Swivl Setup Guide

NMH Swivl Setup Guide

NMH Swivl Classroom Kit Equipment

Classroom kits are labeled with a unit number and have many color coded pieces. Units are assigned to specific rooms. Each kit contains:

	1 Swivl Robot AKA “Swivl Base” Label: Unit Number	Mechanical device that follows your movement via a tracking Marker. Holds a mobile device. Charges Primary Marker.
	3 Swivl Markers 1 Primary 2 Secondary Labels: “P” Primary Marker, Purple “R” Secondary Marker, Red “B” Secondary Marker, Blue	Small remote control that the Swivl robot tracks. Captures all room audio. Can control Swivl movement. Lanyard and wrist straps. Important: Markers must be charged!
	1 iPad Label: Unit Number	Mobile device that joins Zoom meeting as a participant. Moves on Swivl to capture teacher and student video.
	Laptop (your personal machine)	Your laptop is the host of the Zoom meeting and makes the recording. It also controls the projector and screen sharing.
	1 Tripod 1 Quick Release Plate Labels: None	The Swivl robot can be placed on the tripod or on a table. The tripod can be adjusted. Please do NOT place the Swivl on the floor or anywhere unstable. The quick release plate makes it easier to attach and remove the robot.
	USB A to USB A cable. There is now a USB C adapter hooked to it. Label: Red Tag	Connects the Swivl to your laptop.
	Lightning/Swivl Connection Cable Label: Green Tag	Attaches Swivl base to iPad or other iOS device.
	Swivl Base Charging Cable (use with charging block) Label: Purple Tag	Charges the Swivl base. One full charge lasts 5-6 hours. Unit can also be used while plugged into a power strip. Use with 4 port USB charging block.
	Lightning/iPad Power Cable Label: White Tag	Charges the iPad, which needs to be done nightly. Needs a USB charging block.
	4-Port USB Charging Block	Can charge up to 4 USB devices at a time. Use with Swivl Base power cable (purple) iPad charging cable (white) and Marker charging (orange).
	Micro-USB Cable Label: Teal Tag	Android cable for using android device with Swivl.
	1 Marker Charging Cable Label: Orange Tag	Secondary Marker charging cable, use with charging block.
	1 Expand Lens Mini	Clips to mobile device and provides a wide angle view.
	1 Hold Anything Strap	Secures iPad to Swivl base.
	3 Shims	Holds different size devices in your Swivl. If you choose to use your own phone you may need to switch the shim.
	1 Accessory Box	Holds all the extra items.

Main Swivl Components

Key iPad Controls

Important Notes:

You do not sign in to the iPad with your Apple ID.
Sign into Teams by Swivl app with Google (this is important).
Sign into the Zoom app on the iPad with Google (this is important).
If your Swivl app asks you to update any firmware, you can run the update if you are comfortable or contact the help desk. DO NOT use the camera without this update; it could ruin it.

Hybrid Teaching - Integrated Audio Setup

Classroom students see and hear remote students from the projector and classroom speakers.

Remote students see and hear the classroom students from iPad Zoom feed & Marker mics.

Laptop

Hosts and records your Zoom meeting.
Runs screen share, videos, presentations, etc.
Connects to Swivl with red tag USB-A cable (wired).
Sends audio/video to speakers/projector via Apple TV (wired or wireless).
Key Zoom settings:
- Microphone = Swivl Audio
- Speaker = Same as System
- Leave unmuted

iPad

Participant in your Zoom meeting.
iPad camera is viewing/following the teacher.
Connects to Swivl with green tagged lightning cable.
Host Zoom should Spotlight/pin iPad participant’s video feed.
iPad must be charged every night.
Key Zoom settings:
- Audio OFF, hit Cancel when asked or turn off in settings.
- Video on

Swivl Robot

Rotates and tilts the iPad camera.
The robot tracks the Primary Marker. Tracking can be turned off.
Collects audio from microphones in the three (Primary and two Secondary) Markers.
Swivl can be used plugged in or from charge to move about the room.

Markers

Swivl base rotates to follow Primary Marker
Primary Marker is for the teacher. It has a holder for a neck lanyard or clothing clip
Secondary Markers set around room for collecting student audio or co-teaching.
Primary Marker can hand off tracking and control to a Secondary Marker.
Markers must be charged every night.

Integrated Audio Setup for Zoom

Classroom students can see and hear remote students via classroom AV.

Remote students can see and hear the classroom students.

