Zoom audio settings
When using Zoom to run music classes, there are a few settings you can adjust to enhance the experience for you and your students.
Here is a summary of the settings you should use during music lessons.
First check for updates
Check that Zoom is updated to the latest version:
- Click on your profile picture
- Select Check for Updates
A message will show letting you know that you either are up to date, or that there is an update available.
Physical setup
To get the best results, the following setup is recommended.
Please note that although these suggestions are not absolutely mandatory they will give you better results.
- Connect to your internet network via an ethernet cable instead of using WIFI if possible
- If you can’t connect via ethernet cable, locate your computer as close as possible to the router. It’s also ideal if there are no walls (or at least very few walls) between you and the router
- If you’re going to be using headphones, make sure they are wired headphones (not bluetooth)
- Use the best quality microphone you can – anything that is a step up from the in-built microphone on your laptop. One option is to use a USB microphone which plugs directly into your computer. You’ll achieve even better results with more professional equipment such as audio interface with a mic plugged in
Adjust your audio settings
On your Zoom desktop client, open Settings by clicking on the cog.
You can also click on your profile picture and choose Settings from the drop-down menu.
Next, do the following:
- Click on Audio in the menu on the left
- Uncheck Automatically adjust microphone volume
- Turn on Original sound for musicians
These settings will stay this way unless you alter them, but it’s a good idea to check them periodically anyway, especially after a Zoom update.
There’s one more important step, but it can only be done once you’re inside the live Zoom meeting.
At the start of a lesson
Once you have started your Zoom meeting, do the following:
- First, check that the correct microphone is selected in the Audio menu
- Then click on Original sound for musicians at the top right of your screen to turn it ON. This option preserves the sound from your mic while singing/playing and overrides Zoom’s echo cancellation and audio enhancements. It can be turned on/off during the lesson as needed.
**You need to turn this on each time you start a Zoom meeting**
What your students need to do
Your students need to follow the same steps so that you can hear them clearly. Here’s a recap:
- In their Audio Settings, they need to uncheck Automatically adjust microphone volume
- They need to select Original sound for musicians
- After they’ve joined your Zoom meeting, they need to turn on Original sound for musicians
The difficulty can be that each of your students may be using a different type of device and the instructions vary slightly depending on whether they are using an iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablet or a laptop. This YouTube video – made by a music teacher – shows where to find these settings on a variety of devices: Emily Norris: Audio Settings for Music Lessons in Zoom
Can these settings be adjusted if the lesson has already started?
Yes, you or your student can do the following:
- Open the menu next to the Audio (microphone) icon
- Click on/tap Audio Settings
- Select Audio on the left of the screen
- Uncheck Automatically adjust microphone volume
- Select Original sound for musicians
- Close this window to return to the meeting
Back in the Zoom meeting, turn on Original sound for musicians
Sharing audio: YouTube video, music website or software
When you want to share audio from YouTube, a music website or a music software there are some specific settings in the Share Screen area that you should be familiar with.
If you want students to hear the sound clearly, you need to use the Share Computer Sound option in the Share Screen window. If you don’t turn this option on, students will either hear nothing at all (if you have headphones on) or a tinny, patchy, quiet sound because they are hearing it “second hand” via your microphone.
To allow students to hear the audio at a decent quality, first click on the green Share button.
In the window that opens:
- Click on Layouts and options
- Check Share sound
- From the drop-down menu next to Share sound, choose Stereo (high-fidelity)
- Check the Optimize for Video Sharing if you’ll be sharing a video
Click the blue Share button to start sharing.
Sharing audio only - play along tracks
If you only need students to hear an audio file (such as a, sing-along or play-along track) while they still see you on the screen, click on the blue Share button and then:
- Click on the Advanced tab
- Select Computer audio
- From the drop-down menu, choose Stereo (high fidelity)
Useful videos
Here are a couple of useful Youtube videos that walk you through the settings
- Emily Norris: Audio Settings for Music Lessons in Zoom (this video runs through the instructions for students)
- Ann Crosby Gaudet Get Better Audio in Zoom for Online Music Lessons – 2023 (this runs through some more detailed instructions and examples)
Want more resources for music tech teachers?
Hello! I’m Katie Argyle – an Australian music technology trainer and consultant with a passion for helping music teachers through my business Midnight Music. Yes – I’m a qualified teacher but I don’t currently teach in a school. I help teachers through the Midnight Music Membership Community – a go-to online hub for tech-focussed professional development.
The Midnight Music Membership Community features:
- step-by-step training
- world-class online courses
- bite-sized learning through digital badges
- creative lesson ideas
It’s designed for teachers of all skill levels – from self-proclaimed ‘technophobes’ to intermediate and advanced tech users. You’ll learn how to integrate technology into your music teaching without the stress, so you can boost classroom outcomes, engage your students on a deeper level, and inspire a lifelong love of music!
If you want simple, effective ideas for using technology in music education, I would LOVE to help you inside the Midnight Music Community.
