Video Conferencing - Recording Zoom Meetings


Introduction

Zoom is a versatile video conferencing tool that unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, group messaging, and a software-defined conference room solution into one easy-to-use platform. You can host and join Zoom video conferences from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. 

The Zoom Help Center has full instructions on using Zoom. The instructions below are specific to Virginia Tech. To see other Zoom topics, please see Video Conferencing - Holding Zoom Conferences on a PC or Mobile Device.

This article details how to record meetings in Virginia Tech Zoom.

  • You can record your Zoom meetings and save them on the Zoom cloud or to your computer.
    • Meetings saved to the Zoom cloud appear in My Media (Kaltura) in Canvas. Zoom cloud recordings are removed after 30 days.
    • Give your meetings unique names, so it's easier to find the recordings in Kaltura. 
  • You cannot record a Zoom meeting locally onto a mobile device.
  • Only hosts can record meetings, unless they allow others to record by elevating a participant to a co-host during a meeting.

Contents

Instructions

Recording Meetings to the Cloud or on Your Computer

From the Zoom Client

  1. During a Zoom meeting in the Zoom client, click Record and choose whether to Record on this Computer or Record to the Cloud.
    Image of the above instructions
  2. To pause your recording, click the Pause icon. To stop recording, click the Stop icon.
  3. Recording will automatically stop when you end the meeting. 
    • If you recorded to the cloud, Zoom will notify you when the recording is ready. Zoom cloud recordings are removed after 30 days.
    • Meetings recorded to the Zoom cloud appear in My Media in Canvas, where it will be stored permanently. 
    • If you recorded on your computer, you can view it immediately. 

From the Mobile App

  • You cannot record locally on a mobile device.
  • Only hosts and co-hosts can start a cloud recording.
    • If you want a participant to start a recording, you can make them a co-host or use local recording.
    • Recordings started by co-hosts will only appear in the host's list of recordings in the Zoom web portal.
  1. During a meeting, tap the screen to display the meeting menu. 
  2. Tap Record.
    Image of the above instructions
  3. Tap Start Recording. Cloud recording will begin. 
    • You cannot record Zoom meetings locally to your mobile device.  
    • Zoom cloud recordings are removed after 30 days, but they are saved permanently in My Media in Canvas. 
      Image of the above instructions
  1. To stop recording, tap the Record button on the menu bar. Tap Stop Recording.
    Image of the above instructions
  2. Tap Stop to confirm you want to stop recording.
    Image of the above instructions

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Viewing and Sharing Recordings on the Cloud

Recordings saved to the Zoom cloud appear in My Media in Canvas. Zoom cloud recordings are removed after 30 days. So, you should watch, edit, and share the recording through My Media.

If you cannot access the recording in My Media and you want to share it immediately, you can share the Zoom Cloud version for 30 days after recording. See Cloud Recording Playback.

Relinking Zoom cloud recordings from Kaltura

If you linked to a Zoom cloud recording and the recording was removed because 30 days have passed, re-link to the version of the recording in Kaltura.

Downloading Cloud Recordings

  1. Sign into the Virginia Tech Zoom Web Portal.
  2. Click Recordings. 
  3. Find the recording you want to download and click the three dots on the right
    Image of the above instructions
  4. Click Download (2 files).
    Image of the above instructions
  5. The recording will be downloaded to your computer.

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Viewing Recordings on Your Computer (Local Recordings)

  • Recordings on your computer are saved in your Documents folder in the Zoom subfolder. 
  • Recording folders are named for the date and time of recording, the meeting number, and the meeting name. 

Recordings should automatically convert after you finish recording. If they don't:

  1. Navigate to your computer's Documents folder.
  2. In Documents, open the Zoom folder.
  3. Find the recording you'd like to view and open that folder. 
  4. A meeting recording file will be listed as double_click_to_convert_01.
  5. Double-click the file, and Zoom will convert the recording and show you the conversion status. 
    Image of the above instructions
  6. When conversion is done, the double_click_to_convert_0X file will be replaced by three files:
    • audio_only - an M4A file
    • playback - an M3U file with video and audio
    • zoom_0 - an MP4 file with video and audio
  7. Play the files in a media player. 
  8. If you want to share the recording, you'll have to save the file and share it manually. 

For more about accessing your local recordings and changing the recording location, see Local Recording in the Zoom Help Center.

Troubleshooting Local Recordings

See: Troubleshooting failed conversion of local recordings

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Backing Up Recordings

  • Recordings on the Cloud are removed after 30 days, but are automatically saved in My Media in Canvas. 
  • Recordings on the Cloud can be backed up on your computer.
  • Recordings on your computer can be backed up by saving the entire recording folder that Zoom created to an additional drive. 

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Getting Help

For instructions on resolving common issues with Zoom, see: Video Conferencing - Troubleshooting Zoom.

For problems logging into Zoom, contact Virginia Tech 4Help:
  • Go to 4Help, log in with your Virginia Tech Username (PID) and password, and click Get Help.
  • Call 540-231-4357.

For problems using Zoom, contact Zoom Support:

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