Zoom has become an essential platform for virtual meetings, classes, events, and more. With many of us spending more time connecting virtually, finding ways to enhance the Zoom experience has become increasingly important. One great way to do that is by playing background music.
Whether you want to set the mood before a meeting begins or have music quietly playing during a virtual happy hour, sharing your audio in Zoom is easy to do. Here’s a comprehensive guide to playing music in Zoom meetings and events.
Table of Contents
Why Play Music in Zoom
Here are some of the top reasons to stream audio during your Zoom calls:
- Sets the tone or mood. Playing relaxing or upbeat songs can influence the feel of your virtual event before it even begins.
- Fills awkward silences. Background music gives people something to listen to during quiet moments.
- Provides ambiance. Tuning into shared songs makes a Zoom gathering feel more like hanging out IRL (in real life).
- Covers distracting sounds. Streaming audio minimizes background noise from other household activities.
How to Play Music in Zoom
Playing your computer’s audio through Zoom only takes a few simple steps.
- Start or join your Zoom meeting and connect your audio through the Computer Audio option.
- Click on Share Screen at the bottom toolbar (or tap in mobile).
- Select Advanced in the top right corner to access more options.
- Choose Music or Computer Sound Only to share just your device’s audio.
You’ll now hear “Computer audio is now shared” to confirm it’s enabled.
Tip: Make sure you have the music or audio source already opened on your computer before sharing computer sound in your Zoom room.
Adjust Volume
The shared music volume can be controlled directly in your music app like Spotify or iTunes.
- Set the volume around 50% to prevent distortion.
- Lower it if the music seems too loud for your Zoom call.
You can also share your screen while playing audio from another app:
- Choose the window or screen you want to share.
- Check the box for Share Computer Sound.
- Click Share and your visuals + audio will display.
Zoom Audio Quality for Music
To transmit higher quality audio for musical instruments and vocals, Zoom has a special setting called Original Sound.
Here’s how to enable it:
- Click on the ^ arrow next to Mute/Unmute.
- Select Enable Original Sound from the menu.
This feature needs to be enabled each time you join a meeting. It will disable Zoom’s sound filters that can muffle music.
Some other Zoom audio settings to check:
- High Fidelity Music Mode for CD-quality sound
- Stereo audio for realistic left/right separation
Top Tips for Streaming Music
Follow these best practices when sharing computer audio through Zoom:
- Mind the volume. Keep your music under 50% volume to prevent distortion.
- Use headphones. This prevents echo or feedback through your mic and speakers.
- Check your levels. Do a test share to see how the audio quality sounds to others.
- Set expectations. Give attendees a heads up that you’ll be playing background music.
- Take requests! Ask people to share songs in the Zoom chat that fit the vibe.
Legal Considerations
If your Zoom meeting is public or used commercially, you’ll need the proper rights to play the songs. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Public performance rights are required to play music in public forums.
- Stream legally with an app like Spotify that holds licenses.
- Use original/creative commons music that gives permission to share.
- Pay royalties through a service like Soundtrack Your Brand if needed.
Review music licenses carefully or consult an attorney to stay on the legal side of song streaming.
Create Themed Playlists
Curating custom playlists is a fun way to engage people during virtual hangouts and video calls.
Ideas for Themed Zoom Playlists
- Decade playlists (80s, 90s or today’s hits)
- Movie soundtrack hits
- Sing-a-long favorites
- Dance party jams
- Focus/concentration music
- Dinner party background jams
Build playlists that suit the occasion or set a specific tone you want to achieve. Get creative with your musical choices!
Fun Ways to Incorporate Music
Beyond just playing songs in the background, there are lots of fun ways to integrate music into your Zoom events:
- Karaoke! Pass the mic and belt out your favorite lyrics.
- Name That Tune! See who can guess the song fastest.
- Jukebox requests – Ask attendees to share their music wishes.
- Themed dress-up parties – Decades, artists, movies and more.
- Virtual dance parties – Show off your best Zoom dance moves.
Spice up your video calls by finding unique ways to showcase the songs you love. The options are endless!
Enhance Any Zoom Event with Audio
With the ability to seamlessly share computer audio in Zoom, it’s easy to elevate any virtual occasion by streaming your favorite music. From focused work sessions to festive celebrations, the right songs can take your video calls to the next level.
Follow this guide to enable audio sharing, adjust settings for music quality, build exciting playlists, and explore creative ways to liven up your next Zoom gathering. With the soundtrack covered, you’re ready to host memorable events online!
