Multimedia plugins filter

The Multimedia plugins filter finds a link in text that points to a multimedia resource and replaces the link with an appropriate multimedia player code which can play the resource. The actual player resides on each users' computer.

For example, a teacher may put a MP3 audio file as a resource in their course, or have a URL link to an external MP3 file. When the MP3 audio plugin has been turned on, the student will be able to play them in Moodle using a Flash media player on their computer. See also Working with media.

Site administration settings

A site administrator can enable / disable multimedia formats in Settings > Site administration > Plugins > Filters > Multimedia plugins > Settings

Standard installed multimedia plugins

• YouTube (displays videos hosted on youtube)
• Vimeo (displays videos hosted on vimeo)
• .mp3 - MPEG Audio Stream, Layer III
• .flv - Flash video
• .f4v - Flash video
• .swf - Macromedia Flash animation File (Adobe, Inc.)

Note: Only used in trusted texts as it has potential security issues

• .ogg - HTML 5 audio
• .acc - HTML 5 audio
• .webm - HTML 5 video
• .m4v - HTML 5 video
• .ogv - HTML 5 video

Legacy installed multimedia players

The following legacy media player formats are also available but not recommended for general usage:

• .mov - QuickTime player (requires QuickTime player or codec)
• .mp4 - QuickTime player (requires QuickTime player or codec)
• .m4a - QuickTime player (requires QuickTime player or codec)
• .mpg - MPEG animation - QuickTime player (requires QuickTime player or codec)
• .wmv - Windows media player (Microsoft)-not guaranteed to work in browsers other than IE and non-Windows systems
• .avi - Windows media player - not guaranteed to work in browsers other than IE and non-Windows systems

Third party or contributed multimedia plugins

These might be configured to work on some sites by the site administrator but are not part of the standard install package with Moodle:

• .ram - RealMedia Metafile (RealNetworks, Inc.)
• .rpm - RealMedia Player Plug-in (RealNetworks)
• .rm - RealMedia Streaming Media (Real Networks, Inc.)
• .ra - Real Media
• .rp - Real Media
• .rv - Real Media

Required software on user's computer

Although Moodle prepares the media files to be played in the browser, the actual playback is handled by various types of browser plug-in software, primarily Adobe Flash, Quicktime, Windows Media Player and Real Player. If users do not have these installed they may be prompted to go and install them by their browser. These pieces of software are generally free, easily installed and widely used so this will only be an issue for small numbers of users.

See also

• Multimedia plugins FAQ
• Video
• Audio
• Images
• Embedding content

Using Moodle forum discussions:

• Multimedia plugin vs object embed
• Size of embedded Flash
• Linking to FLV video files
• video streaming
• Media filter does not work for rm files
• swf filter security
• How to upload a screen capture video to the Moodle?
• Best video format