Zoom: Optimizing Music Playback

Zoom Meetings and Webinars have multiple settings you can change to optimize the playback of music. This is especially needed for situations like:

• one-on-one music lessons
• small groups of musicians taking turns playing
• solo singing, etc.

NOTE: Zoom and other video conferencing solution don't handle ensembles singing or playing music together at the same time. It is also highly recommended to have a good internet connection, preferably wired ethernet. 

Zoom App

Open the Zoom Workplace Preferences menu or select the gear icon (upper right corner) of the Zoom App

• Microphone: use an external microphone instead your computers built-in microphone for best results.
• Audio
  
  • Microphone
    
    • Ensure the correct microphone is selected. NOTE: You want to use an external microphone instead your computers built-in microphone for best results when using music, singing, etc.
    • You want to uncheck "Automatically adjust microphone volume." NOTE: During a music session or singing, you want users to hear the dynamic changes, highs and lows, to come through versus Zoom automatically adjusting the volume.  You'll need to toggle this back on for conferences where usual speaking occurs.
  • Audio-->Advanced
    
    • Select Show in-meeting option to "Original sound for musicians" from microphone. This will disable echo cancellation making it better to transmit music being played live over your microphone.
      
      • You can then toggle this on and off once your in a Zoom Session (upper right corner).
      • 
  • Select Enable Stereo. NOTE: If you do not see this option, login to zoom.duke.us and enable "Allow Users to select audio in their client settings."
  • Select "High fidelity music mode"
    
    • Selecting this option will increase your computer's CPU utilization and uses a greater network bandwidth, therefore for best results, it's highly recommended to use a wired ethernet connection (not WiFi).
    • This option raises the audio codec quality to 48Khz, 96Kbps mono/192kbps stereo for professional audio transmission in music education and performance applications. Professional audio interface, microphone, and headphones required.

Sharing Content (Audio or Video)

• When sharing MP3s or audio for videos from your computer, ensure you select “share computer sound" and "Optimize Screen Share for Video Clip."
  
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