In Storyline I have a slide with the audio on the base layer and several layers that build complicated images that need to align with the audio. I can only view and hear the audio when I'm on the base layer.
How do I view the audio tract and sync the elements from any of the other layers? There must be settings that I'm missing. I did search through the Heroes site but couldn't locate anything that worked.
Storyline has the capability of recording separate audio for each layer. Just the same way you recorded the audio for the first layer. If you do not wan to re-record the audio-trac for each layer, simply copy the base layer audio trac on each layer and using the sound editor, crop out the part of audio that aligns with the layer. Hope this helps!
It's as simple as clicking on the audio on your base layer time line, right click and copy then open your other layer and right click and paste! Once you have the audio file on your new layer, click on options at the top main ribbon, go to audio editor and use the crop feature to crop out the part of audio you need.
I am trying to do something similar. I take it then, from your response Norureen, that it is not possible to sync layer triggers to an audi track on the base layer?
You can add and sync triggers to an audio track on base layer, but this will be independent of the audio track on the other layers. You can add and sync triggers to the audio on each layer if you wish. Not sure if I answered your question....
Working with the Storyline syncing is very frustrating! All audio and screen elements are in the main screen, not in any layers. I want to move the last 6 timelines to match the ending of the audio. I can move one or two part way with the back/forth arrow. It's not letting me move the move the End line for all of them. What is preventing them from moving when I use the End line dark black slider?
right click the object in the timeline and uncheck show until end (this shows an arrow on the end of the object on the timeline) you should now be able to drag it off the end
Noureen, yes, thank you, that does answer my question. Means extra effort to place audio in each layer and try to make it come out smooth. Sounds like a feature suggestion for the product, be able to have layers appear from a cue in the base layer.
Phil, your response to Peg's question solved a mystery for me. Thanks!
Ditto to Edward's suggestion for upgrading layers for audio in the way he describes.. My alternate way of working around this is to have all elements on the base layer and turn off the elements when I have them synced. Makes for slower going to preview the slide during development as I have to keep turning elements off and on and off and on.
right click the object in the timeline and uncheck show until end (this shows an arrow on the end of the object on the timeline) you should now be able to drag it off the end
Thanks for trying Phil. None of the objects on the timeline were or are set to "show until end". For good measure I set them that way and then unset them. Still no luck.Now I'm unable to move one of them from the other end with the light colored double arrow slider Other ideas? This is really slowing down progress.
When all else fails, try shutting down and restarting the program. I found that after doing a lot of work in Storyline and having it open for a while (ok, so it was three days, I forgot to shut down my computer) it started misbehaving. In my case, it would not allow me to reorder slides. I shut down, restarted, and everything worked fine.
I'm not at all sure what you are attempting to do, and I"m sure you'd get more suggestions if you could post your slide with the layers and audio that you are attempting to sync.
But... I attempted to make a slide based on what I understood you were attempting. That story file is attached.
I inserted audio on the base slide. Then as I listened to the audio I set cue points at the places where I wanted action to happen. To set cue points just hit the "c" key as the audio plays.
Then I set three rectangles off stage, and labeled one with the name of each action I wanted to happen. In this case it was the name of each layer to appear. I right-clicked on each rectangle in the timeline and aligned it with the corresponding cue point.
Then I set triggers to open each layer when the timeline begins on the rectangle. The result is that the layer opens at the cuepoints on the audio.
If I was actually doing this for real, I wouldn't have put the animations on new layers but would have simply moved them on and off the base layer. But, I assume you have some more complicated things that need separate layers.
If you need to you could also set variables to change when the timeline begins on a rectangle. Then on the timeline of a layer you could have an action happen when the variable changes. That way you can sync the timeline of the base layer with actions on the other layers.
In this example I did not close any of the layers after they played. And I did not hide the other layers.
Then I set three rectangles off stage, and labeled one with the name of each action I wanted to happen. In this case it was the name of each layer to appear. I right-clicked on each rectangle in the timeline and aligned it with the corresponding cue point.
Exactly what I was going to suggest! It works similarly to changing a character's state in synch with the audio.
Meryem (and April), that is exactly what I wanted to accomplish! Would be nice if you could do it without the objects off stage technique, but hey, it works!
I'm not at all sure what you are attempting to do, and I"m sure you'd get more suggestions if you could post your slide with the layers and audio that you are attempting to sync.
But... I attempted to make a slide based on what I understood you were attempting. That story file is attached.
I inserted audio on the base slide. Then as I listened to the audio I set cue points at the places where I wanted action to happen. To set cue points just hit the "c" key as the audio plays.
