Gradual now allows you to seamlessly play YouTube videos directly within Meeting Rooms, Webinars and Roundtables, enhancing your virtual events with multimedia content.
This feature allows assigned hosts or staff to share videos with audio in real-time, ensuring all participants have a synchronized viewing experience.
The initial phase of this feature only supports videos from YouTube, via URL.
Dashboard Settings
Events & Calls
This is supported in the events and virtual group calls listed below:
Meeting Event
Webinar Event
Roundtable - Community level
Livestream meeting room
Livestream sponsor booth
Livestream roundtable
Hosts & Staff
Assigned hosts or staff can play videos live during the call and control and manage the playback. Panelists and Attendees will be able to see and hear the video playback but cannot control it.
Learn more about how to assign hosts and staff in roundtables, meeting rooms and meeting events here.
Video Settings
In the initial phase of this feature, only videos from YouTuve are supported. The videos must be Public or Unlisted on YouTube and cannot be listed as Private.
The system will show an error of “Invalid URL” when the URL format is wrong or an error of “Video unavailable” when the URL format is correct but the video cannot be played.
Play a YouTube Video
Playing a video is done live, during the call and can be started and managed by hosts.
Make sure a host or hosts are assigned in the meeting room or roundtable to use this feature
Host selects the Activity button at the bottom of the meeting room settings menu
Select Play YouTube Video
Enter the YouTube video URL
Select Preview, and ensure the video populates correctly in the preview pop up
Select Play Video when you are ready
Once the video is started, both its audio and video will be streamed to all participants in the room.
Hosts and Staff on mobile devices CANNOT play YouTube videos.
For the best user experience, we recommend all attendees and hosts use Google Chrome as their browser.
Manage YouTube Video
Any assigned host or staff can control elements of the video from the Gradual interface.
Pause the video
If a hosts pauses the video, it will be paused for all attendees in the call as well. A pop up will appear to notify the attendees who paused the video.
Mute the Video
If a host mutes the video, the video will be muted for all attendees as well.
Fast-Forward or Rewind Video
If a host fast forwards or rewinds the video, the attendees will see that action and be shown where in the video the host has selected.
Replace or Change YouTube Video
If you need to replace or change the video URL that's being played, you can select the Activities icon at the base of the page and enter a new URL.
The system will confirm your action as it will stop the current video from playing.
Stop the YouTube Video
To stop the video from playing select the "X" in the upper right hand side of the video.
The system will confirm your action as it will stop the current video from playing.
Pro Tip: Any assigned host can manage the video so it is best to assign one host to control any pausing, audio controls or ending the video if there are multiple hosts in one call.
Closed captioning, playback speed & quality
These setting changes on the YouTube video will not be reflected to the attendees.
If an assigned host or staff member changes the playback speed or quality, the settings will only apply to their view and not the view of the attendees. CC or closed captioning will also not appear for attendees if selected by the host or staff.
Notes and things to consider
Only one video can be played at a time
Only assigned hosts or staff can play videos, not panelists or attendees
Only YouTube videos are supported
Screen sharing is not allowed when there is any video on the screen and vice versa
Hosts and staff on mobile devices will not be able to play videos using this feature
Attendees on mobile devices will have to hit 'play' as the video will not autoplay
The video playback will not appear if recording the event or roundtable
This is what will appear in the recording:
