Black screen displaying on Replay videos in Rise

Jun 27, 2018

I've created a few videos in Replay and whenever I upload it somewhere, it displays as black. I would like it to show the first frame of the video. See image attached for how my video displays in a Rise course.

I've had a look at the user guides but can't seem to find a setting that lets you adjust it.

The only workaround I've found is to add an image of the first frame before the video. Is there another way?

22 Replies
Katie Riggio

Hi, Laszlo. So sorry you're running into this. We can help!

  • Could you share more detail on where the video was created – Replay, Peek, or somewhere else?
  • Would you be able to share the video file with us? We'll try to replicate the black thumbnail on our side and let you know what we find! You can either attach the file to this discussion or send it privately via this link.

We're standing by!

Laszlo Sereny

Hi Katie

First of all, thanks a lot for your fast reply. Also I need to tell you, that I very much appreciate all the efforts you all do!

As to my problem, I think I know the reason.
Yes, Rise will take the first frame as a thumbnail for a video. Unfortunately I need subtitles to my video, which is not working in Rise unless you put the video as a Storyline block into your rise course.
As a storyline block I guess it does not load the first frame. It is purely a black screen with the play sign on it, which does not look very pretty and engaging.

https://360.articulate.com/review/content/e0193f0b-ff1e-4793-b6b1-5b7fa948607b/review

This is what it looks like:
[cid:image006.jpg@01D48D3F.3650AD60]

And this is what it should:
[cid:image007.jpg@01D48D3F.3650AD60]

So I would need a thumbnail for the storyline video block.
Anyway I do not understand, why you don’t have the possibility to put subtitles in rise, it would be highly necessary.

Best regards

Laszlo Sereny
Head of EMEA Marketing

ASM Assembly Systems Austria GmbH
Department
Rivergate, Gate 1, 3. OG
Handelskai 92
1200 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: +43 (1) 259 0529-200
Fax: +43 (1) 259 0529-660
Mobile: +43 664 615 09 70
laszlo.sereny@asmpt.com
www.asm-smt.com

Enabling the Digital World

Katie Riggio

Thanks, Laszlo. Appreciate your follow-up and very kind words!

Yikes, it looks like your signature came through instead of the attachments. This Peek video will show you how to edit out your contact information if you'd like!

Could you click this link to open our conversation and use the Add Attachment button to include those screenshots in your reply? Additionally, could you share the Rise course's Share link

I don't see a black thumbnail on the first two videos in that Review URL, so I'm curious to see what happens in the Rise URL. Looking forward to digging in!

Katie Riggio

Good morning, Laszlo!

Oh no, it looks like the Review URL instead of the Rise Share link came through. So sorry for the trouble! 

Here's how to grab your Rise course's Share link: Open the course from your Rise dashboard > click Share in the upper right corner of the screen and copy the shareable link.

The URL should start with https://rise.articulate.com/ instead of https://360.articulate.com/review/ – be sure to copy all the way to the end!

Rise Share

Really appreciate your time, and I'm standing by! 😊

Alyssa Gomez

Hi Laszlo! We're happy to help you here in the forum, and you're always welcome to open a case with our Support Team by clicking here. 

Let's dive into what is expected behavior when viewing Storyline Blocks in Rise:

On Chrome for Desktop:

  • If the slide has audio or video on the first slide, you may see a black screen with a play button if you have never viewed this lesson before. 
  • If the slide does not have audio or video, you will see the thumbnail of the first slide.

 

On Chrome for Android:

  • You will see a black screen with a play button for all Storyline blocks. You will not see the thumbnail of the first slide. This is normal behavior when viewing a Storyline block on a mobile device.

Let me know if that helps to answer your question!

 

Laszlo Sereny

Hi

Thanks for the description. That’s exactly what I would need differently. If you have in rise a storylineblock with simply a video, why does it have to show a black box with a play button. Why it is not possible to show the first frame?
Just like a normal video content in rise!

Best regards

Laszlo Sereny
Head of EMEA Marketing

ASM Assembly Systems Austria GmbH
Department
Rivergate, Gate 1, 3. OG
Handelskai 92
1200 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: +43 (1) 259 0529-200
Fax: +43 (1) 259 0529-660
Mobile: +43 664 615 09 70
laszlo.sereny@asmpt.com
www.asm-smt.com

Enabling the Digital World

Laszlo Sereny

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh

Thank you Alyssa

Best regards

Laszlo Sereny
Head of EMEA Marketing

ASM Assembly Systems Austria GmbH
Department
Rivergate, Gate 1, 3. OG
Handelskai 92
1200 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: +43 (1) 259 0529-200
Fax: +43 (1) 259 0529-660
Mobile: +43 664 615 09 70
laszlo.sereny@asmpt.com
www.asm-smt.com

Enabling the Digital World

Tonya Weathers

Hello - just want to follow-up on this thread. I am having the same issue (black thumbnail showing instead of first frame). The comment that Alyssa Gomez made that "If the slide has audio or video on the first slide, you may see a black screen with a play button if you have never viewed this lesson before," is not accurate on my end.

I have two videos in my Rise course (created in Vyond). One shows the black screen and one doesn't. They both have audio. They are NOT Storyline blocks. I imported them using the video block directly in Rise.

Previously, I had to import the videos to YouTube, set the thumbnail there, and then use the Embed block. Is there a way to ensure the thumbnail shows in Rise without having to use a third-party like YouTube?

Tonya Weathers

Update: I saw in another thread that the reason a black screen shows might be because the video has a transition when it first starts, and...that's exactly what the problem was for me. My Vyond video has an animation/transition when it first starts. Once I removed it, the thumbnail came through perfectly. Hope this helps anyone else with this issue.

Leslie McKerchie

Hello again, Laszlo!

Great news!  We just released another update for Articulate 360 and included some new features and a few important fixes you'll see in the release notes.

The item you'll be interested in is:

New: Make an impactful first impression. Add an image to your course start page to brand it or give learners an idea of the subject matter. Learn more about cover photos.

Just launch the Articulate 360 desktop app on your computer and click the Update button for Storyline 360. Details here.

Please let us know if you have any questions, either here or by reaching out to our Support Engineers directly.

Nina Sletten Tang Thomsen

Hi,
Are there any updates on the black thumbnail or start screen?
I have a video created in Vyond that has been uploaded into Rise - there is no black frame to start the video off and there is no transition, no sound or anything. It's a blue background with white text. But the video still features with a black screen and play button in Rise. 
Is there any solution to this?
Cheers,
Nina