This information applies only to the Ultra Course View.
System administrators can find information for settings and configuration on the Video Studio page for Administrators.
Video Studio is an audio/video tool to help you create a more engaging learning experience for students. The lightweight and deeply integrated solution gives users the ability to record or upload audio and video recordings on the Course Content page and within documents.
Video Studio requires a premium license. To learn whether you have access, contact your Blackboard administrator. On this page, learn to:
- Use Video Studio
- Edit captions and transcripts
- Download transcripts
- Control captions and transcript display
- Skip forward or backward in a recording
- Use analytics for student engagement
- 360° videos and linking from desktop to virtual reality headset
Using Video Studio
Specifications
For the best experience using Video Studio, follow these specifications:
- Recording duration: Videos recorded directly with Video Studio have a maximum duration of 20 minutes. However, there is no length limit for videos uploaded from other sources.
- Streaming quality: The player supports both HD (1080p, 8Mbps) and SD (480p, 1Mbps) streaming. It utilizes adaptive streaming technology to automatically adjust video quality based on the viewer’s internet speed, ensuring smooth playback with the best possible quality.
- Upload file size limit: The maximum upload size for videos is 10GB.
- Supported file formats: The player recognizes a wide range of file extensions, including:
- Video: .mp4, .mov, .avi, .mkv, .wmv, .flv, .webm, .3gp, .m4v, .mpg, .mpeg, .m2v, .ts
- Audio: .mp3, .m4a, .wav, .ogg, .flac, .opus, .weba, .aac
Add a recording
Video Studio is available for the Course Content page and within enhanced documents. You can create audio and video files from a camera, audio recording, or from screen recordings. You can also upload audio and video files. Video Studio also has the capability to upload 360° videos that can pan to the left or right. For information about creating documents, visit our Create Documents Help page.
- On the Course Content page. Select + where you would like to add content. Then select Record Audio/Video.
- Enhanced Document. In a created document, in the options for Select a type of content to add a block, select Audio/Video.
In an Audio/Video content block, options include:
- Camera
- Audio
- Screen
- Audio & Screen
- Upload from device
You can select the device used to record video and audio. By selecting the dropdown menu options for camera, mic, and screen, you can choose from any connected devices on your computer.
If you are creating a recording, select Start Recording. There is a three second countdown before recording begins. You can pause, resume, retake, or end the recording as needed.
After you end the recording, the uploading process begins. During this time, you can preview the result, edit the title, and add a description. Select Save to add the audio or video into the document.
You can edit the title of a recording or uploaded file after it is saved to the document. Select the pencil icon from the top left of the video block.
After selecting the pencil icon, the previously uploaded video displays in the Upload Video screen. You can edit your title.
Retry a failed video upload
If you upload a file in Video Studio and the upload fails, you can select Retry upload at the top right corner of the screen or Retry next to the Upload process bar.
For administrators: These new video capabilities require a license for Video Studio. The videos created using Video Studio will not count towards your existing storage entitlement. The following existing privileges are used for the Video Studio solution:
- Course/Organization (Content Areas) > Create Materials: To create videos. Includes all operations like save, finish, check Video upload Status. Not needed for playback.
- Course/Organization (Content Areas) > Delete Materials: To delete videos.
Edit Captions and Transcripts
Resizing the display of Video Studio recordings to one quarter size of the default full width display is possible when creating recordings within Documents (navigate to Control display of captions and transcript). On the Course Content page, Video Studio recordings are displayed at full width. If a user reduces the size of the browser window, the recording can be reduced to a minimum of half width of the full size.
Captions and transcripts are automatically generated for a recording. The automated transcription also identifies and segments individual speakers in a recording (up to 30 speakers). You can edit captions, transcripts, and speaker name labels for content created using Video Studio. This allows you to correct minor errors and add clarity to the captions and transcripts that are automatically generated.
To edit captions and transcripts of a recording,
1. Select Edit Content.
2. Hover your cursor over the video to display the option to edit (the button labeled with a pencil icon). If navigating with your keyboard, you can also select tab until you focus on the screen, which then displays the editing options. Select the button labeled with a pencil.
3. Next, select Transcript, which displays the transcript. Select the pencil next to the text you want to edit within the transcript. Once you make your edits to the text or name labels, select the checkmark to save the edit or select X to discard changes. Once you finish making all your edits, select Save Video. The changes now appear in both the captions and the transcript.
Download Transcripts
Play your selected recording, then select the transcript button at the bottom corner of the video screen. This opens the transcript panel displaying the text of the transcript. Select the download button at the top of transcript column. The transcript is downloaded as a VTT file that includes time stamps and speaker narration.
