Delivering Audio

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Delivering Audio Video Online

• Presented by William Haun
• http//www.williamhaun.com/

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Outline

• Streaming, Download, Progressive Download
• Whats 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

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Streaming, Download, Progressive Download

• Whats 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

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Streaming, Download, Progressive Download

• Downloading Benefits
• Its the simplest delivery method just link to
  the file
• Once the user downloads it, repeat viewings dont
  cost you bandwidth
• The file is portable the user can copy the
  file, share it, or even convert it to another
  format

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Streaming, Download, Progressive Download

• Downloading Limitations
• User cant watch/listen to the file until it is
  completely downloaded
• User may download the file then discover he cant
  play it due to missing media player or codec
• Some users just dont 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)

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Streaming, Download, Progressive Download

• Progressive Downloading Benefits
• User doesnt 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 dont
  cost you bandwidth
• The file is portable however, media players
  dont always make the downloaded file easy to find

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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 cant 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)

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Streaming, Download, Progressive Download

• Streaming Benefits
• User watches/hears video instantly(ok, not quite
  instantly, youll want a buffer of a few seconds)
• User doesnt 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

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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

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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.

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Delivering to Your Audience

• Considerations
• Bandwidth
• File Formats (Media Players)
• Codecs

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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

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http//www.scoutingaround.com/computers/internet/d
slcable_p2.php
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Delivering to Your Audience

• Considerations Bandwidth

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http//compnetworking.about.com/od/dslvscablemodem
/a/speedcompare.htm
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Delivering to Your Audience

• Considerations Bandwidth
• The only affect the users 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 users bandwidth
• Remember, a users bandwidth is never consistent
  and is rarely at its advertised top speed

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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
  shouldnt expect you to cater to him ?

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Delivering to Your Audience

• Considerations File Formats (Media Players)
• What media player(s) does the user have?

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Delivering to Your Audience

• Considerations File Formats (Media Players)
• What media player(s) does the user have?

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Delivering to Your Audience

• Considerations File Formats (Media Players)
• The Top Media Players Pros ConsREAL MEDIA
  PLAYER
• Proven quality
• Will auto-download missing Real codecs
• Proven with live streaming multicast
• 2 on PC Worlds 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 Williams Most Annoying Player award

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Delivering to Your Audience

• Considerations File Formats (Media Players)
• The Top Media Players Pros ConsQUICKTIME
  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

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Delivering to Your Audience

• Considerations File Formats (Media Players)
• The Top Media Players Pros ConsWINDOWS 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 Microsofts
  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

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http//news.com.com/MusicstopsforMacWindowsMe
diaPlayer/2100-1047_3-6026715.html?partrsstag6
026715subjnews
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Delivering to Your Audience

• Considerations File Formats (Media Players)
• The Top Media Players Pros ConsFLASH 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 isnt 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

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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.

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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 arent as easily identified

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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.mi
  crosoft.com/kb/899113Just about any codec
  installed in Windows will work in WMP
• QuickTime CodecsVaries a lot from version to
  version, so check this charthttp//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/g
  uides/helixproducer/htmfiles/app_code.htm

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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 Quicktimes 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

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Delivering to Your Audience

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

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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/

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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
  files 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

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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
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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 doesnt have a browser plug-in
• Limited control over the look of the embedded
  player (except with Flash)
• Avoid auto play users will hate you

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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)

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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

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Delivering to Your Audience

• Delivery Methods Podcasting
• iTunes is the most popular place to
  find/subscribe to podcasts
• Due to iTunes monopoly you dont 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

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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

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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)

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Resources

• Windows Media Resources
• Windows Media Knowledge Centerhttp//www.microsof
  t.com/windows/windowsmedia/knowledgecenter/default
  .aspx
• Info on new VC-1 codechttp//www.microsoft.com/wi
  ndows/windowsmedia/forpros/events/NAB2005/VC-1.asp
  x
• Windows Media DRMhttp//www.microsoft.com/windows
  /windowsmedia/forpros/drm/default.mspx
• QuickTime Resources
• Whats New in QuickTime 7http//developer.apple.c
  om/documentation/QuickTime/Conceptual/QT7Win_Updat
  e_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.co
  m/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

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