Then I set three rectangles off stage, and labeled one with the name of each action I wanted to happen. In this case it was the name of each layer to appear. I right-clicked on each rectangle in the timeline and aligned it with the corresponding cue point.
Then I set triggers to open each layer when the timeline begins on the rectangle. The result is that the layer opens at the cuepoints on the audio.
If I was actually doing this for real, I wouldn't have put the animations on new layers but would have simply moved them on and off the base layer. But, I assume you have some more complicated things that need separate layers.
If you need to you could also set variables to change when the timeline begins on a rectangle. Then on the timeline of a layer you could have an action happen when the variable changes. That way you can sync the timeline of the base layer with actions on the other layers.
In this example I did not close any of the layers after they played. And I did not hide the other layers.
Thanks to all Hereos for your assistance! I'll give Meryem's a try and let you all know if I have any further questions. Great to have a community out there!
Peg & Meryem, I hope you don't mind me jumping in to ask a quick question. I had the same question and have tried using Meryem's suggestion of adding rectangles, put them in the timeline with cue points with triggers to show layer when the timeline starts. Everything looked like it would work, but when I previewed, only the first layer shows up. The other two layers that I added via rectangles through the timeline didn't work. : / Any ideas as to why only the first layer's trigger worked and the other two didn't? I'm hoping this works because I create online training courses for music teachers and have to sync pages of sheet music (which are on slide layers) with one audio track.
I encountered the same problem with triggering layers off objects in the base layer timeline. After trial and error I "think" I have it figured out. It seems to center on settings in the layers. If you check "Hide objects on base layer" in the slide layer properties on the second and subsequent layers those layers will not play. Of course, that means that if you do not want base layer objects to show through on the other layers, you have to go to the base layer objects in the timeline in each layer and hide the base layer objects from there. Don't be suprised if others respnd to this post by telling you I am way off base and give you a better solution.
Don't know if this thread is still active but I have a similar problem but slightly different.
I have multiple slide layers that I am using for a magnifying effect. The base layer is a picture of a book and as the user hovers their mouse over the various sections of the book, slide layers are triggered that contain a magnified view of that part of the page (one that is readable). What I'd like to also do is have some animation on the slide layers that allow me to highlight various sentences, bullets and words aligned with the audio on my base layer.
Thus while the audio is playing on the base layer, uninterrupted by layers. the animations is following me on the various layers. If the user hovers their mouse over the area I presently speaking about they will see the magnified part of the page along with my synced animations.
Is there a way to use a variable to start timelines of a layers without showing it till it is called for by the mouse hover?
Hi Vaughan! Without seeing/understanding your project its hard to know what you are wanting to happen. Sounds like you already have triggers in place to get to the different layers so what are you expecting to 'happen' until the user hovers over area needed.
I have attached the .story file if you'd be so kind.
In this file I am trying my objective 2 different ways.
Slide 1) my original way was to add the magnified parts to a slide layer. The idea was that when someone hovers their mouse over a part of the base layer the magnified section will come up. What I can't seem to do however, is have the various layers timelines in sync with the base layer. So if in the audio (only one track one the base layer) I am speaking of a particular section, my annotations will appear on the pertinent magnified sections. They are in the right spot (in this case just a text box at 6seconds) on the layer but the layer timeline only starts when the layer is called for (mouse over). This means no synchronisation and the annotations are useless if not confusing.
Slide 2) My next attempt was to add the Magnified portion as a picture on the base layer that is normally hidden. Then I added a trigger that changes the state to normal on Hover. I also created a trigger on the annotation (in this case just a box at time 5s), such that it will appear (Normal) if the magnified picture is in a state of normal.
Problem here is the box goes normal as soon as the magnified section goes normal, irrespective of the place on the timeline. I figures the Slide 2 version should work. I don't know why the annotation is appearing even before it appears on the timeline?
Thanks for any assistance you can provide, This would be a really cool effect if I can make it work.
I figured a round about way of completing this objective
I thought I'd close the loop and explain my work around.
I created the main zoomed out object on my base layer as per my original. I also had the zoomed in sections contained in layers, the same as my slide one in the example. To give myself the annotation: I copied the Zoomed in section from the first layer and placed it in the base layer. At the same time as the zoomed in image was on the base layer screen I stopped the hotspot that turned on that corresponding layer. I left all the other rollover zoom layers on to give the illusion of user control but the user can not turn off the first zoomed in section as it is being annotated. And I continue on adding the layered zoomed images to the base layer (and removing the old one) as they are being annotated and narrated, and again, turning off the corresponding layer. All the time all other layers are active such that when the mouse is rolled over, the layered zoomed image comes up over the active, annotated zoomed image.
