Lesson 7: Creating your first video feed

Lesson 7 of 14

With the Capture Engine running, you can create your first output. An output is a single video feed that ZoomISO sends out of the app. This lesson shows you how to make one, choose what it shows, and decide where it goes and at what quality.

The Video Outputs tab

This tab is where you create feeds of Zoom video for your production, watch the quality coming in, and reach some participant controls. You add or remove outputs using the “Number of Outputs” control at the top of the tab, or the Add buttons.

Three ways to view your outputs

A control at the top left lets you switch between three layouts. They show the same outputs, just arranged differently:

  • Grid View. A grid of cards, each with a live video preview and an audio meter right next to its controls. This is the most informative view, and it is new in version 3.
  • List View. A compact table. Because it does not keep previews running, it is lighter on your computer. To peek at a single output, click the Preview button in its row.
  • Previews View. A set of larger, scale-to-fit previews with controls laid over them.

Switch views from the toggle at the top right of the tab. If your Mac is working hard, List View is the gentlest choice.

Inside an output card

Take Grid View as the example. At the top of each card you can see the output’s name, switch the output on or off, open Output Effects, and open a small menu to duplicate, delete, or rename it.

Choosing what the output shows

Under the preview are the content controls. First you pick an Output Mode, which is the type of content you want, for example a participant or the shared screen. If that type needs it, a second dropdown lets you pick the specific source, such as which participant. Below that, a status readout shows the quality of that content as it arrives from the Zoom Cloud.

There are also quick actions to mute or unmute, turn video on or off, and send a chat message. These only work if the meeting allows them and your ZoomISO user has enough privileges.

Choosing where it goes and how it looks

At the bottom of the card are the controls for sending the feed out:

  • Output Device. Where the feed goes. Choices include NDI, Syphon, System Displays, SRT if you have set up channels, and Blackmagic devices if they are connected.
  • Format. The frame rate and resolution of the feed. ZoomISO always sends out at exactly the format you set here, even when the incoming video from Zoom varies. It quietly scales the picture and repeats or drops frames as needed to keep your output steady and correct.
  • Embedded Audio. If the chosen device supports it, you can carry audio inside the video feed. The choices are Off, ISO meaning just the selected content’s own audio, or Mix meaning all the meeting audio except ZoomISO’s own microphone return.

Making your first output, step by step

  1. Set the Number of Outputs to at least one, or click Add.
  2. Choose an Output Mode, then pick the specific source if asked.
  3. Choose an Output Device and a Format.
  4. Decide on Embedded Audio if your device supports it.
  5. Switch the output on. Your feed is now live to its destination.

In short

Create outputs in the Video Outputs tab. For each one, choose what it shows with Output Mode and a source, then choose where it goes with Output Device and at what quality with Format. ISO or Mix lets you embed audio. Grid View shows the most; List View is the lightest.