Kaltura at Syracuse FAQ

This page answers the questions Online Learning Services and the ITS Help Desk hear most often about Kaltura at Syracuse University. It is not exhaustive, and questions are added as they come up. For step-by-step instructions, see Kaltura Video.

Table of Contents

Access and Logging In

Who has access to Kaltura?

All active Syracuse University faculty, staff, and students have access to Kaltura, both through the web interface and through Blackboard.

How do I log in?

For the web interface, go to video.syr.edu and sign in with your NetID and password. In Blackboard, select Tools from the main navigation menu and then the Kaltura My Media tile.

Both routes open the same library. You do not have a separate set of videos in each system.

Do students use Kaltura too?

Yes. Students have their own media libraries and can record or upload video and submit it to assignments and discussions. See Submit Kaltura Media to an assignment in Blackboard (Students).

Processing and Video Quality

How long does it take for my video to process?

Kaltura encodes each upload into several streaming qualities, and the lower qualities finish first. A recording is generally playable at standard definition not long after the upload completes, and the high-definition versions keep processing for some hours afterward — longer for detailed, high-motion footage than for a static talking head or a slide deck.

You do not have to wait to use the video. Embed it whenever you like; viewers see a short processing notice until the encoding finishes, and the video then appears on its own.

Why does my video look grainy or out of focus?

Almost always because the high-definition version has not finished processing yet. This is most noticeable on screen recordings of slides or spreadsheets, where soft text is obvious. If you recorded in high definition, wait a few hours and check again before troubleshooting anything else.

When will captions be ready?

Automatic machine captions are usually available within 24 hours of upload. Requests for captions in an additional language typically take 24 to 48 hours.

Sharing and Analytics

How do I share a video with someone outside my course?

Open the entry in the Video Portal at video.syr.edu, set its permissions to unlisted, and share the URL. Anyone with the link can watch, and the video will not appear in searches or listings. Kaltura's documentation covers the full set of sharing and embedding options.

Can I see who watched my video?

Kaltura reports analytics for entries you own or co-edit — plays, viewer drop-off, geography, and devices. Open the entry and select Analytics from the Actions menu. To see analytics on someone else's media, you must be listed as a co-editor.

Retention and Storage

Can I use Kaltura to archive my videos?

No. Kaltura is built for streaming media that is actively in use, and entries are removed automatically after a period of inactivity. An entry remains for 24 months from the date it was uploaded, or 24 months from the last time it was played for at least 30 seconds, whichever is later — so a video that gets watched each semester stays indefinitely, while one that is never played will eventually be removed.

Keep your own copy of anything you want to hold onto. Your school, college, or departmental support staff can advise on where to store it.

Choosing a Tool

What is the difference between Kaltura and a Zoom recording?

They overlap: both capture your screen and voice, both produce automatic captions, and both can be shared by link or through Blackboard. The difference is what each is built for. Zoom is a live meeting tool that happens to record; Kaltura is a media platform that happens to record. Zoom offers little in the way of editing or organization, while Kaltura gives you a searchable library, channels and playlists, caption editing, collaboration roles, and analytics. Kaltura has no live conferencing feature.

In practice you do not have to choose. Zoom cloud recordings transfer into your Kaltura library automatically, so a class recorded in Zoom ends up in Kaltura for the long term. Zoom itself keeps cloud recordings for 120 days.

Should I use Kaltura's video quiz or WeVideo?

WeVideo is the preferred tool for interactive video at Syracuse University. It works from the media already in your Kaltura library and reports results to the Blackboard Gradebook. See WeVideo (formerly PlayPosit).

Should I use Express Capture or Kaltura Capture?

Express Capture records in the browser with nothing to install, which makes it a good fit for short pieces — a reply to a discussion, a walkthrough of one homework problem, a two-minute welcome. Because it records over the network, an interruption can corrupt the file, and recordings are capped at 30 minutes. For a full lecture or anything else you cannot afford to lose, use Kaltura Capture, which records to your hard drive first and uploads afterward.

Troubleshooting

Why won't Kaltura Capture work on my Mac?

macOS requires explicit permission before an application can record your screen, camera, or microphone. Without it, Capture may refuse to record, fail to stop, or show security prompts. See Kaltura Capture macOS Settings. Express Capture needs the same permissions granted to your browser instead — see Kaltura Express Capture macOS Settings. If your computer was issued by a school, college, or department, your local support staff may need to make the change for you.

I deleted something by mistake. Can I get it back?

Deleted media goes to a recycle bin and can be restored for a limited period. See Kaltura's instructions for restoring items from the recycle bin.

Learning and Support

How do I learn to use Kaltura?

Start with Kaltura Video for the Blackboard side and Kaltura Video Portal for the web interface. Kaltura also publishes self-guided training, including Content Hub Essentials and Introduction to Kaltura's LMS Integration for Blackboard. Online Learning Services offers Kaltura sessions and recordings of past seminars through the Online Success Toolkit.

Where do I get help?

Contact the ITS Help Desk at 315.443.2677 or help@syr.edu, or visit the ITS Service Center. Faculty and staff can also reach out to their school, college, or departmental support staff. Online Learning Services remains available to consult with instructors on using video effectively in a course.