Continuous Play of Audio files.

Report · Sep 11, 2015

I have an intricate project that has background audio that spreads over three or four slides. Its a branching project. Students experience an informational slide that sets them up for a question. The next slide is a question, and then there are a possible three answers. Is there a way to trigger audio that continues playing through multiple slides but stops when a new audio is triggered by a new informational slide?

See the general idea below. Basically on slide 2 the user would jump to slide 4, 5, or 6. I'd like the audio to play independently, but be changed when they get to slide 6.

Slide 1 - Information Slide - Workshop - background audio file begins playing

Slide 2 - Workshop question - audio keeps playing (not split up... but plays through) Answers jump to slide 3, 4, or 5.

Slide 3 - Workshop Answer response 1 - audio keeps playing

Slide 4 - Workshop Answer response 2 - audio keeps playing

Slide 5 - Workshop Answer response 3 - audio keeps playing

Slide 6 - Informational Slide - Outdoors - New Audio slide begins playing, old one is stopped.

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Report · Sep 11, 2015

The only control you can have for background audio is to stop it on certain slides. If you want control you need to use other type of audio: slide audio spread over different slides could be a better option.

Report · Sep 11, 2015

Thanks Lilbiri, but splitting up the audio doesn't work cause the user is able to make selections on specific slides. and I don't want the audio to stop playing in the middle, if they take longer than the software deems they should. I am trying another possibility, import the audio to an object and set the object to display for the rest of the presentation, but turn off the audio by hiding the object with an advanced action... i've tested it for the first section, just need to confirm it works for further ones. Hopefully that will work.

Report · Sep 11, 2015

I blogged about audio objects: Audio Objects: Control them! - Captivate blog

If you had given more details I would have made that suggestion, but you just talked about 'background' audio that had to be a new one on certain slides. But if you have buttons, where the inactive part is not visited (because they jump to another slide) this jumping of frames will be heard in the audio clip attached to the object. I don't know if it is the best solution, I would be annoyed by that.

The Play Audio command is not an option, because the audio clip stops automatically when leaving the slide.

Report · Sep 11, 2015

Lieve,

I think there may be some confusion in terminology here.

When Mike mentioned 'background' audio, I don't think he's referring to what Captivate calls Background' Audio that can be set to run behind the entire project regardless of which slide you are viewing.

I think Mike is talking about using Slide Audio spread over several slides. He wants to have several instances of this in his project as the learner works through sections in the module.

Report · Sep 14, 2015

Hi Rod an Lieve,

Sorry about the confusion, yes... I was referring to audio behind a specific section of slides not the Background Audio of Captivate - vast searching for an answer revealed that the background audio in Captivate can only be muted... Captivate 9 seems to be my best bet, where I can build the project with Object States, and keep the audio on the slide. Its a shame that Captivate doesn't have better audio management via advanced actions. A user should be able to trigger an audio file to play, and keep it playing until the user triggers it to stop on another slide. Perhaps one day.

Report · Sep 14, 2015

If you'd really like it to do something that it doesn't currently do, by all means add a feature request using the Enhancement/Bug reporting form on the Adobe website.

But...While of course all of us would like Captivate to be better in any number of areas, I would like to defend it in this case and say that of all the Rapid E-learning Development apps I have ever used Captivate is by far the best when it comes to audio features. Compare its main current competitor Articulate Storyline's 'features' in this area and you will find it has nowhere near the same audio editing and management capabilities.

Report · Sep 15, 2015

Good to know. Thanks for your feedback.