Zoom, Skype Technical Q&A here:

[Minaise]

3 hours ago, jwhess said:

I appreciate the information Br. Klas mentioned above.  But with Zoom mandating updates it will only last until about January next year before version 5.6 fails.

Correct, that is what it looks like right now.

[Minaise]

3 hours ago, More4me2do said:

 

 

However, I played an opening song for a CLM meeting a few weeks ago 30 minutes before the meeting started with only 7 connection and it played flawless. 30 minutes later at 7:30pm with 120 connections the distorted sound and the pop and crackling was ever present.

 

To solve this I believe the best way forward is to contact the branch since they pay for our licenses and their ability to get a result is far more likely then we as individuals handling it with Zoom support. In view of the downgrading being only a viable option for a few months I believe the complaint to the branch is our best option forward.

 

Again thank you for solving this mystery.

Yes I forgot to mention that we have tried to recreate this and have been unable to unless it’s a fully meeting, for us that’s 70-80 connections. Not even after a meeting with majority still connected but in breakout rooms were we able to recreate it. I did however run across one thread on Reddit with the same symptoms (not JWs) and one of them there said he has around 20 connections usually, we haven’t tried with that amount.

 

Reddit link: 

 

 

I tried to find anything online about other experiencing the same thing but I think it’s so specific that it’s likely it’s almost only JWs experiencing it. Now one thing is weird it does not seem to affect any other media such as videos or even original songs only the songs we sing to. 

I have also forwarded this information to a brother who works within the video production at branch asking him to maybe provide it to someone who could benefit from it or contact us for more info.

 

We cover our own Zoom licenses and have a ticket open on the topic with them right now but as it’s our CO visit (and a brand new one at that) I’ve chosen to put any experimenting on hold for this week.

Edited September 2, 2021 by Minaise
Adding Reddit link

[More4me2do]

6 hours ago, Minaise said:

I tried to find anything online about other experiencing the same thing but I think it’s so specific that it’s likely it’s almost only JWs experiencing it. Now one thing is weird it does not seem to affect any other media such as videos or even original songs only the songs we sing to.

Correct I have experienced the very same symptoms. For example the video "With Eyes of faith" plays just fine. I also observed that some songs are not exhibiting the static as prominently as other songs. Which let me believe that perhaps it is in the audio format or creation of the song videos. So I converted the elementary audio stream to LPCM and then used other different formats however nothing changed no matter what the audio format or the container was. This made me believe that possibly Zoom can't handle the format of our songs, since audio only or normal videos or movies play just fine.

 

Next possible test would be to change the song's associated elementary video stream, running it through an encoder or use Final Cut Pro to create a new test Video Song. So who is game for that?

[Minaise]

3 minutes ago, More4me2do said:

Correct I have experienced the very same symptoms. For example the video "With Eyes of faith" plays just fine. I also observed that some songs are not exhibiting the static as prominently as other songs. Which let me believe that perhaps it is in the audio format or creation of the song videos. So I converted the elementary audio stream to LPCM and then used other different formats however nothing changed no matter what the audio format or the container was. This made me believe that possibly Zoom can't handle the format of our songs, since audio only or normal videos or movies play just fine.

 

Next possible test would be to change the song's associated elementary video stream, running it through an encoder or use Final Cut Pro to create a new test Video Song. So who is game for that?

My end goal has been to at least get someone within Zoom to figure out what was changed from 5.6.1 to the next version that altered all this. Since clearly that changed it.  

We have had some ideas about possibly Zoom trying to throttle bandwidth somehow also, hence why they would want to force you to update the app, but there’s a few things that suggest that isn’t the case either. But who knows.

 

But even if we pay for our license ourselves I do believe that the branch could have more success in figuring it out with Zoom as Zoom might take that more seriously.

[Minaise]

Although I (and the whole AV team of our cong) is convinced 5.6.1 fixes the issue, if any of you end up also testing that please post your feedback how it worked for you. 
 

Thanks!

[jwhess]

My Windows 19 PC just updated my Zoom app to version 5.7.8

My Android device was last updated to version 5.7.7

My Ipad and Iphone are still back at version 5.7.6

[Leiarn]

Hello everyone ! 

My dad is one of the A/V operator of his congregation but he has been experiencing troubles for a week or so... When he plays a video on JWL no one can hear the shared sound anymore. We tried reinstalling the app, and changing the audio output but it only works like one time out of twenty ? I was looking for clues and this is how I found you ! 😁 Is there anyone who is experiencing the same bug or who knows what to do ??? 

( I'm the one writing because my dad can't speak English 😉) 

[➕👇 ꓤꓱꓷꓠꓵ🎵Tone]

Windows 19?

I'm still on 10 (and thinking about 11...)
My Android still 5.7.7 also.

Old (Downunder) Tone

[AH173]

He probably has windows 19!

 

I think he has some awesome computer specifications from what he mentioned before. 

[Qapla]

 

 

Edited September 12, 2021 by Qapla

[Floyd]

9 hours ago, jwhess said:

My Windows 19 PC just updated my Zoom app to version 5.7.8

Are you from the future? Tell us, when will these things be?

[richietj77]

10 hours ago, jwhess said:

My Windows 19 PC just updated my Zoom app to version 5.7.8

My Android device was last updated to version 5.7.7

My Ipad and Iphone are still back at version 5.7.6

Windows 19 comes with the exact date of Armaggedon. (And the new Revelation book).

