Fix Audio/Video issues

Audio or video playback doesn’t work.

• Ensure that you have the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player installed.
• Download the latest Flash Player if it is not installed on your computer or if you don’t have the latest Flash Player installed.
• Check to make sure that your sound is turned on and you have speakers or headphones attached to your computer.
• Check your Firewall to ensure that all of the needed ports are open to allow streaming videos through. Some Firewalls will block streaming video.

Video playback is choppy.

A slow Internet connection speed is the most common cause of choppy video playback. Blackboard Vista users with either dial-up or wireless Internet connections may encounter audio or video that cuts out, stutters or pauses if their connection is too slow.

You can test your Internet connection download speed, upload speed and latency. The minimum recommended download speed for streaming audio and video content is 384 kbps; if your connection does not meet these standards, please contact your Internet service provider about getting a faster connection. If your Internet connection exceeds the minimum recommended download speed and you are still experiencing problems with choppy video playback, please confirm that your computer meets the minimum recommend system requirements. Having as few programs open as possible may help some students with audio and video issues.

Firewall blocking streaming audio and/or video.

Accessing Blackboard Vista from Work:
Blackboard Vista users who take courses from their work computers may need to ask their company’s technical support personnel to configure the Firewall. They may not be able to do it themselves. Send a request through the appropriate channels to have the following ports enabled:

Accessing Blackboard Vista from Home:
The default settings of the Windows and MAC OS X built-in Firewalls will not interfere with Blackboard Vista. If you have made adjustments to your computer’s built-in Firewall, please see our Firewall page for your operating system.

Watching videos or listening to audio crashes my computer.

• Ensure that you are using a compatible web browser.
• Check that your computer meets the necessary system requirements.
• Ensure that your web browser plugins are up-to-date.
• Ensure that your Internet connection speed is adequate for streaming video.

Audio plays in iTunes but not in RealPlayer or Quicktime.

Realplayer 10 for Mac OS/X may incorrectly change system audio settings when installed; this prevents RealPlayer and certain other applications from playing audio correctly. This problem occurs on G5 iMacs & PowerMacs and Intel-based iMacs, Macbooks, and Mac Pros; Blackboard Vista users may encounter this problem through Vista sites that use RealPlayer. This problem is also characterized by programs such as iTunes being able to play audio files correctly despite the problems with RealPlayer or Quicktime.

To reconfigure your audio settings and playback audio, please follow the instructions below:

• Close RealPlayer.
• Select the Finder from your Dock.
• On the menu in the upper-lefthand corner of the screen, select “Go,” and “Applications”.
• In the window that opens, double-click “Utilities”.
• Double-click “Audio MIDI Setup”.
• Change your settings so that they match the following:
  • Under “System Settings”, Default Input , Default Output, and System Output should be set to “Built-in Audio”.
  • Under “Properties For”, select “Built-in Audio”, then set Audio Input: Source to “Line In”, Format to “44100.0Hz” and “2ch-16bit”. Set Audio Output , Format to “44100.0Hz” and “2ch-16bit”.
  • Make sure that the Ch. 1 and 2 sliders under “Audio Output” are set to -5.0 db or higher.
• Close “Audio MIDI Setup” and re-open RealPlayer. You should now be able to hear streaming audio.

Video plays in RealPlayer or Quicktime, but without any audio.

Realplayer 10 for Mac OS/X may incorrectly change system audio settings when installed; this prevents RealPlayer and certain other applications from playing audio correctly. This problem occurs on G5 iMacs & PowerMacs and Intel-based iMacs, Macbooks, and Mac Pros; Blackboard Vista users may encounter this problem through Vista sites that use RealPlayer. This problem is also characterized by programs such as iTunes being able to play audio files correctly despite the problems with RealPlayer or Quicktime.

To reconfigure your audio settings and playback audio, please follow the instructions below:

• Close RealPlayer.
• Select the Finder from your Dock.
• On the menu in the upper-lefthand corner of the screen, select “Go,” and “Applications”.
• In the window that opens, double-click “Utilities”.
• Double-click “Audio MIDI Setup”.
• Change your settings so that they match the following:
  • Under “System Settings”, Default Input , Default Output, and System Output should be set to “Built-in Audio”.
  • Under “Properties For”, select “Built-in Audio”, then set Audio Input: Source to “Line In”, Format to “44100.0Hz” and “2ch-16bit”. Set Audio Output , Format to “44100.0Hz” and “2ch-16bit”.
  • Make sure that the Ch. 1 and 2 sliders under “Audio Output” are set to -5.0 db or higher.
• Close “Audio MIDI Setup” and re-open RealPlayer. You should now be able to hear streaming audio.