Notice to STS - Using Zoom Webinars...

For those coordinating ward broadcasts, the attached PDF provides some important information on the use of Zoom Webinar verses using the church's webcast system.

So my wards should all buy HDMI to USB converters and obtain laptops so they will not need to use the Church webcast system?

And all the members are expected to install Zoom on their computers rather than use their browsers so that they can receive sacrament meetings now?

I am okay with saving the Church valuable tithing dollars. The webcast system must be more expensive than we thought. However, this will be difficult for most of our members, especially the not so tech savvy ones.

From the document:

Zoom webinar is a one-way meeting solution that offers the ability to make remote participants interactive if desired. Since this solution is now available to all units, and is on a platform familiar to most members, it is the recommended noninteractive platform for all meetings requiring less than 500 concurrent connections. Units using other platforms, including Meetinghouse Webcast, should begin using Zoom webinar for sacrament and other similar meetings.

The Meetinghouse Webcast platform has been working really well for us. The simplicity of having the same URL for all meetings has been much appreciated by our members. This seems like a step backwards in that regard, unless we can replicate that experience with Zoom webinars.

The Meetinghouse Webcast page (MyWebcast) provides a nice one-stop place for ward members to go, with a link that remains the same, and the ability to control access based on Church Account. That said, I understand some of the benefits that could come with an off-the-shelf solution like Zoom.

If local leaders could post Zoom meeting links on the Meetinghouse Webcast page – not just sacrament meeting links, but second-hour meetings as well – it would allow wards to transition to Zoom as recommended, while furthering the benefits of Meetinghouse Webcast – most important to me, a stable link and controlled access. Has that been considered?

Out of curiosity, how well does Zoom webcasting work from a cell phone app? If it would work, that seems like the simplest route as far as hardware.

One big shortcoming of the Meetinghouse Webcast platform is attendance reporting. I would hope that the Zoom Webinar platform is better in that regard.

For instance, can it produce reports of attendees, time and duration of attendance for a given meeting?

We have been using the Church Webcast System for several months at the suggestion of Church employees with stewardship over the webcast product. I assume that this document indicates a shift in strategy. Stating that we are not to stream Zoom meetings to the webcast system is a significant change from previous practice. Making a shift to webinars as the preferred non-interactive meeting approach is possible, but it does not come without some challenges and complexity. The shift may not occur quickly in many stakes including my own.

A few challenges to consider in this shift:
- Webcast URLs are relatively friendly and easy to remember, Zoom webinar URLs are auto-generated and are not customizable. The webcast approach of a single landing page is excellent, and it would be very nice if a page of this nature could be created that contains the needed Zoom URLs.
- Webinars require the use of the Zoom client while the Webcast system requires a browser. Some members may struggle with client installation and use.
- Webinars offer many interactive features such as chat, raising hands, QA, etc that will need to be carefully configured to prevent their use during a webinar. Some settings (including Chat) are set on an account basis and will need to be turned off prior to the use of a webinar and turned back on again if desired for a meeting.

Overall, the webinar move is reasonable, but it will take time to train both specialists and members on how to use it. What is the expected timeframe?

Technically, Zoom can be joined via a web browser – at least a desktop web browser – but they do a good job of hiding the link. In some cases, the link will only appear after downloading the desktop client.
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articl ... Web-Client

We've been using Zoom Webinar for many months for sacrament meetings and this month's stake conference. It's proven to be an excellent solution for us. Here are some responses to the comments I'm seeing:

lajackson wrote:So my wards should all buy HDMI to USB converters and obtain laptops so they will not need to use the Church webcast system?

You only need the converter if you want to use your existing HDMI camera. They are inexpensive. We (stake) purchased $70 webcams for each building and mounted them on the pulpit microphone booms. Nobody needs to operate the camera. A bishopric member brings a laptop and connects to the existing webcam. It's not difficult at all. Someone else hosts the meeting from a different computer to free up the bishopric.

lajackson wrote:And all the members are expected to install Zoom on their computers rather than use their browsers so that they can receive sacrament meetings now?

Installing Zoom isn't required. You can run it from a web browser. However, the best experience is using the app. We have members (including very non-technical) watching meetings on their phones, tablets, computers, and calling in by telephone, with very few issues.

danpass wrote:The simplicity of having the same URL for all meetings has been much appreciated by our members. This seems like a step backwards in that regard, unless we can replicate that experience with Zoom webinars.

You create Zoom Webinar sacrament meetings as recurring meetings. Each occurrence uses the same link every week.

russellhltn wrote:Out of curiosity, how well does Zoom webcasting work from a cell phone app? If it would work, that seems like the simplest route as far as hardware.