Turn on classroom projector from wall panel.
Connect your laptop to the AppleTV.
- Double check that your computer is projected onto the screen and that the classroom speakers work (play some audio from YouTube or Spotify). This check will save time if you need to troubleshoot later.
Place the Swivl robot, iPad and tripod where you want it.
- Make sure the Swivl is secure on the tripod and the "hold anything strap" is on the iPad.
- You can use the Swivl plugged in for power or unplugged for mobility.
Check main cables.
- The red tagged USB cord must be plugged into laptop for live streaming.
- The green tagged lightning cable connects the Swivl to iPad.

Starting the Swivl

Find the primary marker, labelled with a purple P.
Put the marker on the lanyard (the strap adjusts) or clip it to your shirt so the front faces the Swivl.
Turn the marker on by pressing the side power button.
Turn on the Swivl robot by pressing front power button.
If it asks, “Allow” the Swivl to talk to iPad.
Now go to your laptop and start a Zoom meeting. The laptop is the host of the meeting. The iPad is going to join that meeting.

On The iPad

Open the Teams by Swivl app.
Log in with Google (important).
Click the home button to open main menu and open Zoom.
Choose Sign In With Google (important).
If it asks, hit “Continue” to allow Zoom app to talk to Zoom.us.
Type your email then sign in to Okta.
Once in Zoom, tap "Join Meeting" and enter the meeting code of the Zoom session hosted on the laptop.
- Important: When prompted on the iPad to join audio, select Cancel.
Tap the little video of you to make it the full screen
You should be tracking with the Swivl. If not, click the center button on the marker to see if you paused tracking, or open the Swivl app then go back to Zoom.

On Your Laptop

Go to the audio settings menu (small arrow next to the mute button).
In first section under Select a Microphone choose Swivl Audio Interface.
In the next section, Select a Speaker, choose Same as System.
Leave the session unmuted.
“Spotlight” the iPad to be the primary active speaker for all viewers (recommended).
- Hover over the iPad Zoom square and click the 3 dots in the upper right corner (blue box).
- Choose Spotlight This Video. (Note: you cannot Spotlight until there are 3 or more participants in the meeting).
- In can be helpful to rename the iPad Zoom square “iPad” or “Camera” instead of your name. This option is in the same menu as Spotlight.
You should now have remote students seen and heard with the classroom AV and they can see and hear the room via the iPad camera and the Markers.
You can screen share from the laptop as normal

When You Are Done

Sign out of the Zoom app.
- Click settings gear and then click Basic by your name. Then scroll down and sign out.
Turn off Swivl base by pressing and holding the power button.
Turn off Markers by pressing and holding the power buttons.
Charge everything:
- iPad: unplug the green-tagged Swivl lightning cable and connect the white-tagged iPad lightning cable to a power source.
- Swivl: plug in the purple-tagged power cable to Swivl and powersource.
- Markers: attach two Markers to the orange-tagged, T-shaped power cable. One marker charges in the Swivl unit.

All About Markers

Summary:

To stop the Swivl robot from tracking click the center button.
The front of the Marker needs to stay in line of sight to black oval on the front of the Swivl.
To hand off the Primary Marker to the Secondary Marker, click the up arrow on the Primary Marker, then click the center button of Secondary Marker.

The Primary marker has three functions:

Tracking (via infrared)
Audio Capture (built-in microphone)
Control of the App/Device (buttons)

The Secondary Markers traditionally serve as additional sources of audio collection and pressing buttons on these Markers will not interfere with the recording session.

Top-Green + Bottom-Green

Indicates this is the Primary Marker

Top-Green + Bottom-Solid Red

Indicates that recording is in progress

Top-Green + Bottom-No LED

Indicates this is a Secondary Marker

Top-Green + Bottom-Flashing Red

Marker is looking for the base

Both Flashing Red

Battery low or needs an update

Pairing

All Markers must be paired with the base.
Each NMH Swivl should be paired with the three Markers in the room. Check room numbers on the tags if they don't seem to be paired.
Make sure all of the Markers are on and paired with the base if you are going to use several Markers for the video recording.
Troubleshooting: Pairing Additional Markers or Re-pairing the Base with new Markers.

Tracking

When you are set up and ready to begin the Swivl Robot will track the Primary Marker while recording.
You can turn the robot tracking on and off with the center button of the Primary Marker.

