Stopping sound on other layers
Mar 26, 2014
- I have the base layer and two slide layers each with their own sound track and some text and graphics.
- The slide layers are opened by hot spots on the base layer.
- The slide layers are set up to stay open after being clicked - opening one does not hide the other.
- But if sound is playing on a layer I want it to stop while the new layer sound plays so that there is no overlapping sound.
The Stop Media triggers in Storyline only let you stop a sound on the current layer. I can't seem to find a way to stop a sound playing on one of the slide layers from the base layer - it only sees the sound on the current timeline.
Does anyone have a fix for this? I checked other posts and only one person had this problem but no one had a solution.
39 Replies
See attached a quick example on how to play/stop audio on two layers. This solution is based on a variable that is changed by clicking the two shapes on the base layer. As the variable changes, a layer is displayed and the audio on that layer is either played or stopped. Hope that helps.
This works, Thanks!
I found an easier solution:
Result is that graphics will remain visible and separate sound tracks can play individually without playing over current sound (which is normal layer behavior).
Thanks for sharing.
If I just have two triggers, will my setting works? One trigger is to Play 1a.wav, another is Stop 1b.wav.
This is very puzzling.
Apparently on some slides in my project, I'm able to create stop media trigger on a new layer (when the layer timeline starts) that stops audio on the base layer. On other slides in the same project, when I try to create the same trigger on a new layer, the base layer audio is not listed as a target for the stop media trigger.
Has anyone else encountered this or am I missing something?
After some digging around in my storyline file, I think I may have found a clue - but it's weird.
It seems that if you create the stop media trigger on the base layer, and then copy it to the new layer (and then delete the original base layer trigger) this seems to stop the base layer media from the new layer -- > however, you can't edit that trigger - if you try to edit the trigger - the media field is blank (and base layer media doesn't appear as an option in the drop down). However, this doesn't seem to affect the functionality - the base layer media will still stop!
Can anyone else confirm this?
Just wanted to link threads in case anyone is following along. I'm speaking with Greg here too :)
The blank fields in the copied trigger represent normal behavior for a trigger that is attached to an object and copied to a new location without that object. The "gotcha" part of this is that in the trigger panel, the blanks are usually filled in and the trigger looks normal. Then when you try to edit it, you find out that it is not attached to an object.
I'm amazed that it still works, but if it does, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Hello! I'm struggling with this issue as well. I want all layers to stay visible as learners click through each layer. But each layer on my slide has audio, and the audio tracks are playing over each other. I can stop the audio on the base layer, but the audio for the other layers plays simultaneously. Checking the "Hide other slide layers" box works to only play audio for one layer at a time, but then only one layer shows at a time. If Layer 1 opens and then users click on the trigger for Layer 2, I want only the Layer 2 audio playing while the contents of Layer 1 to stay visible.
I've tried creating layers with only sound in them and setting audio to play when the button state is "Selected" and nothing works. The twolayeraudio_mh.story file uploaded earlier in this thread seems to work, but I don't understand how to apply the settings to my own project. I cannot share my project due to client confidentiality, but any suggestions are appreciated.
Hi Meghan,
You'd need to set the trigger to show the layer with the audio once the button is selected. You could then set the layer to hide once the audio has completed.
Which settings in the other project are stumping you? Could you make a sample project to share here with no real client info in it? Or could you s hare your file privately with our team and upload it here?
I uploaded an example here. I have the audio set, but I want all layers to show as the buttons are clicked. So if the audio on Tab 1 is playing, the learner can click Topic 2 to start the audio on Tab 2, but the Tab 1 content still shows. Is that possible?
Hi Meghan!
Instead of adding the explanations on separate layers, you could include them on the base layer with an initial state of Hidden. Then, as you click each tab, the explanation will change to the Normal state.
Have a look at the changes I made in your file, and let me know if that'll work for you!
Thanks, Alyssa. This is extremely helpful.
You're welcome, Meghan! I'm glad that will work for you. ☺️
Thanks! The variable and triggers were a great solution for me, since my layers had visuals synced to the layer audio. :)
Glad to see that this older thread was able to help you out as well Amy.
Thanks for popping in to share.
Good idea. Works ! Thanks a lot
Michael's twolayeraudio file process worked great for me as well. Had 3 buttons on the base layer that triggered 3 different slide layers (each with audio) that all needed to stay visable. Just posting so that people know this works no matter how many slide layers you have, just adjust the variables appropriately. Thanks!
Thanks for popping in to share and confirm Jen :) Much appreciated.
Hi Leslie - Actually, I found much easier option.
1. Right-click on a layer and choose Properties.
2. Check the box Pause timeline of base layer.
That's it. Now the playback will automatically stop when you open the layer.
That only works for the base layer Arkadiusz. All of us in this thread needed to control sound on other layers.
Hi,
What I did is this: On each layer I added these triggers: "Pause timeline on layer2 when timeline (of the current layer) starts" etc for any other layers. Works for me...Hope it adds value to the issue.
It pauses the sound on other layers as well. I have a slide with three layers, each of those (including the base one) have sounds and it works well.
Probably because you also have the option 'hide other slide layers' checked in the slide layer properties?
That would make sense but is not what the ts required...
Yep, that is true.