Streaming Video

Introduction

Streaming video can be a powerful tool as it allows for the motion, visuals, and incorporation of audio and video that have otherwise not been possible over the Internet (due to particularly large file size or poor image quality). To create streaming video you must prepare in advance and have the proper equipment.

“Streaming” technology does two things:

compresses video clips to a significantly smaller size
allows video clips to download in pieces, providing for quicker starts, longer clips, and access over relatively slow modem connections.

These reductions in file size and download time do compromise the quality of the video clip, but this is the best balance currently available. Real Media, Microsoft and Apple all make software to produce and view streaming videos; the formats differ but the technologies are the same.

Real Media

Real Producer creates original streaming video and converts existing video files into streaming counterparts.

Real Presenter streams narrated PowerPoint presentations.

(File types: .rm, .rma, .rmv)

Microsoft

Windows Media Encoder creates streaming video and the Windows Media Player plays them.

(File types: .asf, .wmf)

Apple

Quicktime was among the first video formats available. The Quicktime Player plays either streaming or uncompressed video formats, which can only be created on a Macintosh or with fairly expensive software like Adobe Premier.

(File types: .mov, .qt)

Instructional Applications

One needs to plan carefully when incorporating streaming video into an Internet setting. Streaming is a better option than previous video incarnations, but it is not without limitations.

Limitations

File size is reduced but can still add up
Without proper equipment, audio and video can go out of sync
Fine detail is nearly impossible

Design Tips

Keep clips to only a few minutes (5-10 minutes max)
Work with plenty of light in a quiet, uninterrupted space
Script your material ahead of time

Work-Arounds

60-90 minutes of streamed video can be stored on a standard CD. Playing them then does not involve modems or the Internet
Use the TLC facilities

Streaming videos are excellent for quick demonstrations, short video introductions, process illustrations (not requiring especially fine detail) and brief film clips. No one will be impressed with video for video’s sake. Be sure the clip is necessary, relevant and as concise as possible. If you don’t NEED video, go another way (see “Alternatives,” below)

Alternatives

Are you certain you need full-motion video? Talking heads didn’t work with Cable in the Classroom and don’t bode well here. If it’s information and narration you’re after, try RealPresenter (using PowerPoint presentations) instead.

Streaming over the Internet is the most widely-available but most limited (by download time) option. Distribution on CD eliminates long download times, although costs and production time are increased.

For on-campus situations, the simpler solutions are probably the best: original, commercial, or instructional videos (VHS tapes) can be left on closed reserve at the TLC for students to check-out and view on equipment there. Original productions or those in the public-domain can be broadcast on the campus cable system (available in the EUC, some classrooms and all residence halls).

Equipment Requirements

Audio: A standard microphone will be fine (goose-neck, clip-on, head-set boom mic) as long as it is free standing and can be moved around.

Video: You have several options, all of which are categorized as “video capture devices.” Jargon aside, these include:

Video Card: installed inside a computer with connections into which can go any standard audio/video device (a VCR, video camera, DVD player)

External Video Capture Devices: like the Dazzle Video Creator, these devices connect by cable to a computer and are generally easier to dis- and re-connect devices.

Webcam: one of those eyeball cameras or the like.

Digital Camera: many digital still cameras, and all digital video cameras can be run through a computer (most require additional cables or connectors)

It is not generally possible to record from an internal DVD drive. Also, Windows 95/98 cannot adequately balance multiple capture devices; having more than one video capture device connected at one time can sometimes cause conflicts and other hardware failures.

Real Presenter vs. Real Producer

Real Producer is software that can both create new streaming videos (“Create from Media Device” is the option) and convert existing video files (.avi, .mov, .qt formats) which involves the “Create from File” option. This help document will teach you how to use Real Producer for streaming video.

Real Presenter converts narrated PowerPoint presentations into streaming video. Real Presenter is an excellent alternative to full-motion video (especially the talking head).

Copyright issues regarding Internet broadcasting are unresolved: password-protections, on-campus-only access, and time-limited broadcast are all excellent ideas, but they do not currently guarantee protection under the Fair Use exceptions to state and federal copyright laws. Your best bet is to provide for all of these and to limit your use of copyrighted clips to 3 minutes or 10% of the total broadcast time, whichever is less. Specific questions can be directed to the University Counsel’s Office.

