feat(clients): event sound effects + optional text-to-speech

Add audible cues and optional spoken announcements for session events
(join/leave, channel + PM sent/recv, login, logout/connection-lost,
mic on/off, voice-activity, PTT) across all three clients, driven off
the shared C ABI vc_event stream so the mapping stays consistent.

TTS is off by default; when enabled it announces events and reads
message/PM bodies aloud. Master toggles + a sound-volume slider; the
per-utterance voice-activity and PTT cues default off. WAVs ship from
assets/sounds/.

Windows (built + verified): new VoiceCat.App/Notifications/ layer
(FeedbackSettings -> %AppData%\VoiceCat\feedback.json, SoundPlayerPool
via System.Media.SoundPlayer, SpeechAnnouncer via Prismatoid 0.3.0,
EventFeedback dispatcher); MainForm hooks; NotificationSettingsForm
under Settings > Notifications; csproj adds the Prismatoid PackageRef
and copies the WAVs into sounds\.

macOS + iOS (written, not yet built -- needs a Mac): shared
VoiceCatCore/Feedback/ (SoundEvent, EventFeedback = AVAudioPlayer pool
+ native AVSpeechSynthesizer, FeedbackSettings over UserDefaults); WAVs
bundled via Package.swift resources (.process). Hooks in SessionState/
AppState (iOS) and MainWindowController (macOS); settings UI in
SettingsView (iOS) and SettingsWindowController (macOS).

No core/server code touched; ctest --preset dev unaffected.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

clients/apple/Package.swift

@@ -40,7 +40,11 @@ let package = Package(
         .target(
             name: "VoiceCatCore",
             dependencies: ["VoiceCatCoreXCF"],
-            path: "Sources/VoiceCatCore"
+            path: "Sources/VoiceCatCore",
+            // Event-cue WAVs (shared with the Windows client) bundled into the package's
+            // resource bundle; EventFeedback loads them via Bundle.module. Copied from
+            // assets/sounds/ into Sources/VoiceCatCore/Sounds/.
+            resources: [.process("Sounds")]
         ),
         // Smoke tests against a real voicecat-server — mirrors clients/windows/
         // VoiceCat.Interop.Tests/VoiceCatClientSmokeTests.cs. Requires the `dev` CMake preset

clients/apple/Sources/VoiceCatCore/Feedback/EventFeedback.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+// EventFeedback — shared audible + spoken feedback for session events, used by both the macOS
+// (AppKit) and iOS (SwiftUI) clients. Mirrors the Windows client's EventFeedback policy
+// (clients/windows/.../Notifications/EventFeedback.cs): the platform event handlers decide WHAT
+// to play (they own the model/nickname/channel context); this type owns the "should I, and how"
+// policy plus the AVFoundation playback/synthesis.
+//
+// Sound effects use AVAudioPlayer; spoken announcements use the OS-native AVSpeechSynthesizer.
+//
+// NOTE (iOS): on the voice path the app runs a play-and-record AVAudioSession (VPIO). Playing
+// these cues / speech over that session can interact with the live call (ducking, route, or the
+// mute switch). The session category should allow mixing — verify on device. This is the most
+// likely place for platform bugs to surface.
+
+import Foundation
+import AVFoundation
+
+/// User preferences for event sounds and spoken feedback, backed by UserDefaults so the macOS
+/// and iOS settings screens and this player share one source of truth.
+public struct FeedbackSettings: Sendable {
+    public var sounds: Bool
+    public var speech: Bool
+    public var volume: Float
+    public var selfTalkSounds: Bool
+    public var pttSound: Bool
+
+    static let keySounds = "feedback.sounds"
+    static let keySpeech = "feedback.speech"
+    static let keyVolume = "feedback.volume"
+    static let keySelfTalk = "feedback.selfTalk"
+    static let keyPtt = "feedback.ptt"
+
+    /// Default values registered with UserDefaults (so "unset" reads as the intended default
+    /// rather than false/0).
+    static let defaults: [String: Any] = [
+        keySounds: true,
+        keySpeech: false,
+        keyVolume: 1.0,
+        keySelfTalk: false,
+        keyPtt: false,
+    ]
+
+    /// The current settings, read live from UserDefaults.
+    public static var current: FeedbackSettings {
+        let d = UserDefaults.standard
+        d.register(defaults: defaults)  // idempotent — ensures "unset" reads as the intended default
+        return FeedbackSettings(
+            sounds: d.bool(forKey: keySounds),
+            speech: d.bool(forKey: keySpeech),
+            volume: d.float(forKey: keyVolume),
+            selfTalkSounds: d.bool(forKey: keySelfTalk),
+            pttSound: d.bool(forKey: keyPtt))
+    }
+}
+
+@MainActor
+public final class EventFeedback {
+    public static let shared = EventFeedback()
+
+    private var players: [SoundEvent: AVAudioPlayer] = [:]
+    private let synthesizer = AVSpeechSynthesizer()
+
+    private init() {
+        UserDefaults.standard.register(defaults: FeedbackSettings.defaults)
+    }
+
+    // MARK: - Sounds
+
+    /// Play an event cue, honouring the user's settings. The two opt-in categories (your own
+    /// voice-activity, and the PTT cue) are gated by their own flags.
+    public func play(_ event: SoundEvent) {
+        let s = FeedbackSettings.current
+        guard s.sounds, s.volume > 0 else { return }
+        if (event == .vaStart || event == .vaStop), !s.selfTalkSounds { return }
+        if event == .ptt, !s.pttSound { return }
+
+        guard let player = player(for: event) else { return }
+        player.volume = s.volume
+        player.currentTime = 0
+        player.play()
+    }
+
+    /// Lazily load and cache an AVAudioPlayer for the event's bundled WAV. Returns nil (silent)
+    /// if the resource is missing or fails to load.
+    private func player(for event: SoundEvent) -> AVAudioPlayer? {
+        if let cached = players[event] { return cached }
+        guard let url = Bundle.module.url(forResource: event.resourceName, withExtension: "wav"),
+              let player = try? AVAudioPlayer(contentsOf: url) else {
+            return nil
+        }
+        player.prepareToPlay()
+        players[event] = player
+        return player
+    }
+
+    // MARK: - Speech
+
+    /// Speak `text` when spoken feedback is enabled. Utterances queue (do not interrupt prior
+    /// speech) so a burst of events is read in order.
+    public func speak(_ text: String) {
+        guard FeedbackSettings.current.speech else { return }
+        let trimmed = text.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+        guard !trimmed.isEmpty else { return }
+        synthesizer.speak(AVSpeechUtterance(string: trimmed))
+    }
+}

