Delivering Audio & Video Online

Delivering Audio & Video Online Presented by William Haun http://www.williamhaun.com/

Outline • Streaming, Download, & Progressive Download • What’s the difference? • Benefits & limitations of each method • Delivering to Your Audience • Considerations • Bandwidth • File Formats (Media Players) • Codecs • Delivery Methods • Direct Links • Metafiles • Embedding in web pages • Flash interfaces • Podcasting • User generated content (UGC) communities 2

Streaming, Download, & Progressive Download What’s the difference? • Download - click and wait for entire file to download before viewing • Progressive Download - click and wait for short buffering period, then watch what has been downloaded as the rest downloads • Streaming - click wait, for short buffering period, then watch/listen to the content as it is sent to you in packets data and in real time 3

Streaming, Download, & Progressive Download Downloading: Benefits • It’s the simplest delivery method – just link to the file • Once the user downloads it, repeat viewings don’t cost you bandwidth • The file is portable – the user can copy the file, share it, or even convert it to another format 4

Streaming, Download, & Progressive Download Downloading: Limitations • User can’t watch/listen to the file until it is completely downloaded • User may download the file then discover he can’t play it due to missing media player or codec • Some users just don’t know what todo with the file (or where to find it) • The file is portable – you may notwant it shared and will have toimplement some kind of digitalrights management (DRM) 5

Streaming, Download, & Progressive Download Progressive Downloading: Benefits • User doesn’t have to wait for the entire file to download before viewing • All of the top 4 media players implement this feature automatically when downloading files • Since the user can preview the media he may cancel the download if not interested and save you bandwidth • Once the user downloads it, repeat viewings don’t cost you bandwidth • The file is portable – however, media players don’t always make the downloaded file easy to find 6

Streaming, Download, & Progressive Download Progressive Downloading: Limitations • Users may experience jerky video and stuttering audio if watching while the media is still downloading (QT, FLV) • User can’t fast-forward beyond what has been downloaded up to that point • The file is portable – you may need a DRM solution(if the user is tech savvy enough to know where to find it) 7

Streaming, Download, & Progressive Download Streaming: Benefits • User watches/hears video instantly(ok, not quite instantly, you’ll want a buffer of a few seconds) • User doesn’t have to wait for the entire file to download before viewing – can skip to any point in the file • The only bandwidth used is what the user actually watches • The only way to deliver live events • The file is NOT portable 8

Streaming, Download, & Progressive Download Streaming: Limitations • Users will experience jerky video and stuttering audio if the bit rate of the stream is higher than their internet connection • Requires a special type of server to host & stream the file 9

Streaming, Download, & Progressive Download CONCLUSIONS Progressive download is the most common and users are familiar with the process (and limitations).It is ideal for media of short length or high bit rate. Streaming is ideal for long duration media.Users should always be offered at least two bit rate versions to choose from.Lets you broadcast live events. Downloading should only be used if you want the user to have a copy of the file to share or re-use offline. 10

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations • Bandwidth • File Formats (Media Players) • Codecs 11

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: Bandwidth How fast is the user's internet connection? Dial-up – 56.6Kbpsrarely above 48Kbps, can only stream audio DSL – 512Kbps to 2Mbpsthe farther from the access point, the slower Cable – 3Mbps to 30Mbpsthe more people online in the neighborhood, the slower T1/LAN (IntraNet) – 100Mbps+ Kbps = Kilobits per second Mbps = Megabits per second 12 http://www.scoutingaround.com/computers/internet/dslcable_p2.php

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: Bandwidth 13 http://compnetworking.about.com/od/dslvscablemodem/a/speedcompare.htm

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: Bandwidth The only affect the user’s bandwidth has on downloads and progressive downloads is the amount of time it takes to download. Streaming media must be streamed at a bit rate LOWER than the user’s bandwidth Remember, a user’s bandwidth is never consistent and is rarely at its advertised top speed 14

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: Bandwidth SOLUTIONS Give the user an ETA of how long it will take to download the file for their connection Give the user several different bandwidth versions of the file to choose from (low, medium, high) Use multiple bit rate streaming Forget about the narrow bandwidth user, he shouldn’t expect you to cater to him  15