Marker Tracker Handoff

You can hand off the Primary Marker to a Secondary Marker so it is tracked and controls the Swivl.
On the Primary Marker, press the up button on the directional pad. It will blink to indicate that tracking is being offered to a Secondary Marker.
For 10 seconds anyone with a Secondary Marker has the option to accept tracking by pressing the center button on the Marker.
The Primary Marker can take back tracking by pressing the Down Button on the directional pad.
Marker tracking handoff (Video)

Marker Menu

In the Swivl app click on the Marker icon in the top right corner to open the Marker menu.
Change the volume at which audio is recorded from each Marker by tapping each Marker and adjusting the sliders.
You can verify which Markers are turned on by opening the Marker menu. Markers that are turned on will be filled in with their Marker color; if they are turned off, they will show black with only the outline of their Marker color.

Charging the Components

The Swivl C Series base and markers have a battery life of 5-6 hours under normal use cases.

Each kit includes everything you need to charge the iPad, Swivl base, Primary Marker and 2 Secondary Markers. You can use the USB charging block (pictured below) to charge your base and markers.

You can check your Swivl base and Marker charging status taking a look at the charging indicators at the back:

Solid green light: fully charged
Blinking green light: more than 20%
Blinking red light: less than 20%

The iPad charging cable (white tag) should be plugged in when not in use. Currently, it is not possible to charge the iPad while recording with the C Series robot.

Tips for Capturing Good Video with Swivl

Strong, indirect light is best. Try not to be backlit by windows, close blinds if necessary. If you can’t close windows, move the Swivl.
The Swivl Robot will track the Primary Marker. Be sure to stay between 5 and 20 feet away from the Swivl base while holding the Primary Marker.
If writing on a whiteboard use a good black marker so that the writing stands out. Pause tracking while writing.
Line of sight is important. The Swivl base will follow the movement of the Marker using an infrared signal. For best results, the Marker must maintain a relatively direct line of sight with the Swivl base with no physical obstacles, e.g. furniture, monitors, students' heads or teacher turning her back on the base. We recommend that you practice moving around a room using the infrared signal. You may notice that the infrared signal may even reflect off of smooth, shiny surfaces or become blocked by a loose sweater or tie.
Adjust audio Marker sensitivity to find out the best configuration for your recording environment.

If Audio Does Not Work

Make sure audio is not on on the iPad
- When joining the Zoom meeting on the iPad select Cancel when it asks to join audio.
- If you “Spotlight” the iPad from the laptop (very useful) the iPad will ask again to join audio, select Cancel again.
Check all laptop Zoom audio settings
- Microphone = Swivl Audio Interface
- Speaker = Same as System
- Some devices seem to want room # from Apple TV, try both.
- Leave the session unmuted!
Check hardware
- Reconnect red USB cable between Swivl and laptop.
- Try a different USB port on your laptop.
- Reconnect green Swivl lightning cable to iPad.
- Make sure the Primary Marker is turned on and synced to Swivl.
- Try an ethernet cable to see if the Apple TV is the problem.

A few random things:

You will not hear yourself through the speakers; it is not an amplifying mic. It is capturing your audio and sending it to remote participants. You hear remote students on your laptop through the speakers, not yourself.
To check this have someone join your Zoom meeting from another room
- Can they hear you clearly?
- Can you hear them clearly?
Each tracker can have audio levels set manually. If someone else changed the settings, this could be the problem.
Make sure the classroom audio is working. Try to play YouTube or music and make sure the speakers work.

FAQ

How do I sanitize the Swivl kits?

All Swivl robots and markers should be frequently cleaned and disinfected. To sanitize the robot and the markers remember the following:

Before cleaning, unplug the robot from the wall outlet and disconnect all the cords.
Avoid excessive wiping (ensure moisture does not get into any openings).
Use disinfectant wipes (e.g. Lysol) for cleaning the robot and allow all components to fully dry before use.
Do not spray cleaner directly on a robot or a marker; spray it on a cloth or a wipe instead.

Where should it be in the room?

There is no right answer to this. Time will tell, and your preferences that come with experience may be different from someone else's. Always try to point it away from the light. If it needs to capture a whiteboard, or anything not moving, turn off tracking. Play with the iPad expander lens in your accessory box.

How do I use Multi-Camera?

Tap the video icon on the capture screen to open the multi-camera recording menu. From here, you will access your join pin for other devices to join your multi-camera session or you can verify when other devices have joined successfully. More information on Multi-Camera.