- Hybrid Meetings using zoom
- Main issues - audio feedback, video playback,
- Test the various options under zoom.
- The share also has a setting.
- all audio sources and must be put on the decided volume.
- in all devices the zoom audio setting have to be on manual.
- The house speakers should be place far away, and set at the lowest level of audibility. House amplifier should not have base up. Echo feature in amplifier should be off. Even sounds from phones in the room and the neighbourhood should be reduced if not cut off.
- All hosts and.operator must be conscious of the fact there are three level of audio settings and zoom keeps trying to take over.
- a) The windows sound settings plus any audio programmes that maybe installed. For example obs, or editing software etc. y
- b)You should also keep in mind that zoom keeps a sensor on the sound even when you mute… this depends on your overall default zoom settings.
- Video/picture issues
- Finally on the.video…
- You should be aware of the various types of video settings, especially the effect of defaults on the youtube orelays.
- Also be conscious of the viewing type - gallery, speaker,.split screen etc.
- Always have dual display so that you can control what your physical audience sees on the big monitor . If it is an android based TV. It is better to connect to a HDMI monitor setting, rather than the Android,
- a) the video share button gives several options for using sound. If the Mike is on… and there is an unconnected amplifier, there will be feedback especially at certain volumes. When playing back a video with sound, please make sure only the output going through zoom is on.
- b) always keep participants frame on the techies screen. You can also keep the chat on in that. Please keep them as seperate windows in the techies screen.
- c) The cue your video in the techies screen as a seperate video such that you can view both the vlc in the techies monitor and the main the display on the big monitor.
- If you are using house amplifier and that too with wireless mikes… you do have major feedback and interference issues.
- Bandwidth Ensure the bandwidth of the main display zoom… Some institutions connect you via internal wifi, or LAN. Ensure that adequate bandwidth is provided. I would advise a sperate %G hotspot as standby, what i would do is have a seperate 5g hotspot as standby…
- Video Frame of the Group venue.
- Mark out the areas where people will speak from .
- check the placement of cameras and the placement of the speakers and
- the arrangements of the chairs should be such that the speaker is able to see the audience present as well and face the camera… Even when the speaker is looking at the screen you should be able to see the persons face…
- We should not forget that the main hall is the prime location and the screen should be placed like one of the participants. not the centrepiece… . except when you are playing back a video…
- Mark out the areas where people will speak from .
- What I do?
- I always have two seperate zoom devices. On one device I connect a zoom camera, which zooms into the person who is speaking, or the centrepiece. This zoom picture of this device is pinned so that it always appears on the screen but the audio is on manual and completely silenced. This device is also connected to a seperate Internet, so that in case the other connection fails, the audio can be swtiched on.
- The big monitor is connected to a laptop or computer which has dual screen, so that only what we want audience in the room to see is displayed… other information like participants, chats (unless it is part of the dialgoue) does not interfer with the screen. The big monitor is not generally made a centre piece, but is kept on the same height and line as the attending participants… I generally prefer an circular or semi circular arrangement of seating which then make communication between those who are physically present more visible…
- I prefer if there are many centres in different parts of the country have people who master this, so that we can have networking meeting more easily… Each centre can have provision for translation. as well as sub-group discussion.
I find that even those who travel inter-continental at great effort, time and cost, dont give enough attention to online meetings. If I did not have sufficient bandwidth, and I had to speak or participate in a discussion, I should at least travel to the nearest internet centre… rather than be in my chaddies at home, munching away, and then complain that I dont have bandwidth and therefore have to switch off the camera etc.
I don’t know if the problems you have described are specific to Zoom. If the room is small, a single external USB mic and a webcam do the job. Here, we need to disable the webcam’s mic and enable the external mic. Using a single device solves the complex configuration issues that may arise. I have used this model, and it worked for me; it reduces the need for too much paraphernalia. When the room is large, we pass the mic to the speaker, keeping the video facing the audience.