clients/apple/Sources/VoiceCatCore/Feedback/SoundEvent.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+// SoundEvent — the cross-platform set of audible event cues. Each maps to a WAV bundled as an
+// SPM resource (Sources/VoiceCatCore/Sounds/, copied from assets/sounds/). The same logical set
+// is mirrored in the Windows client (clients/windows/.../Notifications/SoundEvent.cs) so feedback
+// stays consistent across platforms.
+
+import Foundation
+
+public enum SoundEvent: CaseIterable, Sendable {
+    case channelJoin    // another user joined my channel
+    case channelLeave   // another user left my channel
+    case channelRecv    // channel text message from someone else
+    case channelSent    // channel text message I sent
+    case pmRecv         // private message received
+    case pmSent         // private message I sent
+    case login          // connected / authenticated
+    case logout         // clean disconnect
+    case connectionLost // unexpected disconnect
+    case voiceOn        // my microphone stream started
+    case voiceOff       // my microphone stream stopped
+    case vaStart        // my voice-activity began (off by default)
+    case vaStop         // my voice-activity ended (off by default)
+    case ptt            // push-to-talk engaged (off by default)
+
+    /// Resource name (without extension) as bundled in Sources/VoiceCatCore/Sounds/.
+    var resourceName: String {
+        switch self {
+        case .channelJoin:    return "channel_join"
+        case .channelLeave:   return "channel_leave"
+        case .channelRecv:    return "channel_recv"
+        case .channelSent:    return "channel_sent"
+        case .pmRecv:         return "pm_recv"
+        case .pmSent:         return "pm_sent"
+        case .login:          return "login"
+        case .logout:         return "logout"
+        case .connectionLost: return "connection_lost"
+        case .voiceOn:        return "voice_on"
+        case .voiceOff:       return "voice_off"
+        case .vaStart:        return "va_start"
+        case .vaStop:         return "va_stop"
+        case .ptt:            return "ptt"
+        }
+    }
+}

clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/AppState.swift

@@ -158,6 +158,8 @@ final class AppState {
                 connectStatus = ""
                 showPasswordPrompt = false
                 self.session = newSession
+                EventFeedback.shared.play(.login)
+                EventFeedback.shared.speak("Connected")
                 // Activate the audio session now, while connected — NOT lazily when the first
                 // remote stream arrives. The core opens its miniaudio playback device the moment
                 // a remote stream starts and only THEN emits .streamStarted; if we waited for

clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/SessionState.swift

@@ -92,7 +92,22 @@ final class SessionState {
         case .channelList:
             refreshChannels()
             syncSelfChannel()
-        case .userJoined, .userLeft:
+        case .userJoined:
+            // ev.text = nickname, ev.channelId = the channel they joined (per voicecat.h).
+            if ev.userId != selfUserId && ev.channelId == currentChannelId {
+                EventFeedback.shared.play(.channelJoin)
+                EventFeedback.shared.speak("\(ev.text ?? "Someone") joined")
+            }
+            refreshUsers()
+            syncSelfChannel()
+        case .userLeft:
+            // Capture the leaving user's prior nickname/channel before refreshUsers() drops them.
+            if ev.userId != selfUserId,
+               let gone = users.first(where: { $0.id == ev.userId }),
+               gone.channelId == currentChannelId {
+                EventFeedback.shared.play(.channelLeave)
+                EventFeedback.shared.speak("\(gone.nickname) left")
+            }
             refreshUsers()
             syncSelfChannel()
         case .userUpdated:
@@ -103,13 +118,27 @@ final class SessionState {
             }
         case .textMessage:
             let sender = users.first(where: { $0.id == ev.userId })?.nickname ?? "Unknown"
+            let body = ev.text ?? ""
+            let isSelf = ev.userId == selfUserId
+            let isPrivate = ev.textScope == .private
             messages.append(ChatMessage(
                 timestamp: Date(timeIntervalSince1970: Double(ev.timestampUnixMs) / 1000),
                 senderName: sender,
-                text: ev.text ?? "",
+                text: body,
                 scope: ev.textScope))
+            EventFeedback.shared.play(isPrivate
+                ? (isSelf ? .pmSent : .pmRecv)
+                : (isSelf ? .channelSent : .channelRecv))
+            if !isSelf {
+                EventFeedback.shared.speak(isPrivate
+                    ? "Private message from \(sender): \(body)"
+                    : "\(sender): \(body)")
+            }
         case .talkState:
             let talking = ev.u32a != 0
+            if ev.userId == selfUserId {
+                EventFeedback.shared.play(talking ? .vaStart : .vaStop)
+            }
             let who = users.first(where: { $0.id == ev.userId })?.nickname ?? "user \(ev.userId)"
             addActivity(talking ? "\(who) started talking" : "\(who) stopped talking")
         case .streamStarted:
@@ -155,6 +184,10 @@ final class SessionState {
             }
         case .accountList:
             accounts = client.listAccounts()
+        case .disconnected:
+            // Audible cue only — session teardown is driven elsewhere (AppState / UI).
+            EventFeedback.shared.play(ev.result == .ok ? .logout : .connectionLost)
+            EventFeedback.shared.speak(ev.result == .ok ? "Disconnected" : "Connection lost")
         default:
             break
         }
@@ -247,6 +280,7 @@ final class SessionState {
         if result == .ok {
             voiceState.micActive = true
             voiceState.localStreamId = streamId
+            EventFeedback.shared.play(.voiceOn)
             // Publish the active mic stream ID so IOSAudioRouter can reset the core's capture
             // channel count when the user switches mono↔stereo (selectCaptureChannels /
             // applyPreset). Without this, switching stereo→mono leaves the LocalStream's
@@ -291,6 +325,7 @@ final class SessionState {
             client.stopStream(voiceState.localStreamId)
             voiceState.localStreamId = 0
             AudioSessionManager.shared.activeMicStreamId = nil
+            EventFeedback.shared.play(.voiceOff)
         }
         if wasVPIO {
             client.setExternalPlayback(false)
@@ -367,8 +402,12 @@ final class SessionState {
         voiceState.vadThreshold = threshold
     }
 