It actually works really well, We have not been able to meet in our buildings since March, so everyone is participating from homes. Many use the mobile phone app to watch and to participate (offer prayers, speak, etc.). It could easily be mounted on a small tripod at the podium.

danpass wrote:One big shortcoming of the Meetinghouse Webcast platform is attendance reporting. I would hope that the Zoom Webinar platform is better in that regard.
For instance, can it produce reports of attendees, time and duration of attendance for a given meeting?

You get an attendance report from Zoom Webinar. It lists the name and email address of each device that joined the meeting, the time they joined/left and duration. Because that's only somewhat useful, we post a poll at the beginning of the broadcast asking how many people are watching. We use the results of that poll to calculate attendance.

shh24 wrote: - Webcast URLs are relatively friendly and easy to remember, Zoom webinar URLs are auto-generated and are not customizable.

True. The Zoom URLs are long and unattractive, especially when they include the embedded password. They can be shared with a simpler embedded URL label ("South Ward Sacrament Meeting Zoom Link") or something similar. You could also use a link shortener like https://bitly.com/

shh24 wrote: - Webinars require the use of the Zoom client while the Webcast system requires a browser. Some members may struggle with client installation and use.

As mentioned above, you can run Zoom from a browser. It just works better in the app.

shh24 wrote: - Webinars offer many interactive features such as chat, raising hands, QA, etc that will need to be carefully configured to prevent their use during a webinar.

Yes, it's definitely good to know and understand those features. We developed training for our ward sacrament meeting hosts and provided a thorough process and checklist to help them. It's very detailed, so looks much more complicated than is actually is. Our ward hosts quickly got the hang of it and are doing well. If you want to take ideas from it, you can find the resources and checklists in this post: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=38242&p=218857#p218857

swigginton wrote:

russellhltn wrote:Out of curiosity, how well does Zoom webcasting work from a cell phone app? If it would work, that seems like the simplest route as far as hardware.

It actually works really well, We have not been able to meet in our buildings since March, so everyone is participating from homes. Many use the mobile phone app to watch and to participate (offer prayers, speak, etc.). It could easily be mounted on a small tripod at the podium.

What russellhltn is referring to is hosting a meeting using a cellphone app, such as Larix Broadcaster, which we've been using for months live-streaming to the church webcast system.

Mikerowaved wrote:...hosting a meeting using a cellphone app, such as Larix Broadcaster...

Grrr... Looks like Zoom Webinar doesn't have the capability of RTMP ingestion. We might be able to use the Android/iOS Zoom app, as long as viewers can join without needed to be admitted.

Great info, swigginton. I'm trying to have to try a webinar with the app to see how that goes.

Since webcast is what we used at the stake center for stake conferences, I've been working to get our other buildings setup and assistants trained so that every unit in our stake is broadcasting. The stake center has a video mixer and a teradek but the other buildings are just using a webcam and old clerk computers with OBS.

It's been a bumpy road and the stake president has some specific feedback we're been working to implement to try and improve the experience so that our little bumps don't detract from the reverence/spirit of the meeting. One of the major items was setting up transition scenes for before and after the meeting as well as one to show during ordinances. I've been looking at webinar since I received this email and I haven't been able to find a way to easily stop broadcasting audio and video and switch to an "ordinance in progress" message. In OBS this is very easy, it's a single click on the appropriate scene. (start soon, webcam, sacrament, adjourned, etc). Any ideas on how to replicate this in a webinar? I played with some of the screen sharing options but don't really see any that are a good fit.

HAH, ok, I just figured out a good way to do this. Since I already wrote all of this, I might as well share what I'm thinking with all you instead of deleting the post.

OBS now comes with a Virtual Camera feature built in. I can just set the zoom webinar to consume/broadcast the virtual camera and continue to use OBS to produce the event. Everything will just the same as before.
*edit* And for audio, Virtual Audio cable lets me set Zoom the zoom "microphone" to the virtual output. This means the audio controls in OBS (camera scene has pulpit audio, others are silent or could play prelude music) can be piped through the zoom webinar.

they007 wrote:Since webcast is what we used at the stake center for stake conferences, I've been working to get our other buildings setup and assistants trained so that every unit in our stake is broadcasting. The stake center has a video mixer and a teradek but the other buildings are just using a webcam and old clerk computers with OBS.

It's been a bumpy road and the stake president has some specific feedback we're been working to implement to try and improve the experience so that our little bumps don't detract from the reverence/spirit of the meeting. One of the major items was setting up transition scenes for before and after the meeting as well as one to show during ordinances. I've been looking at webinar since I received this email and I haven't been able to find a way to easily stop broadcasting audio and video and switch to an "ordinance in progress" message. In OBS this is very easy, it's a single click on the appropriate scene. (start soon, webcam, sacrament, adjourned, etc). Any ideas on how to replicate this in a webinar? I played with some of the screen sharing options but don't really see any that are a good fit.

HAH, ok, I just figured out a good way to do this. Since I already wrote all of this, I might as well share what I'm thinking with all you instead of deleting the post.

OBS now comes with a Virtual Camera feature built in. I can just set the zoom webinar to consume/broadcast the virtual camera and continue to use OBS to produce the event. Everything will just the same as before.
*edit* And for audio, Virtual Audio cable lets me set Zoom the zoom "microphone" to the virtual output. This means the audio controls in OBS (camera scene has pulpit audio, others are silent or could play prelude music) can be piped through the zoom webinar.

You can take a look at our sacrament to see how we do it. Aiea and Aliamanu wards are the ones to look at. The others just use youtube or whatever they want.
Honolulu Hawaii West Stake Broadcasts

sbradshaw wrote:The Meetinghouse Webcast page (MyWebcast) provides a nice one-stop place for ward members to go, with a link that remains the same, and the ability to control access based on Church Account. That said, I understand some of the benefits that could come with an off-the-shelf solution like Zoom.

If local leaders could post Zoom meeting links on the Meetinghouse Webcast page – not just sacrament meeting links, but second-hour meetings as well – it would allow wards to transition to Zoom as recommended, while furthering the benefits of Meetinghouse Webcast – most important to me, a stable link and controlled access. Has that been considered?

We solved this by starting out with our own landing page, created on a Wordpress site. The landing page links to the church webcast system for video meetings but has a separate (maintained by people in each ward) page for the Zoom links for the individual wards. One-stop, unchanging URL. Last week for stake conference I simplified the page so only the stake conference link was visible. Makes it much easier for everyone.

kaaloa wrote:You can take a look at our sacrament to see how we do it. Aiea and Aliamanu wards are the ones to look at. The others just use youtube or whatever they want.
Honolulu Hawaii West Stake Broadcasts

That's using the church webcast system. But this thread is about the church wanting us to leave Church Webcast for Zoom webinar.

I agree with some of the other posters that not taking advantage of the automation and simplicity of the Meeting House webcast system is a step backwards despite the obvious cost savings to church by using Zoom.

As an example, our stake center and the attending wards in that area suffer extreme temporal need and poverty. Thinking anything remotely about technology (ie Zoom/OBS/Larix) is the last thing that's on your mind when your stomach is growling. Anecdotally, one of the attending Bishop there has a flip, dumb phone and YouTube is a bizarre, foreign concept.

Fortunately, we've been able to nearly fully automate the stake center using the Lumens PTZ Camera, an older Teradek VidiU and Meeting House Webcast system that runs on a schedule. Ironically, most of the ward members don't even have the means to view the webcast however there are those--mostly elderly, some handicap and a few venerable members that can. For those members, we asked them to bring in their device, or we went to their residence to setup a URL shortcut to our stake's Meeting House webcast portal on their phone or tablet. With that, it's 2 clicks and a name input to view their ward's Sacrament service. Even that simplicity is still a formidable challenge.

In our other buildings, we do have two members who are savvy enough to setup the webcam equipment and broadcast to YouTube however they're suffering burn-out as we're struggling to train others to share that burden.

In fact, we're looking to somehow duplicate the technology at the stake center to the other buildings to have it run on the Meeting House webcast system and zero-touch automate it on a schedule. Even if we have to figure out how to pay for it ourselves since FM only supports that tech for stake center's only.

Unless, the great minds at Church HQ can figure out how to intermingle the Zoom, Teradek and the Meeting House Webcast portal, I don't think that's a path we can follow for now. So far we've only issued 1 Zoom license because none of the wards know how to use it or even want try it.

I completely feel the pain of moving away from the church webcast system. My stake was struggling with the complexity, until I came across this post.

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=37546&hilit=Jtech


The instructions in this post create a system identical to what you are looking for to automate a stream to the Webcast platform. Unfortunately, I don’t see the ability to integrate it through Zoom happening.

khansen188 wrote:Unfortunately, I don’t see the ability to integrate it through Zoom happening.

The Teradek itself can be programmed to send to a distribution system other than Church webcast. But apparently Zoom does not have that capability. So if the existing system is Teradek based, you can still send to YouTube Live or some other similar system that will work.

Our challenge for virtual meetings with outside participants is that we need to interface with something like Zoom to bring it all together.

Apparently, you cannot broadcast from an iphone (as a host) using HD 720. I guess you need a laptop or computer for that.

I figured I would post my experience with this.

I completed disagree with this statement from the document: "All meetings (interactive and noninteractive) will use a single platform that members are familiar with." Members are much more familiar with the Meetinghouse Webcast or YouTube than Zoom. I think members of our Stake might even be more familiar with Google Meet since the school district uses Google Meet.