Control display of captions and transcript
A user isn’t able to skip forward or backward in a Video Studio recording that is sized at one-quarter size.
In Video Studio, you and your students can control the display of captions and transcription.
Video Studio makes recordings more accessible by automatically displaying captions. To accommodate diverse learner preferences, individual users turn captions on or off. For example, a student can close the auto-generated captions if they do not want to view them. To turn off captions, select the captions button next to the progress bar at the bottom of the video.
Video Studio also automatically generates a transcript for created or uploaded recordings. As with captions, students can control the display of the transcript.
To view the transcript, select the transcript button next to the progress bar at the bottom of the video.
Students can view the transcript in-line and in full screen in Documents when videos are displayed three and four columns wide. When videos are one to two columns wide, the transcript displays in full screen.
Access transcripts for one-quarter sized recordings
When you create a recording at one quarter size, a user accesses the transcript via a modal window that is displayed when they access a recording transcript. Underneath the recording screen, select View Transcript.
Selecting View Transcript opens a modal window containing the recording transcript in read-only mode. The transcript editing functionality is unchanged for a recording displayed at one-quarter size of the default full width.
Skip forward or backward in a recording
You can skip to a specific part of a recording by selecting a time stamp in the transcript. Select a specific timestamp from the transcript, and the recording plays from the corresponding time selected.
For example, a student who views a recorded lecture can skip forward to a specific portion of the video. They can also replay any part of the video by selecting the desired timestamp in the transcript.
Use analytics for student engagement
You can access analytics to gain insights into student engagement with recordings. This can help you make data-informed decisions about your recording content and instructional strategies to promote engagement with a course.
You can access recording analytics from the editing workflow. Select Edit Content and then the pencil button that appears when you hover over or tab to the recording screen. On the panel that appears, select Analytics.
- Total Views: Track the total number of times a recording has been accessed by students.
- Individual Users: Identify the unique users who have opened a recording.
- Average Time Viewed: Monitor the average duration students spend listening to or watching a recording.
- Total Watch Time: Know the total duration of time students spend listening to or watching a recording.
These analytics can reveal which parts of a recording are most and least engaging by analyzing engagement patterns and timestamps.
360° videos and linking from desktop to virtual reality headset
The process for uploading 360° videos is the same as for other recordings. When a 360° video recording is uploaded, a shaded circle displays on the top left corner of the recording, which is used to pan the recording to the left or to the right. For keyboard navigation, you can also use the W, A, S, D keys.
If you want to create immersive virtual experiences for students, Video Studio has a straightforward process for linking from a desktop to virtual reality headset. Immersive experiences are particularly beneficial for educational scenarios where physical presence is not feasible. For example, construction students can explore a highway construction environment to identify risks; students can tour the international space station; or new faculty can familiarize themselves with classroom layouts using 360° walkthroughs. The product agnostic nature of this Video Studio feature means that institutions can use existing VR equipment or purchase equipment to fit their budget and needs.
The product agnostic nature of the VR headset linking process means that you can use existing VR equipment or purchase equipment to fit their budget and needs.
360° Video: link from desktop to Virtual Reality Headset
[note important icon]: Please consult your VR headset operating instructions prior to use. Some users may experience motion sickness, dizziness, or mild discomfort when using VR headsets. In rare cases, individuals sensitive to flashing lights may be at risk of seizures. Taking regular breaks and following safety guidelines can help ensure a comfortable experience.
With Video Studio, users can turn 360° videos into immersive experiences with a straightforward Virtual Reality (VR) headset handoff workflow.
To view a 360° video in a VR headset:
1. Ensure you are viewing a 360° video in a browser (mobile or desktop).
2. Below the video, select Connect VR.
3. A Connect to VR headset overlay appears on the screen. Keep this onscreen as a code will need to be entered into the input box.
4. Place your headset on and, using the headsets browser, visit the URL shown onscreen in step 3.
5. A 6-digit code will appear in your headset’s browser. Type this 6-digit code into the overlay on your desktop or mobile browser.
6. Once you receive confirmation on the screen that the code is correct, put your headset back on. The VR headset automatically progresses to show the video.
7. You may need to select View Immersive below the video or Enter VR on your headset’s browser.
8. Consume the immersive content on the headset.
9. You can continue to navigate around Blackboard or view other available immersive content from the headset.
10. Once you have finished with the headset, make sure that you logout. This can be done by navigating to logout in the headset or selecting Sign out of VR headset on your mobile or desktop overlay shown in step 3.
