Setting up Zoom

How to maximize the quality of your music lessons or classes on Zoom

The following directions work best on desktop and laptop computers. (The Zoom app for tablets and mobile devices does not have all the detailed settings.)

These settings are for Zoom version 5.4.9.

For older versions of Zoom see below.

Here is a .pdf of the settings for all Zoom versions.

Screenshots of settings on a Mac

Helpful Zoom tutorials

Before your lesson

For best connectivity, please position your computer as close to your router as possible.
Make sure you are on the best wifi network available if your house has more than one.
Close all apps (besides Zoom) running in the background to maximize your computer’s processing power.
If possible, please ask people in your house to avoid using the internet during your lesson, to put phones into airplane mode, and to make sure no devices ring or ping.
Activate “Do Not Disturb” mode on your computer if it is connected to your phone and might ring or ping during your lesson.
Wear headphones and use an external microphone, if available.

Once you are on the Zoom meeting screen, enable your microphone’s original sound via the following steps:

In the lower left corner of the screen there is a microphone icon. Click on the upward arrow next to the right of the microphone icon and select “Audio Settings.”
Uncheck the box that says, “Automatically adjust microphone volume.”
Set the “Suppress persistent background noise” to low.
At the bottom of the page, click the word “Advanced” .
Set “Echo Cancellation” to AUTO.
Check the box for “Show in-meeting option to ‘Enable Original Sound’ from microphone”.
Check the box for “High fidelity music mode”.
When you return to the meeting screen, the option in the upper left should say, “Turn Off Original Sound.” This means you have successfully enabled original sound.
1. If it says, “Turn On Original Sound,” click it once to switch to “Turn Off Original Sound.”
DO NOT assume that Zoom will save your settings for next time! Always check the settings.

During your lesson

Have your teacher help you test your microphone level. Play the loudest and softest parts of your piece for your teacher. If the sound distorts or crackles, go to “Audio Settings” again and adjust the microphone “Input Volume” downward slightly. If the sound is too soft, adjust the “Input Volume” upward. Do another sound check with your teacher to make sure the microphone setting is optimal.

Make a note of the microphone setting for future use.

Settings for Zoom version 5.4.8

Zoom settings for version 5.4.8

In the lower left corner of the screen there is a microphone icon. Click on the upward arrow to the right of the microphone icon. Click “Audio Settings”.
Uncheck the box for “automatically adjust microphone volume”.
Set “Suppress persistent background noise” to low.
Click the word “Advanced” at the bottom of this page of settings.
Echo Cancellation should be set on AUTO
Check the box that says, “Show in-meeting option to “Enable Original Sound” from microphone”.
Check the box for “High fidelity music mode”.

When you return to the meeting, the option in the upper left should say, “Turn Off Original Sound.” (that means that you ARE currently on “Original Sound”. If it says, “Turn On Original Sound”, then click on it once to switch to “Turn Off Original Sound”.

Settings for Zoom version 5.4.7 and earlier

Zoom settings for versions 5.4.7 and earlier

In the lower left corner of the screen there is a microphone icon. Click on the upward arrow to the right of the microphone icon. Click “Audio Settings”.
Uncheck the box for “automatically adjust microphone volume”.
At the bottom, click the word “Advanced”.
Disable “suppress persistent background noise.”
Disable “suppress intermittent background noise.”
Check the box for “show in-meeting option to ‘Enable Original Sound’ from microphone.”