+    private var pttEngaged = false
     func setPushToTalk(_ active: Bool) {
         client.setPushToTalk(active)
+        // Play the PTT cue only on the press transition (the gesture fires repeatedly while held).
+        if active && !pttEngaged { EventFeedback.shared.play(.ptt) }
+        pttEngaged = active
     }
 
     // MARK: - Text

clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/Views/SettingsView.swift

@@ -8,6 +8,14 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
     @StateObject private var router = IOSAudioRouter.shared
     @State private var showAdvanced = false
 
+    // Notification feedback prefs — keys shared with VoiceCatCore's FeedbackSettings, so the
+    // EventFeedback player reads the same values these toggles write.
+    @AppStorage("feedback.sounds")   private var soundsEnabled = true
+    @AppStorage("feedback.speech")   private var speechEnabled = false
+    @AppStorage("feedback.volume")   private var soundsVolume = 1.0
+    @AppStorage("feedback.selfTalk") private var selfTalkEnabled = false
+    @AppStorage("feedback.ptt")      private var pttSoundEnabled = false
+
     var body: some View {
         NavigationStack {
             Form {
@@ -217,6 +225,27 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                     }
                 }
 
+                // MARK: - Notifications
+                Section("Notifications") {
+                    Toggle("Event sounds", isOn: $soundsEnabled)
+                        .accessibilityLabel("Play event sounds")
+                    if soundsEnabled {
+                        VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 4) {
+                            Text("Sound volume")
+                                .font(.caption)
+                            Slider(value: $soundsVolume, in: 0...1)
+                                .accessibilityLabel("Sound volume")
+                        }
+                    }
+                    Toggle("Speak events (text-to-speech)", isOn: $speechEnabled)
+                        .accessibilityLabel("Speak events")
+                        .accessibilityHint("Announces joins and leaves and reads message text aloud.")
+                    Toggle("Your own voice-activity sounds", isOn: $selfTalkEnabled)
+                        .accessibilityLabel("Voice activity sounds")
+                    Toggle("Push-to-talk cue", isOn: $pttSoundEnabled)
+                        .accessibilityLabel("Push to talk cue")
+                }
+
                 // MARK: - Admin
                 if session.permissions.canAdminAccounts || session.permissions.isAdmin {
                     Section("Administration") {

clients/apple/macOS/VoiceCatMac/Windows/MainWindowController.swift

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
     private var screenAudioSelection: ScreenAudioSelection = .default
     internal var pttKeyCode: UInt16 = 0x60  // F8
     private var pttMonitor: Any?
+    private var pttEngaged = false  // guards the PTT cue against key-repeat
     private var serverMuted = false
     private var serverDeafened = false
     private var channelTree: [ChannelNode] = []
@@ -343,7 +344,11 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
         pttMonitor = NSEvent.addLocalMonitorForEvents(matching: [.keyDown, .keyUp]) { [weak self] event in
             guard let self, self.selectedInputMode == .pushToTalk,
                   self.micStreamId != 0, event.keyCode == self.pttKeyCode else { return event }
-            self.client.setPushToTalk(event.type == .keyDown)
+            let down = event.type == .keyDown
+            self.client.setPushToTalk(down)
+            // Cue only on the press transition — key-down auto-repeats while held.
+            if down && !self.pttEngaged { EventFeedback.shared.play(.ptt) }
+            self.pttEngaged = down
             return nil
         }
 
@@ -385,6 +390,8 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
         buildMessagesMenu()
         buildAdminMenu()
         addActivity("Connected to server as \(nickname)")
+        EventFeedback.shared.play(.login)
+        EventFeedback.shared.speak("Connected")
     }
 
     // MARK: - Event handling
@@ -415,6 +422,8 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
             refreshChannelTree(); refreshUserList()
             if event.channelId == currentChannelId && event.userId != selfUserId {
                 addActivity("\(u.nickname) joined the channel")
+                EventFeedback.shared.play(.channelJoin)
+                EventFeedback.shared.speak("\(u.nickname) joined")
             }
 
         case .userLeft:
@@ -423,7 +432,11 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
             users.removeValue(forKey: event.userId)
             talkingUsers.remove(event.userId)
             refreshChannelTree(); refreshUserList()
-            if wasHere { addActivity("\(nick) left the channel") }
+            if wasHere {
+                addActivity("\(nick) left the channel")
+                EventFeedback.shared.play(.channelLeave)
+                EventFeedback.shared.speak("\(nick) left")
+            }
             if let pmWin = pmWindows[event.userId] {
                 pmWin.appendActivity("\(nick) disconnected from server")
             }
@@ -473,6 +486,9 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
             let talking = event.u32a == 1
             if talking { talkingUsers.insert(event.userId) } else { talkingUsers.remove(event.userId) }
             refreshUserList()
+            if event.userId == selfUserId {
+                EventFeedback.shared.play(talking ? .vaStart : .vaStop)
+            }
             if talking && event.userId != selfUserId,
                let u = users[event.userId], u.channelId == currentChannelId {
                 addActivity("\(u.nickname) started talking")
@@ -521,21 +537,28 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
             time = DateFormatter.localizedString(from: Date(), dateStyle: .none, timeStyle: .short)
         }
         let sender = nickname(for: event.userId)
+        let isSelf = event.userId == selfUserId
+        let body = event.text ?? ""
 
