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Basic Streaming:
Streaming is a technology for delivering audio and video content across a network without waiting for
the entire file to download. When a request for content is made, the content is partially downloaded and
stored in a buffer, after which the content begins to play. Unlike a downloaded file, data is not saved to
the hard disk when the content is done streaming. Using a streaming media system enables you to
deliver content in real time without having to wait for files to download. Content that is streamed is not
saved and thus cannot be replayed.
Helix Server:
Helix from RealNetworks is a universal digital media delivery platform. Because it is a universal server,
it can offer native delivery of RealMedia, Windows Media, QuickTime, and the different MPEG files (1,
2, 3, and 4) over the Internet. In the past, it was necessary to have a separate server for each kind of
media, but this can all be done with the Helix server.
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REALMEDIA FILES
When creating or encoding streaming RealMedia files, the developer will need to use one of the
following applications including Helix Producer, Real Producer, Premier, or Vegas. The applications are
available and supported by the ITRC for RealMedia production. The following information will provide
you with some basic information about the encoding process for each program.
Helix Producer:
This is the best option for creating RealMedia files, because it is able to encode videos using the
latest encoder. This encoder allows for highly compressed video for small file sizes, but still
retains very high video and audio quality. Select “open input file” under file, and select the file
that to be encoded for streaming. The file will then open in the left half of the screen. On the
right half of the screen are many options that can be chosen for encoding the video. Click the
audience button to select the rates at which the video will stream. The developer will then be able
to create a “SureStream” video. This is one video that will be able to stream over any speed
modem, as long as that speed has been selected. Select the most common speeds, which are
16kbps-250kbps. There is also the option of changing the size of the video in this window.
Smaller videos look better when streamed over the Internet, so the largest video desired is
320x240 pixels.
It is best to leave most of the other options as their default option. When all of the desired
options have been changed in this window, just close it. Information can be added such as title,
author, etc. when the “clip information” window is selected. When the information has been
added, just close this window. Under the audience and clip information buttons are the
destination options. This is the destination where the streaming video will be saved, as well as
the file name. To change the file name, and destination, click the small button with the pencil on
it. It is best to save the file to the hard drive, and then transfer a copy of this file to the streaming
server later. After the file destination has been changed, click on the encode button at the bottom
right of the screen. The video will now start encoding, which may take as long as a few minutes
to a few hours, depending on the length and size of the video. When the video has finished
encoding, it is ready to be placed on the streaming server, and streamed over the Internet. An
ITRC representative will provide access to the streaming server.
Vegas:
To encode an existing video into RealMedia using Vegas Video, first open the file to be encoded.
After the file has opened, which may take a short time while the audio peaks build, go to file, and
then render as. A new window will open. Choose the file’s name and destination. Then, go to
save as type, and choose RealMedia (*.rm). Ignore where it says template, and rather select the
custom button. At the Encode tab, change the settings to SureStream, and check the boxes for
28k modem, 56k modem, and corporate LAN. At the resize video frames option, choose
presentation small (160x120.) Next, select the summary tab at the bottom of the window, and fill
in the video’s information. Then, select okay, which will take you back to the render as window,
and click on save. The video will now encode to RealMedia.
.
QUICKTIME FILES
When creating or encoding streaming QuickTime files, the developer will need to use one of the
following applications including QuickTime Pro, Premier, or Vegas. The applications are available and
supported by the ITRC for QuickTime production. After the files have been encoded into QuickTime,
the developer must make a reference movie. The developer must use the MakeRefMovie program to
make this movie.
http://developer.apple.com/quicktime/quicktimeintro/tools/index.html
The following information will provide you with some basic information about the encoding process for
each program.
MakeRefMovie:
When linking to a QuickTime file using a RTSP file reference, the developer will need to utilize
the MakeRefMovie tool for creating a meta file. This software will generate another move file
that is used to point to the MOV file on the server. To make the reference movie, it is best to
save the movies to be streamed onto the streaming server first. When MakeRefMovie is first
opened, the file’s name and destination must be saved. When this is finished, click on movie, and
then go to add url. Next, put the full location of the first video on the streaming server to be
used, and when this is done, click okay. The movie file will now be listed in the main window.
Here, select the minimum modem speed for the video to stream across. Next, select the priority
for the movie. When the priority is selected, this selects which movie will play first, second, and
then last. It is important to set first priority for the highest speed movie, and the lowest priority
for the lowest speed movie. This way, when reference movie is selected, it will try to play the
highest speed movie first, but if it can’t play this, it will go down the priority list until it reaches a
movie that it can play at the proper speed. When all of the movies have been entered, and their
priority and speed settings are correct, go to file, and select save. The reference movie is now
complete.
The best three options include one for modem, one for low bandwidth DSL, and another for
LAN. The developer will then need to use MakeRefMovie to make a reference file that when
selected, will read the computer’s connection speed, and play the correct video. This way, the
person trying to watch the video only has to click on one option to get the correct video of the
three that have been made, without having to know the correct speed of their connection.
