The images, video clips, and audio clips that you include in Xspots come from one of two sources. You either:
- Upload them from your computer, or;
- Add them from one of the 4 libraries associated with each account.
In this post, we’ll focus on these 4 libraries, covering what they are, how they work, and how you can use them to your advantage.
What are libraries?
Libraries are storage areas for media, such as images, video clips, and audio clips.
Because you access libraries from within the Studio when you’re creating or modifying an Xspot, you can add any media asset you find in a library to any Xspot you create.
Visuals, Overlays, and Sound tabs in the Studio
See detailed instructions for adding images and video clips to Xspots from Your Media Library.
The 4 libraries available in any Mixpo account include:
First, I’ll describe each of the 4 libraries. Then, I’ll provide some tips that will help you use the first 3 libraries to their full advantage.
Stock Library
The Stock Library contains a large collection of free stock images and video clips. You can include any asset you find in the Stock Library in any Xspot you create either as a visual element or overlay.
Stock Library
Regardless of what account you’re in, you see the same assets in the Stock Library. However, as described in the Tips section, you can customize the names of stock assets for your own convenience.
Your Media Library
Every account’s Media Library is unique. The Media Library is a collection of the images and video clips contained in the Xspots created in that account.
Your Media Library
Your Media Library saves you time. You never have to upload an asset to an account more than once. Once as asset is in an account’s Media Library, you can use it in every Xspot you create in that account.
Tip If you delete all of the Xspots that contain a specific image or clip, that image or clip disappears from Your Media Library.
Shared Media
The Shared Media library allows members of the same Group to share common assets.
For example, suppose a national agency creates a 30-second TV spot for an auto company’s new vehicle model. To run the ad nationwide on local media websites, in the Mixpo platform, the national agency shares with franchises an Xspot that contains the new vehicle model video footage and auto company logo.
Because the franchises are starting with the pre-approved, shared assets to build their local Xspots, the national agency maintains brand control. In addition, the franchises can address regional audience needs by adding overlays that promote local specials and provide local contact information.
Assets appear in an account's Shared Media library only when other Group members share Xspots across the Group.
Tip You can’t customize the names of assets in the Shared Media library. Names of shared assets are controlled from the account that did the sharing. For more about customizing the names of library assets, see Tips for using visual libraries.
Uploaded Audio
The Audio Library consists of three sections, Music, Sound Effects, and Uploaded Audio. You see the same audio files in Music and Sound Effects regardless of what account you’re in.
Music includes a collection of free instrumental music in a variety of styles (classical, country, rock, motivational, and more). Sound Effects offers free sounds organized by theme (for example, Ceremony, Destruction, Nature, Household, and more). You can include in any Xspot any of the songs and sounds you find in these two sections.
Every account’s Uploaded Audio library is unique. The library contains audio files uploaded to Xspots created in the account.
Like Your Media Library, the Uploaded Audio library saves you time. You never have to upload an audio file to an account more than once. Once the audio file is in an account’s Uploaded Audio library, you can use it in every Xspot you create in that account.
Uploaded Audio library
To listen to an audio clip, select it (A), and then click the play button (B). To add an audio clip to an Xspot, select it (A), and then click Add (C).
Tips for using visual libraries
Becoming familiar with 4 key features makes it easier to find and manage images and video clips in the Stock, Your Media, and Shared Media libraries.
Rename
Renaming an asset in the Stock or Your Media library to something you’re likely to remember makes that asset much easier to find through search.
You can assign a new name either in the library itself or in the Studio.
- To rename an image or video clip in a library, click the asset, select the current name, and then type the new name.
Note The new name is saved automatically so you don’t need to click OK unless you want to add the asset to the Xspot that is currently open in the Studio.
- To rename an image or video clip in the Studio, select the asset on the Timeline. On the Visuals tab, under Video Properties, select the current name in the Name field, and then type the new name.
Note An asset’s name is constant across all Xspots and libraries. In other words, if you change an asset name on the Visuals tab in one Xspot, the name also changes in all other Xspots where the asset appears.
Tip You can’t rename assets in the Shared Media library. Shared asset names are controlled by the sharing account.
Search
While you can use the page numbers and arrows at the bottom of a library window to page through a library’s assets, it’s usually quicker to find the asset through search.
- To search for an asset, type all or part of the asset’s name in the library search box, and then click Search.
If you frequently use an asset, you might want to make it easier to find by giving it a more memorable name.
Show
If you know you’re looking for an image rather than a video clip (or a clip rather than an image), you can make your search quicker by using Show.
- To filter the type of media that shows in a library, from the Show list, select either Videos or Images.
Sort by
By default, assets in a library are organized alphabetically by name.
You can use Sort by to organize them instead by Date Added. Assets added most recently are listed first.