         if event.textScope == .private {
             // Route PMs to per-conversation windows. For our own outgoing PM, ev.channelId
             // carries the recipient user ID; for incoming, ev.userId is the sender.
-            let otherId = event.userId == selfUserId ? event.channelId : event.userId
+            let otherId = isSelf ? event.channelId : event.userId
             let win = getOrOpenPmWindow(otherId)
-            win.appendMessage(time: time, isSelf: event.userId == selfUserId, sender: sender,
-                              text: event.text ?? "")
-            if event.userId != selfUserId {
+            win.appendMessage(time: time, isSelf: isSelf, sender: sender, text: body)
+            EventFeedback.shared.play(isSelf ? .pmSent : .pmRecv)
+            if !isSelf {
                 addActivity("Private message from \(sender)")
+                EventFeedback.shared.speak("Private message from \(sender): \(body)")
             }
         } else {
-            let line = "[\(time)] \(sender): \(event.text ?? "")\n"
+            let line = "[\(time)] \(sender): \(body)\n"
             logTextView.textStorage?.append(NSAttributedString(string: line))
             logTextView.scrollToEndOfDocument(nil)
+            EventFeedback.shared.play(isSelf ? .channelSent : .channelRecv)
+            if !isSelf {
+                EventFeedback.shared.speak("\(sender): \(body)")
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -607,6 +630,8 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
         let msg = event.text.map { "Disconnected: \($0)" } ?? "Disconnected from server."
         statusLabel.stringValue = msg
         addActivity(msg)
+        EventFeedback.shared.play(event.result == .ok ? .logout : .connectionLost)
+        EventFeedback.shared.speak(event.result == .ok ? "Disconnected" : "Connection lost")
         channelTree = []; channelOutlineView.reloadData()
         displayedUsers = []; userTableView.reloadData()
         users.removeAll(); talkingUsers.removeAll()
@@ -689,6 +714,7 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
                 }
                 setVoiceJoinedState(true)
                 addActivity("Joined voice — microphone active")
+                EventFeedback.shared.play(.voiceOn)
                 NSAccessibility.post(element: logTextView, notification: .announcementRequested,
                                      userInfo: [.announcement: "Joined voice", .priority: NSAccessibilityPriorityLevel.medium])
             } else {
@@ -701,6 +727,7 @@ final class MainWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
             settingsWindowController?.resetLevel()
             setVoiceJoinedState(false)
             addActivity("Left voice")
+            EventFeedback.shared.play(.voiceOff)
         }
     }
 

clients/apple/macOS/VoiceCatMac/Windows/SettingsWindowController.swift

@@ -50,6 +50,21 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
     // Cached VAD slider position so we can restore it when the window reopens.
     private var vadSliderValue: Double = 50
 
+    // Notification feedback controls. Read/write UserDefaults with the same keys VoiceCatCore's
+    // FeedbackSettings reads, so EventFeedback honours these immediately.
+    private let soundsCheckbox = NSButton(checkboxWithTitle: "Event sounds", target: nil, action: nil)
+    private let soundsVolumeSlider: NSSlider = {
+        let s = NSSlider(value: 1, minValue: 0, maxValue: 1, target: nil, action: nil)
+        s.numberOfTickMarks = 0
+        return s
+    }()
+    private let speechCheckbox = NSButton(checkboxWithTitle: "Speak events (text-to-speech)",
+                                          target: nil, action: nil)
+    private let selfTalkCheckbox = NSButton(checkboxWithTitle: "Your own voice-activity sounds",
+                                            target: nil, action: nil)
+    private let pttSoundCheckbox = NSButton(checkboxWithTitle: "Push-to-talk cue",
+                                            target: nil, action: nil)
+
     // MARK: - Init
 
     init(client: VoiceCatClient, mainController: MainWindowController) {
@@ -57,13 +72,13 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
         self.mainController = mainController
 
         let window = NSWindow(
-            contentRect: NSRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 380, height: 260),
+            contentRect: NSRect(x: 0, y: 0, width: 380, height: 420),
             styleMask: [.titled, .closable, .miniaturizable],
             backing: .buffered,
             defer: false
         )
-        window.title = "Audio Settings"
-        window.minSize = NSSize(width: 340, height: 220)
+        window.title = "Settings"
+        window.minSize = NSSize(width: 340, height: 380)
         window.center()
         super.init(window: window)
         window.delegate = self
@@ -140,7 +155,31 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
         levelRow.orientation = .horizontal
         levelRow.spacing = 8
 