With any copyrighted source, you must disallow recording and downloading as part of the streaming process (see “Important Recording Options” at the end of this handout)

Copyrighted videos cannot be broadcast over the campus cable system.

Relevant Links

Real Player (Free):	http://www.real.com/player/ (“Basic” is a free version)
Quicktime Player (Free):	http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
Windows Media Player (Free):	www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/download
iMovie (Mac only):	http://www.apple.com/imovie/
Adobe Premier Demo:	http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/demoreg.html
MS Media Encoder:	http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/download (“Windows Media Tools and Services” section)

Using RealProducer

Overview & Settings Adjustment
The good news is that creating a streaming video is no more difficult than creating streaming audio. . .if your equipment is up to task and if you have the correct settings. Please consult the help document on streaming audio for those settings.

If you have only one video capture device (please see “Equipment Requirements,” above) then you shouldn’t have to adjust anything. If you have more than one video capture device, go through the following process to activate only one device at a time.

Open your Windows Control Panel (click - - ) and then select the “Multimedia” icon pictured at left.

In the window that then appears, click first on the “Devices” tab (#1 at left).
The window that then appears will list several “Multimedia Drivers.” You need to adjust the “Video Capture Devices.” If no options are displayed (offset and just below “Video Capture Devices”), click the + next to “VCD”
Click once on each Video Capture Device that you’re not going to use. Once that item is highlighted, click the “Properties” button (#3 at left; it will light up as you select a device).
After clicking “Properties,” the window at left will appear. For each device you are not using, click “Do not use this video capture device” and click “OK.”
Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each device listed that you are not using.
Select the device that you are using, and repeat step 3. Only this time, click “Use this video capture device.” Click “OK” here and in the “Multimedia Properties” window. Close any other windows. You’re ready!

Step-By-Step Process

When you start RealProducer, the window below pops up. (If you miss it, you can click “File” then “Recording Wizard” to get it back). The worth of each option is explained just beneath it. Pick the option you’d like.

Please Note: As with audio, the ideal situation is to have a high-quality copy from which you create your streaming version. If this original is on your computer, choose “Record from File.”

If you’re using a VHS, DVD or digital camera connected to your computer, select “Record from Media Device.”

If you intend to create a short introduction or other clip where quality is not paramount, using a web-cam (also a “Media Device”) is an inexpensive and entirely sufficient option.

Webcams are the only reasonable option for the “Live Broadcast” option. We do not currently provide support for live broadcasts.

If You Choose “Record from File”

The Recording Wizard will walk you through a series of steps that are almost entirely fill-in-the-blank. Visuals are included here for quick reference. Tips follow below.


1. Select the original file	2. Fill in ID information	3. Choose server set	4. Choose 2 rates (28.8 & LAN)

5. Select audio quality	6. Select video quality	7. Name the new file	8. Review. Click “Finish”

After you’ve run through the steps of the Recording Wizard, you will see a window similar to the one at left. You should see the first frame of your original video in the upper-left window. Here too you can review (and change) your basic recording settings.

When you have everything set as you’d like (please see “Important Recording Options” below), click the “Start” button in the lower-left corner of this window. This will begin the recording process.

Do NOTHING ELSE with your computer. It will tell you when it’s done. The streaming file will be placed in the same directory as the original file, unless you specify otherwise.

If You Choose “Record from Media Device”

The process for recording from a media device is nearly identical to that for recording from a file, outlined above. The only distinction is this first window. Here, you must select both the appropriate audio and video device.

If you would like to record only the sound, uncheck “Capture Video.” If you would like to record silent video, uncheck “Capture Audio.” If you want both the audio and video from the original source, check both.

Please Remember: You must have deactivated all but the one relevant video device as outlined in “To select only one video capture device,” above.

After this window, please refer to the section above for specifics.

Important Recording Options (essential for copyrighted materials)

When you’ve run through the Recording Wizard, and before you’ve pressed the “Start” button to actually begin the conversion process (pictured at the top of this page), click “Options” from the menu bar and then select “Preferences.”

In this next window, click the “General” tab (#1 at left). From here, you can prohibit recording, downloading or search-engine indexing of your clip. For copyrighted materials, you should remove the checks next to “Allow Recording” and “Allow Download.” Then click “OK” to return to the main window.