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Zoom Tips for MCCM Online Events

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Video

If you prefer learning by video, most of what you need to know is in this 5-minute video

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Students using Zoom for the first time 

  • You will get a link in an email or calendar invite from us--click it.

  • When you join the meeting, you get the option download and run the zoom app OR run in browser (download the app is preferable but running in browser is OK)

  • by clicking the link, you probably don't have to log in or use a password

  • "Join with Computer Audio" 

  • The mic in the bottom left will flash green as you speak, indicating that your mic is working

 

Get the best sound by adjusting settings in Zoom

  • In the meeting, lower left, see microphone icon.  Click up-arrow next to it, lowest menu item on pop-up is Audio Settings

  • In Audio Settings, unclick "automatically adjust volume"

  • Set input level volume high [don't let the meter go to the top, aim for "lingering" in the middle zone]

  • Set external mic to correct device

  • Under Music and Professional Audio CHECK "Show in-meeting option to enable 'Original Sound' from microphone" 

  • Suppress persistent background noise [Disable]

  • Suppress Intermittent Background Noise [Disable]

  • Echo cancellation [auto]

  • Close the menus

  • Click "Original Sound Off" in the top-left corner so that it now says "Original sound On"

 

Extra Hardware/Software tips (Mostly for teachers, but cool for students who want the best experience)

  • Connect to the Internet by hardwire if at all possible

  • Make sure device is fully charged or plugged in (video chat takes a lot of battery)

Desktop has the most features.  You can apply the settings in your account, using desktop version, those settings will apply to all your devices

  • Invest in external mic 

  • Use a separate device with an external speaker to play background music, so as not to compete with i/o settings for Zoom

  • Close all apps or tabs when recording or using video, to avoid taking up your device's RAM

Sources

Greg in the Box (more for an attendee)

Health Sounds Music (more for a host)

 

[Thanks for the pointers, Mikey Evans!]

 

Useful Keystrokes

For everyone:

Space: Temporarily unmute audio

Alt+A: Mute/unmute audio

Alt+V: Start/Stop Video

Alt+H: Display Chat panel

Alt+Y: Raise/lower hand

Alt: Turn on/off "Always show meeting control toolbar"

 

For large groups:

PageUp: View previous 25 video stream in gallery view

PageDown: View next 25 video stream in gallery view

 

For hosts:

Alt+M: Mute/unmute audio for everyone (except host)

Alt+M+A: Mute/unmute audio for everyone (including host) 

Alt+P: Pause or resume recording

Alt+U: Display Participants panel

 

More hotkeys here


 

Special Notes for Jam Hosts

Best to have three people helping with each song:

A Zoom host who controls muting and unmuting everyone (bonus points if you can unmute the room right before the end of the last chord).

A Page Turner, who shares screens and scrolls the music/turns pages for everyone (please note there is a timing lag, so always have the screen a second or so ahead of what you would normally do).

A song leader, who will be the only person unmuted for each song

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