ZOOM TIPS

FIRST:

Make sure Zoom is up to date. Download and install the latest version here or on your app store, OR click “Check for Updates…” on the Zoom app.
Make sure the operating system of your device is up to date.
Remember, a hard-wired internet connection is best but Wi-Fi and 5G work just fine.

Mac & Windows:

Join your Zoom lesson
Click the arrow next to the Mute button
Click Audio Settings
Mark the settings as follows:
Automatically adjust microphone volume – De-select
Volume level – Medium-high
Original sound for musicians – Select
High fidelity music mode – Select
Echo Cancellation – Select

*Selecting the “Original sound for musicians” option in the audio settings panel will give you the ability to enable it after you have joined the Zoom lesson, but it still defaults to being switched off. Switch it on, and you’re good to go! It’s good to keep an eye on it from time to time in case it gets switched off by itself! Quick note about Original sound for Musicians: if you have a fan or some kind of continuous source of noise in the room, it’s good to check with other meeting participants how your audio is coming out, as the noise can be a little distracting or hindering to the clarity of your sound output. In case it is, you might want to consider switching from “Original sound for musicians” to “Zoom optimized audio” on the audio settings, and then setting the “Background noise suppression” parameter to Low or Medium.

*Note for Windows users

Windows 11 has an additional audio setting that precedes Zoom’s audio settings and it’s worth taking a look at. It’s located in Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Sound Settings -> (your input device) -> Advanced. It’s called Signal Enhancements, and disabling this setting will allow the audio of your microphone to get to Zoom with less processing and potentially deliver improved sound for music lessons.

iPhone, iPad & Android

1. Go to Zoom Settings Before you join the meeting, open the Zoom app on your device, go to Settings >> Meetings, and switch on “Use Original Sound”.

2. Join Meeting and Enable Original Sound Join any Zoom meeting (can be your lesson or the Lessonface Video Test Room), click More… and Enable Original Sound.

Original Sound will now be enabled and Zoom’s noise reduction will be turned off. Go to the same menu to Disable Original Sound, if needed.

These settings should prevent Zoom from filtering out musical sounds that it might consider “background noise”.

Also, try switching devices. If you are having issues with a computer, try a phone. If you are having issues with a phone, try a tablet. Sometimes it’s the device.

Finally, if the other person’s instrument is “cutting out”, try muting yourself while they play. You may need to take turns muting to hear each other.