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New in Storyline 360: Background Audio
We’ve got news that we think will be music to your ears—you can now add background audio to your Storyline 360 courses! Thanks to this highly requested feature you can set the right tone for your training and keep learners engaged by adding a list of audio tracks that play in the background. And to give learners control over the experience and ensure it’s optimal for everyone, they can toggle background audio on and off as needed. Check out this article to learn more about this new feature: Storyline 360: Background Audio.
If you’re an Articulate 360 subscriber, you can access this new feature immediately by updating Storyline 360 via the desktop app. And if you don’t have Articulate 360 but want to try out this feature, you can start a free 30-day trial.
Once you’ve given it a try we’d love to hear what you think! Please share any feedback or suggestions in the comments below. We’ll be working on enhancements for this feature and want to know if there are areas for improvement or additional functionality that you’d like to see. We’re looking forward to your feedback!
~The Storyline 360 Team
Hi everyone!
Good news! I'm happy to share that we just released Storyline 360 (Build 3.81.31200.0), which includes a feature to control the background audio for each slide using triggers to play, pause, or stop the playlist.
This was highly requested, so we hope it serves you in your course creation! If you run into any snags, don't hesitate to contact our team in a support case.
What's the fix for adjusting the volume of background audio? I have it checked to lower background audio when slide audio plays, but after the first slide, the volume goes back up, making it harder to hear the narration for the slide.
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for reaching out! I understand that you are not seeing the `Lower background audio when slide audio plays` option working correctly. I created a quick demo project (located here) and when viewing on Windows Chrome, the background audio lowers when the audio clips play on the 2nd and 3rd slides. Does that work for you too?
With your permission, I'd like to take a look at your .story file to begin troubleshooting. Do you mind attaching it to this discussion?
I'll make sure to follow up with you here on any updates with your file!
Hi Vanessa -
So the background audio will reduce during the narration audio. However, the volume goes up during the transition of the slides. I think the yo-yo of volume is distracting and would rather it stay at the same volume the entire time.
Hi Andrew,
Thank you for submitting your project file. I've shared it with the team and we plan to review this scenario where the audio doesn't go all the way to the end of the timeline on your first slide, and then begins .5s in on the second slide.
So so pleased that the background sound option is finally available. My question is, I've got an attached video in two slides and when I play the video the background sound volume doesn't lower and it all gets messy. Any idea how I can fix that?
Hello Sh,
Hm, were the videos inserted from disk or are they embedded (website videos)? Please note there is a limitation where the `Pause background audio when video content on a slide plays option` does not apply to website videos.
If the videos were inserted from disk, would you be willing to attach your .story file here for troubleshooting?It is a web object, yes. Had to download a hard file to make it work but thanks for getting back. Another question, how do we adjust the background audio volume as I will also be adding some voice over to the slides and I need them to be clear but still to keep a little background noise. :)
Hi Sh,
Thank you for confirming you were working with an embedded video and that switching to one inserted from disk addressed this for you.
Regarding adjusting the background audio volume when your voice over plays: does setting the `Lower background audio when slide audio plays` checkbox and modifying the % there address your use case? It defaults to 50% of slide audio volume but can be decreased/increased as needed.
Hi, I understand the background audio volume lowers when there is other audio on the slide, but is there a way to lower it from the start for the entire project. We'd like to have a low volume background audio throughout, but our seems to play full volume (very loud). We've tried lowering the audio track in audacity, but when imported back, it's still super loud. We've had a similar issue in the past where we had to change the audio compression from Automatic to None, and that fixed it, but in the Background Audio case, we can't get this option, because the track can't be selected in the timeline.
Do you have any clues towards resolution of this issue?
Thank you very much!Hello Marianne,
I have sent out an email to continue working with you on this particular issue. Please keep an eye out for it in either your inbox, or spam. We'd like to take a closer look at the files (.STORY) and the sound file (before processing in Audacity), you can share them privately via a link in my email.
Hope to hear from you soon!I am having the same issue as Marianne. Is there a fix for this problem I can find somewhere? Thank you!
Marianne- Did you get an answer for this? I have the same problem and can't find an answer. I just submitted a help request, but got an automated response that all their teams are on a corporate retreat until Tuesday! Thank you!
Hi, this is wonderful news! I have a question about the option for lowering the audio while the narration is playing. The 50% default was a little too low, so I was wondering if the percentage is to lower the volume by 50% or does that represent the total volume? For example, if I wanted to lower the background music by 30%, would I adjust the background audio settings to 30% or set it to 70%, which would indicate that the background music is at 70% of the total volume?
I hope my question makes sense; I've tried setting it both ways, but it sounds identical to me (which could be the fault of my computer's speaker, to be honest). Thank you!
Hello Laura,
Thank you for checking out the feature! If you find that the background audio volume is too low while your course is playing, you could try one of these options:
- Set the `Lower background audio when slide audio plays` option to a value higher than 50%
- Use the volume slider on your player controls to adjust the overall volume for your entire course (which will also affect background audio)
Hopefully one or both of these will help!
Hi. When using the new background audio feature the sounds plays on the preview and the review 360, however, when publishing the project as a video the audio does not play. Any ideas on what might be the issue?
Hi Melisa!
Currently some course elements like background audio will not appear in a published video.
Not to worry! We already have this logged as a feature request so I will go ahead and add your voice! We’ll update this discussion if this feature makes it on our feature roadmap.
That is happening to me too. Did you ever get a response?
I'm currently experiencing this exact same issue. Hope there's a fix!!
Is background audio either on or off? Can it be set to play on selected slides or scenes? This is kinda useless if it has to be played on every slide.
Hi Steve!
Thanks for sharing the flexibility you’d like to see when working with background audio!
We currently have this logged as a feature request, so I’ll go ahead and include your voice! We’ll update this discussion if this feature makes it on our feature roadmap.
hello, would it be possible to choose the volume of background audio for the whole scene ?
Hi Laura!
Thanks for sharing how you'd like to use background audio in your course!
We currently have this logged as a feature request, so I’ll go ahead and include your voice! We’ll update this discussion if this feature makes it on our feature roadmap.
I need this too. I want looping audio throughout, don't have any narration, but there is no way to adjust the audio. It's so loud that I can't use it. Surely, there will be an option to adjust overall volume of overall background audio? I'm not using the player but buttons for manual user movement for slides.
Hi Dusti!
Thanks for sharing how you'd like to use background audio in your course!
We currently have this logged as a feature request, so I’ll go ahead and include your voice! We’ll update this discussion if this feature makes it on our feature roadmap.
This is awesome! Will there be be audio options in the content library in the future?
Hi Nicole!
The Content Library has templates for use in Storyline/Studio, access to characters (illustrated and photographic), and a ton of images, icons, and videos. We don't have audio files in there yet, but it has already been logged as a feature request!
I’ll go ahead and include your voice! We’ll update this discussion if this feature makes it on our feature roadmap.
Thanks for this new function. I've been testing it today and I have found that the volume goes up and down sometimes when an image fades in. My quick fix was adding a muted sound. I guess problems are expected with a just-released feature.
In my opinion, I'd add the option of setting a fixed volume whether you there's audio in a slide, video or not. As a result, music volume won't be bumping up and down for no apparent reason.
Hi Cristopher!
Thanks for sharing feedback on the type of functionality you'd like to see with this exciting new feature!
We currently have this logged as a feature request, so I'll go ahead and include your voice! We’ll update this discussion if this feature makes it on our feature roadmap.
Hello Christopher,
With regards to the issue you observed where the audio volume can go up and down sometimes when an image fades in: would you be willing to share a sample project or slide here for troubleshooting purposes?
