Zoom test tone test :-)

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by Doug Young

yes, hopefully there's no one left who doesn't know about this at this point :-)

You don't know how much I wish this were true!

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Oh and by the way contrary to what the gent in the video renoslim linked says, there is a way to turn on "Original sound" with a Mobile device also

Here's how:

For Zoom on iPhone, iPad, and Android:
1. Go to “Settings,” Then “Meeting.”
2. Scroll down and enable “Use Original Sound.”

On these devices the setting is persistent, so you don't have to enable it for each session.

[Doug Young]

Originally Posted by phcorrigan

You don't know how much I wish this were true!

Yes, I just told my son about it last night. He's been doing Zoom open mics and was complaining about the sound, so I asked... He had never heard of it. Funny, I wrote a book about this going online stuff, including how do deal with music on Zoom, and he designed the cover for me. I guess he didn't bother to read what was inside :-)

[Doug Young]

Originally Posted by mtdmind

Some people I was playing with before the pandemic hit were looking for a platform that people can use to play together live. Just doesn't seem to be anything. Even if there were such software and a fast internet, could it not still encounter bottlenecks somewhere?

I mentioned this already in this thread, but here's an article I did for AG on realtime jamming, outlining the various platforms that exist as well as some of the issues:

https://acousticguitar.com/virtual-j...-in-real-time/

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by Doug Young

Funny, I wrote a book about this going online stuff, including how do deal with music on Zoom...

I ordered it about ten minutes ago!

[Doug Young]

Originally Posted by phcorrigan

I ordered it about ten minutes ago!

Let me know how you like it (or don't). It's more general than just live jamming, trying to go thru all the ways musicians can "collaborate", with a broad definition of that word.

[mtdmind]

Originally Posted by Doug Young

I mentioned this already in this thread, but here's an article I did for AG on realtime jamming, outlining the various platforms that exist as well as some of the issues:

https://acousticguitar.com/virtual-j...-in-real-time/

Doug,
Thank you for the article. Very informative!

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by Doug Young

Let me know how you like it (or don't). It's more general than just live jamming, trying to go thru all the ways musicians can "collaborate", with a broad definition of that word.

I ordered the paper version, so it'll be a few days before I get back to you.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Doug Young

Yes, I just told my son about it last night. He's been doing Zoom open mics and was complaining about the sound, so I asked... He had never heard of it. Funny, I wrote a book about this going online stuff, including how do deal with music on Zoom, and he designed the cover for me. I guess he didn't bother to read what was inside :-)

We run into this all the time in the Jackson Hole "Virtual" Hootenanny, especially with new participants.
Unfortunately the GUI (at least on computer) is at first glance a bit counterintuitive ,,, because "original sound" is actually enabled, when the box. says "Turn Off Original Sound" I think it would more clear if the box simply stated "Original Sound" and had selection check boxes for (On) or (Off)

[Doug Young]

Originally Posted by KevWind

We run into this all the time in the Jackson Hole "Virtual" Hootenanny, especially with new participants.
Unfortunately the GUI (at least on computer) is at first glance a bit counterintuitive ,,, because "original sound" is actually enabled, when the box. says "Turn Off Original Sound" I think it would more clear if the box simply stated "Original Sound" and had selection check boxes for (On) or (Off)

Yeah, it's a toggle, so it first says "Turn On Originai Sound". Click that, and it's on, and then reads "Turn Off Original Sound". Understandable, but bad UI design... The UI for Zoom in general is a mess. I'd say the worst thing about the original sound button is not the toggle, but the fact that you first have to find a setting under advanced that "Allows Original Sound". Once that's activated, then you get to toggle the confusing button. Apparently they want to be sure you really, really want it to sound better, and don't improve things by accident :-)

But I'd put up with a bad UI if the quality was better. JamKazam, BTW, is even more in need of some UI designers.

[MikeBmusic]

The test one issues definitely sounds like internet glitches. I hear that in people's sound even when they have all the settings right. And sometimes I will notice their video freeze up momentarily while the sound continues. The worst is when the glitch cause a video & audio freeze for a moment, then when the feed starts again it is fast (but not pitch changed) until it 'catches up' with real time.


No matter what is used for audio input (webcam, phone, tablet, interface/mics) the bad sound can be worse if the mic(s) used pick up the speaker sound, creating a phasey feedback ("underwater") sound. Close-miking the vocal and DIing the guitar almost eliminates this problem, otherwise you need to use earbuds or headphones to monitor the feed, or remember to mute your speakers when playing.
Even then, if you are using the computer's soundcard for audio, it may not eliminate the problem.

[Doug Young]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

T
No matter what is used for audio input (webcam, phone, tablet, interface/mics) the bad sound can be worse if the mic(s) used pick up the speaker sound, creating a phasey feedback ("underwater") sound. .

I don't see that issue with Zoom, it's half-duplex, and I have local monitoring off, so there's no sound coming from my speakers when I'm playing - occasionally, you get a brief echo during a hand-off as someone else starts speaking, tho when I'm doing workshops I mute everyone by default. You absolutely get this effect with JamKazam, which is full-duplex, so you need to use headphones.

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by Doug Young

I don't see that issue with Zoom, it's half-duplex, and I have local monitoring off, so there's no sound coming from my speakers when I'm playing - occasionally, you get a brief echo during a hand-off as someone else starts speaking, tho when I'm doing workshops I mute everyone by default. You absolutely get this effect with JamKazam, which is full-duplex, so you need to use headphones.

In my experience Zoom mutes you when you're speaking/singing/playing. I use in-ear monitors, so for me it would be nice if it didn't so I could monitor myself. I may get an A/B switch so I can switch output between my PC and my mixer.

[lkingston]

Originally Posted by phcorrigan

In my experience Zoom mutes you when you're speaking/singing/playing. I use in-ear monitors, so for me it would be nice if it didn't so I could monitor myself. I may get an A/B switch so I can switch output between my PC and my mixer.

A USB mic with direct monitoring works well for this.

[Doug Young]

Originally Posted by lkingston

A USB mic with direct monitoring works well for this.

I can simply turn on direct monitoring on my interface - tho in this case, I don't want to. You'd most likely want to wear headphones if you do this.