Zoom Newbie Needs Help!

[Mike Stranks]

Calling Concertina Chap. Blinddrew, The Elf or any of the other Zoom cognoscenti...

I've bumbled along in Zoom just using an iPad and not bothering much about sound as I've been a low-level meeting participant...

But I've had an invitation to give a more formal presentation in a few week's time so I want to up my game a bit.

I don't have a webcam on my Windows 10 computer. I have just ordered some bits and pieces so that I can connect a camcorder to USB 3.0 using an HDMI-USB conversion gizmo.
That should sort the pics (I hope!) but I need a steer on sound.

Can I connect an audio interface to another USB port so that I can improve the sound? Will both sound and video be routed appropriately in and through Zoom?

[For background: I have an audio interface currently connected that is buried deep behind my desk and is used for playback only via a monitor controller. I'm suggesting connecting another AI to get sound into the system - something I don't normally do because of PC fan noise.]

Any responses appreciated, but please keep it as concise as possible without lots of interesting detail! Thanks!

[blinddrew]

Hmmm. Yes, it should all work. I have had at one point a webcam, one AI for input and one AI for output all connected at once.
Within Zoom you get to choose what device to use for what job under the audio settings. It should all be pretty straightforward.

[Mike Stranks]

Thanks Drew!

I'll wait for the 'bits' to arrive and then have a trial run...

[wireman]

I don't have a webcam on my Windows 10 computer. I have just ordered some bits and pieces so that I can connect a camcorder to USB 3.0 using an HDMI-USB conversion gizmo.
That should sort the pics (I hope!) but I need a steer on sound.

Can I connect an audio interface to another USB port so that I can improve the sound? Will both sound and video be routed appropriately in and through Zoom?

I did exactly the same today (purchase an HDMI to USB/webcam converter) as part of a plan to start having music lessons again but remotely. My video camera has XLR inputs so I will first try embedded audio but I may end up using a USB interface if that does not work.

I think there have been previous posts here covering appropriate Zoom settings for quality audio.

[The Elf]

Yep, just as Drew says, you can choose which bits of gear you are using for video and audio, so it *should* be straightforward.

[Murray B]

Hi Mike,

If you intend to share your screen it's a good plan to have another device (camera and audio off) as a meeting attendee with you (your iPad perhaps) as you tend to be a little blind on what the audience are actually seeing.

Good luck

[The Elf]

I had typed some info about screen sharing, but thought better of it!

I did a family quiz where I was able to screen-share the iPad while using Zoom on the laptop in order to create a photo round. It was simpler than trying to do everything on one machine.

If it's of interest, Mike, let us know.

[Mike Stranks]

Will do!

At the moment I just need to do a 'piece to camera', but the way things are developing with COVID... who knows?

(I've realised that I've done a 'one AI in, one AI out' a few times with sound and it worked fine. I think it's the whole Zoom thing that had me a bit befuddled!)

[Mike Stranks]

Did some experimenting with Zoom this afternoon...

Both AIs recognised and working as they should... just the camera to go now...

By the way... CC's 'How To...' articles provided a useful steer on setting things up...

[dfira]

I'm wondering how syncing the video and the audio would work.

I guess one can always clap and just judge more or less the delay, but I'm wondering if there is a more scientific approach?

[wireman]

I was hoping to provide some input to this but for some reason my Zoom work login is not working.

In any case my new capture card arrived and I can get the input (video and embedded sound) into OBS. I can route sound from onboard XLRs to the channels in the video stream so I think in my case that is what I'm going to try with my NT5(omni)s.
I wonder as well if there are any delay implications if you route sound independently of the video stream from the camera.

[CS70]

If you like the camera of the ipad - which is pretty good as portable cameras go - you can use the free EpocCam - https://www.elgato.com/en/epoccam - and run the video thru the ipad and the audio thru the pc audio interface with the mic and preamp of your choice, while having the Zoom/Teams/Meet/Whatever session of the pc.

Full control and very stable, I use it all the time these days.