I get to narrate and annotate the zoomed image while giving the user the option of still zooming the other images. Better still, I placed each section being zoomed into a different slide and had them automatically roll to each other so it looked like one seamless narration. I then also used the hotspots to allow the user to review any section already viewed by clicking the section.
26 Replies
Hi Peg,
Storyline has the capability of recording separate audio for each layer. Just the same way you recorded the audio for the first layer. If you do not wan to re-record the audio-trac for each layer, simply copy the base layer audio trac on each layer and using the sound editor, crop out the part of audio that aligns with the layer. Hope this helps!
Thank you Noureen!
Is there a link to instructions for copying audio? I want to make sure I have all the details so I don't find myself needing to re-record anything.
It's as simple as clicking on the audio on your base layer time line, right click and copy then open your other layer and right click and paste! Once you have the audio file on your new layer, click on options at the top main ribbon, go to audio editor and use the crop feature to crop out the part of audio you need.
I am trying to do something similar. I take it then, from your response Norureen, that it is not possible to sync layer triggers to an audi track on the base layer?
Hi Edward,
You can add and sync triggers to an audio track on base layer, but this will be independent of the audio track on the other layers. You can add and sync triggers to the audio on each layer if you wish. Not sure if I answered your question....
Working with the Storyline syncing is very frustrating! All audio and screen elements are in the main screen, not in any layers. I want to move the last 6 timelines to match the ending of the audio. I can move one or two part way with the back/forth arrow. It's not letting me move the move the End line for all of them. What is preventing them from moving when I use the End line dark black slider?
Hi Peg,
I'm not sure if I understand your question. Any chance you can post the file here so I can take a look at it?
right click the object in the timeline and uncheck show until end (this shows an arrow on the end of the object on the timeline) you should now be able to drag it off the end
Noureen, yes, thank you, that does answer my question. Means extra effort to place audio in each layer and try to make it come out smooth. Sounds like a feature suggestion for the product, be able to have layers appear from a cue in the base layer.
Phil, your response to Peg's question solved a mystery for me. Thanks!
Ditto to Edward's suggestion for upgrading layers for audio in the way he describes.. My alternate way of working around this is to have all elements on the base layer and turn off the elements when I have them synced. Makes for slower going to preview the slide during development as I have to keep turning elements off and on and off and on.
Thanks for trying Phil. None of the objects on the timeline were or are set to "show until end". For good measure I set them that way and then unset them. Still no luck.Now I'm unable to move one of them from the other end with the light colored double arrow slider Other ideas? This is really slowing down progress.
When all else fails, try shutting down and restarting the program. I found that after doing a lot of work in Storyline and having it open for a while (ok, so it was three days, I forgot to shut down my computer) it started misbehaving. In my case, it would not allow me to reorder slides. I shut down, restarted, and everything worked fine.
Tried that too. I logged off yesterday during work hours and again at the end of the day. No change from either. Thanks for the suggestion Edward.
Any Heros out there that have suggestions?
Peg,
I'm not at all sure what you are attempting to do, and I"m sure you'd get more suggestions if you could post your slide with the layers and audio that you are attempting to sync.
But... I attempted to make a slide based on what I understood you were attempting. That story file is attached.
I inserted audio on the base slide. Then as I listened to the audio I set cue points at the places where I wanted action to happen. To set cue points just hit the "c" key as the audio plays.
Then I set three rectangles off stage, and labeled one with the name of each action I wanted to happen. In this case it was the name of each layer to appear. I right-clicked on each rectangle in the timeline and aligned it with the corresponding cue point.
Then I set triggers to open each layer when the timeline begins on the rectangle. The result is that the layer opens at the cuepoints on the audio.
If I was actually doing this for real, I wouldn't have put the animations on new layers but would have simply moved them on and off the base layer. But, I assume you have some more complicated things that need separate layers.
If you need to you could also set variables to change when the timeline begins on a rectangle. Then on the timeline of a layer you could have an action happen when the variable changes. That way you can sync the timeline of the base layer with actions on the other layers.
In this example I did not close any of the layers after they played. And I did not hide the other layers.
Exactly what I was going to suggest! It works similarly to changing a character's state in synch with the audio.
Meryem (and April), that is exactly what I wanted to accomplish! Would be nice if you could do it without the objects off stage technique, but hey, it works!
