Video conferencing codec instructions

cameras and ceiling microphones found in video conferencing classrooms

Overview, key components, and locations

Video conferencing codecs are room-based equipment that allow you to easily connect with those online by taking advantage of the key components outlined below:

  • Cameras
    • An Instructor Point/Tilt/Zoom shows what’s happening at the front of the room or on a writing surface.
    • A Student Auto-Tracking camera is installed at the front of the room and faces students. Once selected as the active camera at the touchscreen, it will automatically zoom to who is speaking.
  • Ceiling microphone
    • Ceiling microphones ensure that all voices in the room are heard, whether online or captured in a recording.
  • Displays
    • While in a call or meeting, the two monitors at the front provide persistent content. The audience left monitor provides video call of participants, while the audience right monitor presents content that is also shared with those online. 
    • A confidence monitor is provided in the back that can repeat either of the front monitors. You can switch the source on the touchscreen at any time.
  • Instructor wireless microphones
    • Microphones are also available in the drawer. These optional microphones provide a way to amplify the instructor’s voice in the room, and can also be used as a way to isolate only that voice for those online.

Video conferencing codecs are currently installed in:

  • Folwell 118
  • Humphrey 20
  • Humphrey 25
  • Peik 165
  • Peters 145

These rooms are able to connect to any zoom call (instructions below). If you need to connect to another room-based system, please email us at classrm@umn.edu at least two days before your call, and we can help.

Using the video conferencing codecs

To start a call, press “Start Video Conference”

Scheduled calls will complete this step for you. If you need to dial out, use the keypad or press “keyboard” to type in an address.

Screenshot of control screen menu

Next steps

  1. Check the microphone setup. The ceiling microphone is on when you see a green light. To get rid of unwanted noise from the room, you can mute the ceiling microphone, and instead, use a microphone from the drawer. (You can also use both.)
  2. Check the camera settings. You can select either the instructor camera, to show a view of the front of the room, or the audience camera, to show the seating area. While either camera is adjustable to point, tilt, or zoom, the audience camera can zoom in on a current speaker if you make no additional adjustments. Simply toggle back to the instructor and then the audience to turn this feature on.
  3. Choose a presentation source to share content with distant participants. When you are done sharing a presentation source, only camera images will be shared when the presentation source is off. It's good practice to ask people online whether the video and audio are working properly.

To connect the in-room system to a Zoom meeting, you can use either of the following methods:

  1. Press the white Zoom button on the video conferencing submenu. When prompted, press #, followed by your meeting number, then # again to connect.
  2. Dial the SIP address provided by Zoom using the touch screen keyboard. It will take the following format: [Meeting ID]@zoomcrc.com. 

Once you're connected, you can access an on-screen menu to adjust settings by pressing the number 1 on the keypad. A common setting for any Zoom meeting is to “mute participants upon entry”, which can be changed by selecting option 2. For more information on using the onscreen menu, view Zoom support.

Selfview: toggles instructor self-image on the screen (thumbnail picture)

Adjust Volume: Adjusts the volume of up to three sources.

  • Presentation source
  • Video conferencing: Adjusts the volume of incoming audio from the remote site through the in-room system
  • Web conferencing: Adjusts the volume of incoming audio from a web conferencing call as provided by the red USB cable.

Privacy: All audio sent out from the room can be toggled from “Outgoing is Live” to “Outgoing is Muted”, and back.

Mics: This sub-menu lets you mute individual microphones and adjust the levels of handheld mics.

Screenshot of video conferencing touchscreen controls

Similar to other general purpose classrooms that provide microphones and cameras,  each of these rooms also has a USB cable to let instructors use their own computer to connect to the microphones, speakers, and the instructor camera.

Instead of having the classroom presentation system join the Zoom call, this would provide signals to your laptop to host the call.

 

Request a consultation

If you have questions about setup or would like to schedule an equipment consultation, contact the Classroom Support Hotline at 612-625-1086 or classrm@umn.edu.