Zoom -comms tool- query - help!

[Dave2002]

I want to show a presentation to show off work of others in a group using the Zoom online system. I'm using Keynote to put the material together.

Photos are easy, but additionally there is a video with sound to be included.
The video could be embedded in the presentation, or run as a separate feature.

If it's embedded in the presentation it looks as though it will show, but the other viewers may not be able to hear any sound. This is not what is required.
This is a problem we have noticed previously. If this can be overcome, then this would be the best option - but so far we've not fixed this.

If, OTOH, it's not embedded in the presentation, then it requires more faffing around - to stop the screen share of the presentation - which might also expose my real desktop -
and then the video has to be set up to share separately. Switching between different screen shares during a talk does not seem a great idea, and can go wrong.

Last time we tried this it was disruptive, but we had to do that to ensure that the sound from the video was heard by all.

Any ideas?

[Ein Heldenleben]

I want to show a presentation to show off work of others in a group using the Zoom online system. I'm using Keynote to put the material together.

Photos are easy, but additionally there is a video with sound to be included.
The video could be embedded in the presentation, or run as a separate feature.

If it's embedded in the presentation it looks as though it will show, but the other viewers may not be able to hear any sound. This is not what is required.
This is a problem we have noticed previously. If this can be overcome, then this would be the best option - but so far we've not fixed this.

If, OTOH, it's not embedded in the presentation, then it requires more faffing around - to stop the screen share of the presentation - which might also expose my real desktop -
and then the video has to be set up to share separately. Switching between different screen shares during a talk does not seem a great idea, and can go wrong.

Last time we tried this it was disruptive, but we had to do that to ensure that the sound from the video was heard by all.

Any ideas?

I think it’s best to run the video on screen share taking care to have prevented any on screen pop ups and crucially any instant messaging pop ups from friends/colleagues who enjoy taking the mickey...

[Beresford]

You can run the video separately, pause, then minimize to the taskbar. Then starting Zoom screenshare allows you to select that video app - but you may have to fiddle a bit turning Fullscreen on and off.
Also I found that you can start a new screenshare without stopping the original, and then when the new screenshare (eg a video) is finished, you can start the original screenshare again, and it starts at the point you left off. Suggest a practice run if you do this.
Once Zoom put a brown border round the screen I was sharing, and a message slowly fading in and out asking me to move the app. I never found out why, but maybe zoom didn't like another app hogging all the screen. All the participants could see the brown box, but it didn't otherwise interfere with their display.

[Dave2002]

Sorted most problems. When choosing an application to share don't only lok at the main panel which has the share option possibilities, but also check the boxes down at the bottom close to the left hand side.
One is for the Computer audio, the other is supposedly to optimise the video. Might be different on different OS versions.

It is possible to run more or less seamlessly if all the slides, movies etc. are embedded in a Keynote video. It's not necessary to break out and start a separate application and screen share.

However one problem is re late joiners - people who may not have received a meeting invite. Even if an invite is sent out, it might be quite hard to notice if someone tries to join later on.
This happened, and I had to break into the screen share to let one person in - then start it up again. Some organisations with a large number of users have extra people to help get
latecomers or people who didn't get the first invite in to a meeting, but it's hard for a single host to manage everything if some people don't turn up on time.

Maybe some form of protocol to reduce this problem should be adopted, such as "if you haven't received an invite for the Zoom meeting before (say 30 minutes beforehand) phone up on XYZ-123".
On the other hand having many people sitting in a "waiting room" is pointless - so maybe encourage people to get set up, and then go and make a drink for 10-15 minutes before the actual start.

I have seen quite a few sessions where a lot of people just sit blankly looking into space before online meetings for maybe 15 minutes.

Also, why does the BBC have to use this kind of format in programmes such as Politics Live? I guess the people who are pros who go on that programme have their image to live up to, so dress smart,
and look straight at the camera, and don't scratch their faces, pull their hair etc. Even so, why should someone have to do that just because Zoom shows several people all on the same screen?
It's amazing how just a slight sideways glance affects the impression - and it would probably not be a problem with more regular camera techniques, or in a live in person situation.

Just because many of us have had to figure out how to use Zoom is no good reason for the BBC to show us even more Zoom in TV shows. There must be better ways.