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Embedding Audio in Moodle
You can easily include audio (embed) into Moodle activities and resources, including pages, books and quizzes.
Third party audio content
If you don’t own the audio, you must link to it in your text.
Important: as with any other resource, copyright law means you cannot upload audio files: if it doesn’t belong to you, you have to link to it, even if you’ve paid a license for software to download videos.
You will need:
A link to the audio. If possible, link to an audio that provides a transcript.
A transcript. If there isn’t a transcript available on your link, either:
make a transcript
summarise the main ideas for students who cannot access the audio.
Step 1: prepare the transcript
You can skip to step 2 if:
The transcript is available in the audio’s web page.
You are providing a summary of the main ideas for students who cannot access the audio.
If you are adding a transcript yourself:
1.1 Add the transcript as a file
Add the transcript to your course as a hidden file. See our guide on adding files.
In Common module settings, select ‘Hide on course page’.
Scroll down and click on Save and display.
1.2 Copy the link to the transcript file
Right-click on the link to the file and copy it; you will need this link later.
Step 2: adding the link to the audio
2.1 Adding a link
In your content, write the text you want to link.
Please make sure you use a meaningful link. For example: “Listen to Ted Tech’s The tech we need to fight workplace ageism”.
Click on the Link button.
Paste the link to the audio in the Enter a URL box and click on Create link.
2.2 Add a link to the transcript
Press enter to create a new line of text and add a line with a link to the transcript. For example: “You can also access the transcript.”
Add a summary of the main ideas if no transcript is available on the audio’s website and you can’t create one.
Select the words you want to link and click on the Link button.
Paste the link to the transcript in the Enter a URL box and click on Create link.
Continue writing. When done, scroll down and click Save and return to course as normal.
Your own audio file or an audio file you own.
If you want to embed audio files you have made or own, do so directly on Moodle.
You will need:
The audio file.
A transcript. If you don’t have a transcript available:
Use Microsoft Word’s transcription functionality to transcribe your audio file.
If you can’t make one, please summarise the main ideas for students who cannot access the audio.
Step 1: prepare the transcript
1.1 Add the transcript as a file
Add the transcript to your course as a hidden file. See our guide on adding files.
In Common module settings, select ‘Hide on course page’.
Scroll down and click on Save and display.
1.2 Copy the link to the transcript file
Right-click on the link to the file and copy it; you will need this link later.
Step 2: Adding the audio
2.1 Insert the audio
If you have been writing, press enter to create a new line.
On the editor’s navigation bar, click on the Insert or edit an audio/video file button.
Be mindful that this button looks the same as the Record video button – make sure you are clicking on the first one as shown in the screenshot below.
Important: don’t use this button to embed videos. Please see our guidance on embedding videos.
In the pop-up window, go to Audio and click on Browse repositories.
In the File picker pop-up window, in Upload a file, click on Choose file. Search for the audio file and select it.
Once the file is attached, click on Upload this file.
You will be taken back to the Insert Media pop-up window. Click on Insert media.
An audio player will appear on your text editor.
2.2 Add a link to the transcript
Press enter to create a new line of text and add a line with a link to the transcript.
Write your text. For example: “You can also access the transcript.”
Select the words you want to link and click on the Link button.
Paste the link to the transcript in the Enter a URL box and click on Create link.
Continue writing.
When done, scroll down and click Save and return to course as normal.
Your audio will display within your written text.