We’ve given chat notification sounds a complete refresh, inspired by experiments we are doing with Web Audio API in Resenha.
Desktop chat notifications used to offer just two options, both a bit too dated for Discourse. We’ve replaced them with five new sound packs, synthesized in real time:
- Classic and clean
- Soft marimba
- Retro 8-bit
- Playful bubble
- Ethereal glass
Each pack includes distinct sounds for regular incoming messages and mentions, so you can tell at a glance (well, at an ear) whether someone just posted in a channel you follow or is talking directly to you. And because the sounds are synthesized on the fly instead of shipped as audio files, it’s one less binary file your users need to download.
You can pick your pack in Preferences → Chat → Desktop chat notification sound, and preview each one right from the selector. Prefer silence? “None” is still there too.
Resenha tags along
While this was inspired by Resenha, we have now cycled back and extended the new Discourse Chat sound packs to Resenha itself. We made it also follow this same setting, so it now ships with sounds that follow the patterns of the chat sound packs too!
Hear them for yourself
Try every pack — chat notifications and Resenha cues side by side — in the interactive preview below:
Let us know which pack is your favorite! And if you have ideas for future packs, we’re listening. 