Play back video and audio assets in the VIDA player, use its keyboard shortcuts, and read audio levels while reviewing.
Overview
The VIDA player opens whenever you preview a video or audio asset — from the asset details page, a quick preview panel, or a QC report. It gives you standard playback controls, a set of keyboard shortcuts for moving through the timeline precisely, and, for video and audio assets, an Audio Levels tab where you can check the loudness of each channel while you play.
Playback Controls & Keyboard Shortcuts
Alongside the on-screen play, seek and volume controls, the player responds to these keys. They work as soon as the player has focus — click anywhere on the player first if a shortcut does not seem to respond.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Spacebar | Play / pause. |
| ← / → | Step back / forward one frame. Useful for landing on an exact frame while paused. |
| J / K | Jump back / forward 3 seconds. |
| ↑ / ↓ | Volume up / down. |
| ? | Open the full shortcuts list in the player. |
Shortcuts are disabled while you are typing into a text field on the page, so they will not interfere with entering a timecode or a note.
Reading Audio Levels
Open the Audio Levels tab on a video or audio asset to see a peak meter for each channel while the proxy plays. Each meter shows a moving bar for the current level and a number above it for the loudest level reached recently.
You do not need to keep playback running, or rewind and replay a moment repeatedly, to read a level. Pausing does not clear the reading:
- Play through the section you want to check.
- Press Spacebar to pause where you want to look. Use ← / → first if you want to land on an exact frame.
- Read the number above the meter. It keeps showing the loudest level from just before you paused, for as long as you leave it — the moving bar drops when playback stops, but the number does not.
To take a fresh reading at a different point, click directly on the meter to clear the held number, then play and pause again where you want to check.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
No, that is expected. The bar shows the live level, which is silent while paused, so it correctly drops. The number is the held peak reading and is designed to stay until you clear it or check a new point.
That is by design, not a fault. Click directly on the meter to clear it back to a fresh reading.
The tab only appears for assets recognised as video or audio. It will not appear on other file types.
Was this article helpful?
That’s Great!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry! We couldn't be helpful
Thank you for your feedback
Feedback sent
We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article