Getting Started with Ensemble

Transcription

1 Getting Started with Ensemble Ensemble Video is an in-house video server like YouTube and was designed for publishing and sharing large media files, such as audio and video files. It can be used to share video lectures, instructional videos, and helps centralize campus media by providing one stop media shopping for students and faculty. Ensemble is user-friendly and intuitive, and uploaded videos are organized into libraries that can be shared with others. Since videos are streamed rather than downloaded to a person s computer, they are better protected. Ensemble videos can be accessed from a website, a play list or directly with Blackboard, providing an easy way to share videos with students in a class. A few important details: Instructors must request a user account in order to start using Ensemble. Maximum upload video size is 12 GB (about 150 minutes of iphone HD video). When automatically embedding videos into Blackboard, use Firefox. Students who do not use Firefox may not be able to see the videos, so recommend Firefox to them as well. Instructors should KEEP copies of original uploaded videos. Ensemble compresses them into several formats suitable for streaming, and then DISCARDS the original. Instructors looking for permanent storage of videos should discuss options with ITS. Ensemble will not reorient videos recorded vertically. Logging into your account: Call the Computer Support Line at (860) to request an Ensemble user account be set up for you. Go to Ensemble 1 ITS/FCLD

2 Enter your login information. Your user name is the same as your Hartford user name and your password is your University password. Be sure to set Domain to Faculty. You are now at the main page of your account. The main menu buttons for your account are found at the top right of the page and are repeated mid-screen tabs as shown below. Uploading a video to your ensemble account: Click on the Media Library button. The Media Library contains all your uploaded videos and is also where you can upload additional videos. Uploaded videos are shown as thumbnails. To publish a new video click on the +add button. Media Library with Published Video Ensemble 2 ITS/FCLD

3 You will be presented with a series of screens allowing you to provide basic information about the video, including title, date of creation, credits, and more. The first screen is the Descriptions and Keyword page. From this screen, add the video s title, description, keywords and credits. o Keywords will help you to locate videos in your library and will be useful when you have lots of videos uploaded. Separate Keywords with commas. o In the Credits section, you have the option of providing information about who made the movie. NOTE: When uploading you have the options of Advanced Mode and Basic Mode. Advanced mode allows you to add more detailed information such as Subject Details. Basic Mode Advanced Mode At the bottom of the screen, click Continue to proceed to the Manage Content page. Ensemble 3 ITS/FCLD

4 1. Under Type, select Audio/Video. Uploading Files with the Manage Content Screen 2. Select the correct video format. a. Choose ScreenCapture for videos such as narrated PowerPoint presentations or software demonstrations, when clarity of detail outweighs smooth motion. b. Choose Widescreen for videos that have the extended rectangular shape of a movie screen or widescreen TV. c. Choose Standard for video that has the normal TV square shape. 3. Click Add File. Locate the video file you wish to upload and follow the instructions in the upload window. OR you can open the folder that contains the file on your computer and drag and drop it into the middle of this upload interface where it says Drag file here. 4. Click the Start Upload button, then WAIT FOR THE UPLOAD TO FINISH. (See picture below.) Ensemble 4 ITS/FCLD

5 Waiting for the Upload to Finish 5. When the upload is complete, click Save & Continue. After you upload your file, Ensemble converts the video into a streaming file. As your content moves through the process, Ensemble posts status updates via a series of messages: Waiting for Conversion, Converting ending with File Ready. The full process may take some time, as there may be several copies. Depending on the bandwidth chosen, Ensemble may prepare many versions suitable to different devices and bandwidths. You don t have to wait for the final File Ready to advance to the next screen. Click Save and Publish. You will now see the video listed in your media library. Uploaded videos can be published to Blackboard, Ensemble play lists, YouTube or a website. Publishing your Video to Blackboard Log into Blackboard (Firefox is the best browser choice for Blackboard). Click on Recordings, Course Documents, or another place you wish to put the video. Be sure that Edit Mode is "ON." Ensemble 5 ITS/FCLD

6 Click Build Content. Click Ensemble Video. To select from the videos in your Media Library, leave Search blank. Select Media Library, then click Go. You can preview the video if you want, or just click "Select." The video should now be added to your content page. NOTE: Please be patient while videos load NOTE: Students who do not use Firefox may not be able to see the videos please recommend Firefox to them as well. Ensemble 6 ITS/FCLD

7 Publishing your Video to an Ensemble-created Playlist An Ensemble Playlist is a web page that displays a collection of Ensemble videos selected from your Media Library. An Ensemble Playlist First, you need to create a Playlist. From the Media Library page, Click on the Web Publishing tab. Click Add to create the playlist and type a name for it. Select Playlist from the dropdown menu and type a name for it. Click Save. This creates a webpage within Ensemble. Now that you have created a playlist, it will appear as a publish option whenever you upload a video. Click Quick Publish to make the webpage publicly available to others (you will need to send them the link). To add more videos to the playlist, return to your Media Library and click the Publish button next to those videos you wish to add. All playlists will be listed. Select the playlist you want, then click Save and Publish. Ensemble 7 ITS/FCLD

8 Publishing your Video to a Website Outside of Ensemble If you are publishing to personal or company web server, you will need to install the Ensemble Video HTML plugin and use Embed codes. Click on the Web Publishing tab, then click Install under Plug-in and follow the instructions. Go to your Media Library. Click on a video to bring up its Preview window. At the very bottom of the window, click Embed. The embed code will be displayed so that you can copy/paste it elsewhere. There are two types of embed code you can choose, the iframes-based code (which is the default), or the JavaScript-based code, as well as set a few other customizations. Try the iframes embed code first and if it doesn t work, switch to the Javascript embed code. iframes Embed Code Javascript Embed Code Ensemble 8 ITS/FCLD

9 Publishing your Video to YouTube (YouTube account required) Click on the Web Publishing tab. Click Add. Select YouTube from the dropdown menu. Fill in the necessary information. You may have to click on the I icon to find out how to obtain some of the information from your YouTube account. Click Save. Advanced Ensemble Features Ensemble has several other features of note, including: Shared Libraries allows others to transfer or copy videos from your media library (i.e. think of a department that shares videos) A Dropbox that can be used for student submissions The ability to annotate videos Auto-publish RSS feeds for itunes/itunes U Google Analytics for tracking how many people view the videos Activity reporting Please see the Content Administrator Guide for further information on these topics Ensemble 9 ITS/FCLD

10 Getting Help with Technology at the University of Hartford Faculty Center for Learning Development (FCLD) FCLD provides consulting and instructional support to faculty and staff who are using technology in teaching and learning. FCLD maintains a faculty lab, and offers faculty seminars throughout the year. Phone: fcld@hartford.edu Website: Information Technology Services (ITS) ITS Help Desk Computing Center For general computer and Internet/network support questions ( , wireless networks, etc.). Phone: its@hartford.edu Website: Media Technology Services (MTS) Harry Jack Gray Center E113 MTS maintains and installs classroom equipment, such as SMART equipment. They also deliver and set up technology needed for classes such as laptops, overhead projectors, microphones, sound systems, DVD/VCRs, digital cameras, etc., and provides instruction on its use. MTS is also responsible for overseeing ECHO360 Lecture Capture classrooms and administers WebEx web conferencing accounts. Phone: (860) (Main) or (860) (Tech Line) Website: Ensemble 10 ITS/FCLD