How to Keep Background Audio at the Same Volume in Articulate Storyline 360
Maintaining consistent background audio volume is a key part of professional eLearning course design. In Articulate Storyline 360, background music automatically lowers when slide narration plays and increases again when narration stops. This behaviour often creates an uneven learning experience in corporate eLearning and digital training programs.
Click Preview to see how to keep background audio at the same volume in Articulate Storyline 360.
This guide explains how to keep background audio at the same volume in Articulate Storyline 360, using proven eLearning audio best practices followed by instructional designers and custom eLearning development teams.
Why Consistent Background Audio Matters in eLearning
Inconsistent background music can negatively impact the digital learning experience, especially in professional and corporate training environments. Poor audio balance may:
- Distract learners during narration
- Reduce content clarity
- Make courses feel unpolished or inconsistent
- Affect learner engagement and retention
Keeping background music at a steady, controlled volume helps create a more immersive and professional learning environment.
Step-by-Step: Maintain Background Audio Volume in Articulate Storyline 360
Step 1: Add Background Audio to Your Course
Open your project in Articulate Storyline 360.
● Click the Insert tab.
● Select Audio → Background Audio
● Click Create Playlist
● Add your background audio file
● Click OK
Preview the slide to hear how the background audio behaves with slide narration.
Step 2: Understand the Default Audio Behavior
By default:
● Background audio volume decreases when slide audio starts
● Volume increases again when slide narration ends
This behavior often leads to the common Storyline 360 background music issue experienced in corporate eLearning projects.
Step 3: Use a Player Variable to Lock Audio Volume
To keep the background audio volume consistent:
● Close the preview
● Create a new trigger on the slide
● Set the trigger to run when the timeline starts
● Choose Adjust variable as the action
● Set the variable name to:
➼ Player.BackgroundVolume
● Enter your desired volume level (for example: 50)
● Click OK
This forces the background audio to stay at a fixed volume. This method allows elearning designers to maintain consistent audio volume in eLearning modules.
Step 4: Remove Slide-Based Audio Adjustments
Next, ensure there are no conflicting audio settings:
● Go to Insert → Audio → Background Audio
● Select your existing playlist
● Remove any slide-specific volume or ducking settings
● Click OK
Step 5: Preview the Entire Course
Preview the full project.
You’ll notice that the background audio now stays at the same volume across all slides even when narration plays.
This approach is widely used in custom eLearning development and corporate training audio design.
Best Practices for Background Audio in eLearning
To optimize audio quality in professional eLearning courses:
1. Keep background music subtle and non-distracting
2. Use lower volume levels (10–20%)
3. Avoid background audio during complex instructional content
4. Always test with narration and sound effects together
Summary
With a simple trigger and a small adjustment, you can fully control background audio behavior in professional eLearning course development. Maintaining a consistent background audio volume improves learner focus, course polish and overall learning experience.
This technique is especially valuable for corporate training, custom eLearning solutions and LMS-ready course development.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What common audio mistakes do basic eLearning developers make?
Common mistakes include:
- Relying on default Storyline settings
- Using overly loud background music
- Applying audio changes slide by slide
- Skipping LMS audio testing
Professional eLearning providers avoid these pitfalls through standardized quality controls.
Can background audio settings be aligned with accessibility standards?
Yes. As an eLearning providers ensure background audio does not interfere with narration, captions or screen readers. Optimized audio supports accessibility and inclusive learning design.
Do all eLearning courses need background music?
No. We apply background audio strategically. It works well for onboarding, soft-skills training and brand-led programs, but we usually avoid it in compliance, technical or assessment-heavy courses.
Can background audio settings affect LMS compatibility?
Yes. Poorly configured background audio can cause inconsistent playback across LMS platforms and devices. As an eLearning providers always test audio behavior as part of LMS-ready course development.
Should corporate eLearning courses use background music?
Yes, when used correctly. Background music can improve learner engagement and emotional connection. However, it should be avoided in compliance training, technical simulations or content requiring high cognitive focus.
