University home > Digital Education Office > Tools and software > Replay > FAQS
Re/Play is the University’s delivery and storage repository for video. It uses Mediasite, a cloud service provided by Sonic Foundry. Videos on Re/Play are called “Presentations”.
Hardware in many of the University’s lecture theatres (see equipped rooms) is scheduled to automatically record lectures, reducing the need for note taking and enabling richer contact with lecturers during teaching hours. Whilst enrolled at UoB, students can easily review recorded lectures in their unit, via Blackboard.
Staff can create their own materials using Desktop Recorder or Mosaic (which can simultaneously record video from the screen and a webcam), or upload video files they have created with other software. Automatic closed captions generation can be turned on for any uploaded material. A simple editor allows uploaded video to have sections removed from playback.
In order to access Re/Play you will first need to log in to Blackboard and click the My Re/Play menu item at the top of the screen.
The University has invested in Re/Play to:
Schools must always obtain a signed External speaker recording release request form (Office document, 28kB) from guest lecturers or speakers before recording their lecture.
Locate the video and click on the title
Captions will take some time to be created; you should receive an email when they are ready. When the captions are ready, a “cc” icon will appear at the bottom of the Mediasite Player when the video is shared. Automatic captions are not 100% accurate, but captions can be edited. Look at the Mediasite Player features.
The University is not legally obliged to have 100% accurate captions, but it is important that students aren’t misled by inaccurate captions.
For a more thorough edit, download the captions so you can use spell checks, search-and-replace etc.
Download captions:
The captions will download as a .dfxp text file. It can be edited in text-only editors like Windows Notepad or Notepad++ (available from the University Software Center). Or you can use a specific subtitle editor such as Subtitle Edit (free to install). Subtitle Edit lets you convert the caption file to plain text and also provides language translations.
Upload captions:
If you’ve downloaded captions to edit offline, you’ll need to upload them to your presentation again.
In order to delete a recording from Re/Play, you will need to have ownership of the video, or have the rights given to you by the owner.
Note: if you delete a recording associated with a unit it will delete it for all units.
Note: If you make another person the owner of a presentation you have created, you will no longer be able to edit it yourself or see it in your own My Re/Play area.
Mediasite may display a warning that you are not authorised, alongside one saying that the operation is a success. Return to your Home screen: if the video is no longer there, you can tell that the transfer of ownership was successful.
You will need to be an Instructor on both courses.
You can perform basic edits inside using the Mediasite Editor:
You can repeat the above with more sections if required.
If you make a mistake and cut in the wrong place either drag the cut area to the right location using the arrows or click on the white down arrow to delete.
Save Video to Current to overwrite the original (you will still be able to remove your edits later) or Save Video to New if you want to create a new copy with the edits made permanent. You can check the progress by clicking on Video Save Jobs.
You can do more complex editing by downloading a copy of the presentation, editing in Camtasia (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/digital-education/tools/camtasia/) or another video editor eg OpenShot, then replacing the current presentation with a new video file.
To disable downloads: Go to the Delivery tab again and untick Vodcast.
To disable downloads: Go to the Delivery tab again and untick Podcast.
Yes. You can upload audio formats files like MP3 or WAV. Once uploaded you can edit them and also add images (Insert slide) at points you choose using the Mediasite Editor. Automatic captions can be turned on and the files can be set to be downloadable by students.
Clearing the browser cache can solve some problems (eg an old version of a presentation continuing to play after being replaced) and is worth trying first. Each browser uses a different technique:
Does your presentation have a quiz in? Currently (Feb 2021) presentations with quizzes can't be viewed full-screen in the embedded player. However, this problem can be worked around:
Students do not have a My Re/Play tab - they access recordings to lectures via Re/Play links in their Blackboard course. If a student can’t see these links, contact the DEO helpdesk.
How to add the link:
Our Desktop Recorder installation guide may help you (this guide also covers Mosaic). Contact the DEO helpdesk if you are still experiencing problems. Desktop Recorder is not available for some older Mac systems - QuickTime is an alternative Mac screen capturing technique.
If you have waited more than an hour for the presentation to become available, something may have gone wrong with the upload (these instructions apply to Desktop Recorder 2):
If the video is marked as private it will not be published to your course. Read about setting the availability of Re/Play recordings.
If only some students are having problems, there is probably a connection problem. They should try accessing the recording via the student desktop.
Other things to try:
How to turn on Re/Play cookies in Chrome
How to turn on cookies in Edge:
First, make sure the file extension is correct for the media type you are uploading (check the media type by opening the file in VLC Player and looking at Tools > Codec information). If the renamed file doesn't work, try re-encoding the audio in your video file and then re-uploading the new version. See our guide on fixing movies that won’t convert to Mediasite.
Mac users can download the Mediasite Desktop Recorder Mac version. The Desktop Recorder will not work with Apple Mac OS X 10.15 or newer; Mac users can instead use Quicktime to create a screen recording: Quicktime recording instructions (Word). Alternatively, you can also create a narrated presentation using PowerPoint (Word).
