Whether it's business meetings, virtual classes, or live performances, Zoom has become the go-to platform for real-time online interaction. Particularly for live performances, having the right settings is critical for delivering high-quality output. So, let's dive in and explore the best settings for live performances on Zoom.
Zoom’s High-Fidelity Music Mode is designed to deliver professional audio quality perfect for live music performances. This setting disables echo cancellation and post-processing effects, preserving the original sound quality. To enable it, go to Settings > Audio > Advanced > Show in-meeting option to "Enable Original Sound" from microphone > High fidelity music mode.
When presenting live music or performances on Zoom, you should always enable original sound. This option bypasses Zoom's built-in audio processing and is essential for delivering high-quality sound. To switch it on, once you are in a meeting, look in the top left corner for the "Turn on Original Sound" option. If it's not visible, make sure you've enabled it in your Zoom settings as mentioned in the previous step.
Although this might seem counterintuitive, set "Suppress Background Noise" to low or even turn it off in the advanced audio settings. This setting is useful for meetings but for live performances, it may interfere with the quality of your music or sound.
Automatic volume control, or auto gain control, can alter the dynamics of your audio. Therefore, it's better to disable this feature. To do so, go to Settings > Audio > Advanced > Auto Volume > Uncheck "Automatically adjust microphone volume."
For live performances, the quality of the video is as important as the audio. Enable HD video from Settings > Video > My Video > Enable HD. Remember, this will consume more bandwidth and system resources, so ensure your internet connection and computer hardware are up to the task.
This optional setting smooths out the skin tone on your face, providing a more polished look on camera. It's subtle, but can add a professional touch to your live performances. You can find this setting in Settings > Video > My Video > Touch up my appearance.
If you're the main performer, spotlighting your video will keep it front and center for all participants, regardless of who's talking. This is especially important for performances where multiple participants may be present. To spotlight your video, right-click your video and select "Spotlight for everyone."
Before you go live, make sure to test all your settings. Zoom offers a testing area where you can test your microphone, speakers, and video.
Remember, every setup is unique, so you may need to tweak these settings to find what works best for your specific circumstances. Nevertheless, by optimizing these Zoom settings, you'll be well on your way to delivering high-quality live performances online. Break a leg!
High-Fidelity Music Mode is a feature in Zoom that enhances the quality of audio transmission, making it suitable for professional audio and music performances. It disables echo cancellation and post-processing, thus preserving the original sound quality.
To enable High-Fidelity Music Mode, navigate to Settings > Audio > Advanced > Show in-meeting option to "Enable Original Sound" from microphone > High fidelity music mode.
'Enable Original Sound' allows Zoom to bypass its built-in audio processing, transmitting the original audio from your microphone without any alterations. This is beneficial for live performances as it delivers the truest audio quality possible.
Zoom provides a setting to suppress background noise which can be adjusted to different levels or even turned off completely. This option can be found in Settings > Audio > Advanced > Suppress Background Noise.
Automatic Volume Control or auto gain control can be disabled by going to Settings > Audio > Advanced > Auto Volume > Uncheck "Automatically adjust microphone volume."
Enabling HD in Zoom settings improves the quality of your video output by increasing the resolution. However, keep in mind that this will consume more bandwidth and system resources.
The 'Touch Up My Appearance' feature subtly smooths out the skin tone on your face, providing a more polished and professional look for your Zoom video.
In Zoom, this is referred to as "Spotlight". To spotlight your video during a Zoom meeting, right-click on your video and select "Spotlight for everyone." This will make your video the primary active speaker for all participants.
Zoom offers a testing area where you can check your microphone, speakers, and video before joining a meeting. You can access this by clicking on Settings > Audio > Test Speaker/Microphone or Settings > Video > Camera Preview.
Every setup is unique and several factors can affect Zoom performance, including the speed and stability of your internet connection, the specifications of your computer, and the environment in which you're performing. Consider adjusting your settings further or seeking advice tailored to your specific setup.