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Introduction to Streaming

Introduction to Streaming. From Soup to Nuts!. Rich Loen. Founder of sofTV.net VP of R&D Lead Developer Alpha Geek Rich@sofTV.net www.sofTV.net. Ken Singer. Streaming Guru RealNetworks Ksinger@real.com www.real.com. Navigation Central. The Internet. Blackboard and Web/CT.

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Introduction to Streaming

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  1. Introduction to Streaming From Soup to Nuts! Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  2. Rich Loen Founder of sofTV.net VP of R&D Lead Developer Alpha Geek Rich@sofTV.net www.sofTV.net Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  3. Ken Singer • Streaming Guru • RealNetworks • Ksinger@real.com • www.real.com Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  4. Navigation Central The Internet Blackboard and Web/CT Streaming Viewing Content Lights, Camera, Action Synchronizing Content Tools that make this easy. Encoding Distribution Real-Life scenarios Content Management Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  5. The Internet • Huge matrix of computers and routers • Combination of huge backbones and small pipes Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  6. Connections and Speeds • T3 – 45Mbps • T1 – 1.5 Mbps • LAN – 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps • DSL – 6 Mbps • ISDN – 128 Kbps • Modem – 56 Kbps • Note: Your mileage will vary! Expect to get a fraction of the above rates Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  7. How the Internet works • You enter www.sofTV.net in your browser • A DNS server translates this into an IP address (209.217.127.28) • Routers send your request to the sofTV.net server • The server and your browser talk back and forth using HTTP • Packets of information are sent to your browser – each may follow a different route • Your browser assembles the packets into a web page Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  8. The path content follows HTML, JPG, GIF Web Server Internet RM, WMV Real player embedded in web page Video Server Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  9. When is streaming appropriate? • One-to-many presentations. • One-to-one presentations viewed over the Internet or on CDROM • Similar to Television • Not appropriate for video conferencing where viewers interact with the presenter Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  10. Streaming vs Downloading Streaming • The video can start playing before the whole file is downloaded. • The player limits the amount of data transferred so it doesn’t take over the whole pipe • The player and server communicate to determine the optimal data connection speed • Works for live Downloading • Can overwhelm the connection – take all available bandwidth • Can overwhelm the web server • Does not work for live Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  11. Unicast vs Multicast • Unicast = one stream per viewer.Only protocol supported by the Internet1000 viewers x 100kbps video stream = 2.5 T3 lines • Multicast = one stream, many viewersCan only be used on an intranet Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  12. Edge servers and CDN’s • Edge server – server near viewers • CDN = Content Distribution Network • You can build your own using equipment from Infolibria • Share content across campus buildings efficiently Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  13. Edge servers and CDN’s Seattle New York Internet Miami Los Angeles Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  14. Streaming Protocols • UDP – most efficient for streamingSometimes blocked by firewalls • TCP – second best choice • HTTP – worst choice – lots of overhead, can’t seek videoNot blocked by firewalls Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  15. The Players • Real – runs on most platforms. V9 coming out soon with improved video and audio • RealONE – combines best features of video and browser. Currently only for PC – expect Mac version this summer • Windows Media – versions for both PC and Mac • Microsoft Corona – due out late this year • QuickTime – Apple’s format. Used by most movie studios for trailers • Mpeg 4 – still settling pricing issues. Players not readily available Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  16. Lights, Camera, Action! • Streaming starts with a video source! • “I’m only streaming. Quality doesn’t matter” – NO NO NO! Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  17. Cameras • Buy a good DV camera by a well-known manufacturer. This is important since capture cards can automate the camera playback – if they can talk to the camera • 3 CCD is better • Separate mic input with manual volume control Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  18. Lighting • You need a minimum of 3 light sources • Two in front - One simulates the sun, the other is lower and to the side to fill shadows • One behind to illuminate the background • Use a backdrop or white wall Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  19. Audio • Audio is very important – often more important than video! • Use a lapel microphone • Consider a wireless mic Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  20. Other factors • Clothing – simple, solid colors – no patterns! • Always use a tripod for every shot • Always use a script – very important! • Consider a teleprompter Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  21. Video Editing Software • The gold-standard is Adobe Premier. Look for a copy bundled with the video capture hardware. Make sure it is the full version. • Pinnacle Studio DV V7 has recently won many awards. • Apple iMovie or Final Cut Pro Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  22. The case for Audio Only? • Video can be complicated • Video requires a lot of bandwidth both to serve and to receive • Audio is great at 8kbps to 30kbps • Easy to record and edit • Easy to capture live lectures, simply using a laptop and a wireless mic! • Good for camera-shy people Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  23. Encoding • Converting a video or audio file, or a live feed into a format that can be sent over the Internet. Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  24. Encoders • Basic encoders available from Real (Real Producer) and Microsoft (Windows Media Encoder) • Encoders can also be built into third party products (sofTV.Presenter.2, sofTV.ShowAndTell) Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  25. Encoder Profiles • Define the parameters used to encode video or audio. • Bitrate, • Video size, • Framerate, • Pixel depth • Single bitrate vs multiple bitrates • Optimize for video, audio, fast motion, music • Video quality • Cropping (often needed to remove artifacts from lower edge of video) Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  26. Bitrates • Choose a bitrate appropriate for your target audience • Video • CDROM – 300 –600 Kbps • LAN – 100 Kbps • Internet 30 Kbps or multirate streaming of 30,100 & 300 Kbps • Audio • CDROM – 60 Kbps • Internet 8 Kbps – 30 Kbps Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  27. Discreet Media Cleaner • Dramatically improve the quality of streaming video by post-processing. • Use an uncompressed AVI file as input • Can specify hundreds of parameters • Can compress many files in batch mode • A great deal of experimentation required to get the best results. Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  28. Distribution • Now that we have a stream, how do we get it to viewers? • CDROM • Intranet • Internet • Content Distribution Network Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  29. CDROM • Option 1 – simply place the streaming video file on the CD. Users can double click to open and run it. • Option 2 – Embed the video in a web page, then direct users to launch the web page. • Note: Use an autorun.inf file in the root directory of the CD so that the content starts automatically. [autorun] open=explorer.exe /n, index.htm Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  30. Internet • Easy for all clients to view. • Place HTML content on a web server (Microsoft IIS or Apache) • Place video content on a video server (Real or Microsoft supply these) Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  31. Why a video server? • Server is optimized to server video content. • Server and Player negotiate to provide appropriate bandwidth stream to the viewer. • Removes load from web server. • Required for live. Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  32. Can I use my web serverto stream video? • Yes, with restrictions… • User can’t seek video – must watch from beginning to end. • Server tries to send file as quickly as possible – can clog server bandwidth and viewer connection. • Does not work for live. Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  33. Real Server • Available from www.real.com • Free version supports up to 25 simultaneous viewers. • Can be hosted on Unix, Linux, or Windows • Can stream Real or Quicktime video Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  34. Windows Media Server • Available from Microsoft • This software is free. • Streams only Windows Media video or audio • Runs on Windows XP, 2000, etc Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  35. Use a CDN? • If you are expecting many viewers – especially for live event • If you don’t want the hassle – just upload the files and let them serve them. • Quality will be better, especially if viewers are not near your server. Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  36. Content Management • You will soon have a lot of content. You may need to manage it, and provide users features like searching for a particular clip or lecture. • You may want to provide a Portal for viewers to access online content. Ideally, the portal will be automatic – it will automatically update to display new content when it is available. • Content Security is also important. Limiting viewers to those who have subscribed. Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  37. Integration with Blackboard or Web/CT • It is not recommended to place streaming content on Blackboard or Web/CT server. • Place content on a video server, then link to it from within Blackboard or Web/CT. • Use a simple web page with an embedded player or links to video, and host this page on Blackboard or Web/CT. • Use a lecture portal which points to all online lectures for a course(s), then link to the portal page from Blackboard or Web/CT. Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  38. The HTML side of the equation HTML, JPG, GIF Standard Browser Web Server Internet RM, WMV Embedded Video Player Video Server Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  39. Link to a file • You can simply link to a video file in HTML. • Viewer must already have the appropriate player. • Video player window will open and play. • Appropriate for “player centric” players such as RealONE Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  40. Embed a player in HTML • You can embed a video player in a web page. • More “seamless” integration with web page. Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  41. Creating the web page • Can use standard web development tools like Microsoft Frontpage, or Macromedia Dreamweaver, or Adobe Golive • Can use tools specifically designed for creating streaming video web pages such as sofTV.Presenter.2. Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  42. Synchronizing content • Embed commands in the video stream which synchronize content like slide images. • Works seamlessly for live or on-demand video • Can either open content in a web page frame, in a new window, or in special windows in RealONE Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  43. Preflight checks • Extra code in the web page to make sure that the viewer has the necessary browser, player, etc. • Often supplied automatically by the authoring software. Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  44. Allowing users to download • Some customers want to provide the viewer the capability to download the entire presentation. • Allows you to support viewers with very poor connections • Presentation downloaded as a ZIP file. Viewer unzips, then views the show locally. • Can be security issues Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  45. Tools for content creation • Real PresentationMaker powered by sofTV.net – create RealONE or HTML presentations. Live or on-demand. • sofTV.ShowAndTell – Very easy-to-use tool designed to capture lectures, then make them available on the Internet. • Macromedia Dreamweaver, Adobe Golive, MS FrontPage. Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  46. Real-life Scenarios • Simplest Possible Setup • Streaming Lecture Audio • Audio on-demand using Blackboard • Streaming Lecture Video Live Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  47. Simplest Possible On Demand HTML, JPG, GIFRM, WMV, WMA Internet Standard Browser Web Server .PPT sofTV.ShowAndTell (Audio) sofTV.Presenter.2 (Audio or Video) Adobe Premier to edit video Embedded Player Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  48. Streaming Lecture Audio On Demand Standard Browser Web Server Internet .PPT sofTV.ShowAndTell Embedded Player Real Server Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  49. Audio on-demand using Blackboard/Web/CT BlackboardServer Standard Browser HTML as ZIP file Internet .PPT RM file sofTV.ShowAndTell Embedded Player Real Server Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

  50. Audio on-demand using Blackboard & sofTV.Portal Web Server sofTV.Portal BlackboardServer Standard Browser Internet HTML .PPT RM file sofTV.ShowAndTell Embedded Player Real Server Rich Loen www.sofTV.net Ken Singer Real Networks

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