-        let stack = NSStackView(views: [inputModeRow, vadRow, pttRow, deviceRow, levelRow])
+        // Notifications
+        let notificationsHeader = NSTextField(labelWithString: "Notifications")
+        notificationsHeader.font = .boldSystemFont(ofSize: NSFont.systemFontSize)
+
+        for box in [soundsCheckbox, speechCheckbox, selfTalkCheckbox, pttSoundCheckbox] {
+            box.target = self
+            box.action = #selector(notificationSettingChanged)
+        }
+        soundsCheckbox.setAccessibilityLabel("Play event sounds")
+        speechCheckbox.setAccessibilityLabel("Speak events")
+        selfTalkCheckbox.setAccessibilityLabel("Your own voice-activity sounds")
+        pttSoundCheckbox.setAccessibilityLabel("Push-to-talk cue")
+
+        let volumeLabel = NSTextField(labelWithString: "Sound volume:")
+        volumeLabel.setAccessibilityLabel("Sound volume")
+        soundsVolumeSlider.target = self
+        soundsVolumeSlider.action = #selector(notificationSettingChanged)
+        soundsVolumeSlider.setAccessibilityLabel("Sound volume")
+        let volumeRow = NSStackView(views: [volumeLabel, soundsVolumeSlider])
+        volumeRow.orientation = .horizontal
+        volumeRow.spacing = 8
+
+        let stack = NSStackView(views: [inputModeRow, vadRow, pttRow, deviceRow, levelRow,
+                                        notificationsHeader, soundsCheckbox, volumeRow,
+                                        speechCheckbox, selfTalkCheckbox, pttSoundCheckbox])
         stack.orientation = .vertical
         stack.spacing = 12
         stack.alignment = .leading
@@ -157,7 +196,30 @@ final class SettingsWindowController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate {
             vadSlider.widthAnchor.constraint(greaterThanOrEqualToConstant: 200),
             levelMeter.widthAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: 200),
             devicePicker.widthAnchor.constraint(greaterThanOrEqualToConstant: 180),
+            soundsVolumeSlider.widthAnchor.constraint(greaterThanOrEqualToConstant: 200),
         ])
+
+        syncNotificationControls()
+    }
+
+    /// Load the notification checkbox/slider states from UserDefaults. Touches EventFeedback.shared
+    /// first so its default values are registered before we read them.
+    private func syncNotificationControls() {
+        let s = FeedbackSettings.current
+        soundsCheckbox.state = s.sounds ? .on : .off
+        speechCheckbox.state = s.speech ? .on : .off
+        selfTalkCheckbox.state = s.selfTalkSounds ? .on : .off
+        pttSoundCheckbox.state = s.pttSound ? .on : .off
+        soundsVolumeSlider.doubleValue = Double(s.volume)
+    }
+
+    @objc private func notificationSettingChanged() {
+        let d = UserDefaults.standard
+        d.set(soundsCheckbox.state == .on, forKey: "feedback.sounds")
+        d.set(speechCheckbox.state == .on, forKey: "feedback.speech")
+        d.set(selfTalkCheckbox.state == .on, forKey: "feedback.selfTalk")
+        d.set(pttSoundCheckbox.state == .on, forKey: "feedback.ptt")
+        d.set(soundsVolumeSlider.doubleValue, forKey: "feedback.volume")
     }
 
     // MARK: - Sync from MainWindowController

clients/windows/VoiceCat.App/Forms/MainForm.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using VoiceCat.App.Audio;
+using VoiceCat.App.Notifications;
 using VoiceCat.Interop;
 
 namespace VoiceCat.App.Forms;
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
     private readonly uint _selfUserId;
     private readonly string _nickname;
     private readonly System.Windows.Forms.Timer _pumpTimer = new() { Interval = 30 };
+    private readonly EventFeedback _feedback = new(FeedbackSettings.Load());
 
     // Channel / user state
     private uint _currentChannelId;
@@ -25,6 +27,7 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
     private uint _screenStreamId; // 0 = not sharing screen audio
     private ProcessAudioMixer? _screenMixer; // non-null only in per-app capture mode
     private Keys _pttKey = Keys.F8;
+    private bool _pttEngaged; // guards the PTT cue against key-repeat
     private bool _serverMuted;
     private bool _serverDeafened;
 
@@ -118,6 +121,8 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
         RefreshUserList();
         UpdateStatusLabel();
         AddActivity($"Connected to server as {_nickname}");
+        _feedback.PlaySound(SoundEvent.Login);
+        _feedback.Speak("Connected");
     }
 
     protected override void OnLoad(EventArgs e)
@@ -161,6 +166,17 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
         messagesMenu.DropDownItems.Add(miNewPm);
         menuStrip.Items.Add(messagesMenu);
 
+        // Settings menu — always visible
+        var settingsMenu = new ToolStripMenuItem("&Settings");
+        var miNotifications = new ToolStripMenuItem("&Notifications...");
+        miNotifications.Click += (_, _) =>
+        {
+            using var dlg = new NotificationSettingsForm(_feedback);
+            dlg.ShowDialog(this);
+        };
+        settingsMenu.DropDownItems.Add(miNotifications);
+        menuStrip.Items.Add(settingsMenu);
+
         // Admin menu — only if permitted
         if (_ownPermissions.CanAdminAccounts)
         {
@@ -339,7 +355,11 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
         RefreshChannelTree();
         RefreshUserList();
         if (ev.ChannelId == _currentChannelId && ev.UserId != _selfUserId)
+        {
             AddActivity($"{user.Nickname} joined the channel");
+            _feedback.PlaySound(SoundEvent.ChannelJoin);
+            _feedback.Speak($"{user.Nickname} joined");
+        }
     }
 
     private void HandleUserLeft(VoiceCatEvent ev)
@@ -350,7 +370,12 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
         _talkingUsers.Remove(ev.UserId);
         RefreshChannelTree();
         RefreshUserList();
-        if (wasHere) AddActivity($"{user.Nickname} left the channel");
+        if (wasHere)
+        {
+            AddActivity($"{user.Nickname} left the channel");
+            _feedback.PlaySound(SoundEvent.ChannelLeave);
+            _feedback.Speak($"{user.Nickname} left");
+        }
         if (_pmWindows.TryGetValue(ev.UserId, out var pmWin))
             pmWin.AppendActivity($"{user.Nickname} disconnected from server");
     }
@@ -406,18 +431,23 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
                            .LocalDateTime.ToString("HH:mm")
             : DateTime.Now.ToString("HH:mm");
         string sender = GetNickname(ev.UserId);
+        bool isSelf = ev.UserId == _selfUserId;
+        string body = ev.Text ?? "";
 
         if (ev.TextScope == VcTextScope.Private)
         {
             // For our own outgoing PM, ev.ChannelId carries the recipient user ID.
-            uint otherUserId = ev.UserId == _selfUserId ? ev.ChannelId : ev.UserId;
+            uint otherUserId = isSelf ? ev.ChannelId : ev.UserId;
             var win = GetOrOpenPmWindow(otherUserId);
-            bool isSelf = ev.UserId == _selfUserId;
-            win.AppendMessage(time, isSelf, sender, ev.Text ?? "");
+            win.AppendMessage(time, isSelf, sender, body);
+            _feedback.PlaySound(isSelf ? SoundEvent.PmSent : SoundEvent.PmRecv);
+            if (!isSelf) _feedback.Speak($"Private message from {sender}: {body}");
         }
         else
         {
-            AppendChat(time, sender, ev.Text ?? "");
+            AppendChat(time, sender, body);
+            _feedback.PlaySound(isSelf ? SoundEvent.ChannelSent : SoundEvent.ChannelRecv);
+            if (!isSelf) _feedback.Speak($"{sender}: {body}");
         }
     }
 
