How to Stream Video over the web

dholt wrote on 7/29/2004, 9:35 AM

My project is completed and now I want to show it off to the world.

Does anyone know where I can get an easy how to on how to stream my video over the web or in a web page? thanks
DH

Comments

Chanimal wrote on 7/29/2004, 11:02 AM

First, you have to render it in a low-bit rate format. The typical formats are Windows Media, Quicktime and RealVideo.

I prefer Windows Media since you can create a highly optimized render using Microsofts free "Windows Media Encoder." It does a better job (more options) than the built in Vegas encoder so I save my original out as AVI and re-render it using Microsoft's app.

Quicktime produces mixed results at low bit-rate with their free render format. It can be much nicer with the Sorenson 3.0 commercial version (but it cost hundreds of dollars). It is cross compatable between PC and Mac--but most of my pieces are for business (not designers) so I don't worry as much.

RealVideo produces good results, but you've got to endure their player program to test it and it trys to take over your machine (although the recent version is much better if you are careful to tell the install what not to do).

Most of the program rendering options include recommended templates and bitrates for dial up, cable/DSL modem, or T1 lines. You may have to do some trial and error to get this optimized.

The next step is to post it to your server and create a link from your website (either a java script (I use Netobjects which helps automate the process) or a simple link. The user can then either stream the video (if you rendered with streaming optimzed) or can right click and download. You can also configure whether or not you want the user to be able to download the file.

There's several more options, but I'm sure others will jump in and fill in the blanks.

dholt wrote on 7/29/2004, 1:21 PM

Thanks Chanimal
Is there a program that creates nice video for web streaming using all three different formats once I have the video in an AVI file.

What does a program like Discreet Cleaner do?
DH

Jay Gladwell wrote on 7/29/2004, 4:37 PM

What does a program like Discreet Cleaner do?

Drain your pocketbook! ;o)

Jay

mbelli wrote on 7/29/2004, 5:38 PM

>Is there a program that creates nice video for web streaming
>using all three different formats once I have the video in an AVI file.

Sorenson Squeeze at http://www.sorenson.com/solutions/prod/comp_win.php does a great job with Web media. It has a very intutive interface, you just click buttons for each format and it encodes them all for you. Example, I regularly let it produce versions of Quicktime (Sorenson 3), Windows Media 9, MPEG-1, MPEG4 and Real Video.

To my eyes, Squeeze does the nicest job with web media, in particular Quicktime. Windows Media Encoder is not that inutitive and the enhancing filters provided with Squeeze, to my mind produce better results.

BTW, I normally output uncompressed from Vegas and use Squeeze to do the rest. Note, I don't like Squeeze for MPEG2, although it does that as well.

MB

Stonefield wrote on 7/30/2004, 6:30 PM

I agree, I've had great results with Sorenson Squeeze as well.

Spot|DSE wrote on 7/30/2004, 7:15 PM

However, with the exception of QT, Vegas does every bit as good a job on streaming encoding as Squeeze. REAL and WMV are great in Vegas, not to mention the ability to embed metadata in the stream from the timeline, which is pretty useful, IMO. Squeeze can't be beat (currently) for QT delivery, IMO. They've got some other sweet stuff coming, too. Remember though, Vegas started as a streaming tool, hence the really powerful tools.

farss wrote on 7/30/2004, 7:52 PM

Client bought in a Sony laptop with WME and iBurst card. Hooked up PD150 and instant streaming broadcast, no wires apart from the camera to laptop.

This iBurst stuff is very neat. Probably not enough bandwidth available for 'broadcast' quality but short of having an OB van and uWave link this is pretty cool technology.

With WME you even get a poverty pack switcher so you can have credits etc already prepared for your broadcast. Not bad for something that's free.

Bob.