Can I Import Audio in Bulk?

This is a question we get a lot: what’s the best way to bring narration into our e-Learning? Well, before joining the incredible team here at Yukon Learning, I used to record narration myself directly onto each slide of a course. Now I get to work with a professional voice talent (and it sounds much better, believe me). Once you have the audio files for an entire e-Learning on hand, however, you may wonder if there’s a way to streamline the process of incorporating it. Let’s do just that!

During our hands-on Articulate 360 training, we explore the ways the Media Library allows us to easily manage course assets (images, characters, audio, and video) all in one place. For today’s purposes, we’ll look at how to utilize the Media Library specifically to bulk import audio all at once—efficiently and quickly.

Now, you might find that Storyline 360’s simple text-to-speech tool is just as fast to use and professional. (We love using it for “scratch” or placeholder audio during initial development and reviews.) If you’re like some of our customers who prefer more of a human touch, however, you might ask the robots to step aside and bulk import narration from a living, breathing voice talent.

The process is simple. Today, we’ll import all of our narration and immediately start dropping audio files wherever we need.

Tip: Before beginning, we recommend having a separate audio file for each individual slide and layer for the sake of speed and efficiency, if possible.

Importing Audio

Once your narration is ready, open the Media Library via the View tab.

After opening the Media Library, you’ll see the various types of media in the upper left of the window. We’ll toggle to Audio. When there’s audio in your .story file, the Media Library automagically (That’s a word, right?) lists it all here.

In the top right, you’ll now see an import button, or if there’s no audio in your e-Learning just yet, you can select Add Audio Clip in the center. Either way, it’s time to bring your audio files in!

Importing audio into the Media Library

Incorporating Audio

After we’ve imported narration into the Media Library, without closing it, we’ll also open any slide or layer where you want audio to reside.

Tip: You’ll notice that the Media Library window floats on top of your project. You may find it helpful here to have a second monitor: one screen reserved for slides and one screen for the Media Library.

Next, in the lower right corner of the Media Library window, use the Insert Audio Clip button to insert selected audio onto the active slide or layer.

Inserting audio onto slides

It’s now just a matter of “rinse and repeat” to match the remaining slides and layers with audio!

Inserting audio into layers

I know firsthand that using the Media Library to bulk import narration makes life easier. I can only hope it also saves you some time and effort as you develop your Articulate 360 courses.

If you stumble across any tips or tricks when working with the Media Library or with audio, please leave us a comment below and let us know!

~John M.