I have selected a series of layers and would like to move them down the to the bottom of my layer stack. Currently it only appears to be possible to move a single layer at a time. Is there not a way to move them as a multiple selection?
I have found that you can go to arrange > Group, but this is hard work if you need to then release one and adjust the rest on the timeline to line them individually with video. Unfortunately this does not work with Audio files. I can feel a feature request coming on.
I am trying to sync audio with video. This is taking me for ever in Articulate and looks like I will have to use Adobe software instead and bring it in as part of the video.
Yes, that is what I am doing. 'Layers on the timeline' not slide layers.
Currently I am experience a lot of problems with trying to sync the audio up with the captions:
1. Can not move all audio layers on the timeline down next to the caption/text layers on my timeline apart from individually which is very time consuming and not a cost effective method.
2. All the text appears at the same time on the preview window even though I have spaced it out along the timeline. This means I can not sync it up visually as it appears illegible because it is showing all the text together.
3. When I click play on the timeline it takes ages to load.
4. When it does load it appears to have jumped back from where I set the timeline marker.
5. Then it does not play at all.
This is my first attempt at creating a course in AS and it is proving difficult not because the software is hard to learn but because it appears that the software has not been developed in such a way that will allow me to sync audio up to captions and so I will have to scrap this idea all together and make sure not to offer it to clients. This is not what I was expecting from such expensive software.
Not sure if you're able to share your .story file here, but it can sometimes help to troubleshoot issues.
Here are some strategies I've used for multiple audio files:
If the audio files combined are much longer than a couple of minutes, I'll do multiple slides
If I have multiple short audio files, I'll add the first one to the base slide, then the additional audio files all go on their own slide layers, which I trigger to open on cue points from the main timeline of the base slide
The previewing problem you're experiencing isn't common. If you're using the preview methods described in help article below you should contact Articulate support.
Hi Brian, thank you for being so helpful with your response. The community support for AS is excellent.
If you could take a look at my file and tell me why the play button on the timeline is not working that would be really helpful. I would like to know why it takes ages to load before playing, why it jumps back on the timeline before playing and why it does not play. The slide that I am currently working on is 1.5 generate the voter ID sheet.
Giulia, I took a look at slide 1.5 and I can see where you want to go with it.
I see some audio files higher up in the layer stack on your base slide timeline that might be causing some problems as they appear to overlap with some audio files lower in the stack, near the bottom.
You can definitely go this route, but if I did I would probably group your audio clip and corresponding caption together, so that you can move and sync them more easily, as well as keep things organized.
Another option is to create a slide layer for each caption text and associated audio. Then on your main timeline activate each slide layer on cue points, pretty simple.
If I had the time I'd mock up a little bit of this on your .story file, but hopefully this helps.
You can group audio layers with other layers in 360?? You can't in SL3, as far as I can tell. Also, man, would I love to be able to move even two layers at a time.... restacking everything is not only time consuming, it's dangerous! I constantly make the mistake of sliding something to the side a hair as I move multiple layers up and down... and grouping/ungrouping them makes more weird things happen. layer order gets ignored, etc. Anyone else feel my pain? :D
I'm curious to know if I thinking about the same thing you are. In Microsoft Office, each object is considered to be on its own layer. SL, on the other hand, just considers all the objects to be stacked on top of each other, and reserves the term "layers" for those special content containers that can be overlaid on a slide.
So I think that when you say layers, you are referring to the objects on the timeline. If so, I want to check on what you are intending to accomplish. Moving objects up and down on the timeline serves only to determine which one is on the top of the stack if they are visible on the screen at the same time, and in the same place. Since audio clips don't appear on the screen, why do they need to be moved? If you have 1)bunches and bunches of objects that are connected to the audio playing, and you want them close to it in the timeline to make it easier to select and work with them, or 2)millions of objects and want related ones close together on the timeline to make it easier to work on them, there may be an easier method.
Fewer items on the screen may make it easier for you to work on them, and will also be a better learning experience for the learner. One slide for each audio and its related objects is pretty easy to handle.
9 Replies
As far as I know it's one at a time my friend... Not bad when you only have a few layers but can be cumbersome when you have a bunch.
Thanks for getting back to me Brian.
