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Video Caster v3.44 |
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Understanding Video Streaming |
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Streaming technology
allows net users to click and enjoy on-demand audio and
video. The media file that the viewer watches is
usually present on a streaming server like
Video Desk that sends video/audio data over the
Internet, whenever it is requested. |
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This is easier said than
done. Normally, bandwidth required to view a VCD
quality video is 1500Kbps-2Mbps. However, Internet
bandwidth is usually restricted between 56 Kbps and 256
Kbps. Moreover, the actual bandwidth available at
a given time also fluctuates depending on Internet
traffic. |
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To workaround these
bandwidth issues, the media content author must create
files that can be viewed by the user with the available
Internet bandwidth. For example, a video created
at bit-rate 128Kbps will not be viewable to users with a
56Kbps connection. The flip side is that encoding
the video at 56Kbps will cause a loss in image quality.
A possible solution, often employed, is to create 2
videos – a low quality video for 56Kbps and a relatively
high quality video for 128Kbps users. |
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A more suitable solution
is to encode multiple streams at different bit-rates
within the same file. This is called as Mutual
Exclusion by Bit Rate. Such MBR files can contain
multiple streams encoded at say, 24Kbps, 56Kbps, 128Kbps
and 256Kbps. The streaming server and the media
player work together to make the video adapts to a
fluctuating Internet connection. For example, if a
128Kbps connection drops down to 56Kbps then the
streaming server automatically starts streaming the
56Kbps stream, providing uninterrupted video playback.
The only difference a viewer might notice is a change in
video quality. |
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Video Caster allows you to convert your video files
to a streaming format like the Windows Media Formats,
with just a few clicks. All you have to do is to
identify the bandwidth that your audience has, and then
select from a list of predefined profiles for different
bandwidths. |
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Once the conversion is
done, you can publish these files to a streaming server
or a web server from within the software itself. |
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Publishing your Media File |
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After you have encoded
your video in the suitable media format, you need to
publish it onto a streaming server like
Video Desk. |
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Video Caster simplifies
this process by providing an in-built publishing wizard.
Simply specify the file you wish to publish along with
the details of the Streaming or Web Server you want to
publish to. |
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Once you have published
these files on to a streaming server, all your viewers
have to do is to click on a link. The streaming
server will take care of the rest. |
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A streaming server works
by further compressing the media file and then breaking
it into small packets. These packets are sent one
after another, over the Internet to the requesting
user’s computer. When they reach their
destination, they are decompressed and reassembled into
a form that the user’s media player can read and
display. To maintain the illusion of continuity, a
number of packets are downloaded on the user's machine
before playback begins. As those buffered packets
play, more packets are being downloaded and queued up
for playback. |
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Why use Streaming? |
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Significantly Less
Bandwidth Requirement: Video files meant to
be played on your computer like MPEG, AVI etc. take up a
lot of disk space. To play them across the
Internet they must take up less space so that the
bandwidth requirement is significantly less depending on
the internet connection speed. Streaming Media
Formats use various compression techniques to make video
files very small in size. |
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Video Files are Protected:
Streaming media files are streamed. Unlike other
video clips, these files are never downloaded to the
viewer's computer and are therefore protected.
Viewers cannot manipulate streaming media files in any
way nor can they distribute copies of the media files. |
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Monitoring Capability: The streaming media server
has reporting capability that enables you to monitor any
media files for the number of times they are streamed,
the amount of bandwidth they consume, the peak hours
when they are most frequently streamed etc. These
reports help you analyze and further enhance online
viewing experience of your website. |
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A final Word |
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The conditions seem ripe
for streaming to become a global media broadcasting and
distribution standard. It has not only provided
great business opportunities for broadcasters,
corporations, and web sites, it has also become a
powerful communication medium that has brought families
and groups closer. After all, isn’t that what the
Internet is all about? |
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