[jwhess]

I feel just like the apostle Peter (in heaven).  Every day someone points out his error in denying Christ.

I am sure the conversation ends with Peter saying something like..."I make one mistake and no one can let it go".

 

If I can bring a little joy into the brotherhood each day, I feel one of my goals is accomplished.  The worse my eyesight becomes, the more I search for a 3 foot long keyboard....😁

[Qapla]

O lmpe yjr grr;omh, Kpjm

 

Spoiler

  I hate it when I get my fingers one key off

 

 

Edited September 12, 2021 by Qapla

[Jf800]

Upcoming Release

September 22, 2021 version 

 

Interesting features for our meetings...

 

• Stop incoming video 
  Users in a meeting can easily disable all incoming video through in-meeting controls. This may be done to preserve bandwidth for shared content, or to avoid mental fatigue from viewing multiple, active video participants. The account owner and admins can enable this for use in meetings at the Account-, Group-, and User-level web settings.
• Poll access for alternative hosts 
  If meeting hosts add alternative hosts to their meeting, they can allow alternative hosts to add or edit polls. The alternative host in the meeting will have the additional in-meeting options to add or edit a poll, which launches the web portal to make the changes.
• Easier emoji selection for in-meeting chat 
  After entering ‘:’ and two or more letters, available emojis matching that description will be shown. For example, entering “:jo” will provide the following matching emojis: :joy:, :joy_cat:, :joystick:, :majong:, and :black_joker:
• Security settings overview 
  The host and co-host in a meeting can quickly check what security features are currently in effect for the meeting they are hosting. This information is accessible through the in-meeting encryption shield, located in the top-left corner of the meeting

[jwhess]

Since the Ipad and Iphone are getting farther behind in their updates, I wonder if Zoom is waiting for next week's release of Apple's version 15 distribution?  Windows 10 has Zoom version 5.7.8 but Ipad is back at version 5.7.6, I guess we will know next week.

[bigvince]

On 9/12/2021 at 1:52 AM, Leiarn said:

Hello everyone ! 

My dad is one of the A/V operator of his congregation but he has been experiencing troubles for a week or so... When he plays a video on JWL no one can hear the shared sound anymore. We tried reinstalling the app, and changing the audio output but it only works like one time out of twenty ? I was looking for clues and this is how I found you ! 😁 Is there anyone who is experiencing the same bug or who knows what to do ??? 

( I'm the one writing because my dad can't speak English 😉) 

Sister, I'm not sure if anyone has responded to you, but a few things to check:

1. Is the sound on his computer muted? If he plays a video, does he hear it on his end?

2. In JW Library, when playing media, there is a volume slider in the bottom left corner of the player screen, is that volume all the way up?

3. Has he installed any new software?

[Qapla]

 

 

Release notes for Windows

Edited September 23, 2021 by Qapla

[AH173]

Oh goody, another update!? 

[Hope]

Oh, Zoom- bless you... 😂

 

"Our latest update introduces two notable features that might actually have an impact on how you use the app. For one, you're now able to block other people's video feeds with an option called "stop incoming video." Previously, you could just block your own, but now you can actually limit the video feeds of other people attending the call. This is good if you're on a restricted connection in order to allow for a little bit extra bandwidth for actually hearing the call, or if you're just simply tired of seeing your coworkers' faces every day."  😊

 

https://www-androidpolice-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.androidpolice.com/2021/09/24/zoom-brings-mute-to-your-eyeballs-with-video-feed-blocking/?amp=&amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a6&usqp=mq331AQIKAGwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From %1%24s&aoh=16326056270955&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.androidpolice.com%2F2021%2F09%2F24%2Fzoom-brings-mute-to-your-eyeballs-with-video-feed-blocking%2F

 

[Lee49]

16 minutes ago, Hope said:

you're now able to block other people's video feeds

I tried it at this mornings service meeting, it blocked out every ones video except mine and defaulted to what ever still picture they had, I was hoping that I could just pick and choose which ones I wanted to block, you know the annoying ones that may have their camera on pointed up at a lighted revolving ceiling fan, I'll try again at tomorrows meeting. 😵

 

[1gemstone]

14 minutes ago, Lee49 said:

I tried it at this mornings service meeting, it blocked out every ones video except mine and defaulted to what ever still picture they had, I was hoping that I could just pick and choose which ones I wanted to block, you know the annoying ones that may have their camera on pointed up at a lighted revolving ceiling fan, I'll try again at tomorrows meeting. 😵

 

Just put it on speaker view, you will see maybe only 5 Audience view at the top.

[Lee49]

3 minutes ago, 1gemstone said:

Just put it on speaker view

Yeah, I knew that and can get the five going across the top, but I thought this new feature would allow for leaving it on gallery view, which I have set at 25/page, and then turning off individual videos.

[Lee49]

https://www.technology.pitt.edu/help-desk/how-to-documents/zoom-turn-participants-video

 

You can stop someone's video stream by hovering over their name and clicking Stop Video. If needed, you can also click Remove to remove them from the meeting. 

[jwhess]

All of my devices, Win10, IOS15 and Android8 have updated to zoom version 5.8.0 (my Ipad / Iphone were the last).