Compression types/ Bandwidth

[spt]

Hi,

I am hoping to set-up a dozen or so streaming video files( to start), preferably with sound, they would be maybe 4/5 minutes or more and I am looking into using FlashMX to handle it, if it can. However nothing professional, I use a fairly basic editing application.

There are two main questions I have:

I have a command line utility to convert .avi to .wma but have been reading about divx and xvid and wonder about the difference and which it is best to use.

Also, any ideas what the best way is to deal with the large Bandwidth - create my own server? and is it feasible?

Many thanks if anyone can help,

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Steve T.

[StuartV]

wma - Windows Media Audio

You need wmv - windows media video

If you want to run your own streaming server then you need a large pipe (leased line) which is probably still prohibitively expensive in the UK (price is better here in the Netherlands).

If you want to try a small number then you can use a progressive download embedded method which will stream from an ordinary web server.

divx is a "hacked" version of mpeg4, which whilst it can be used for streaming is not ideal.

To see some of the examples that I've done, go to my pages at http://www.stuartv.tk .

The videos here are all http streaming.

You can download the Windows Media encoder from MS (it's free). If you want to ensure the widest audience, I recommend one of the older MS codecs (wm7 for example), as the latest (and best) codec wm9 is not supported on mac yet, and will not be supported on NT4 or win95.

Hope this helps

Stuart

[spt]

>>If you want to run your own streaming server then you need a large pipe (leased line) which is probably still prohibitively expensive in the UK (price is better here in the Netherlands).

It looks as if the price of Broadband leased line is coming downwards very rapidly, if this provides sufficient bandwidth - the price would be OK I think.

>If you want to try a small number then you can use a progressive download embedded method which will stream from an ordinary web server.

I checked your URL, the video loaded quickly for a 52K modem.

Any chance you could explain how I can set up a progressive download method? I would like to do this. http://www.dvdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ubb/cool.gif

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Steve T.
Flashability.net (http://www.flashability.net)

[StuartV]

The windows media encoder makes it all very easy (wizards etc) to encode for progressive download.

The embedding code can be used from any of the video pages (its fairly obvious).

Hope this helps

Stuart

[PaulD]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by spt:
[It looks as if the price of Broadband leased line is coming downwards very rapidly, if this provides sufficient bandwidth - the price would be OK I think....<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hi you need to read the small print about what you are and are NOT allowed to do with an end-user broadband connection in the UK....
Regards

[spt]

Thankx chaps!

I will check with BB provider Zen for the small print, I did hear that a cap of 1 GByte was being placed on usage by provider NTL, presumable to leverage higher charges for business use.

Cheers.

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Steve T.
Flashability.net (http://www.flashability.net)