AccessKitAdd synchronized audio
Learn how to add synchronized audio tracks or Audio Description tracks to a work in the AccessKit dashboard.
AccessKit supports adding two types of audio to a Work:
- Audio Description (sometimes referred to as AD) tracks: this is a separate audio track which provides a description of the visual content for guests who are blind, low-vision or visually impaired.
- Assistive listening audio tracks: these assist listeners who are hard-of-hearing to listen to the original audio directly in their own personal devices, such as Bluetooth enabled hearing aids.
The same instructions apply to both - just select the appropriate track type in the dropdown at the relevant step.
Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
.mp3 file | An .mp3 is a standardized format for storing audio files. These are typically provided by artists with the video work or may be produced separately. If you are providing an Assitive Listening audio track rather than an Audio Description track, you can directly export the audio from the provided video file using standard media encoding software, such as FFmpeg or Adobe Media Encoder. The audio file should be precisely the same length as the video file that will be playing on the corresponding AccessKit Mediaplayer. |
| AccessKit Work | You must have a Work set up in the AccessKit Admin Dashboard already. See the corresponding guide if you need assistance. |
| AccessKit Mediaplayer | If you want to check audio sync when done, you must have a Mediaplayer registered in the AccessKit Admin Dashboard with the relevant video file playing on it already. See the corresponding guide if you need assistance. |
No video file yet?
If you do not have the video file yet, or do not have a Mediaplayer set up yet, that's fine! You can upload the audio to the Work and return to check audio sync once your mediaplayer is all set up.
Uploading audio
Open the Work's configuration page
From the Admin Dashboard homepage, click the [edit] button next to the name of the Work you wish to provide audio for. This will open up the Work's configuration/editing page where you can update its title, provide captions, upload audio, and more.
Find the Audio section and click Choose file
This will open a system dialog where you can browse to the location of the .mp3 file
you wish to upload from your computer's drive. Select the file and confirm the
choice in your system dialog.
Wait for the file to finish uploading and processing
You will see a spinner at the top of the page while the file is being uploaded and and processed. Once the file has finished processing, you will see the form update with a preview audio player and the duration of the audio file.
Select the appropriate track type
Select the appropriate track type from the dropdown menu. The options are:
- Audio Description: this is a separate audio track which provides a description of
the visual content. An Audio Description icon will be displayed in the guest-facing
side of the AccessKit web app when viewers access the Work's
Guest Viewpage. - Audio Track: This indicates that the audio is the original audio from the video file.
Click the Update Work button
Once you have entered the information, click the Update Work button to submit the form. Once you have updated the work, you will be redirected back to the Admin Dashboard.
Enabling audio sync [optional]
Assign the Mediaplayer to the Work
Not using a BrightSign?
If you are using a Mediaplayer other than a BrightSign, you will likely be using a different syncing mechanism which connects directly to the Work, and so this step is unnecessary.
On the Admin Dashboard homepage, click the Mediaplayer's name, which should be a link that looks like mediaplayer-#id or nickname-#id. This will open the BrightSign's configuration page, which is a form similar to the one used when creating or editing an Exhibition or Work.
Find the field called Linked Work and select the Work you wish to provide captions for
from the dropdown menu.
Then, click the Update Mediaplayer button at the end of the form to associate the Mediaplayer with the Work.
Restart the video file
Because the Mediaplayer is already playing your test media, audio will not become synced until the next time the video file restarts.
To force a restart of the video file, you can click on the [controls] link next to the Mediaplayer's name
on the Admin Dashboard homepage, and then click the Reload Application button.
Check audio sync
To check audio sync, we recommend using a mobile device rather than your computer.
Visit the Work's Guest View page on your mobile device (e.g. by scanning the QR Code
at the bottom of its Admin Configuration page, or by visiting its permalink URL directly).
You should now see an audio player icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Click
the Play icon to start the audio.
If the audio is not displaying, or is not in sync with the video content, please contact the AccessKit team for assistance.
Next steps
Now that you have learned how to add audio to a Work, you might be interested in the following guides: