Guide for Using Zoom in “Music Mode”

Prepared by the
Academic Technology and Instructional Design (AT&ID) team
at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University

Table of Contents
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 2
Quick Start Guide for Mac/PC .........................................................................................................2
Quick Start Guide for iOS/Android ..................................................................................................2
Detailed Instructions for Mac/PC ........................................................................................... 3
Ensure that you are logged in to your Zoom account .......................................................................3
Update your Zoom app if necessary ................................................................................................4
Open your account settings in the Zoom app ..................................................................................5
Select and test your headphones and microphone ..........................................................................6
Enable original sound from microphone ..........................................................................................7
Suppress Background Noise ............................................................................................................8
Detailed Instructions for iOS/Android ..................................................................................... 9
Ensure that you are logged in to your Zoom account .......................................................................9
Update your Zoom app if necessary .............................................................................................. 10
Test Your Microphone and Speaker .............................................................................................. 10
Enable original sound from microphone ........................................................................................ 10
Guide for Using Zoom in “Music Mode”

Introduction
Zoom is the official, supported videoconferencing solution for the Johns Hopkins University. The good
news is that the Peabody Institute chose Zoom years before it became adopted more widely, and after
considering many options. The Peabody Institute chose Zoom for the quality of calls, ease of use, and
ability to customize settings, particularly the audio settings.

The latter is important when it comes specifically to administering and participating in music lessons. By
default, Zoom is optimized for human speech and the associated frequency range and volume levels.
This guide will outline some of the settings you can change to tip the scales towards optimizing for the
dynamic range of music.

Quick Start Guide for Mac/PC

The settings that you will need to change are listed here, and detailed instructions for Mac/PC continue
on the following pages. Please note, the below recommendations only apply to your computer and
account when you set them – meaning, students and faculty both need to edit these settings on their
computers to ensure the best possible sound quality for lessons. In addition, some of these settings only
work on a computer (not mobile devices like tablets or phones).

1. Make sure you are logged into the correct Zoom domain if you have a JHED ID, or your own
account if you do not have a JHED ID. This will ensure that you see all the necessary options.
2. Make sure you Zoom client is updated to the latest version.
3. Test your microphone level while playing or singing. If the meter maxes out in the Zoom
settings, lower the input volume. If you don’t have an external microphone, note that these
settings will only preserve the quality of the audio that is available.
4. In the audio settings, uncheck “automatically adjust microphone volume.”
5. In the advanced audio settings, (1) Check box for “Show in-meeting option to ‘Enable Original
Sound’ from microphone,” (2) set “Suppress Persistent Background Noise” to “Disable,” (3) set
“Suppress Intermittent Background Noise” to “Disable,” and (4) set “Echo Cancellation” to
“Auto.”

Quick Start Guide for iOS/Android

The settings that you will need to change are listed here, and detailed instructions for iOS/Android
continue on the following pages. Please note, the below recommendations only apply to your mobile
device and account when you set them – meaning, students and faculty both need to edit these
settings on their devices to ensure the best possible sound quality for lessons. In addition, some of these
settings only work on a computer (not mobile devices like tablets or phones).

1. Make sure you are logged into the correct Zoom domain if you have a JHED ID, or your own
account if you do not have a JHED ID. This will ensure that you see all the necessary options.
2. Make sure you Zoom client is updated to the latest version.
3. Test your microphone level while playing or singing. This will vary depending on your device. If
you don’t have an external microphone, note that these settings will only preserve the quality
of the audio that is available through the device microphone.
4. In the audio settings, uncheck “automatically adjust microphone volume.”
5. In the Zoom meeting settings, enable “Use Original Sound” in the Meeting Settings.

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Guide for Using Zoom in “Music Mode”

Detailed Instructions for Mac/PC

Ensure that you are logged in to your Zoom account
In the upper right corner of your Zoom app, click on your profile photo (or initials).

For Conservatory and Preparatory faculty, the top of the pane that appears should show your name,
your JHED ID, and the word “Licensed.” If you are in another account, select Switch Account, Sign In
with SSO, enter jhupeabody as the company domain, then continue to sign in with your JHED ID
through the standard JHU portal.

For Conservatory students, the top of the pane that appears should show your name, your JHED ID, and
the word “Licensed.” If you are in another account, select Switch Account, Sign In with SSO, enter
jhubluejays as the company domain, then continue to sign in with your JHED ID through the standard
JHU portal.

For Preparatory students and families, the top of the pane that appears should show your name, your
email address, and the word “Basic” or “Pro.” Either will work to enable the settings below as long as
you are logged in.

In the screenshot below, Conservatory and Preparatory faculty and Conservatory students should select
“Sign in with SSO” to the right and proceed as noted above. Preparatory students and families should
enter their account information in the “Sign In” fields on the left, or “Sign Up Free.”

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Guide for Using Zoom in “Music Mode”

Update your Zoom app if necessary

Even if you just downloaded Zoom for the first time recently, many updates have been made to the app
in recent weeks. Click your profile photo then select Check for Updates to see if updates have been
released and install them if necessary.

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Guide for Using Zoom in “Music Mode”

Open your account settings in the Zoom app

Again click your profile photo or initials in the upper right corner, then select Settings. (On Mac, you can
also click the small gear icon under your photo.)

This menu allows you to change many of the settings in your Zoom app – we encourage you to play
around with these to see how you may better optimize other areas of your experience. But for now, we
are focusing on the audio settings. Select Audio in the left hand menu.

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Guide for Using Zoom in “Music Mode”

Select and test your headphones and microphone

From this screen, you can change your output (speakers/headphones) and input (integrated or external
microphone). If you’re in a Zoom meeting and your preferred devices don’t seem to be connected, this
is where you can edit those. For example, if you are using a headset or an external microphone, make
sure it is selected in the Microphone menu. Then Test Mic to make sure it’s picking up the sound.

While you’re in the microphone settings, uncheck the box next to Automatically adjust microphone
volume. Having this setting checked can be helpful for a meeting where it will dampen unexpectedly
loud noises – it’s much less helpful when you are teaching a lesson where a range of volume is to be
expected. Also make sure that your microphone levels aren’t reaching the maximum levels. If they are,
adjust the volume setting for the microphone.

You’ll also want to “Enable stereo” to preserve and stereo signals that your microphone is capturing.

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Guide for Using Zoom in “Music Mode”

Enable original sound from microphone

Click the Advanced button in the bottom right corner. From here, you can check the box for Show in-
meeting option to “Enable Original Sound” from microphone. This setting allows you to turn off (on a
per-meeting basis) the automatic audio compression.

Once this setting has been enabled, you must turn it on in the Zoom meeting every time you want to use
it. You’ll see a button in the top left corner that says Turn on Original Sound. Click it to turn on original
sound (i.e. turn OFF the automatic compression).

When it’s turned on, you’ll see that the button now says Turn off Original Sound. If you’re having a
regular meeting or class, you may want to turn it off.

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Guide for Using Zoom in “Music Mode”

Suppress Background Noise

In the same advanced audio settings pane as the setting for “Enable Original Sound,” you’ll also want to
make sure that you:

• Set “Suppress Persistent Background Noise” to “Disable,”

• Set “Suppress Intermittent Background Noise” to “Disable,”
• Set “Echo Cancellation” to “Auto.”

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Guide for Using Zoom in “Music Mode”

Detailed Instructions for iOS/Android

Ensure that you are logged in to your Zoom account
In the settings of your Zoom app, find your profile information in the settings.

For Conservatory and Preparatory faculty, the top of the pane that appears should show your name,
your JHED ID, and the word “Licensed.” If you are in another account, select Switch Account, Sign In
with SSO, enter jhupeabody as the company domain, then continue to sign in with your JHED ID
through the standard JHU portal.

For Conservatory students, the top of the pane that appears should show your name, your JHED ID, and
the word “Licensed.” If you are in another account, select Switch Account, Sign In with SSO, enter
jhubluejays as the company domain, then continue to sign in with your JHED ID through the standard
JHU portal.

For Preparatory students and families, the top of the pane that appears should show your name, your
email address, and the word “Basic” or “Pro.” Either will work to enable the settings below as long as
you are logged in.

In the screenshot below, Conservatory and Preparatory faculty and Conservatory students should select
“Sign in with SSO” to the right and proceed as noted above. Preparatory students and families should
enter their account information in the “Sign In” fields on the left, or “Sign Up Free.”

9
Guide for Using Zoom in “Music Mode”

Update your Zoom app if necessary

Even if you just downloaded Zoom for the first time recently, many updates have been made to the app
in recent weeks. Visit your device’s app store and check for updates.

Test your Microphone

Test Your Microphone and Speaker

Test your microphone level while playing or singing. On most devices, if using the internal microphone,
these controls will be very basic. If using an external microphone with an iOS or Android device, more
granular settings will be available in the system preferences for that device. If you don’t have an
external microphone, note that these settings will only preserve the quality of the audio that is
available through the device microphone.

Enable original sound from microphone

In your mobile app, (1) select “Settings” (the screenshots in this guide are for a tablet, but other mobile
devices are very similar), then (2) select “Meetings.”

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Guide for Using Zoom in “Music Mode”

Scroll down, and turn on “Use Original Sound.”

Once this setting has been enabled, you must turn it on in the Zoom meeting every time you want to use
it. Select the “…More” option in the upper right of the meeting window, then select “Enable Original
Sound.” This will turn on original sound (i.e. turn OFF the automatic compression).

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