Running hybrid meets

We started running hybrid meets in the 2000s. Initially it was to bring people far away to share with us, Now it is mostly for accessibility - I want anyone who is interested in the topic to join in. After experimenting with various gadgets and workflows,, I have settled on Rode Wireless II Go to make any venue a hybrid venue. You can also use similar solution by DJI, (but I have not tested it as of September 2025)

Rode Wireless Go II: https://rode.com/en-int/products/wirelessgoii
DJI Mic 2: https://www.dji.com/sg/mic-2

Some examples on how I setup hybrid meets

SK was in Singapore for a few hours, on a transit stop from Papua New Guinea (PNG) to Thailand. Many were interested in his stories from Afghanistan and PNG but couldn’t make it to the last-minute meeting at a cafe in Joo Chiat. We set up a hybrid meeting. We used a laptop running Zoom with remote participants. A Rode mic clipped to SK’s shirt allowed him to be heard clearly by the remote audience. The mic is wireless giving mobility. The remote participants could also see us via the laptop’s webcam.

Below, we are Library@Orchard in Singapore. We have an equal number of onsite and remote participants. An onsite participant is using the Rode mic. The remote audience can hear her clearly and see her via the MacBook webcam. The mic handle allows for easy passing of the mic to the next person who wants to talk.
Below, Thao speaks on the Rode mic at our Saigon meet. Again here we have about 13 people at the venue and another 15 remote from all over the world. The remote audiences could hear Thao. We also set up an iPhone as a remote camera for the Mac, allowing us to move the iPhone in front of the current speaker. Before live streaming, confirm with on-site participants if they consent to being filmed.

Equipment needed

1. Rode Wireless Go II set (2 wireless mics, 1 receiver)
2. Laptop (Windows or Mac or iPad running iOS 26 onwards, if you cannot plug into an external sound source, I will recommend using a Mac as the output volume is higher. Portable Bluetooth speakers are another option. )
3. Projector (optional) or a laptop with larger screen
4. Zoom (any alternative webconference platform that supports switching of input sources)
5. A pair of Microphone handles. This helps when you have multiple people at the live venue speaking. You can pass around the microphone (attached to the handle). You can buy the one made by Rode or any alternatives. Search Amazon or Shopee for “RODE Wireless Go Handle”

The setup

The Rode Wireless system has three items: one receiver and two transmitters. The receiver connects to the laptop via a USB-C cable. The two transmitters can be clipped onto the clothes of the speaker. If you have a room with multiple people taking turns to talk, you can clip the transmitters to a mic stand. The stand comes with a foam cover. :
Before the event:

1. Setup Zoom and share the URL with your remote participants.

At the event:

1. Connect your laptop or iPad to the Rode receiver.
2. Turn on the receiver and the transmitters.
3. Switch your Zoom audio input to “Rode Wireless Mic.” Leave the audio output to default or HDMI, depending on the audio setup of the room.
4. Position the laptop so the camera faces the audience. You can also use an iPhone or Android phone as a wireless camera for the laptop.
5. Inform your in-person audience that the microphone is for remote participants. They will need to speak louder for those in the room, as some may assume the mic is for the entire room and speak softly.
6. Before starting, ask the remote audience if they can hear you clearly.
7. Appoint one or two “mic runners” (the host or facilitator can be one) to bring the microphone to audience members who wish to speak.

Links:

Rode Wireless GO II: Wireless GO II | Dual Wireless Mic System | RØDE
Dji Mic 2 (an alternative to Rode) : DJI Mic 2 - Wireless Microphone - DJI
Using iPhone as a webcam for Mac: Use your iPhone as a webcam on Mac - Apple Support (SG)
Using an Android phone as a webcam for Windows: Use your mobile device’s camera - Microsoft Support (not all Android phones work for the wireless method. I have tried recent Samsung and Oppo devices - released in 2022 and later, and they worked well. Other Android phones, try wired method - phone connected to the laptop via an USB C cable)

Also tested

The issue with the setup described above is the need to carry multiple items, such as microphone handles, microphones, and cables. I briefly experimented with a portable speakerphone, a Beyerdynamic Space, for some meetings. This device connects to a laptop via Bluetooth and functions as a speaker and microphone combo. It has a built-in battery, making it cordless. While compact and offering sufficient speaker volume, the microphone was weak and we had to constantly move it around. This works if you have say 4 or less people around a small table.


Contact:
Email me at smarterbysharing@gmail.com if you have questions.