Hosting live fitness instruction and dance classes online has gained traction considerably under recent circumstances. Easy to use and boasting some advanced features not available in many other services, Zoom has become the most used video conferencing software for instructors to hold classes.
However, many instructors are either unaware of, or otherwise confused about, how exactly to take advantage of the technologies available to us in order to efficiently and successfully run a Zoom fitness instruction class in a way that maximizes a positive user experience on behalf of the participants.
Here I outline three methods available to instructors which vary in involvement and cost to show the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Tier One: The “No Frills” Method
Probably the easiest and least involved method of fitness instruction through Zoom involves relying on your own music playback from your speakers to be the sole sound source for your participants. This is an approach that requires the bare minimum of setup and thus the simplest way to host a class over Zoom. However, music, as it is picked up by your computer’s subpar internal microphone, will degrade drastically by the time it reaches your participants’ ears. This may be, for fitness and dance instruction, to the detriment of the participants’ experience as music plays such an integral role in instruction classes. If a better sound and experience is desired, it may serve the instructor well to consider adopting a one of the methods detailed below.
Tier Two: The “Share Computer Sound” Method
This is an easy solution to the issues surrounding fitness instruction through Zoom. It also happens to be just as cost-effective as the “No Frills” approach, needing no more than your computer running Zoom and your music playback.
Zoom is one of the few video conferencing services to offer certain advanced features which allow for users to share sound as it’s playing off of the computer with those attending the meeting. This allows for your music to be piped directly to attendees and be heard as clear as you yourself are hearing it.
What this would require is that your music playback must come from an application (Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, etc). on the device from which you are hosting your Zoom class. Thus, playing music off, say, your phone or iPod while Zoom is hosted from your computer will not work.
What will work for Spotify users, however, is playing music through Spotify on your computer while using your phone to control Spotify. Spotify allows the option to control which device you’re playing Spotify through, which would allow for operations like volume adjustment and pausing, skipping, etc. to be controlled through the app on your phone.
It’s worth noting that Zoom’s “share computer sound” option is only available for the Zoom computer application and not the mobile application on your phone or iPad.
The most apparent drawback to this method lies in the fact that the host is not able to control the input volume levels of both the microphone and the music independently. Instead, the volume of the music can be controlled with reference to the microphone. If the participants are complaining that your voice is too low, the only option for you is to lower the music’s volume so that the microphone’s level is higher relative the music’s volume.
If maximum control over the parameters of microphone volume and music volume is of utmost importance to you, consider the following method.
Tier Three: The Mixer Method
While the “Share Computer Sound” method work perfectly fine if cost is of utmost importance, the shortcomings of the method involving the inability to control your vocal microphone’s volume level and the music playback level independently may leave the instructor wanting more control.
This method addresses that by allowing your microphone and your music playback to be piped into one mixer before sending it off to the computer. Both the microphone’s and the music’s volume levels can be adjusted on the mixer itself, thereby giving the instructor the maximum amount of control over the conditions of the Zoom class.
Mixers come in all sorts of sizes and at various price points, but for these purposes, the Behringer Xenyx 802 mixer will suffice. The mixer costs $90 off Amazon and contains eight inputs, only two of which you’ll need.
Note that this method assumes that you have a separate microphone and are not using your computer’s internal microphone for your voice.
This also would require the right cables to connect to the mixer, so plan to budget another $20 or so if you don’t have the correct cables.
An advantage to this method lies also in the fact that music playback may come from any device you prefer, rather than your computer as the previous method required.
The Signal Flow of the Mixer Method
Conclusion
For the purposes of hosting fitness classes through Zoom, these options present the most reliable ways in which instructors may host a successful class. Though it may seem daunting, these methods are efficient and effective, and will only add to the degree of professionalism you will exhibit while offering your instruction online.
For those who are keen to adopt one of these methods and would want a more in-depth detail of each, I am available for further consultation and guidance through the process. Email me at carter@authorimprints.com for more information.
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