AV.io · Epiphan · live streaming · NewTek · Pearl 2 · Pearl Mini · slingstudio · TriCaster · video conferencing · Wirecast · wirecast gear · Zoom ·Apr 20, 2020

Full Guide for Zoom Video Conferencing Workflow & Tips

Zoom has emerged as the teleconference tool of choice during this shut down.

Schools, colleges, churches, Non for Profits, and corporate businesses need to learn how to integrate zoom into their live stream to maintain high quality communication.

Pros of Streaming with Zoom:

Share your zoom meeting over to a public CDN like Facebook or YouTube.
Bring your live stream with graphics and multi camera capability into your Zoom call for added interactivity

Time is of the essence. This information if more important than ever, lets dive in.

Videoguys is here to give you tips to help get the most out of your Zoom conferencing, and the new workflow for live streaming it brings.

Check out our webinar for more information on streaming with Zoom:

Best practices for conducting a Zoom Call

Do not use your Personal Meeting ID
Select a Unique password every time you schedule a new meeting.
Never post your meeting ID or password to social media, invite guests via direct email or text message
Use the waiting room feature
Do not allow screen sharing
Lock the meeting
Remove unwanted participants by using the participants menu
Mute participants if necessary

TECH NOTE: Zoom does have the ability to stream directly to Facebook, YouTube and others but we do not recommend doing so. You are already using ZOOM and your bandwidth to manage the incoming callers so streaming out at the same time can create issues in video & audio quality.

Bring your Zoom Conference into your Production System

Zoom, and other conferencing programs like Microsoft Teams, Skype & GoToMeeting are great web conference solutions. There are often times when you want to create a round table discussion or have multiple guests on your live webinar and this can be done in many different ways. The similarity is all of these workflows though is to run Zoom on it's own machine and then send that out to your production system.

Let's start by talking about some of the web streaming encoders available and what they bring to the table.

LiveU Solo is an inexpensive encoder that allows you to connect your wired or wifi network and begin streaming. If you want to stream out in the field you can also add cellular modems with bonding. This is an excellent solution for churches, schols and town hall meeting in remote, rural areas without high quality networks. Or for anyone who wants to take their stream out on the road.

Using LiveU Solo to stream your Zoom Call

Start your ZOOM Callâ€‹
Connect your computer HDMI Out to the Live U Solo encoderâ€‹
Use an additional HDMI output to play the call and monitor it on screen â€‹
Stream your feed from the LiveU Solo directly to the streaming platform of your choice (YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, ETC)

Using Matrox Monarch Encoder to Record your Zoom Call and Stream Simultaneously

Important Key Note: Using an encoder like the Matrox Monarch will be more effective than trying to do both from your computer. This will be a way to have a reliable and fast stream and conference.

Have a Zoom video call in progress, with all your participants in the call already.
Connect the computer hosting the call to the Matrox Monarch encoder via HDMI, as if you are bringing in a presentation to a live show.
Save your outgoing recording to an external drive via USB.
Use an additional HDMI output to play the call and monitor it on screen
Stream your feed from the Matrox Monarch directly to the streaming platform of your choice (YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, ETC)

Using Wirecast (or other production system of your choice) to Create a Multicamera Zoom Call

With Wirecast you can use multiple cameras, slides, photos, sound sources, etc., in whatever layout you want. And transition between them smoothly and rapidly.

Launch Zoom FIRST, then launch Wirecast
In Wirecast enable your virtual camera
In Wirecast, add a layer, and select “share screen”as your camera source
Select “Zoom Video Conferencing” under Window Options
Use the other party on your Zoom call as your virtual guest in Wirecast

Layering Zoom calls in TriCaster Mini

Enter a Zoom call on multiple devices
Bring your Zoom call into TriCaster using NDI Tools from NewTek
Create a window template as a PNG and export into your TriCaster in your BFR layers
ME1: Add one of your Zoom feeds with your PNG template from BFR as the second layer
Repeat this process until you have multiple layouts organized the way you like.

Improving the Production Quality of your Zoom Call

Turn your favorite camera into a webcam with Epiphan Av.io USB Video Capture

Rugged and reliable – do not overheat
USB Bus powered
No drivers required
PC or Mac, desktop or laptop
Works great with Zoom, Wirecast, vMix, OBS, Teams, WebEx and more

Which Panasonic is right for you and your Zoom Call?