Premier:
To encode an existing video into QuickTime using Premier, click on the open file option at the
first window. This will then open the file into a small window, where the first frame will be
visible. Then go to file, then export clip, and then select save for web. This will then open up
Cleaner EZ, which is another program that Premier uses to encode movies. A small window will
now open. Click on the white box that says settings, and go down to the QuickTime Streaming
option. Then, choose the modem speed option for the movie to stream at. After the option has
been selected, click start, and this will fully open Cleaner EZ. Then select the file’s destination,
select save, and Cleaner EZ will encode the video. When the video is finished being encoded,
Vegas:
To encode an existing video into QuickTime using Vegas Video, first open the file to be
encoded. After the file has opened, which may take a short time while the audio peaks build, go
to file, and then render as. A new window will open. Choose the file’s name and destination.
Then, go to save as type, and choose QuickTime (*.mov). Click at the template box, and choose
the modem speed for the file to stream over. It is best to use the default settings for the video, so
just click on save, and the video will now encode into the QuickTime movie. The developer will
then need to use MakeRefMovie to make a reference file that when selected, will read the
computer’s connection speed, and play the correct video. This way, the person trying to watch
the video only has to click on one option to get the correct video of the three that have been
made, without having to know the correct speed of their connection.
Another window will appear, listing encoding options. Leave the video and audio settings at their
default of multiple bit rates (video/audio.) Next, select the bit rates to stream the video at. You
will have to make at least two different movies for Windows Media. One will be for streaming
over high bandwidth settings, and another for streaming over dial-up modems. To create the
video for high bandwidth, only select the first box of 1128 Kbps. When you create the video for
dial-up modems, select the options of 28 and 43 Kbps. Now, there will be a window where the
video’s information can be stored. Complete this information, and select next. When this is done,
a settings review window will come up. See if there is anything that needs changed, and if not,
select finish. The movie will now be encoded, and saved in the proper place.
Vegas:
To encode an existing video into Windows Media using Vegas Video, first open the file to be
encoded. After the file has opened, which may take a short time while the audio peaks build, go
to file, and then render as. A new window will open. Choose the file’s name and destination.
Then, go to save as type, and choose Windows Media Video V8 (*.wmv). Click at the template
box, and choose the modem speed for the file to stream over. It is best to use the default settings
for the video, so just click on save, and the video will now encode into the Windows Media
movie.
MPEG FILES
When creating or encoding streaming MPEG files, the developer will need to use one of the following
applications including Vegas, QuickTime Pro, Sound Forge, or RealOne Player. The applications are
available and supported by the ITRC for MPEG production. It is best to use Vegas to create streaming
MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 videos. Currently, QuickTime Pro is the only application for creating MPEG-4
videos. Sound Forge and RealOne Player are used for making MP3s (MPEG-1 layer 3 audio.) The
following information will provide you with some basic information about the encoding process for each
program.
Vegas:
When creating or encoding streaming MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 files, it is best to use Vegas. To
encode an existing video into either MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 using Vegas Video, first open the file
to be encoded. After the file has opened, which may take a short time while the audio peaks
build, go to file, and then render as. A new window will open. Choose the file’s name and
destination. Then, go to save as type, and choose either MainConcept MPEG-1 or MPEG-2.
For an MPEG-1 file, select the template box, and choose VCD NTSC. Select the custom button.
At the next window, select the video tab at the bottom. When this is selected, check on include
video stream at the top left corner of the window. Next, select variable bit rate at the bottom left
of the window. It is best to use the default settings for the video, so just click on save, and the
video will now encode into an MPEG-1 movie.
For an MPEG-2 file, select the template box, and choose DVD NTSC video stream. Next, select
the custom button. At the next window, select the system tab at the bottom. When this is selected,
select save as separate elementary streams at the top left corner of the window so that it is now
QuickTime Pro:
This is currently the only option for creating MPEG-4 files. This allows for higher quality results
with smaller file sizes. To encode an existing movie (.avi files work best), open QuickTime Pro,
and then select open movie in new window in the file menu. After the movie has been opened,
there is the option to export it as an MPEG-4 file. Go to file, and then Export. Select the file’s
name and destination. In the export box, select “Movie to MPEG-4.” In the box under that, select
the modem speed to stream the video over. If the options box is selected, there is a menu of
options to choose from, including size and other options. Other than changing the size, it is best
to use the default settings that QuickTime has chosen. After all of the settings have been
selected, just click on save, and the video will be encoded.
With MPEG-4 videos, there is not the option of making one video that will stream correctly over
the different modem speeds. It is best to make many different movies that will go over different
modem speeds. The best three options include one for modem, one for low bandwidth DSL, and
another for LAN. The developer will then need to use MakeRefMovie to make a reference file
that when selected, will read the computer’s connection speed, and play the correct video. This
way, the person trying to watch the video only has to click on one option to get the correct video
of the three that have been made, without having to know the correct speed of their connection.
Please read about the MakeRefMovie program in the section under QuickTime streaming for
information on how to use this application.
Sound Forge:
Sound Forge can be used to convert audio files of different formats, such as .wav or .aiff into the
MP3 format. To convert a file into an MP3, open the file in Sound Forge, and in the file menu,
select save as, and save your file as an MP3.