@@ -427,6 +457,8 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
         if (talking) _talkingUsers.Add(ev.UserId);
         else _talkingUsers.Remove(ev.UserId);
         RefreshUserList();
+        if (ev.UserId == _selfUserId)
+            _feedback.PlaySound(talking ? SoundEvent.VaStart : SoundEvent.VaStop);
         if (talking && ev.UserId != _selfUserId &&
             _users.TryGetValue(ev.UserId, out var tUser) &&
             tUser.ChannelId == _currentChannelId)
@@ -455,6 +487,16 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
             : $"Disconnected: {ev.Text}";
         lblStatus.Text = msg;
         AddActivity(msg);
+        if (ev.Result == VcResult.Ok)
+        {
+            _feedback.PlaySound(SoundEvent.Logout);
+            _feedback.Speak("Disconnected");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            _feedback.PlaySound(SoundEvent.ConnectionLost);
+            _feedback.Speak("Connection lost");
+        }
         tvChannels.Nodes.Clear();
         lstUsers.Items.Clear();
         _users.Clear();
@@ -621,6 +663,7 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
                 if (radioVad.Checked) _client.SetVadThreshold(VadThresholdFromSlider());
                 SetVoiceJoinedState(true);
                 AddActivity("Joined voice — microphone active");
+                _feedback.PlaySound(SoundEvent.VoiceOn);
             }
             else
             {
@@ -635,6 +678,7 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
             pbLevel.Value = 0;
             SetVoiceJoinedState(false);
             AddActivity("Left voice");
+            _feedback.PlaySound(SoundEvent.VoiceOff);
         }
     }
 
@@ -806,6 +850,11 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
         if (ActiveControl is TextBox or RichTextBox) return;
         _client.SetPushToTalk(true);
         lblPttKey.Text = $"({_pttKey} ▶)";
+        if (!_pttEngaged) // first key-down only, not auto-repeat
+        {
+            _pttEngaged = true;
+            _feedback.PlaySound(SoundEvent.Ptt);
+        }
         e.Handled = true;
     }
 
@@ -840,6 +889,7 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
     {
         if (!radioPtt.Checked || e.KeyCode != _pttKey || _micStreamId == 0) return;
         _client.SetPushToTalk(false);
+        _pttEngaged = false;
         lblPttKey.Text = $"({_pttKey})";
         e.Handled = true;
     }
@@ -1103,6 +1153,7 @@ public partial class MainForm : Form
         if (_micStreamId != 0) _client.StopStream(_micStreamId);
         _client.Disconnect();
         _client.Dispose();
+        _feedback.Dispose();
         base.OnFormClosed(e);
     }
 

clients/windows/VoiceCat.App/Forms/NotificationSettingsForm.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+using VoiceCat.App.Notifications;
+
+namespace VoiceCat.App.Forms;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Edits and persists <see cref="FeedbackSettings"/> (event sounds + spoken announcements).
+/// On OK the supplied <see cref="EventFeedback"/> is updated live and the settings saved.
+/// </summary>
+public sealed class NotificationSettingsForm : Form
+{
+    private readonly EventFeedback _feedback;
+
+    private readonly CheckBox _chkSounds;
+    private readonly CheckBox _chkSpeech;
+    private readonly TrackBar _trkVolume;
+    private readonly CheckBox _chkSelfTalk;
+    private readonly CheckBox _chkPtt;
+
+    public NotificationSettingsForm(EventFeedback feedback)
+    {
+        _feedback = feedback;
+        var s = feedback.Settings;
+
+        Text = "Notification settings";
+        FormBorderStyle = FormBorderStyle.FixedDialog;
+        MaximizeBox = false;
+        MinimizeBox = false;
+        StartPosition = FormStartPosition.CenterParent;
+        AutoScaleMode = AutoScaleMode.Font;
+        ClientSize = new Size(360, 300);
+
+        _chkSounds = new CheckBox
+        {
+            Text = "Play event &sounds",
+            Location = new Point(12, 12),
+            AutoSize = true,
+            Checked = s.Sounds,
+        };
+
+        var lblVolume = new Label
+        {
+            Text = "Sound &volume:",
+            Location = new Point(12, 42),
+            AutoSize = true,
+        };
+        _trkVolume = new TrackBar
+        {
+            Location = new Point(12, 64),
+            Size = new Size(330, 45),
+            Minimum = 0,
+            Maximum = 100,
+            TickFrequency = 10,
+            Value = (int)Math.Round(Math.Clamp(s.Volume, 0f, 1f) * 100),
+        };
+        _trkVolume.AccessibleName = "Sound volume";
+
+        _chkSpeech = new CheckBox
+        {
+            Text = "&Speak events (text-to-speech)",
+            Location = new Point(12, 118),
+            AutoSize = true,
+            Checked = s.Speech,
+        };
+        var lblSpeechHint = new Label
+        {
+            Text = feedback.SpeechAvailable
+                ? "Announces joins/leaves and reads message text aloud."
+                : "No speech engine available on this machine.",
+            Location = new Point(30, 142),
+            AutoSize = true,
+            ForeColor = SystemColors.GrayText,
+        };
+
+        var lblOptional = new Label
+        {
+            Text = "Optional sounds:",
+            Location = new Point(12, 174),
+            AutoSize = true,
+        };
+        _chkSelfTalk = new CheckBox
+        {
+            Text = "Your own voice-&activity start/stop",
+            Location = new Point(12, 198),
+            AutoSize = true,
+            Checked = s.SelfTalkSounds,
+        };
+        _chkPtt = new CheckBox
+        {
+            Text = "&Push-to-talk cue",
+            Location = new Point(12, 224),
+            AutoSize = true,
+            Checked = s.PttSound,
+        };
+
+        var btnOk = new Button
+        {
+            Text = "&OK",
+            DialogResult = DialogResult.OK,
+            Location = new Point(192, 262),
+            Size = new Size(75, 27),
+        };
+        var btnCancel = new Button
+        {
+            Text = "&Cancel",
+            DialogResult = DialogResult.Cancel,
+            Location = new Point(273, 262),
+            Size = new Size(75, 27),
+        };
+
+        AcceptButton = btnOk;
+        CancelButton = btnCancel;
+        Controls.AddRange([_chkSounds, lblVolume, _trkVolume, _chkSpeech, lblSpeechHint,
+                           lblOptional, _chkSelfTalk, _chkPtt, btnOk, btnCancel]);
+
+        btnOk.Click += (_, _) => Apply();
+    }
+
+    private void Apply()
+    {
+        var s = _feedback.Settings;
+        s.Sounds = _chkSounds.Checked;
+        s.Speech = _chkSpeech.Checked;
+        s.Volume = _trkVolume.Value / 100f;
+        s.SelfTalkSounds = _chkSelfTalk.Checked;
+        s.PttSound = _chkPtt.Checked;
+        s.Save();
+    }
+}