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: File Formats (Media Players) What media player(s) does the user have? 16

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: File Formats (Media Players) What media player(s) does the user have? 17

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: File Formats (Media Players) The Top Media Players’ Pros & Cons:REAL MEDIA PLAYER • Proven quality • Will auto-download missing Real codecs • Proven with live streaming & multicast • #2 on PC World’s Top 25 Worst Technologies of the Decade • Only 55.3% of internet users have it installed • Cross-browser issues when embedding player in web pages • Very confusing download process for the user • Wins William’s “Most Annoying Player” award 18

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: File Formats (Media Players) The Top Media Players’ Pros & Cons:QUICKTIME PLAYER & iTUNES • Pre-installed on every Macintosh • Has a great quality/file size ratio • Very flexible and supports many different codecs • Through 3rd party software QuickTime can provide very interactive multimedia experiences beyond just video • Only way to get into iTunes or on iPod • iTunes makes podcast subscribing a cinch for Joe Blow • Save $$$ with an open source streaming server alternative • Only 67% of internet users have it installed (but is gaining popularity due to iTunes) • Packaged with iTunes it is a 42MB download • Alone it is still a whopping 19MB download 19

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: File Formats (Media Players) The Top Media Players’ Pros & Cons:WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER • 83.2% of internet users have it • Has a great quality/file size ratio • Very flexible and supports many different codecs • Will automatically attempt to download missing codecs • Security issues because it relies on Microsoft’s ActiveX • Issues embedding player in web pages for non-IE browsers • Latest version (v11) is a 25MB download • Last version for Mac was v9, which was incomplete 20 http://news.com.com/Music+stops+for+Mac+Windows+Media+Player/2100-1047_3-6026715.html?part=rss&tag=6026715&subj=news

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: File Formats (Media Players) The Top Media Players’ Pros & Cons:FLASH VIDEO • 97.3% of internet users have a video- ready Flash player plug-in • 1.3MB download and easy install process • Has a great quality/file size ratio (with Flash 8 codec) • You have full control over the player design (great for branding) • Save $$$ with an open source streaming server alternative • There isn’t a standard player – you have to build or get one to embed in your web pages (need a Flash Developer) • Only has 2 codec options • Currently no DRM options and no multicast • Not very portable - the FLV file format has no stand-alone player and is limited to the browser 21

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: File Formats SOLUTIONS Flash video has taking the web by storm due to its ease of use for the end user and the control given to the content creator.It is the best way to deliver streaming and progressive download media on the web. For downloadable files, Windows Media and QuickTime are the two best options. 22

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: Codecs What is a codec? A codec is the encoder/decoder algorithm used within a file format to compress the media file. Codecs determine the file size of the encoded file and the level of quality A file format is not restricted to one codec.e.g. a MOV file could be encoded with Sorenson, Sorenson 3, H.264, Cinepak, or JPEG codecs Codecs are more difficult to deal with than file formats because they aren’t as easily identified 23

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: Codecs What codecs are available to what file formats? Windows Media Player CodecsCodecs basically follow the player version numberhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/899113Just about any codec installed in Windows will work in WMP QuickTime CodecsVaries a lot from version to version, so check this chart:http://www.simnet.is/klipklap/quicktime/ Flash Video CodecsFlash 7 can play FLVs with Sorenson Spark codec (97.3%)Flash 8 can play FLVs with On2 codec (94.2%) Real Codecs http://service.real.com/help/library/guides/helixproducer/htmfiles/app_code.htm 24

Delivering to Your Audience Considerations: Codecs SOLUTIONS Stick to the codecs you know are native to the media player version and file format you are targeting For podcasting - always use mp3 or mp4 codecs for audioStick to Quicktime’s m4v file format and H.264 codec for video podcasts (due to popularity of iTunes and iPods) For Flash Video - use the Flash 8 On2 VP6 codec for Flash videoThe file size and quality benefits are worth the 3% penetration difference between Flash 7 and 8 For Windows Media, use the WM7 codec if you want to ensure Mac users can watch your video Use MPEG-2 codec for downloadable files to be used on DVD 25