This is probably means your presentation hasn’t been set up to be downloadable. How to make a presentation downloadable as a video file, audio file or transcription.
A problem with the current software on our Re/play recorders means that some recordings are darker than they should be. This occurs intermittently and unpredictably. Our team is working with the manufacturer to fix this. If you have a similar lecture that would be suitable to replace it, contact the DEO helpdesk and we will add it to the current year catalogue.
Contact the DEO helpdesk if you can’t find a solution on this page.
You will receive an email when the recording is ready for you to edit and publish. If you do not do this, the recording will be automatically published, unedited, after two working days.
The cameras are in a fixed position on the ceiling in the back of the rooms, and shouldn’t be tampered with. The camera is usually set to capture the main chalkboard and anyone standing in front of it. There are markers to show the area that is captured by the camera.
In a few rooms the cameras have zoom presets to show a several fields of view. You can pick a field of view by using the touch-screen control panel on the lectern. The monitor will show what the camera will be recording. If your choice of zoom captures any students you should inform them and give them the option to sit elsewhere where they won’t be seen on camera.
Putting a collaborate session on Re/Play means you can edit out sections and add automatic captioning. First you’ll need to download the recording from Blackboard (You must be an Instructor on the course to do this):
You can now upload the video file to Mediasite. Simple edits like trimming and removing sections can be done using the online Mediasite editor after you upload (see the features of the Mediasite editor). If you need more complex edits or to add more material, you will need to use an editor eg Camtasia or OpenShot to create a new edited movie file prior to uploading. How to embed Re/Play videos in Blackboard.
Recordings are accessed via the My Re/Play tab in Blackboard (at the top of the screen). If you are the person named against that lecture in Syllabus Plus, you will be the recording’s owner, which means you will receive a notification when the recording is ready.
If there is no-one or multiple staff named in Syllabus Plus, the Unit Director will own the recording and receive notifications.
To locate a lecture, click My Re/Play in Blackboard (near the top of the screen) and open the shared folder for the unit (bottom of left navigation bar). Full instructions are available in our Re/Play Help area.
Recordings made prior to 15 February 2016 are not available in shared folders. If you need to edit them, contact their owner for editing permissions (instructions for doing this are available in our Re/Play Help area).
HDMI from Macs isn’t compatible with the Re/Play system. You can use a VGA adaptor to connect a Mac to the screen but it won’t carry the audio signal.
There could be several reasons:
For lectures that do not have a named person or defined ownership of recordings, notifications go to the corresponding Unit Director (as named in SITS). Re/Play has been set to grant access to all academics on a shared unit without having to ask their Unit Directors for access. This doesn’t apply to recordings made before 15 February 2016.
Do not edit the unit code and make sure you keep the year suffix (eg ABCD12345_2015) at the beginning of the title. This will enable students and lecturers to search for the lecture, as well as running essential performance reports.
Use this opt-out form to cancel recording for a Unit. If you haven’t organised this in advance or you only want to cancel recording of one lecture, you can manually stop recording from the room by pressing the red button for five seconds (until the red light goes out).
Lectures taking place in equipped rooms will be recorded unless your unit is opted out of being recorded. If you want to record a lecture that’s been opted out of recording, use the opt-in form to let us know, with at least 48 hours notice or use the Ad Hoc app at the start of the lecture to create a recording.
The lecture recording process is automated. Recording will automatically start at the scheduled lecture start time and stop at five minutes before the scheduled end. For example, the recording of a one-hour lecture scheduled for 2pm will start at 2pm and end at 2.55pm. You will know recording has started when the red light is continuously on. You can pause, restart and stop recording using the button under the light. To check whether a recording is under way, you can use the Ad Hoc App to check the Recorder Status (log on to the room PC and click on the Adhoc recorder desktop shortcut). If you have a Re/Play technology issue, please contact the TLC Team on 0117 42 82222 (internal: 82222) or email the service desk
Only sessions classed as lectures (not seminars etc) in Syllabus Plus and part of a SITS unit (units with a code that has 4 letters and 5 digits) taking place in an equipped room are scheduled for recording. If your session meets these criteria and the red light does not come on, please follow these steps:
If it’s not in your My Mediasite folder, the following may help:
Template | Audio will be recorded | Slides will be seen | Moving presentations will be seen | The camera will be on | Available in lecture theatres? | Available in Desktop Recorder? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Screencast + Video | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||
Slideshow + Video | Y | Y | Y | Y | Camera template | Y |
Video only | Y | Y | Y | |||
Slideshow + Audio | Y | Y | Standard lecture template | Y | ||
Screencast + Audio | Y | Y | Y | Faster capture template | Y | |
Audio only | Y | Y |
If you want no recording at all you’ll need to follow the opt-out process or manually stop recording during the lecture using Ad Hoc.
You are not expected to change your teaching style to use Re/Play. But Re/Play provides opportunities for new techniques in addition to traditional chalkboard teaching:
You can pre-record material using the Desktop Recorder or upload your own video and audio files for students to view either before or after the lecture. After the lecture you can make the lecture available to download, add automatic or manual captions, insert quizzes and edit out sections.