A few of our wards have used the Zoom webinar for the first hour worship service. For the most part, they have not gone well. I have finally figured out that the iPods which he have been using with the Meetinghouse Webcast do not meet the minimal requirements for hosting a Zoom webinar. The newest iPods are the equivalent of an iPhone 7 (A10 chip), and the minimal requirements are an iPhone 8 (A11 chip). This means that we will need to use a moderator pc and use the the iPod as a panelist.

I feel like YouTube is the more cost effective solution for us, but I have a problem with the distracting YouTube user interface (UI).

vlc22 wrote: I have finally figured out that the iPods which he have been using with the Meetinghouse Webcast do not meet the minimal requirements for hosting a Zoom webinar. The newest iPods are the equivalent of an iPhone 7 (A10 chip), and the minimal requirements are an iPhone 8 (A11 chip). This means that we will need to use a moderator pc and use the the iPod as a panelist.

Interesting. I assume that Zoom has documented that somewhere? It would be good to know. I took a quick look but didn't see anything that would indicate a different requirement depending on role.

vlc22 wrote:https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articl ... 64720e83ea

That's listed as "System requirements for Virtual Background". That might be important for all-virtual, but probably not for those live-streaming a in-person session.

I just realized that after I posted it. Regardless, we have had nothing but problems in trying to host a Zoom webinar on an iPod. One ward has been more successful by hosting on a laptop and using the iPod as a panelist.

vlc22 wrote:Regardless, we have had nothing but problems in trying to host a Zoom webinar on an iPod. One ward has been more successful by hosting on a laptop and using the iPod as a panelist.

I'm wondering why that would make a difference. I wouldn't think hosting would add that much load on the device.

Keep in mind, the problems could be related to what else is going on on the network. If another ward is zooming a live second hour meeting or ward council meeting, that would impact the available bandwidth at the chapel.

Also, with zoom, you may have different settings in play if you log into zoom prior to joining instead of joining without logging in.

Yes, I am aware of all this. I have been trying to figure out ways to get better audio and QoS with Zoom for weeks.

The bottom line is that any little thing can cause problems with Zoom QoS. The Meeting Webcast and YouTube do not have these stability issues. I am trying to figure out how to make the Zoom webinar work, but it is a lousy platform to work with.

I don't know for sure, and I might be wrong, but I think hosting adds quite a bit of load to the device. It needs to keep track of a lot more than if it just needs to send audio/video signals.

Obviously, hardware has a lot to do with QoS. This is why there is huge variance in the quality of Zoom calls, meetings, and hardware.

russellhltn wrote:

vlc22 wrote:https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articl ... 64720e83ea

That's listed as "System requirements for Virtual Background". That might be important for all-virtual, but probably not for those live-streaming a in-person session.

I fail to see how hardware requirements would be any different for all-virtual and a live stream from a central location.

vlc22 wrote:I fail to see how hardware requirements would be any different for all-virtual and a live stream from a central location.

All-virtual: You're working from home and want a better background that reflects the mood you're trying to convey. So virtual background is enabled.

Live-stream from chapel: No virtual background. Show the actual chapel.

We have found that setting on repeating meeting and using it for all of the meeting in the Stake conference makes it easier for members to log on, we use no passcode to further simplify the process. Most members now have smart phone and zoom is easy to down load and use, we have offered a short class for members who have needed training and assistance in loading zoom and logging on.

We have done the last 3 stake conf's with zoom.

Hope this helps.

vlc22 wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 6:46 pm Yes, I am aware of all this. I have been trying to figure out ways to get better audio and QoS with Zoom for weeks.

The bottom line is that any little thing can cause problems with Zoom QoS. The Meeting Webcast and YouTube do not have these stability issues. I am trying to figure out how to make the Zoom webinar work, but it is a lousy platform to work with.

Did you see much of an improvement?

As far as I can tell, it's the latency factor. Zoom is basically in real time and there is no buffer to speak of.
Switching from wireless to wired Ethernet can really help.
Other options if you're struggling is to reduce video quality on the feed to give more bandwidth headroom.

gafiero wrote: Sat Feb 26, 2022 1:36 pm We have found that setting on repeating meeting and using it for all of the meeting in the Stake conference makes it easier for members to log on, we use no passcode to further simplify the process. Most members now have smart phone and zoom is easy to down load and use, we have offered a short class for members who have needed training and assistance in loading zoom and logging on.

We have done the last 3 stake conf's with zoom.

Hope this helps.

I believe all meetings have passwords now?

We set up recurring meetings but when we transitioned to the central Salt Lake provided zoom account passwords were added to all of our meetings.

How have you circumvented that? Do you have a church provided or a separate zoom account?

Wattsuk wrote: Sun Feb 27, 2022 12:49 am I believe all meetings have passwords now?

Yes. If you do not use a password, Zoom defaults by moving everyone into the waiting room and you have to allow them to enter the meeting manually.