# Audio Conferencing Overview

Audio Conferencing lets you spin up a spur-of-the-moment meeting without ever leaving the call you're already on. When a conversation needs another voice, you dial the person you want to include and pull them straight into a shared audio conference where everyone can hear and talk to each other.

:::note
This is an *instant* conference, not a booked one. You start it from inside a call that is already connected, so there is no meeting to schedule and no separate conference number to hand out ahead of time. If the person you want is a coworker, you reach them by extension. If they are outside the company, you dial their full phone number.
:::

## Requirements and restrictions

Review these conditions before you rely on Audio Conferencing.

- **System version**: Your Cloud Voice server must be running version 84.8.0.25 or later.
- **Participant limit**: A single audio conference can hold up to 9 members at once.

:::note
The server version is a hard prerequisite. If your Cloud Voice server is on an older build, the audio conference option will not appear during a call. Check the version before telling a customer the feature is available.
:::

:::caution
The 9-member cap is a firm limit. Once a conference already has 9 people on it, any further invitation will fail to connect. If a meeting needs more attendees than that, plan to use a scheduled conference room instead.
:::

## What you can do

![Bringing extra callers together into a live audio conference](/images/pbx/audio-conference-highlights.png)

**Start meetings on the spot**

There's no need to hang up, schedule ahead, or head back to your desk. Launch an audio conference right in the middle of an active call and keep the conversation going.

**Add whoever you need**

Bring in anyone the discussion calls for, whether that's a coworker on another extension or an outside partner reached by phone number.

**Run the call with a click**

Everyday controls stay within easy reach. Muting and unmuting participants, adding or removing members, and switching recording on or off each take just a single click.

:::tip
Mute participants who are not speaking to cut down on background noise and echo, then unmute them when it is their turn. Because every control is a single click, you can manage a busy call in real time without menus getting in the way.
:::

:::caution
Recording captures everyone on the conference. Laws in many regions require you to tell participants before you start recording, so let the group know rather than switching it on silently. The recording keeps running until you switch it back off.
:::