Issues while sharing Computer Sound

[RaysFitness]

We use Zoom meetings to run hybrid Yoga classes (there are students in the Studio and other students join online). Zoom is run off a Lenovo Thinkpad running Windows. The Zoom app is updated to teh latest version.

The laptop is connected to a TV through an HDMI cable so the laptop screen is visible on the TV. The laptop is also connected to external speakers using the 3.5mm adaptor. In Audio settings (Zoom) we select the TV as a speaker so that we can hear if one of the online students has a question. This setup works fine.

The issue occurs when we want to play some music in the background. To do this, we play the music either on VLC player or Youtube (on chrome browser) on the laptop, and in the Zoom meeting we "Share Computer Audio".  Now we can hear the music through the speakers connected to the laptop (as desired), but the folks on the call cannot hear the music at all.

We experimented and if we turn the TV (connected via HDMI) off, the online folks can hear the music. But we need the TV on so we can see them doing their Yoga poses. We did experiment by selecting "External speaker" and Same as "System in Audio Speakers", but that does not help if the TV is on. The sound gets to the online folks only when the HDMI TV is off/ disconnected.

We also tried playing a video on youtube and sharing computer screen (also sharing the chrome app) with the "Share Sound" box checked. Same result- if the TV is on, no sound goes through. If it is off, sound goes through.

Can someone help?

Thanks

[Ohkawa]

Hi, @RaysFitness 

You mentioned HDMI for the Zoom speakers, do you need audio (HDMI) for the TV?
If both the Zoom's speakers and the laptop's speakers are external speakers, that might solve the problem.

[RaysFitness]

Sorry, maybe my post was not clear...

The laptop is connected via HDMI to a TV and through the 3.5mm audio- out jack to an amplifier (and thence to speakers).

We use a bluetooth mic connected through the 3.5mm audio-in jack on the laptop.

When we are in a Zoom meeting (the Yoga class), we can see the participants on the TV screen and hear them (in case they want to say something) through the TV speakers. The online participants can hear the instructor through the bluetooth mic.

When we want to put music, we use VLC or Youtube on the laptop. In the studio, the music comes through the amplifier and the attached speakers.

All fine so far.

Now, if we want the online participants to be able to hear the music, we go to the Zoom app and enable "Computer Sound" sharing. However, the online participants CANNOT hear the music.

If, however, we turn the TV off (either power off, or put it off using its remote), they can hear the music. But then we cannot see the participants on the TV (and we need to be able to do that so we can see what they are doing).

Regarding your suggestion, we do not  mind Zoom audio also coming through the external speakers, but once the TV is connected through HDMI (needed to see the online participants), the sound automatically goes there.

Hope I have described the set up adequately so you/ someone can provide a resolution.

PS: This setup was working fine some months back (dont know exactly when it stopped working) so maybe it is some update on the Zoom app that has caused this malfunction.

[Ohkawa]

@RaysFitness 

Thanks for the detailed explanation.

I tried the configuration you described and was able to share the music, so I don't know why it can't be shared.
Since you say you can share music when the TV is turned off, you might try assigne the Zoom speaker to external speaker and that might work.