Use of Bluetooth Headphones During Zoom Lesson

Mark H

Oct 14, 2021

Hi Joseph~ I am using a Zoom H8 as the audio interface during my lessons with an older MacBook Pro as you know. My hope is to transition from using a wired open back headphone to using my AirPods Max wirelessly. The issue I am having is getting the AirPods to reliably connect with my MacBook. They always connect with something, though often it is my phone, iPad, Apple TV… maybe my neighbors phone for all I know 😊. Your AirPods seem to connect automatically and immediately when you switch between speakers and headphones. Maybe you or someone else has a suggestion for managing Bluetooth connections. Thank you!

2 comments

Joseph @ Flex Lessons

Oct 14, 2021

I have a few tips that might make your experience better.

1) First, you should know that I primarily use my AirPods Max at my main computer, and they typically stay there. I don't connect them to other devices very often. I also own a pair of AirPods Pro, and since those can fit in my pocket, I can more easily take them around the house or travel with them.

2) I have my AirPods set to connect to my devices "when last connected" rather than "automatically" with the exception of my main computer, which I have the automatic function selected.

3) I have the "sound" icon enabled in my status bar at the top of the screen on Mac OS, which allows me to very quickly select the AirPods and connect in the event that they fail to automatically connect.

4) In Zoom, I have my preferred mic selected as a sound input, but I have the "same as system" device selected as the output, which is what enables me to quickly connect using the sound icon in the status bar.

The result of all of this is that my preferred mic is always used in Zoom with no issues, and my main speakers are used in Zoom unless I need to hear more detail. I will then throw on the AirPods Max and it will usually switch over immediately and change the output in Zoom as well. When I am done, I just take them off, and the output switches back to my main device.

I hope this can be your experience as well!

Mark H

Oct 14, 2021

Thank you, Joseph. I just made those changes and my headphones connected to the MacBook immediately as the output device while the H8 remained the Zoom input. Your help is greatly appreciated!