Google Meet vs Zoom? Well, in this video I'll discuss remote work tips for
better audio and closed captioning so that you can hear and communicate more
effectively on your next Google Meet or Zoom call. Coming up!
Hi, I'm Dr. Derek
audiologist with
Pro Fit Hearing.com
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description below. OK, let's jump into the video.
Today I'm talking about audio and closed captioning options for Google Meet and Zoom.
Have you been working from home and using one of these platforms regularly?
Do you have hearing loss or
difficulty understanding what's being said on the call?
Well, the tips that I'll share today will help maximize your ability to understand
others and be heard more clearly. First of all, which platform do you use and
what do you like the most about it? Let me know in the comments below.
Also, please ask any questions that you might have.
OK, so just one quick note. Make sure
you have a strong Wi-Fi connection before you join your Google Meet or Zoom
call. A weak signal can make the audio and video choppy. Intermittent dropouts
of the audio will make it especially difficult to understand what's being
said. Even better, if it's possible just plug your computer directly into your
internet modem with an Ethernet cable for a strong signal.
Zoom audio settings
The first thing you want to do is check your audio before you join a Zoom call.
You'll have the option to test your microphone by recording your voice and
playing it back. You can do this when you're logging into a call, and you can
also access it under preferences within the Zoom app on your computer. Make sure
your microphone is selected and check your input level. Also, make sure the
speaker is set correctly so that you can hear everyone. You also want to select
two options: join audio by computer when joining a meeting and mute
microphone when joining a meeting. This keeps the background noise to a minimum.
Zoom automatically tries to improve the sound quality of your own voice under
audio processing located in the advanced audio settings. You can choose the option
Enable Original Sound instead for a more natural sound quality.
Google Meet audio settings
Check your audio before joining the Google Meet call. First, look
for the three green dots in the lower left-hand corner of the video window.
Start speaking into your mic and you should see those green dots move in
response to your voice. If you don't, look at the bottom right-hand corner of the
video window, and you'll see three white dots. Click on
that and go to settings. Here you'll see the audio tab where you
can select your microphone and speakers. Start speaking and the dotted line next
to the mic should begin moving. It adjusts the volume of your voice automatically.
Closed captioning
Closed captioning is available in both
Zoom and Google Meet.
This feature especially is important if you have hearing loss and
use assistive hearing technology like hearing aids or cochlear implants. Also
if you experience intermittent choppy audio and video during your call, use of
closed captions can significantly improve your ability to communicate
effectively. For Zoom, in order to use this feature the host must enable it.
Then a participant within the meeting must manually type in the spoken words
in real-time. The only way around this is to use a third party transcription
service. I'll leave a link on how to do that in the description below.
For Google Meet, closed captioning is already included and automatic.
The audio transcription is very effective. You could activate closed captions under
the same menu where you adjust your audio settings before joining the call.
Just click the three white dots at the bottom right-hand corner of the video
window, and you'll see the option turn on captions. Once you're on the call the
captions on and off button is at the bottom of the screen.
Google Meet vs Zoom
So if you want more control over your
audio quality settings, Zoom provides more options.
Google Meet automatically adjusts the audio for you. I like the option within
Zoom to disable audio processing of my voice. Just select the option Enable
Original Sound. This can be helpful for musicians who want a better sound
quality for music on the call. An example would be somebody who's teaching virtual
music lessons or using music as a part of their presentation or instruction.
As far as closed captions, Google Meet is the clear winner. It does everything
automatically. You do not need to have someone manually type in the words or
use another third-party transcription service.
So overall, for ease of use and automatic closed captioning I recommend Google Meet.
It will serve most people's meeting needs. If you're hearing impaired, Google Meet's closed
captioning will help you communicate more effectively on your next call.
Now if you're looking for a more in-depth review of equipment options as well as a
detailed Zoom tutorial for better audio and video, make sure to check out my
video in the suggested videos above or in the description below. I'll leave a link
for that video as soon as it's available. So for today's question, which platform
do you prefer Google Meet or Zoom? Why?
I'd love to know your thoughts so please comment below and let's connect.
Thanks so much for watching this video. If you received value from this video,
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If you're interested in hearing aids, click on the link in the description below for my
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Know what to ask your audiologist or
hearing aid dispenser so that your hearing aids are easy to use and have all the
features you're looking for.
Remember Pro Fit Hearing brings you the best
insight in today's latest hearing aids and audio technology to improve your life!
If you have concerns about your hearing, always consult with your local physician
or audiologist. Thanks for watching, and I'll see you in the next video.