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Audio & Video

Exhibit supports time-based media, allowing you to combine high-resolution visual storytelling with recorded sound, oral histories, musical performances, historical film footage, and video clips.

Time-based media can be presented standalone or sequenced alongside high-resolution images and 3D objects within the same exhibit.

Supported Media Types & Formats

Exhibit supports both native audio/video and streaming video platforms:

Media TypeFormats & SourcesDelivery Mechanism
AudioMP3, AAC, WAVIIIF v3 Sound canvas
VideoMP4 (H.264), WebMIIIF v3 Video canvas
YouTubeYouTube video URLsEmbedded player (enabled on request or in self-hosted instances)

Importing Audio & Video

1. Via IIIF v3 Manifests

To import native audio or video, reference a IIIF Presentation API 3.0 manifest that contains a Sound or Video canvas:

{
  "id": "https://example.org/iiif/video-canvas/1",
  "type": "Canvas",
  "duration": 124.5,
  "width": 1920,
  "height": 1080,
  "items": [
    {
      "id": "https://example.org/iiif/video-annotation/1",
      "type": "AnnotationPage",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "https://example.org/iiif/video-content/1",
          "type": "Annotation",
          "motivation": "painting",
          "body": {
            "id": "https://example.org/media/lecture.mp4",
            "type": "Video",
            "format": "video/mp4",
            "duration": 124.5
          },
          "target": "https://example.org/iiif/video-canvas/1"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Copy the manifest URL and paste it into the Add Item window in the editor.

2. YouTube Video Import

When YouTube integration is enabled on your instance, you can import videos directly using their standard YouTube URL (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...) via the Add Item dialogue.

Time-Interval Framing Annotations

For 2D images and 3D models, framing annotations define spatial coordinates (zoom level, crop rectangle, or camera angle). For audio and video, framing annotations define temporal intervals:

  1. In the Exhibit Editor, navigate to your audio or video item.
  2. Select the Duration Slider tab in the annotation panel.
  3. Define the start time and end time (or duration in seconds) of the clip you want to highlight for this narrative step.
  4. Write your commentary in the description field.
  5. Click the checkmark (✓) button to save the step.

When viewers navigate to that step, the player automatically cues the player to the selected start time, plays the segment, and displays your synchronized narrative commentary.

Browser Autoplay & Audio Policies

Modern web browsers restrict media from playing automatically with sound until the visitor has interacted with the page:

  • Landing Pages Ensure Smooth Playback: The Exhibit Landing Page plays an important role for audio/video exhibits. When a visitor clicks Start Exhibit (or presses Enter), this user gesture unlocks browser audio permissions, allowing subsequent sound and video clips to play without interruptions.
  • Kiosk Autoplay: In unattended kiosk installations, exhibits can be configured to loop and play muted video silently or trigger playback on screen touch.

Examples