Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays! 7pm-11pm PST
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DJ Purple Zoomaroke Instructions!
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The tools you need:
1 phone with the Zoom app installed
1 computer (not a tablet) with Zoom app installed
Songs chosen from the Dance Karaoke songbook at DJPurple.com
*Sorry, no duets, unless it’s with someone at the same location with you. We’re still working on a way to do duets!
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Join the Zoom meeting with your computer first. If you arrive in between songs, say hello to everyone, otherwise, use the Zoom chat to say hello!
*DJ Purple does not monitor messages in the Zoom Chat, so if you need to talk to him, speak up between songs when everyone is unmuted!
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Now let’s learn the two most important Zoomaroke functions – “Leave Audio” and “Join Audio”.
You’re going to have two devices logged in to Zoom. One of your devices must always be connected to audio, while the other is disconnected. This will avoid loud, squealing “feedback” noise and echoing.
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First let’s learn “Leave Audio” and “Join Audio” for your computer:
***Leave Audio*** (Computer)
a) Go to your computer’s Zoom session window and go to the bottom left corner of the window
b) *Don’t click the Mute button!* It’s almost irresistible, but don’t do it!
c) Click on the little arrow symbol “^” (called a “carat”) next to the Mute button
d) A pop-up menu will appear – click on “Leave Computer Audio” – it’s the second-to-last choice on the menu
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***Join Audio*** (Computer)
a) Go to your computer’s Zoom session window and go to the bottom left corner of the window (same spot as for “Leave Audio”)
b) Find the headphone icon labeled “Join Audio” and click on it (*not on the arrow/carat next to it*)
c) Another window will pop up – click on “Join With Computer Audio”
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Next you’re going to join the Zoom session with your phone, BUT FIRST – “Leave Audio” on your computer, as described above, in order to avoid “feedback” noise!
Then use the same Zoom meeting information or URL you used for joining the meeting with your computer to join the meeting with your phone.
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Now let’s learn “Leave Audio” and “Join Audio” for your phone
***Leave Audio*** (Phone)
a) Tap your phone’s Zoom screen so the controls appear. In the bottom right corner, click on the “…More” menu.
b) A menu will pop up. Click on “Disconnect Audio”
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***Join Audio*** (Phone)
a) Tap your phone’s Zoom screen so the controls appear. In the bottom left corner, click on “Join Audio”
b) A menu will pop up. Click on “Call Using Internet Audio”
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***Remember this new habit: whenever you “Leave Audio” on one device, “Join Audio” on the other device at the same time.***
At this point, you should “Leave Audio” on your phone and “Join Audio” on your computer, so you can hear the session and participate on your computer.
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Please make sure your phone and computer are both named correctly, so DJ Purple can tell which devices belong to you. Use the “Participants” menus on your phone and computer to find the renaming controls. Add the word “Mic” to your phone’s name, for example, “Jane Smith’s mic”
Also please turn off the camera on your phone – this helps with sound quality.
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Eventually, DJ Purple will send an invitation to your phone to join the “Backstage” breakout room – accept the invitation.
*Your phone should stay in the breakout room for the entire show – please do not rejoin the main session with your phone*
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When it gets close to your turn to sing, DJ Purple will ask you for your song choice. Then he’ll send you a Google Drive link to the karaoke track for your song through the Zoom chat, so watch the Zoom chat indicator for your song link to appear.
Click the link – it will launch a Google Drive media player in your browser.
You may need to press play twice to play the track. If you get an error, wait a few seconds and try re-loading the page. If necessary, use the download option to download the track and play it in your computer’s media player. If needed, install codecs for playing MP4 files, or install an alternative media player such as VLC.
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Here is a sample track to practice with before the show and make sure your computer is able to play MP4 files:
https://djpurple.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Happy-Birthday-Traditional.mp4
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Once you get your song playing successfully, pause the track.
Next, find the timing playhead control on your song video’s timeline:
a) The timeline runs along the bottom of the video. Hover your mouse right over the timeline so the playhead appears
b) The playhead is usually a little button or circle on the timeline showing where your video is paused
c) Make sure you’re able to grab the playhead and drag it to any specific time, like 0:00, 0:10, etc.
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Set up the windows on your computer so you can read the lyrics and see the audience at the same time!
Shrink your browser window (or media player window) so the display of your song lyrics is as small as possible, but not too small to read. To do this, move your mouse pointer to the very bottom right corner of the window and drag it until the song video window shrinks down to a smaller size.
Then rearrange your windows so you can see both your song lyrics and the Zoom window with your audience
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When it’s your turn to sing, DJ Purple will move your phone from the “Backstage” breakout room to the “Live!” room
Now it’s time to “Leave Audio” on your computer, and “Join Audio” on your phone!
Once you “Leave Audio” on your computer, you won’t be able to hear or talk to anyone until you “Join Audio” on your phone. Once your phone has “Joined Audio”, you’ll be able to talk with DJ Purple on your phone, but you won’t hear the audience until you finish singing.
Talk to DJ Purple on your phone to make sure you both can hear each other
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DJ Purple will tell you where (what time) to move the timing playhead on your video, in order to skip over silence at the beginning of the track. Drag the playhead to that time. Your video should still be paused
When you and DJ Purple are both ready, say “3, 2, 1, Go!” and press play on your video at the exact same time that you say the word “Go!”
SING!
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**** NOW COMES THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR SINGERS! ****
When you sing your last note – immediately do the following – don’t wait for the music to end:
“Leave Audio” on your phone, and “Join Audio” on your computer.
*Then “Unmute” yourself on your computer* (bottom left corner)
Say loudly, “I’m back!” so everyone knows you’re back in the main room and can hear their applause!
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**** AND THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR THE AUDIENCE! ****
When you’re in the audience, the singer can’t hear you until after they finish singing their last note, then “Leave Audio” on their phone and “Join Audio” on their computer. So please HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE until you hear them say “I’m back!” after they finish switching devices, and unmuting themselves.
Meanwhile, we need YOU to “Unmute” yourself on your computer in order for your applause to be heard! During the song, you won’t be able to unmute yourself, but when the singer finishes singing, DJ Purple will turn on permission so you can now unmute yourself.
Click on the “Unmute” icon in the bottom left corner:
Wait for the singer to say, “I’m back!” and then APPLAUD THEIR PERFORMANCE!
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Click here for more details and tips, including how to make your voice sound better!
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