Kaltura - FAQ

Kaltura is a hosting service that we have contracted with to provide rich media streaming services. It allows for uploading, editing and managing rich media content for campus colleges, schools, departments and groups. It also allows for integration with the campus online learning environment (Canvas). It allows for media such as video and audio to be stored and presented in a variety of ways to benefit faculty, students, campus affiliates and external viewers.

As a student you will be able to benefit in the classroom from the media provided by your faculty as part of the academic learning environment.  As a faculty member, you have a repository to access rich media required in the classroom that can be customized for your specific needs.  As a campus rich media administrator or designer, you are able to store and retrieve your digital assets, including large media files in a centralized location for presentation in many areas. The entire campus benefits from having a single repository to consolidate existing streaming media servers and the content they host.  An additional benefit is the ability to have this content available through a colorado.edu address when it is accessed through a campus web site.

As a student, you will be able view faculty provided rich media in Canvas courses. If you are an instructor, you can store and present your rich media to your class directly from the Canvas Integration. If you are a rich media administrator or Academic Technology consultant please reach out to oithelp@colorado.edu for access to the KMC (Kaltura Management Console) where you can upload media, create players, playlists, manage media and obtain media embed code that can be presented in Canvas or on campus websites.

The hosting service is a common good service for the campus and there is no cost to the users to take advantage of it. This service decreases organizational infrastructure costs, reduces administrative overhead costs, and provides an environment aligned with technology and information security standards.

Various departments, colleges and schools have already been provided with access to the Kaltura Console, including the Law School, College of Music, Libraries, ASSETT, Architecture and Planning, Art and Art History, Continuing Education and CAETE. 

Visit the Teaching and Learning Tools service area to learn more about OIT's media services. 

 Kaltura is the recommended solution for:

• Library course e-reserves
• Rich media in Canvas (includes copyrighted media)
• Time restricted media
• Streamed content only (non-downloadable)
• Downloadable media when required and approved by faculty (e.g., Athletics, Disability Services)
• Embedded rich media on campus websites
• Student and Faculty uploaded course related media in Canvas

Kaltura and Canvas have created an integration between the two environments. The current integration allows for instructors and students to upload and access their media  in the Kaltura repository and embed that media in their Canvas course with minimal effort.

When preparing a high-quality video for presentation, try using either the presets for “YouTube,” “Web,” or “HD".  Each video editing software package offers different preset option as well as custom settings.  Please see the user manual for your specific software. If further assistance is needed, a media preparation service is offered (for a fee) at the Norlin Library e-reserves.

There is no file size limit, but in general smaller file sizes are easier to upload to Kaltura. Please note: Long-term storage of media on Kaltura is not recommended.

The Kaltura Service page or Canvas Integration page have more information. For technical assistance, contact the IT Service Center.

The Kaltura service is for media that is being used on a regular basis by a course or for active collaboration, not for long-term storage or archival. Inactive files will be subject to removal.

There are a number of long-term storage options that you can use to store your videos.

When considering long term storage options, remember to obey all state and federal laws related to using copyrighted materials. Read more about copyright and fair use.