Delivering to Your Audience Delivery Methods • Direct Links • Metafiles • Embedding in web pages • Flash interfaces • Podcasting • User generated content (UGC) communities 26

Delivering to Your Audience Delivery Methods: Direct Links • User clicks link, and their default media player opens and plays the file(except QuickTime and WMP 11 which will play it in the browser) • Easiest method to implement, just put a link in your web page • The link can be sent via email • The only way to deliver downloadable media (usually accompanied by “right-click, save target as…” directions) Example at http://imb.org/videolink/ 27

Delivering to Your Audience Delivery Methods: Meta Files • Meta file is an XML file that contains information about the video and a pointer to the file’s location • Can be direct linked or embedded in your web page • The file (or link to file) can be sent via email • You can move or rename your video files, then just update the contents of the meta file without worrying about “breaking links” • You can create playlists • You can add “fail over” servers Examples from http://imb.org/videolink/ and “Hauns Go West” 28

Delivering to Your Audience Delivery Methods: Embedding in Web Pages User can watch the video right there in the page • No linking to another page, no popup windows • Just click “play” Embedded Windows Media Player 29

Delivering to Your Audience Delivery Methods: Embedding in Web Pages The Downside: • Can have browser compatibility issues • If they install the plug-in they usually have to restart the browser to have it take effect, then have to navigate back to your site • Sometimes users have a non-standard media player that doesn’t have a browser plug-in • Limited control over the look of the embedded player (except with Flash) • Avoid auto play – users will hate you 30

Delivering to Your Audience Delivery Methods: Flash • Over 97% of users have video enabled Flash players installed their browser • Allows full customization of the player to create a truly rich internet application (RIA) • Easily integrate into Flash websites or embed into HTML websites • Can communicate with a database in real-time • - Can be used with CD-ROM content(no plug-in required by the end user) 31

Delivering to Your Audience Delivery Methods: Podcasting • Users subscribe to your “feed” and they get your new content downloaded automatically to their podcasting software and devices • Podcasting is very easy to integrate into your existing media delivery processes • Your content needs to be engaging and regularly updatedin order to get/keep subscribers 32

Delivering to Your Audience Delivery Methods: Podcasting • iTunes is the most popular place to find/subscribe to podcasts • Due to iTunes’ monopoly you don’t have many options when it comes to codecs (not necessarily a bad thing)- mp3 or mp4 for audio- m4v file with H.264 codec for video 33

Delivering to Your Audience Delivery Methods: UGC Communities • YouTube, Google Video, MySpace, Blip.tv,Imeem, Metacafe • Gives you access to a HUGE audience • Puts your content in the places onliners are going(instead of expecting them to come to you) • No bandwidth costs for you • Content has to be manually uploaded • You have very little control over the encoding quality • Make sure you limit users’ ability to add comments, ratings, etc… 34

Delivering to Your Audience Delivery Methods CONCLUSION • Flash is the best method for reaching the largest audience and creating the best interface via a website. The quality is very good as well. • Podcasting is a great method if you have a loyal audience and regular content to distribute • If you use meta files, take advantage of all the features available (meta data, images, links, playlists, etc…) 35

Resources Windows Media Resources • Windows Media Knowledge Centerhttp://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/knowledgecenter/default.aspx • Info on new VC-1 codechttp://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/events/NAB2005/VC-1.aspx • Windows Media DRMhttp://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/drm/default.mspx QuickTime Resources • What’s New in QuickTime 7http://developer.apple.com/documentation/QuickTime/Conceptual/QT7Win_Update_Guide/Chapter02/chapter_2_section_3.html • QuickTime Developer Connection - http://developer.apple.com/documentation/QuickTime/index.html Flash Resources • Flash Video Developer Center - http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/video.html • Flash Media Server Developer Center - http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashmediaserver/ Real Media Resources • Content Production and Authoring Documentationhttp://service.real.com/help/library/encoders.html • DRM with Helix Server - http://docs.real.com/docs/rn/datasheet/Helix_DRM_S308.pdf 36

Delivering Audio & Video Online