Speakers-Only Mode

speakers-onlywebinarpanelmutemicrophonecameramoderation

Speakers-only mode restricts microphone and camera access to facilitators and participants with an active session grant. Everyone else can listen and watch, but cannot unmute or enable their camera.

Toggling Speakers-Only Mode

Use the command palette:

:pso

This toggles speakers-only mode on or off. All participants are notified when the mode changes.

Who Can Speak?

When speakers-only mode is active:

Participant type Can speak?
Editors Yes
Moderators Yes
Participants with a session grant Yes
Authenticated participants (no grant) No
Guests No

How It Interacts with Other Features

Hand Raising

Speakers-only mode and hand raising work together naturally. When participants can't unmute, they raise their hand to request speaking time. As a moderator, you approve the request (which creates a session grant), and they can then speak.

This creates a clean flow:

  1. Enable speakers-only mode (:pso)
  2. Participants who want to speak raise their hand
  3. You grant speaker access to those you want to hear from
  4. They unmute and speak
  5. You revoke the grant when they're done (optional)

Session Grants

Session grants override speakers-only restrictions. A participant with an active session grant can unmute regardless of whether speakers-only mode is on. See Session Grants for details.

Drop-Based Speaker Seats

If you've designed your Ripple with speaker seats (drops that auto-grant speaking permissions), placing a participant in a speaker seat gives them a drop-based session grant — allowing them to speak even in speakers-only mode. Moving them out of the seat revokes the grant.

Use Cases

Webinars

Enable speakers-only mode from the start. The presenter speaks; attendees listen. Use hand raising for Q&A segments.

Panel Discussions

Place your panellists in speaker seats (or grant them explicit speaker access). Enable speakers-only mode so the audience stays muted. Open the floor by disabling the mode when it's time for audience questions.

Classrooms and Workshops

Keep speakers-only mode on during instruction. When it's time for discussion, either:

  • Disable speakers-only mode to let everyone talk freely
  • Keep it on and grant speaker access to individual students as they raise their hands

Conference Talks

Lock the room and enable speakers-only mode. Admit attendees as they arrive. Use hand raising and session grants for structured Q&A at the end.