Thanks to all Hereos for your assistance! I'll give Meryem's a try and let you all know if I have any further questions. Great to have a community out there!
Peg & Meryem, I hope you don't mind me jumping in to ask a quick question. I had the same question and have tried using Meryem's suggestion of adding rectangles, put them in the timeline with cue points with triggers to show layer when the timeline starts. Everything looked like it would work, but when I previewed, only the first layer shows up. The other two layers that I added via rectangles through the timeline didn't work. : / Any ideas as to why only the first layer's trigger worked and the other two didn't? I'm hoping this works because I create online training courses for music teachers and have to sync pages of sheet music (which are on slide layers) with one audio track.
Rachel,
I encountered the same problem with triggering layers off objects in the base layer timeline. After trial and error I "think" I have it figured out. It seems to center on settings in the layers. If you check "Hide objects on base layer" in the slide layer properties on the second and subsequent layers those layers will not play. Of course, that means that if you do not want base layer objects to show through on the other layers, you have to go to the base layer objects in the timeline in each layer and hide the base layer objects from there. Don't be suprised if others respnd to this post by telling you I am way off base and give you a better solution.
I will leave this up to the experts to answer and look forward to the solution. Due to pressing development deadlines, I gave up on layers.
Folks,
Don't know if this thread is still active but I have a similar problem but slightly different.
I have multiple slide layers that I am using for a magnifying effect. The base layer is a picture of a book and as the user hovers their mouse over the various sections of the book, slide layers are triggered that contain a magnified view of that part of the page (one that is readable). What I'd like to also do is have some animation on the slide layers that allow me to highlight various sentences, bullets and words aligned with the audio on my base layer.
Thus while the audio is playing on the base layer, uninterrupted by layers. the animations is following me on the various layers. If the user hovers their mouse over the area I presently speaking about they will see the magnified part of the page along with my synced animations.
Is there a way to use a variable to start timelines of a layers without showing it till it is called for by the mouse hover?
Hi Vaughan! Without seeing/understanding your project its hard to know what you are wanting to happen. Sounds like you already have triggers in place to get to the different layers so what are you expecting to 'happen' until the user hovers over area needed.
Leslie,
Thanks for getting back to me on this old Thread.
I have attached the .story file if you'd be so kind.
In this file I am trying my objective 2 different ways.
Slide 1) my original way was to add the magnified parts to a slide layer. The idea was that when someone hovers their mouse over a part of the base layer the magnified section will come up. What I can't seem to do however, is have the various layers timelines in sync with the base layer. So if in the audio (only one track one the base layer) I am speaking of a particular section, my annotations will appear on the pertinent magnified sections. They are in the right spot (in this case just a text box at 6seconds) on the layer but the layer timeline only starts when the layer is called for (mouse over). This means no synchronisation and the annotations are useless if not confusing.
Slide 2) My next attempt was to add the Magnified portion as a picture on the base layer that is normally hidden. Then I added a trigger that changes the state to normal on Hover. I also created a trigger on the annotation (in this case just a box at time 5s), such that it will appear (Normal) if the magnified picture is in a state of normal.
Problem here is the box goes normal as soon as the magnified section goes normal, irrespective of the place on the timeline. I figures the Slide 2 version should work. I don't know why the annotation is appearing even before it appears on the timeline?
Thanks for any assistance you can provide, This would be a really cool effect if I can make it work.
I figured a round about way of completing this objective
I thought I'd close the loop and explain my work around.
I created the main zoomed out object on my base layer as per my original. I also had the zoomed in sections contained in layers, the same as my slide one in the example. To give myself the annotation: I copied the Zoomed in section from the first layer and placed it in the base layer. At the same time as the zoomed in image was on the base layer screen I stopped the hotspot that turned on that corresponding layer. I left all the other rollover zoom layers on to give the illusion of user control but the user can not turn off the first zoomed in section as it is being annotated. And I continue on adding the layered zoomed images to the base layer (and removing the old one) as they are being annotated and narrated, and again, turning off the corresponding layer. All the time all other layers are active such that when the mouse is rolled over, the layered zoomed image comes up over the active, annotated zoomed image.
I get to narrate and annotate the zoomed image while giving the user the option of still zooming the other images. Better still, I placed each section being zoomed into a different slide and had them automatically roll to each other so it looked like one seamless narration. I then also used the hotspots to allow the user to review any section already viewed by clicking the section.
Hi Vaughan! Thanks for updating the thread with your workable solution and sharing with everyone
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