I have found that you can go to arrange > Group, but this is hard work if you need to then release one and adjust the rest on the timeline to line them individually with video. Unfortunately this does not work with Audio files. I can feel a feature request coming on.
I am trying to sync audio with video. This is taking me for ever in Articulate and looks like I will have to use Adobe software instead and bring it in as part of the video.
Would it be easier in SL if, rather than using layers, you worked on the main timeline for the base slide?
Yes, that is what I am doing. 'Layers on the timeline' not slide layers.
Currently I am experience a lot of problems with trying to sync the audio up with the captions:
1. Can not move all audio layers on the timeline down next to the caption/text layers on my timeline apart from individually which is very time consuming and not a cost effective method.
2. All the text appears at the same time on the preview window even though I have spaced it out along the timeline. This means I can not sync it up visually as it appears illegible because it is showing all the text together.
3. When I click play on the timeline it takes ages to load.
4. When it does load it appears to have jumped back from where I set the timeline marker.
5. Then it does not play at all.
This is my first attempt at creating a course in AS and it is proving difficult not because the software is hard to learn but because it appears that the software has not been developed in such a way that will allow me to sync audio up to captions and so I will have to scrap this idea all together and make sure not to offer it to clients. This is not what I was expecting from such expensive software.
Not sure if you're able to share your .story file here, but it can sometimes help to troubleshoot issues.
Here are some strategies I've used for multiple audio files:
The previewing problem you're experiencing isn't common. If you're using the preview methods described in help article below you should contact Articulate support.
How to preview a course - https://community.articulate.com/series/articulate-storyline-360/articles/articulate-storyline-360-user-guide-how-to-preview-a-course
Syncing animation - https://community.articulate.com/series/articulate-storyline-360/articles/articulate-storyline-360-user-guide-how-to-sync-entrance-and-exit-animations
General tips on using the timeline - https://community.articulate.com/series/articulate-storyline-360/articles/articulate-storyline-360-user-guide-how-to-work-with-the-timeline
Hope this helps, these should get you going in the right direction.
B
Hi Brian, thank you for being so helpful with your response. The community support for AS is excellent.
If you could take a look at my file and tell me why the play button on the timeline is not working that would be really helpful. I would like to know why it takes ages to load before playing, why it jumps back on the timeline before playing and why it does not play. The slide that I am currently working on is 1.5 generate the voter ID sheet.
Many thanks,
Giulia
Giulia, I took a look at slide 1.5 and I can see where you want to go with it.
I see some audio files higher up in the layer stack on your base slide timeline that might be causing some problems as they appear to overlap with some audio files lower in the stack, near the bottom.
You can definitely go this route, but if I did I would probably group your audio clip and corresponding caption together, so that you can move and sync them more easily, as well as keep things organized.
Another option is to create a slide layer for each caption text and associated audio. Then on your main timeline activate each slide layer on cue points, pretty simple.
If I had the time I'd mock up a little bit of this on your .story file, but hopefully this helps.
B
You can group audio layers with other layers in 360?? You can't in SL3, as far as I can tell. Also, man, would I love to be able to move even two layers at a time.... restacking everything is not only time consuming, it's dangerous! I constantly make the mistake of sliding something to the side a hair as I move multiple layers up and down... and grouping/ungrouping them makes more weird things happen. layer order gets ignored, etc. Anyone else feel my pain? :D
I'm curious to know if I thinking about the same thing you are. In Microsoft Office, each object is considered to be on its own layer. SL, on the other hand, just considers all the objects to be stacked on top of each other, and reserves the term "layers" for those special content containers that can be overlaid on a slide.
So I think that when you say layers, you are referring to the objects on the timeline. If so, I want to check on what you are intending to accomplish. Moving objects up and down on the timeline serves only to determine which one is on the top of the stack if they are visible on the screen at the same time, and in the same place. Since audio clips don't appear on the screen, why do they need to be moved? If you have 1)bunches and bunches of objects that are connected to the audio playing, and you want them close to it in the timeline to make it easier to select and work with them, or 2)millions of objects and want related ones close together on the timeline to make it easier to work on them, there may be an easier method.
Fewer items on the screen may make it easier for you to work on them, and will also be a better learning experience for the learner. One slide for each audio and its related objects is pretty easy to handle.
This discussion is closed. You can start a new discussion or contact Articulate Support.