RealOne Player:
The RealOne Player can be used to take tracks from an audio CD and save them as MP3s. If the
CD is put into the computer while the RealOne Player is open, the CD will automatically start to
play. In the tools menu, select save tracks on CD according to which CD drive you are using. A
new window will open showing all of the tracks on the disc. Select which tracks you want
converted into MP3, and select ok. The files will now be saved into the My music folder of My
documents.
Streaming Information:
When streaming different files off of the Helix server, there are different codes that must be inserted into
a web page’s html so that the streaming media will work properly.
Real Player:
http://isurealserver.isu.edu:8080/ramgen/your_folder/real9video.rm
http://isurealserver.isu.edu:8080/ramgen/broadcast/your_folder/real9video.rm
META FILES
When linking to a RealMedia file using a meta file reference, the developer will need to utilize
the RTSP function inside a RAM meta file (test.ram). When a viewer clicks a RAM file, the
browser launches the Real Player. This is a sample of the URL found in a RAM file:
rtsp://isurealserver.isu.edu/your_folder/real9video.rm
rtsp://isurealserver.isu.edu/your_folder/real9video.rm
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>REAL MEDIA TEST</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<CENTER>
<P>
<P>
<! HTML INSERT BEGIN /!>
<OBJECT
ID=video1
CLASSID="clsid:CFCDAA03-8BE4-11cf-B84B-0020AFBBCCFA"
HEIGHT=240 WIDTH=320>
<PARAM NAME="controls" VALUE="ImageWindow">
<PARAM NAME="console" VALUE="Clip1">
<PARAM NAME="autostart" VALUE="false">
<PARAM NAME="src" VALUE="real9video.rpm">
<EMBED SRC="real9video.rpm" type="audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin" CONSOLE="Clip1"
CONTROLS="ImageWindow" HEIGHT=240 WIDTH=320 AUTOSTART=false>
</OBJECT>
<P>
</CENTER>
</BODY>
</HTML>
QuickTime Player:
http://www.isu.edu/yoursite/quick10video.mov
Although a QuickTime file can’t be streamed using an HTTP mount point, an image can be used
as a mount point that will open an external QuickTime Player. This is used by turning an image
into a QuickTime movie file.
This is a sample of the HTML source, in which a small QuickTime file was used for the image:
<param name="target" value="QuickTimePlayer">
<param name="href" value="http://www.isu.edu/yourfile/qt_ref.mov">
<param name="src" value="http://www.isu.edu/yourfile/image.mov">
<param name="autoplay" value="true">
<param name="controller" value="false">
<embed src="http://www.isu.edu/yourfile/image.mov"
width="165" height="30" type="video/quicktime" controller="false"
autoplay="true" loop="palindrome"
pluginspage="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/" name="Get QuickTime"
href="http://www.isu.edu/yourfile/qt_ref.mov" target="QuickTimePlayer"><br>
</object>
META FILES
When linking to a QuickTime file using a RTSP file reference, the developer will need to utilize
the MakeRefMovie tool for creating a meta file. This software will generate another move file
that is used to point to the MOV file on the server. This is a sample of the URL entered into
MakeRefMovie:
rtsp://isurealserver.isu.edu/your_folder/quick10video.mov
rtsp://isurealserver.isu.edu/your_folder/quick10video.mov
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>QuickTime Test</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<object CLASSID="clsid:02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B"
CODEBASE="http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab" width="508" height="326"
align="absmiddle">
</BODY>
</HTML>
http://isurealserver.isu.edu/asxgen/your_folder/winmed6test.wmv
META FILES
When linking to a Windows media file using a file reference, the developer will need to utilize
the MMS function inside an ASX meta file (test.asx). When a viewer clicks an ASX file, the
browser launches the Windows Media Player. This is a sample of the URL found in an ASX file:
mms://isurealserver.isu.edu/your_folder/winmed6test.wmv
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Embedded Windows Media Player</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<OBJECT ID="MediaPlayer" WIDTH=320 HEIGHT=240
CLASSID="CLSID:22D6f312-B0F6-11D0-94AB-0080C74C7E95"
STANDBY="Loading Windows Media Player components..."
TYPE="application/x-oleobject"
CODEBASE=
"http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/controls/mplayer/en/nsmp2inf.cab#Version
=6,4,7,1112">
<EMBED TYPE="application/x-mplayer2"
SRC="HTEST.ASX"
NAME="MediaPlayer"
WIDTH=320
HEIGHT=240>
</EMBED>
</OBJECT>
</BODY>
</HTML>
MPEG-4:
An MPEG-4 is streamed in the exact same way that a QuickTime .mov file is streamed. Please refer to
the section about streaming QuickTime files.
MP3:
HTTP MOUNT POINTS
When linking to an MP3 file on a Web page using an HTML reference, the developer will need
to utilize the RAMGEN function for delivery. This will open the file in an external copy of the
Real media player, rather than being embedded in the web page. This is a sample of the URL
reference:
http://isurealserver.isu.edu/ramgen/your_folder/classaudio.mp3
Browser Information:
On the following page is a table showing which browsers had problems with certain media files.