Clubhouse has added a new spatial audio feature that lets you hear the people around you in a room in 3D. The company says that it makes the experience a bit more lifelike and human, and adds that it is also easier for your brain to track who is talking with subtle spatial cues.
To get the ideal spatial audio effect, you’ll need headphones (either wired or Bluetooth), although it will work with some other Bluetooth devices, says the company. Due to a limitation in the Bluetooth protocol, speakers will not hear the spatial audio effect when wearing Bluetooth headphones (although wired headphones work fine). Clubhouse said that it is working with mobile OS providers to address this limitation.
If you are speaking in a room, others will still hear you with spatial audio even if you aren’t using headphones. You can turn spatial audio off anytime in your settings.
The company has also posted a demo video with an explanation about the feature.
Hear ye, hear ye 🔊 spAAaAaAatial audio on Clubhouse!
It’s like surround sound, but w/ your own headphones. A more vibrant, human experience! Plus makes it much easier to tell who’s talking.
thanks to @juberti for this one 👏 rolling out now on iOS, Android coming soon! pic.twitter.com/Zit6F9ijRK
— Clubhouse (@Clubhouse) August 29, 2021
Spatial audio is currently available on iOS, and will be available for Android users soon. The app gets a new icon every month. September month’s icon is Leah Lamarr, an American stand-up comedian, actress, podcast host, writer, director, and Clubhouse Influencer who hosts some of the most popular comedy rooms.