PowerPoint Video Audio Trouble

[SEAN2E]

When I create a PowerPoint video (by converting a PowerPoint into an MP4 under the files section of PowerPoint), the audio is fine when uploaded to YouTube or listened to in Windows (or another viewer). However, when I upload my PowerPoint videos to Canvas, there is a strange buzzing and crackling sound behind all of them. This seems to happen whether I convert the file to video in HD or Standard. This also seems to happen whether I upload the videos to my files in Canvas or through Panopto. I know that it likely has to do with the fact that the audio is being rendered in PowerPoint and then again in Canvas.

Is there a workaround for this or do I need to just start using YouTube and links for my videos? I do not want to record my videos in Panopto. I need to be able to upload already finished videos.

[Chris_Hofer]

Good morning, @SEAN2E ...

When you are uploading your video to your course for your students, are you uploading it using this process?

How do I upload and embed a media file from my com... - Instructure Community (canvaslms.com)

Another option...do you know if you have Canvas Studio?  (You would see a "Studio" icon on the far left-hand side global navigation menu in Canvas.)  If so, have you tried uploading the video to Studio to see if the video quality is any better?

• How do I upload media files in my Canvas Studio ac... - Instructure Community
• How do I add media from YouTube and Vimeo in my St... - Instructure Community  -- You could use this option if you first uploaded your video to YouTube and then added then added the video from YouTube to your Studio library.
• How do I embed Canvas Studio media in a Canvas cou... - Instructure Community  -- Use this Guide to insert your Studio media into your course.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

[SEAN2E]

Hey Chris,

Thanks for the quick reply. I usually actually go into the "Files" section of my Canvas page and upload the video there--as I don't always know exactly where the video will end up. However, I have tried uploading the video directly to an Announcement, from my computer, using the Rich Content Editor, and I get the same problem.

I should have mentioned that this was actually a question I had asked long ago and I never got an answer to a fix. However, there was one guy who said that is was likely happening because the video is being rendered twice. When you look online for audio issues, and cross-search that with rendering twice, other people and programs have mentioned various programs that have issues related to this. I was just hoping that Canvas had created some sort of fix to the issue. I know other people had posted, in the past, about the same issue. I couldn't find any of their posts but I do remember feeling validated last year when I looked up the same question.

Sean

[Chris_Hofer]

Hi @SEAN2E ...

I guess I would recommend not uploading the file to your "Files" area...but rather using the steps outlined in the Guide that I provided above.  That way, your video would get uploaded to Canvas' media server and saved in an "Uploaded Media" folder within your course as described at the bottom of the light-blue box in this Guide: How do I upload and embed a media file from my com... - Instructure Community (canvaslms.com).  I just tried this with my own *.mp4 file (28 seconds in length), and it works as described.

Do you have access to Studio?  Studio is a paid add-on product from Instructure, and not every school has purchased it...but it might be another option for you to try if you have it.

[SEAN2E]

Hey Chris,

The solution you describe does not solve the issue. The issue is specific to MP4s created in PowerPoint. I can upload an MP4 from other places, into Canvas, and there is no popping sound. However, if I create a ppt document and then convert it to MP4 (in PowerPoint), and then upload it to Canvas, there is ALWAYS a wierd popping sound in the background--whether it is uploaded to files or uploaded directly into an assignment/module/announcement. If I upload the same MP4 file to youtube, there is no popping sound.

To recap, the popping sound occurs specifically with videos that have been created in PowerPoint, as ppt files, converted in PowerPoint as MP4 files (in PowerPoint), and then uploaded to Canvas. In order for you to see the issue, you would need to create a PowerPoint (with audio and other PowerPoint features), convert that file to an MP4, and then upload the file to Canvas. If you don't follow this exact procedure, you will not see the same issue and your feedback will not help.

Thank you for your responses so far.

[placebo]

Hi Chris - just to say that I have exactly the same problem and so do my colleagues. Once a PP is rendered to mp4 it sounds fine but then when it is uploaded into Canvas, it crackles and pops. It pretty annoying for students to listen to. Many external lecturers prefer to use PP to record slide by slide so this is an issue I would really like to solve.

Any updates from the Canvas team/community please?