Zoom Newbie Needs Help!

[The Elf]

If you end up doing this regularly, Mike, one thing that has helped me mightily is my Elgato Stream Deck.

On there I can instantly switch cameras/screens, mute mics, etc, with nice, friendly icons to help my poor brain! It would be worth considering, and it has uses far beyond this.

[Mike Stranks]

Thank 'e kindly young sir!

I'll bear it in mind, but at the mo I'm thinking of switching HDMI sources upstream of the PC.

That said, the Elgatos do look very useful little bits of kit...

[Mike Stranks]

Further update...

HDMI-USB converter now installed. Excellent!

I may now even put in an appearance at tomorrow's SoSZoom...

[Sigh!]... and that ATEM Mini looks a lovely bit o' kit... [Sigh!]... makes live-streaming a doddle...

[The Elf]

[Sigh!]... and that ATEM Mini looks a lovely bit o' kit... [Sigh!]... makes live-streaming a doddle...

HDMI inputs aside, this is essentially what you get with OBS. As long as you can get the cameras connected OBS will take care of the rest. And it's free! All you then do is flip between the 'Scenes' you set up that includes any combination of your video and audio inputs.

I've not used OBS to connect to Zoom, but maybe I should try it...

[Mike Stranks]

[Sigh!]... and that ATEM Mini looks a lovely bit o' kit... [Sigh!]... makes live-streaming a doddle...

HDMI inputs aside, this is essentially what you get with OBS. As long as you can get the cameras connected OBS will take care of the rest. And it's free! All you then do is flip between the 'Scenes' you set up that includes any combination of your video and audio inputs.

I've not used OBS to connect to Zoom, but maybe I should try it...

Quite true... and I've had a look at various bits of in the box software... impressive stuff.

But you know me... inherently lazy and always looking for the easy solution. Something like the ATEM or a cheaper seamless switcher means that the computer - and thus YouTube - sees it all as simply a webcam. Going live is thus a cinch!

BTW - screen-sharing is sorted now I'm on the 'grown-up' PC and have worked out how to optimise the screen to be shared. I can drop in and out at will now without getting screen lock-ups.

This afternoon I've been fiddling around with light panels. My make-up kit is due tomorrow!

[ManFromGlass]

and don’t forget the famous red jumper!

[MrRandom]

I also consider Zoom audio to be really difficult with an interface and can't find out why. Even over a really fast link, I get cracking at times. Finish up just using iPad over skype/facetime/hangouts through the air and most of the time it works fine.

[shufflebeat]

[Sigh!]... and that ATEM Mini looks a lovely bit o' kit... [Sigh!]... makes live-streaming a doddle...

HDMI inputs aside, this is essentially what you get with OBS. As long as you can get the cameras connected OBS will take care of the rest. And it's free! All you then do is flip between the 'Scenes' you set up that includes any combination of your video and audio inputs.

I've not used OBS to connect to Zoom, but maybe I should try it...

I've used OBS, Droidcam (to connect my phone as camera) and Voicemeeter connecting SSL2+ and Reaper output) simultaneously with Zoom on a very common-or-garden laptop without major issue.

Happy to discuss details.

[wireman]

I'm hoping to use OBS with Zoom but at the moment I get choppy audio from my capture card, still trying to work it out. Although I may not really need OBS in the middle.

[Mike Stranks]

Hmmm....

'Seamless' switcher arrived... it isn't

While it doesn't give me smearing or tearing it does go blank for about 1-2 seconds. That's interpreted by the downstream capture card as 'no signal' so it switches to colour bars until the signal comes back.

Blank screen I could live with... colour bars I can't...

Think again time...

[The Elf]

That's a shame, and seems to go against all the reasons for employing such a device!

[shufflebeat]

Hmmm....

'Seamless' switcher arrived... it isn't

I'm sure there's 20 good reasons ehtly this is inappropriate but, being of a cheapskate persuasion:

https://www.onbuy.com/gb/hdmi-switch-4k ... _campaign=(GB:%20SAD)%20Electronics%20&%20Technology&utm_term=4575548924741376&utm_content=(GB:%20SAD)%20Electronics%20&%20Technology%20-%2012

I like to think of it as outboard hardware.