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Overview

Overview & Requirements

Streaming files on line allow you to play a multimedia file (e.g. audio or video) as it downloads.

The player usually starts by buffering the media file (thats storing up some of the file in advance). It then starts playing the buffered material whilst topping up the buffer as it downloads the file so you contine to see or hear the streamed media.

If that doesn't make sense, think about a sink filled with water. Our buffer of the media file becomes the water in the sink. If you pull the plug this will drain away (just like what happens when you play your media file). But if you open the tap at the right rate the sink should remain full (i.e the incoming water replenishes the water in the sink)

Currently there are 3 common streamed media formats. All 3 can produce stand alone media files (ie. non streamed as well). We list sites which will be loaded with hint, software and tutorials

A word of warning. Media files especially streamed media may quickly eat away at your bandwidth for your site

.rm
Real Media® files.
These are the archetypial streamed files. Good examples can be seen in action on the BBC news site at http://news.bbc.co.uk/). One of the first and still most popular streamed media format. The basic player can still be downloaded for free at http://www.real.com/. you can also use the files as non streamed format.

But for more details about creating .rm files visit the Real networks site at http://www.realnetworks.com/ they have a host of free resources.

.mov
These movie file types are based on the Quicktime (QT) system. Its designed initially for the Mac platform but is now usable via a plugin and helper application on most other operating systems. You can load the standard quicktime player™ from Apple for free as well as get access to a host of resources. QT has some great compression schemes which often make QT files smaller without loss of quality.


.wmv (video) or
.wma (audio)
Windows Media Format .
The new kid on the block developed by Microsoft. Like quickt. It benefits from jumps in compression technology and has the weight of Microsoft behind it. Microsoft have tons of resources at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.asp many of which are free to download.
 

REQUIRMENTS

To Create Streamed Media You're going to need the following

  • Powerful Enough PC
  • Video and/or sound capture device(s)
  • Software to create streamed media
  • Possibly suitable web server

Powerful Enough PC

Unlikely to be an issue if you've bought your PC in the past few years. As long as you can run the capture devices and steaming software (check requirements), there shouldn't be a problem)

Video and/or sound capture device(s)

We've detailed these in our audio and video tutorials elsewhere

Essentially you'll need to get or create a standard media file type (e.g. wav, avi, mov, mpeg, etc.) for conversion.

You can end up making these just with your PC (e.g. using music creation software) but more often than not you'll want to acquire them form an external source

Sound is usually easy. Most PC will have a sound card with a mic and or line in sockets which you can plug a microphone or audio equipment through, and there is usually sound recording software available too (see here for more)

Video(+/- audio) can be created in several ways. Most webcams come with software allowing you to record video files. Some digital cameras will record short video sequences. You can plug video cameras into your PC provided you have a video capture card and the requisite software (often many graphics cards come with this built in). for more see here
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Software to create streamed media

Not a huge surprise but loads available at a range of prices. One of the best when starting out was RealProducer® Basic 8.5 from Real Networks®. This is a powerful bit of freeware that will allow you to set up RealAudio® and RealVideo® files with ease and without the need for specialist servers or server software (see below)

Sadly it has been replaced by the new all sining and dancing Helix producer basic. Although this shares many features it is geared to using Helix server software and not standard HTTP servers

You may find 8.5 on an old cover magazine

It can record a real media file direct form a capture device but its edit abilities are limited so you're better preparing a complete file in advance.

We've a quick run through on how to use it

Windows Movie maker will create standard .wmv files. We discuss it elsewhere on this site

Possibly a suitable web server

Normal http web servers transmit information in a sequences of burst called packets. To get the best results you ideally need a dedicated streaming media server or one that has streaming media soerver software installed which allows for smoother transmission

However you can do this with a http server (just requires a bit better buffering. For example real producer basic 8.x was geared up for creating web video for standard servers. Sadly this doesn't seem to be the thrust of Helix producer basic it's sucsessor, although Real are giving away free use Helix server software, which allows ordinary servers to stream

All the listed file formats sites have tools and advice to create & get your streaming media files online

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(Disclaimer- we don't recommend, endorse or take any responsibility for the downloading, installation or running of any software referred to on this site and any subsequent damage or problems that the program or its download may cause. Your should always read the manufacturers instructions, warranties and disclaimers and our legal notices)

Just a reminder note about copyright. This is much the same as site graphics. If you are putting music or video on your site that you wrote, hold the copyright to (if there is one) and performed that is then that's okay under most countries' and international law (assuming it fulfils international and locally acceptable laws about it contents and lyrics - i.e.. Don't put a song on-line if if against the law to play it in front of an audience). Clearly if you change your entire music collection or a film' into downloadable files and place it on the web without permission from the relevant parties that is illegal and you might well end up being at the wrong end of a legal action. Between this the key is permission, so basically if in doubt don't do it and see about getting permission first (These thing vary from country to country and company to company - so we're not going to bore you to death about it and give potentially false legal info)

Streaming tutorials main
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