With no end to the COVID-19 pandemic in sight, Zoom has built upon its services to better accommodate music classes, rehearsals, and other listening experiences. The video chat platform now offers a high-fidelity audio mode as part of their latest software update.
Zoom version 5.2.2, released on September 2nd, 2020, includes the new option alongside a handful of other new features and bug fixes. It’s somewhat tucked away, but Scoring Notes gives detailed instructions on how to toggle it. Doing so turns off the app’s automatic sound compression, meaning that it will come in handy for settings where sound quality is important but will filter out less noise during regular conversations.
Live Stream Landscape
Although the move was intended to benefit performing arts and music teachers, it could position Zoom as a better contender in the live stream arena amid COVID-19 lockdowns. Facebook and Twitch dominate the market at present, with Mixcloud Live meriting a mention as its unique license allows for 100% legal DJ set live streams.
2020 has marked a meteoric rise for Zoom. Wired notes that the service had already eclipsed Skype as the preferred video chat client long before the pandemic unfolded for its intuitive functionality and ease of use, but worldwide stay-at-home orders translated into a figurative tidal wave of new adopters.
More information on the high-fidelity audio mode can be found in this Zoom blog post.
