Upload and manage videos

Upload videos in Media on ArtInStack—limits, Bunny Stream transcoding, library status, playback readiness, and thumbnails.

Videos use the same Media library as photos: upload once, then reuse them in Pages, Portfolio, products, and client-facing experiences. After your file reaches ArtInStack, it is sent to Bunny Stream for transcoding so visitors get smooth playback on phones and desktops—not a single huge file that only works on fast Wi‑Fi.

Prerequisites

Dashboard → Media → dropzone: "Drag and drop media/images/videos here"

Plan includes video uploads and enough Subscription storage for your clips

Supported formats

FormatExtensions
MP4.mp4
QuickTime.mov
WebM.webm
AVI.avi

MP4 with H.264 is the most dependable choice for web playback. Very long or very high-resolution sources take longer to transcode.

Upload limits

The uploader shows your workspace limits when you add files. Typical defaults:

LimitTypical default
Max size per video500 MB
Files per batch10 at a time
Storage quotaCounts toward your plan (see SettingsSubscription and Storage)

Oversized or unsupported files are rejected with a clear message. If you are near your quota, free space or upgrade before a large ingest—see Supported file types and limits and Storage usage and upgrades.

What you're looking at during upload

While files are in the upload queue at the bottom of Media, each video moves through recognizable stages:

StageWhat it means
UploadingProgress bar—your browser is sending the file to Bunny Stream.
ProcessingUpload finished; ArtInStack is creating the media record.
Encoding (continue in background)Bunny Stream is transcoding. You can dismiss the queue and keep working—encoding continues server-side.

Do not assume failure when the bar hits 100% but the label still says Encoding. That step is normal.

End-to-end flow

[You drop a video in Media]
        |
        v
[Browser uploads to Bunny Stream]
        |
        v
[Item appears in the library grid]
        |
        v
[Bunny Stream transcodes — usually minutes]
        |
        v
[Playback URL + thumbnail ready]
        |
        v
[Use on pages, portfolios, heroes — visitors can play]

Transcoding time depends on length, resolution, and how busy the service is. Short clips often finish in a few minutes; long 4K reels can take longer. Refresh Media or revisit the item if the thumbnail was blank right after upload.

What happens in the Media library

Grid card — As soon as the upload completes, the video appears in the library (you can filter Videos). Until transcoding finishes, the card may show a placeholder instead of a frame.

Edit panel — Open the item to set Title, Caption, and Description (same global fields as photos). The preview shows the thumbnail still, not a live player, while encoding runs.

Download — Original video download from Media is not offered the way it is for photos; playback is streamed after encoding.

Location / EXIF — Videos do not show camera EXIF or Set location on map (impact maps use photos with coordinates).

For text fields and portfolio overrides, see View and edit media in the library.

When playback is ready

Playback on your live site (page blocks, portfolio video layouts, blog embeds, and similar) works only after Bunny Stream marks the asset ready. Until then:

  • Picking the video in the Page Editor may show a poster or empty preview.
  • Visitors who open the page early may see no playback or a “still processing” experience.

After readiness, ArtInStack stores a playback URL for streaming and a thumbnail URL for posters. You do not need to copy those URLs manually—they are wired when you select the asset from Media.

How the thumbnail is used

Bunny Stream generates a thumbnail when transcoding completes. ArtInStack uses it in several places:

WhereRole
Media gridCover image on the video card
Media edit previewStill frame while you edit metadata
Page EditorVideo, Video Lightbox, Video Background, Hero Video, and related blocksPoster image before the visitor presses play

Some blocks let you override the poster in Attributes; if you leave the default, the library thumbnail is used.

Implementation steps

  1. Open Media and drag one or more videos onto the dropzone (or click to browse).
  2. Watch the upload queue until Encoding appears, then wait—or dismiss the queue and check back later.
  3. Refresh the library or reopen the item until a thumbnail appears on the card.
  4. Open the item → set Title, Caption, and Description for reuse across the site.
  5. Add the video to a page or portfolio—see Add media to pages and Standard media blocks.
  6. PreviewPublish the page only after you have confirmed playback in preview.

What you'll see

A video row in Media with a stable thumbnail, editable text fields, and working playback when placed on published pages. Storage usage updates after the platform confirms final size from the transcoded asset.

If something goes wrong

SituationWhat to do
Upload rejected immediatelyCheck file type, per-file size, batch count, and storage quota.
Stuck on Encoding for a long timeWait longer for long files; refresh Media; see Troubleshoot media uploads.
Thumbnail never appearsEncoding may have failed—retry upload or contact support with filename and approximate size.
Page shows video before publish testConfirm thumbnail exists in Media first, then preview the page again.

Related guides

Verifying your setup

  • At least one video uploaded through Media.
  • Thumbnail visible on the library card after encoding.
  • Test clip plays in Page Editor preview or on a published test page.
  • Title or caption saved on the video record.