewire#3562)
+  ["priority.session"] = "100",
+  ["priority.driver"] = "1",
+}
+
 config = {}
 config.monitoring = Core.test_feature ("monitor.alsa-midi.monitoring")
-config.node_properties = cutils.get_config_section ("monitor.alsa-midi.properties")
+config.node_properties = Conf.get_section_as_properties (
+    "monitor.alsa-midi.properties", defaults.node_properties)
 
 SND_PATH = "/dev/snd"
 SEQ_NAME = "seq"
@@ -20,23 +33,8 @@ midi_node = nil
 fm_plugin = nil
 
 function CreateMidiNode ()
-  -- Midi properties
-  local props = {
-    ["factory.name"] = "api.alsa.seq.bridge",
-
-    -- Name set for the node with ALSA MIDI ports
-    ["node.name"] = "Midi-Bridge",
-
-    -- Set priorities so that it can be used as a fallback driver (see pipewire#3562)
-    ["priority.session"] = "100",
-    ["priority.driver"] = "1",
-  }
-  for k, v in pairs(config.node_properties) do
-    props[k] = v
-  end
-
   -- create the midi node
-  local node = Node("spa-node-factory", props)
+  local node = Node("spa-node-factory", config.node_properties)
   node:activate(Feature.Proxy.BOUND, function (n)
     log:info ("activated Midi bridge")
   end)
diff --git a/src/scripts/monitors/alsa.lua b/src/scripts/monitors/alsa.lua
index ca746ec5..4ba43675 100644
--- a/src/scripts/monitors/alsa.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/monitors/alsa.lua
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ log = Log.open_topic ("s-monitors")
 
 config = {}
 config.reserve_device = Core.test_feature ("monitor.alsa.reserve-device")
-config.properties = cutils.get_config_section ("monitor.alsa.properties")
+config.properties = Conf.get_section_as_properties ("monitor.alsa.properties")
 
 -- unique device/node name tables
 device_names_table = nil
diff --git a/src/scripts/monitors/bluez-midi.lua b/src/scripts/monitors/bluez-midi.lua
index 1d0beb57..a33cca45 100644
--- a/src/scripts/monitors/bluez-midi.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/monitors/bluez-midi.lua
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ defaults.servers = { "bluez_midi.server" }
 
 config = {}
 config.seat_monitoring = Core.test_feature ("monitor.bluez.seat-monitoring")
-config.properties = cutils.get_config_section ("monitor.bluez-midi.properties")
-config.servers = cutils.get_config_section ("monitor.bluez-midi.servers", defaults.servers)
+config.properties = Conf.get_section_as_properties ("monitor.bluez-midi.properties")
+config.servers = Conf.get_section_as_array ("monitor.bluez-midi.servers", defaults.servers)
 
 -- unique device/node name tables
 node_names_table = nil
diff --git a/src/scripts/monitors/bluez.lua b/src/scripts/monitors/bluez.lua
index 930410b0..319b5310 100644
--- a/src/scripts/monitors/bluez.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/monitors/bluez.lua
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ log = Log.open_topic ("s-monitors")
 
 config = {}
 config.seat_monitoring = Core.test_feature ("monitor.bluez.seat-monitoring")
-config.properties = cutils.get_config_section ("monitor.bluez.properties")
+config.properties = Conf.get_section_as_properties ("monitor.bluez.properties")
 
 -- This is not a setting, it must always be enabled
 config.properties["api.bluez5.connection-info"] = true
diff --git a/src/scripts/monitors/libcamera/enumerate-device.lua b/src/scripts/monitors/libcamera/enumerate-device.lua
index 9e716234..e6e8361d 100644
--- a/src/scripts/monitors/libcamera/enumerate-device.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/monitors/libcamera/enumerate-device.lua
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ cutils = require ("common-utils")
 log = Log.open_topic ("s-monitors-libcamera")
 
 config = {}
-config.properties = cutils.get_config_section ("monitor.libcamera.properties")
+config.properties = Conf.get_section_as_properties ("monitor.libcamera.properties")
 
 function createCamDevice (parent, id, type, factory, properties)
   source = source or Plugin.find ("standard-event-source")
diff --git a/src/scripts/monitors/v4l2/enumerate-device.lua b/src/scripts/monitors/v4l2/enumerate-device.lua
index 0b2daa31..87564d1c 100644
--- a/src/scripts/monitors/v4l2/enumerate-device.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/monitors/v4l2/enumerate-device.lua
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ cutils = require ("common-utils")
 log = Log.open_topic ("s-monitors-v4l2")
 
 config = {}
-config.properties = cutils.get_config_section ("monitor.v4l2.properties")
+config.properties = Conf.get_section_as_properties ("monitor.v4l2.properties")
 
 function createCamDevice (parent, id, type, factory, properties)
   source = source or Plugin.find ("standard-event-source")
diff --git a/src/scripts/node/create-virtual-item.lua b/src/scripts/node/create-virtual-item.lua
index 1c857c69..67008b09 100644
--- a/src/scripts/node/create-virtual-item.lua
+++ b/src/scripts/node/create-virtual-item.lua
@@ -11,12 +11,8 @@
 
 log = Log.open_topic ("s-node")
 
-defaults = {}
-defaults.virtual_items = Json.Object {}
-
 config = {}
-config.virtual_items = Conf.get_section (
-    "virtual-items", defaults.virtual_items):parse ()
+config.virtual_items = Conf.get_section_as_object ("virtual-items")
 
 function createVirtualItem (factory_name, properties)
   -- create virtual item