If you have changed to a non-equipped room, your lecture won’t be recorded. You can make short recordings of relevant materials before or after using the Desktop Recorder. Full details for using the Desktop Recorder are available in our Re/Play Help area.
(During COVID19 restrictions, lapel microphones are unavailable.) Please ensure the microphone is switched to the ON position. The microphone must be secured close enough to your mouth for your voice to be recorded clearly. Make sure the microphone is not set to Mute. If the battery is depleted, use the spare battery available in the charger. If the spare battery is also depleted, porters normally have disposable batteries you can use. Illustrated instructions are available in our Re/Play Help area.
If the lapel microphone cannot be used for any reason, please remain near the boundary microphone (see picture below), as this will still capture your voice, though not as clearly. Make sure you correctly replace the microphone in the charger after your lecture so it can be used for the next recording.
You can only opt out of an entire unit being recorded, not just part of it. If you would like cancel recording of specific lectures you have the following options:
Only whole units can only be opted out of recording, and only by the named owner of the unit. If a student on the course has a disability need lectures will need to be recorded for them. If you are the only lecturer delivering a Unit ask your Head of School to support your request, then complete this Opt-Out Form. Email the service desk once this is agreed.
Staff lecturing on a recorded Unit wishing to opt their individual lectures out can manually stop the recording on the day by pressing the red button for five seconds (until the red light goes out).
The Ad Hoc app allows you to manually start recordings and is installed on a computer in each of the Re/Play equipped rooms. The app can be used to capture lectures that have not been scheduled to record or have failed to start. You can also use the Ad Hoc App to restart recordings which have been paused. All equipped rooms have a folder containing printed instructions.
You can use the red button to pause, un-pause and stop (press for 5 seconds) the recording if you wish. Otherwise the recording will stop at the time you scheduled.
Note: If another lecture is already scheduled to start during that time, Ad Hoc can’t override it. If a lecture is scheduled to be recorded straight after your lecture, Ad Hoc will not allow your recording to overrun.
Box recorders automatically record lectures. The computers in lecture theatres have the Ad Hoc application installed. This allows lecturers to start recordings manually.
Desktop Recorder (and Mosaic) is an application that allows you to create Re/Play presentations on your computer in any location you like. These can be shared with students ahead of lectures, so the face-to-face sessions can be more interactive (often referred to as “flipping the classroom”) or to explain difficult topics in more detail.Full instructions for using the Desktop Recorder are available in our Re/Play Help area.
Re/Play does not change the University’s current copyright policy in relation to teaching and research material. However, feedback has raised several important questions about the level of awareness of the current policy. Checking the copyright status of third party material in your lecture slides is the individual’s responsibility. Ensuring that other people’s rights are respected is viewed as good academic practice and is what we would expect of others in relation to our own work.
If you have any concerns about materials within their presentation, you can press the red button in the lecture theatre to pause and restart the recording as necessary. Library Services, in conjunction with Digital Education Office, provide an audio presentation giving advice for academics about the use of third-party materials. Information is also available from our Policy and consent page. Further queries relating to copyright should be directed to your Subject Librarian. The Secretary’s Office provides useful information on the current legislation.
Yes. You must always obtain signed consent from guest lecturers or speakers before you record their lecture. This applies to non-honorary staff or those lecturers who have not signed the new Terms and Conditions for Honorary Staff. External speaker recording release request form (Office document, 28kB). It should be renewed annually if required.
You can edit the description, tags and title of a recording. Please DO NOT change the unit code and ensure that you keep the year suffix (eg ABCD12345_2015) at the beginning of the title. This will enable future searches for students and lecturers alike as well as running essential performance reports
Please see Access/Edit recording section of the Re/Play Help Organisation (you’ll need to login in to Blackboard first.)
If you need to capture moving content such as video or live annotation, or if mouse movements must be captured, you will need to use the Screencast and Audio template, which captures 30 frames per second.
By default, lectures are recorded with the low-framerate Slides and Audio template which is adequate for straightforward lectures and slideshows.
View examples of the different results you get with Slides and Audio vs Screencast templates.
The Recording Educational Activities Policy offers guidance on how Re/Play should be used. If you have a question about the policy, use the Re/Play Policy Support Request Form.
This is caused by incomplete or incorrect data in either Syllabus Plus or SITS.
This can happen if the lecturer(s) did not use the lapel microphone in a lecture theatre. Our list of equipped rooms indicates which lecture theatres have lapel mics; in these rooms it is recommended to use the lapel mic or, if this is not possible, stay in front of the boundary mic (see picture below).
(During COVID19 restrictions, lapel microphones are unavailable.)
If you used a lapel mic and the sound was still not recorded please email the service desk.
This may be because the recording is set to (lower bandwidth) Slides mode instead of Screencast. See comparison of screencast and slides mode. If so, nothing can be done about the recording but future lectures can be set to use a different template.
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