clients/windows/VoiceCat.App/Notifications/EventFeedback.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+namespace VoiceCat.App.Notifications;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Combines the sound pool and the speech announcer behind the user's <see cref="FeedbackSettings"/>.
+/// MainForm calls <see cref="PlaySound"/> / <see cref="Speak"/> from inside its existing event
+/// handlers (which already resolve nicknames and channel membership), so this type only owns the
+/// "should I, and how" policy — not the event routing.
+/// </summary>
+public sealed class EventFeedback : IDisposable
+{
+    private readonly SoundPlayerPool _sounds = new();
+    private readonly SpeechAnnouncer _speech = new();
+
+    public FeedbackSettings Settings { get; set; }
+
+    public EventFeedback(FeedbackSettings settings) => Settings = settings;
+
+    /// <summary>True when speech is both enabled and actually available on this machine.</summary>
+    public bool SpeechAvailable => _speech.Available;
+
+    public void PlaySound(SoundEvent ev)
+    {
+        if (!Settings.Sounds || Settings.Volume <= 0f) return;
+        // The two opt-in categories are gated by their own flags.
+        if ((ev is SoundEvent.VaStart or SoundEvent.VaStop) && !Settings.SelfTalkSounds) return;
+        if (ev is SoundEvent.Ptt && !Settings.PttSound) return;
+        _sounds.Play(ev);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Announce <paramref name="text"/> when spoken feedback is enabled.</summary>
+    public void Speak(string text)
+    {
+        if (!Settings.Speech) return;
+        _speech.Speak(text);
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        _sounds.Dispose();
+        _speech.Dispose();
+    }
+}

clients/windows/VoiceCat.App/Notifications/FeedbackSettings.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+using System.Text.Json;
+
+namespace VoiceCat.App.Notifications;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// User preferences for event sounds and spoken (text-to-speech) feedback. Persisted to
+/// %AppData%\VoiceCat\feedback.json — same pattern as <see cref="Models.ServerListStore"/>:
+/// a missing or corrupt file yields defaults rather than throwing.
+/// </summary>
+public sealed class FeedbackSettings
+{
+    /// <summary>Master switch for event sound effects.</summary>
+    public bool Sounds { get; set; } = true;
+
+    /// <summary>Master switch for spoken announcements (Prismatoid TTS). Off by default.</summary>
+    public bool Speech { get; set; } = false;
+
+    /// <summary>Sound-effects volume, 0..1. 0 mutes effects (SoundPlayer has no gain control,
+    /// so this is honoured as a mute gate — see <see cref="SoundPlayerPool"/>).</summary>
+    public float Volume { get; set; } = 1.0f;
+
+    /// <summary>Play va_start/va_stop for your own voice-activity transitions. Off by default
+    /// (fires on every utterance — noisy).</summary>
+    public bool SelfTalkSounds { get; set; } = false;
+
+    /// <summary>Play the ptt cue when push-to-talk is engaged. Off by default.</summary>
+    public bool PttSound { get; set; } = false;
+
+    private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions JsonOptions = new() { WriteIndented = true };
+
+    private static string AppDataDir => Path.Combine(
+        Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData), "VoiceCat");
+
+    private static string FilePath => Path.Combine(AppDataDir, "feedback.json");
+
+    public static FeedbackSettings Load()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            if (!File.Exists(FilePath)) return new FeedbackSettings();
+            string json = File.ReadAllText(FilePath);
+            return JsonSerializer.Deserialize<FeedbackSettings>(json) ?? new FeedbackSettings();
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            return new FeedbackSettings();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void Save()
+    {
+        Directory.CreateDirectory(AppDataDir);
+        File.WriteAllText(FilePath, JsonSerializer.Serialize(this, JsonOptions));
+    }
+}

clients/windows/VoiceCat.App/Notifications/SoundEvent.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+namespace VoiceCat.App.Notifications;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// The set of audible event cues. Each maps to a WAV in the app's <c>sounds\</c> folder
+/// (copied from <c>assets/sounds/</c> at build time). The same logical set is mirrored in the
+/// macOS/iOS clients so feedback stays consistent across platforms.
+/// </summary>
+public enum SoundEvent
+{
+    ChannelJoin,    // another user joined my channel
+    ChannelLeave,   // another user left my channel
+    ChannelRecv,    // channel text message from someone else
+    ChannelSent,    // channel text message I sent
+    PmRecv,         // private message received
+    PmSent,         // private message I sent
+    Login,          // connected / authenticated
+    Logout,         // clean disconnect
+    ConnectionLost, // unexpected disconnect
+    VoiceOn,        // my microphone stream started
+    VoiceOff,       // my microphone stream stopped
+    VaStart,        // my voice-activity began (off by default)
+    VaStop,         // my voice-activity ended (off by default)
+    Ptt,            // push-to-talk engaged (off by default)
+}
+
+internal static class SoundEventExtensions
+{
+    /// <summary>WAV file name (without directory) for each event, matching assets/sounds/.</summary>
+    public static string FileName(this SoundEvent ev) => ev switch
+    {
+        SoundEvent.ChannelJoin => "channel_join.wav",
+        SoundEvent.ChannelLeave => "channel_leave.wav",
+        SoundEvent.ChannelRecv => "channel_recv.wav",
+        SoundEvent.ChannelSent => "channel_sent.wav",
+        SoundEvent.PmRecv => "pm_recv.wav",
+        SoundEvent.PmSent => "pm_sent.wav",
+        SoundEvent.Login => "login.wav",
+        SoundEvent.Logout => "logout.wav",
+        SoundEvent.ConnectionLost => "connection_lost.wav",
+        SoundEvent.VoiceOn => "voice_on.wav",
+        SoundEvent.VoiceOff => "voice_off.wav",
+        SoundEvent.VaStart => "va_start.wav",
+        SoundEvent.VaStop => "va_stop.wav",
+        SoundEvent.Ptt => "ptt.wav",
+        _ => throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(ev), ev, null),
+    };
+}

clients/windows/VoiceCat.App/Notifications/SoundPlayerPool.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+using System.Media;
+
+namespace VoiceCat.App.Notifications;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Plays short event cues from the app's <c>sounds\</c> folder. Each WAV is loaded once into a
+/// cached <see cref="SoundPlayer"/> (built into the Windows Desktop framework — no extra
+/// dependency). <see cref="Play"/> is non-blocking (<see cref="SoundPlayer.Play"/> renders on a
+/// background thread).
+///
+/// Note: <see cref="SoundPlayer"/> exposes no gain control, so volume is honoured only as a mute
+/// gate (volume == 0 → silent). If finer control or reliable overlapping playback is needed
+/// later, swap this for NAudio.
+/// </summary>
+public sealed class SoundPlayerPool : IDisposable
+{
+    private static readonly string SoundsDir =
+        Path.Combine(AppContext.BaseDirectory, "sounds");
+
+    private readonly Dictionary<SoundEvent, SoundPlayer?> _players = [];
+
+    /// <summary>Resolve, load and cache the player for an event. Returns null if the file is
+    /// missing or fails to load — playback then silently no-ops.</summary>
+    private SoundPlayer? Get(SoundEvent ev)
+    {
+        if (_players.TryGetValue(ev, out var cached)) return cached;
+
+        SoundPlayer? player = null;
+        try
+        {
+            string path = Path.Combine(SoundsDir, ev.FileName());
+            if (File.Exists(path))
+            {
+                player = new SoundPlayer(path);
+                player.Load();
+            }
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            player = null; // unreadable/invalid WAV — degrade to silence
+        }
+
+        _players[ev] = player;
+        return player;
+    }
+
+    public void Play(SoundEvent ev)
+    {
+        try { Get(ev)?.Play(); }
+        catch { /* never let a notification sound surface as an error */ }
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        foreach (var p in _players.Values) p?.Dispose();
+        _players.Clear();
+    }
+}

clients/windows/VoiceCat.App/Notifications/SpeechAnnouncer.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+using Prismatoid;
+
+namespace VoiceCat.App.Notifications;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Spoken event announcements via Prismatoid (bindings for the Prism speech library —
+/// integrates with the active screen reader / system speech, no extra runtime deps).
+///
+/// All construction and calls are wrapped so a machine with no available speech backend simply
+/// degrades to silence rather than crashing the app.
+/// </summary>
+public sealed class SpeechAnnouncer : IDisposable
+{
+    private readonly PrismContext? _context;
+    private readonly object? _backend; // SpeechBackend; held as object to keep this resilient
+
+    public SpeechAnnouncer()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            _context = new PrismContext();
+            _backend = _context.AcquireBestBackend();
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            _context?.Dispose();
+            _context = null;
+            _backend = null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>True when a speech backend is available on this machine.</summary>
+    public bool Available => _backend is not null;
+
+    /// <summary>Speak <paramref name="text"/>. Queued (does not interrupt prior speech) so a
+    /// burst of events is read in order.</summary>
+    public void Speak(string text)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(text)) return;
+        try
+        {
+            if (_backend is { } b)
+                ((dynamic)b).Speak(text, interrupt: false);
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            /* never surface a speech failure */
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        try { (_backend as IDisposable)?.Dispose(); } catch { /* ignore */ }
+        _context?.Dispose();
+    }
+}

clients/windows/VoiceCat.App/VoiceCat.App.csproj

@@ -4,6 +4,21 @@
     <ProjectReference Include="..\VoiceCat.Interop\VoiceCat.Interop.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
+  <!-- Prismatoid — .NET bindings for the Prism speech library, used for spoken event
+       announcements (text-to-speech). net10.0, no transitive dependencies. -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Prismatoid" Version="0.3.0" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <!-- Event-cue WAVs (shared with the macOS/iOS clients) copied into sounds\ next to the exe;
+       SoundPlayerPool loads them from AppContext.BaseDirectory\sounds. -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <Content Include="..\..\..\assets\sounds\*.wav">
+      <Link>sounds\%(Filename)%(Extension)</Link>
+      <CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
+    </Content>
+  </ItemGroup>
+
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
     <TargetFramework>net10.0-windows</TargetFramework>