How to change recording settings for Zoom meetings
Intended for:
Users of the Zoom video/web conferencing service.
Scenario/Use case:
This article details how to change recording settings for Zoom meetings.
Instructions:
For the PDF version of this article, click here.
Where to save recordings:
*NOTE: Fermilab only allows for local recording.
The Recording Location setting lets you select where and when to save Zoom meeting recordings.
- Click Change File Location to change the location where you want to store the Zoom meeting recordings. The Browse for Folder screen opens.
- Browse and select an existing folder.
- Click Make New Folder to create a new folder to select.
- Click to Choose a location for recorded files when meeting ends. This option allows you to choose the location to save the meeting file each time you save a meeting. When this option is not selected, the recording is saved to a default location.
PC:
Mac:
Accessing local recordings:
To access your saved recorded meetings, open the Zoom client menu. Select “Meetings” then select “Recorded.”
- All recorded meetings are stored on your local device or computer.
- Note: A recorded meeting will be converted and added after the meeting has ended.
Options for recorded meetings from home screen:
Using your mouse, toggle over your saved recordings to view your options:
- Play: Selecting Play from your Zoom client will play the saved meeting with your default media player (both video and audio).
- Play Audio: Selecting Play Audio from your Zoom client will play the saved meeting audio with your default media player (audio part of the meeting only even if there is video recorded).
- Open: Selecting Open will allow you to view your saved file in your local device or computer's folder.
- Delete: Selecting Delete will erase your meeting from your Zoom client only.
Note: After deleting your saved recorded meeting, it will still be saved to your local device or computer.
Note: If your computer/device unexpectedly loses power during recording, Zoom cannot guarantee the integrity of your recording files when you restore power. Your recording will most likely be corrupted.
Recording formats:
After you have ended your meeting, your recorded file will be converted and saved to your local device or computer.
To access your recorded meeting folder, select open from: Meetings > Recorded > Open. You will have four (4) different files to choose from:
- M3U playlist (a playlist to play the individual MP4 files- Windows only).
- MP4 file/s (video file or split video and screen sharing files- Windows and Mac).
- M4A file (a single audio only file).
- VLC player (MP4) file (single file for video and screen sharing view via VLC Player - Windows) (Release3.0 and below).
- MP4 file (single file for video and screen sharing) (Release 3.5 and above).
- Chat (txt) file (single file for in meeting group chat).
Note: Screen sharing recording would take about 20M of storage per hour while video recording would take about 200M of storage per hour. This is an estimation as the resolution and types of video or screen sharing content could change the storage requirements.
Note: The VLC player (MP4) file and single MP4 (mac) file can also be opened by Quicktime player. You can convert the file to .MOV and edit using iMovie.
Recording layout:
You can record the active speaker, content sharing with active or sub video panel, gallery view or M4A audio.
By default, only the host can record each Zoom meeting. This can be changed by having the host allow specific users to record the meeting through the Manage Participants panel. Each resulting recording will be in the layout of choice by the person who is recording.
The Zoom meeting will be recorded in the current layout that the host is recording. For example, if the host is recording in Gallery View the recording will be in gallery view. This is independent of what the participants are viewing, so if I participant is watching the meeting in active speaker view and they start recording because the host granted them recording the resulting recording will be in Active Speaker.
Note: If you move the active speaker display thumbnail to the edge of the screen or to additional monitor from the one you are presenting from the thumbnail will show up in the surrounding black bars on the recording.
See Also: