Mediasite Administrator Update, February 2016
As part of an ongoing effort to keep Mediasite administrators on campus informed, we created this DELTAwire article specifically for you! For help with any Mediasite questions, please contact us at mediasite-help@ncsu.edu.
This article includes information on the following topics:
Duplicate Recorders in the Management Portal
When managing your recorders under the recorder tab in the management portal, if you have noticed there are duplicate recorders in the list with the same serial number, we now have a solution for this known issue. The reason for the duplicate entry is due to which network port is being used on the recorder. Please refer to knowledge base article 3954 which provides guidance on which network port should be used to correct the issue.
Making My Mediasite Presentations Viewable by Default
When a user creates a My Mediasite presentation the default setting is private. The Help Desk is receiving calls from users who cannot view presentations due to the fact the creator did not change the setting from private to viewable. This happens either because users don’t know they need to change the setting or they sometimes forget to change the setting. Initially, Sonic Foundry felt the default setting should be private as users might need to review or edit their content prior to users being able to view the content. However, after much feedback from users and Sonic Foundry receiving many requests to give users the option to change the default private/viewable setting, we might see this option on the horizon. There are not specific plans at this time to address the requests, but it is certainly a popular feature request NC State has requested on your behalf!
Using 3Play Media as Your Close Captioning Provider
Users have reported when using 3Play Media as a chosen provider for close captioning with Mediasite, the close caption output overlays the content window in the multiview and full experience players. If you are using the Classic player this does not occur. This issue was reported to 3Play and Sonic Foundry as this is not the output displayed with other providers. This issue has been noted by Sonic Foundry as a known issue and a solution will be implemented in a later version update. In the meantime, we recommend using one of the other captioning providers as to provide optimal viewing of the content video for users.
Recorder Hardware and Supported Software Versions
We realize with the multiple versions and images which exist you might need assistance with the correct image and version you should use for your recorder. Please contact mediasite-help@ncsu.edu if you need assistance than what is described below.
In November of 2015, Sonic Foundry recommended NC State NOT update recorders past version 7.0.24 build 2089, as they were working on a new recorder build which resolved several issues introduced by version 7.0.25, the current version at that time.
As of January 2016, NC State has been informed by Sonic Foundry, recorders can be upgraded up to the recommended current recorder version, 7.0.26. Since DELTA’s standard recommendation is not to upgrade recorders during the semester, we will wait until the summer to upgrade recorders, unless a technical issue necessitates an update.
If you order a MSL-CSM 830-R2, RL720-R2, or RL 120 recorder or receive a replacement recorder, it will be shipped with the new 7.1.4 or 7.1.6 image. These recorders will need to use the 7.1.6 image and should not be re-imaged to a 7.0.x version. Be aware the graphical interface will look different than the 7.0.x image.
As an FYI, the current server version is 7.0.25. DELTA plans to upgrade to 7.0.27 or a new version of the server software after the Spring 2016 semester is completed. All recorders in production at 7.0.24 version or higher (7.0.9 image) and 7.1.8 version (7.1.6 image) will work with the server.
Following are two knowledge base articles which will assist you in which versions are supported on your recorder and if a recorder needs to be re-imaged, which version to use:
Recorder hardware and supported software versions
Mediasite Recorder 7.1.6 Restore Image Compatibility
Mediasite Carolina Chapter Meeting
Please mark your calendars and register to attend the Mediasite Community Carolinas Chapter meeting on Monday, February 22, hosted by Duke University and sponsored by Sonic Foundry from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided and it is free to attend. This is your opportunity to share Mediasite best practices, provide feedback to the Sonic Foundry team and learn about the latest Mediasite developments.
The day’s agenda is currently in the process of being developed to reflect the topics and conversations that will be most important to the community. To make sure your desired topics are included, let the planning committee know your biggest Mediasite questions or challenges either in the community or when you register. Not yet a member of the Carolinas Chapter group in the Mediasite Community? It’s free and easy to join.
Mediasite Server Maintenance
The monthly Windows Updates for the Mediasite servers will be installed on Saturday, February 13 between 5 a.m.–6 a.m. The servers will be rebooted one at a time. There will be a brief outage when the database and file servers are rebooted, but no other interruptions are expected.
As part of the Spring Break Maintenance Window DELTA Systems staff will be replacing several network switches to take advantage of increased bandwidth out of the MCNC datacenter. This work will cause an outage for all DELTA services. We are proposing to perform this work on Monday, March 7. More information to come. If you are planning live streams on any particular days of Spring Break please email mediasite-help@ncsu.edu so that we can either schedule around them or set up alternate access.
In addition, during the migration to version 7 during Summer 2014, we communicated to administrators we would keep version 6 servers running and accessible for one year as a backup. We disabled access to the servers in Fall 2015 and now plan to decommission the servers and delete content on these servers during the spring break maintenance window.
If you have any questions regarding the maintenance listed above or experience any Mediasite issues, please contact mediasite-help@ncsu.edu for further assistance.
For further information and updates, please see Updates & Maintenance schedule.
Captioning Grant Available for 2016 Courses
NC State University has established a Captioning Grant to assist faculty in creating accessible videos.
This grant provides funds for faculty to obtain captions for instructional videos used in their online, blended and face-to-face courses. In addition to providing content to people with hearing impairments, captions create a learning environment that supports Universal Design for Learning.
Faculty members may apply for funding to caption videos:
- when a student with a disability requiring an accommodation for captioning registers in a course that contains video, or
- when proactively captioning videos to enhance the learning environment for all students.
Faculty using their own videos as a central part of their pedagogy are highly encouraged to apply for the grant.
To apply for the grant, complete the Captioning Grant Application Form. Applications to meet the needs of a student requiring this accommodation will be processed immediately. Those for proactive captioning will be processed on March 31 for summer, June 30 for fall and Oct. 31 for spring courses.
For more information, see Multimedia Accessibility. You may also send your questions to accessibility@ncsu.edu.
UNLEASH 2016, Mediasite User Conference
The global Mediasite User Conference is the best networking venue for Mediasite enthusiasts. Whether you attend in Madison or choose to participate online, this can’t-miss event is packed with knowledge sharing, best practices and Mediasite Community networking. It’s that time of year to start thinking about Unleash 2016. Registration is open, so register and save the date for your global Mediasite User Conference, May 2-4 in Madison, Wisconsin. Using the link below to register and following the instructions, will offer the “All Access Pass” for NC State attendees the rate of $495.00 up through the Unleash 2016 registration cut-off date (end of April).
- Select “New Registration”
- Click the category “All Access Pass”
- After the appropriate category has been selected, Click “Apply Code” Button
- Complete the rest of the form
More Information
To learn more about Mediasite at NC State, or to see other topics covered in our next update, please contact Laura Stephenson at laura_stephenson@ncsu.edu. Your suggestions are always welcome.
Please send Mediasite help requests to mediasite-help@ncsu.edu.
Subscribe to Mediasite updates by sending the message “subscribe mediasite” to mj2@lists.ncsu.edu.
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