Zoom Audio Recording (‘Podcast’)

Familiarise yourself with this Guide and the Zoom application. The Zoom control panel (found at the bottom of the application) is clearly labelled:

Before the recording, ensure you have the most up-to-date version of Zoom (‘Check for Updates’ in the Zoom main menu) and ensure you are plugged in if using a laptop.

Lock meeting

When all participants are present, Lock Meeting using the security button:

Optimise connection

Everyone (including you) should optimise the connection to Zoom and minimise distractions.

• If possible, plug in the device being used to do the recording
  
• Ensure that mobile phones are on silent to avoid interrupting the recording
• If possible, shut down the email programme to avoid notifications interrupting the recording or causing distraction
• Ask that others in the household avoid ‘high bandwidth activities’ such as streaming video (e.g. Netflix, YouTube, Zoom) or playing online games.

Optimise audio quality:

• You may wish to have videos turned on, so you can have a ‘face-to-face’ conversation. However, clear audio is key, so consider turning off speaker videos if this improves audio
  
• Are there any distractions? Is an open window introducing traffic noise? Is there a clock ticking loudly? Are phones on silent? Is a device balanced on something that is creating a vibration on the audio?
• Is this the best audio possible? Do you/they have a USB headset with microphone? If so, which offers the best audio? NB: if the speaker has added an additional headset it may not automatically be chosen and will have to be selected from the Select a Microphone menu in Zoom

With a podcast recording, clear audio is vitally important. If audio is particularly poor you may have to consider re-arranging the meeting so that improved equipment is used (RCPE owns two mics which can be borrowed if available)