In recent days, many have asked which Panasonic cameras offer streaming direct to public providers, such as Facebook Live or You Tube, that require RTMP / RTMPS (Real-Time Messaging Protocol). By using Facebook Live or YouTube as the CDN, you can get content on the web quickly and at very low cost. Panasonic currently has 4 models that can do this, as follows:

AW-UE150 series– Panasonic’s top of the line, production grade 4K/HD PTZ camera

AW-UE4 series– Panasonic’s high quality point of view camera, with a super wide lens, limited digital PTZ capability, and manual PT capability

AG-CX350 – Panasonic’s top hand-held one-piece 4K/HD camcorder

AG-CX10 – Panasonic’s new ultra-compact hand-held one-piece 4K/HD camcorder

How Panasonic’s Pro PTZ Cameras can be interfaced into Zoom

Enter USB mode and attach the USB connector to your computer and camera
If the camera is in another location then the video conferencing system, Panasonic offers a free virtual USB drive.
You can also use NDI|HX to connect to Video Conference systems. This add on may be installed- or you may have to upgrade your camera

PTZOptics tips for PTZ Camera Control Within Zoom

Connect your USB or HDMI camera to your computer
Within Zoom, right click on your call and select “request camera control:
Pan, tilt, and zoom controls for you connected camera with appear within the call
This also works for creating high quality images with a 4K still webcam

PTZOptics tips for Remote PTZ Camera Control Within Zoom

Enable Far end Camera control within Zoom.
Connect a PTZ camera at the beginning of your call
For the participant at the “far end”, request camera control, by right clicking on the window of the participant with the camera.
The participant must accept the request
PTZ camera control will appear within that party’s window. You’ll see panning and zooming options.

Watch this video from PTZOptics to learn more:

PTZOptics tips for Embedding Zoom calls on your website

Create a WordPress page attached to your website, or a WordPress website entirely if you don't have one yet
Install the WordPress Plugin "Zoom Meetings for WordPress"
Create a Zoom Market Place App. You'll have to get an API Key.
Add your API credentials from step 3 into your word press plugin from step 2. This will create a short code which you can use on your word press page at this time.
Publish your page to the public and allow users to view your Zoom meeting on your website.

Watch this video from PTZOptics to learn more:

Using NewTek NDI as a virtual input for Zoom

NewTek’s NDI technology can enable you to bring unique views into your Zoom meeting. Whether this is a high- quality unique camera angle, or an NDI feed transmitting a presentation.

Set up an NDI source- with NDI virtual input
NDI will be recognized as a standard Microsoft Video and Audio source within Zoom
Designate your available NDI source as your video input in Zoom

Stream to an Online Destination and Feed your Camera into a Zoom Call with your Matrox Monarch Encoder

Connect your camera to the Matrox Monarch Device
Start your stream from the Monarch to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, ETC.
Via RTSP to xSplit connect the feed from the Monarch into your Zoom call as your camera source

Using Epiphan Pearl Family or other Encoder for your Zoom Call

Set up a reliable external camera and audio setup- you’ll only get so much out of subpar video equipment
Install a capture card (or use a Video Grabber) to ensure flexibility on your pc running zoom
Attach a video encoder like the Epiphan Pearl Mini or Pearl 2- and set up a multi camera shoot.
EX: One camera set up in your meeting room, and a presentation being fed in via HDMI to give online participants the feel or truly being given a presentation
You can also capture your Zoom call with Pearl Mini or Pearl 2, to mix into a live stream via a simple HDMI connection.

How to stream directly from Zoom to Wirecast

Launch Wirecast and start your virtual camera output.
In Zoom, select the Wirecast virtual camera as your camera. Now whatever you “go live” with in Wirecast will be in your Zoom camera.
Professionally “produce” your Zoom session from Wirecast.

Setting up a low-delay Zoom Call using SlingStudio

The SlingStudio Hub offers a video conferencing/low delay option in the Video Production setting. This setting minimizes latency to the extent that’s technically possible so that videoconference conversations can take place more naturally, without having attendees “step on each other” as they speak.

The Video Conferencing/Low Delay option also lets you fine-tune the amount of latency, in case you experience difficulties like dropped frames. You can opt for more or less latency reduction without having to create a new project file with a different Video Production setting.

SlingStudio Console Project Settings:

When creating a new Project File, for Video Production, select the Vide Conferencing Low Delay option.
Choose either Ultra Low or Low.

Note: If you have a very good network connection you can choose the Ultra Low delay setting with no problems. But if you see and/or hear problems such as video and audio frame drops, then change the Delay Setting to Low. If there are still streaming issues, then you may need to choose the Standard setting. This deactivates the low-delay setting on-the-fly—without forcing you to create a new project file.

Check out this diagram below for more information: