Streaming Media at Penn State

Kaspar StrommeKim Winck

Center for Education Technology Services Web 2001 Conference, June26, 2001

What is Streaming A technique for transferring data over a

network such that it can be processed as a steady and continuous stream

SERVER CLIENT

stream

A Fixed Data Rate

Network Bandwidth

Stream

What is Streaming (continued) Unicasting – one to one

Multicasting – one to many

Streaming Media

Video Audio PowerPoint Flash/Shockwave VR 3D

Formats at PSU

QuickTime

Real Media

Windows Media

IBM VideoCharger

Not all media on the web streams Download

Any server. Any file. Plays when done.

Not all media on the web streams Download

Any server. Any file. Plays when done.

Fast start/progressive download Any server. Some files. Plays after a while.

Not all media on the web streams Download

Any server. Any file. Plays when done.

Fast start/progressive download Any server. Some files. Plays after a while.

Streaming Some servers. Some files. Plays right away.

Streaming Media Files

Media files are HUGE

What’s the size of your pipe?

• Modem (89%)

• ISDN

• Cable/DSL

• LAN

Source: Internet.com April 2001

http://cyberatlas.internet.com/big_picture/geographics

A Few Basics

Media files are HUGE

Processing makes them SMALL

Reduce the Screen Size

320x240

160x120

Reduce the Frame Rate

TV = 29.97 fps

Film = 24 fps

Computer = ? fps

Reduce the Frame Rate (continued)

Low Motion High Motion

15-25 fps5-15 fps

Compression

JPEG TIFF

34K 237K

Compression (continued)

Non-lossy compression (GIF)

Lossy compression (JPEG)

CompressionDECompression

CODECs are the algorithms that compress and decompress the media

Popular Codecs Real Advanced Streaming Format Cinepak Sorenson MPEG 1, 2, 4, 7, MP3 PureVoice Qdesign Music ETC

How video compression works

?

Frame 1 Frame 2

Preparing Media for Compression

Shoot tighter shots Minimize camera movements such as zooms and

pans Try to shoot against plain backgrounds with little

activity Always use a tripod for steady shots Turn auto focus off, this avoids unintended focusing

Preparing Media (continued) Try to use a high-quality tape format such as

MiniDV, S-VHS or Hi8 Use new tapes to avoid glitches, dropouts, and

other image degradation Record in a quiet environment with little or no

background noise if possible Use high-quality recording equipment to minimize

noise

Creating Video for Streaming at PSU Prepare video

DV Cameras at Media Tech: www.libraries.psu.edu/mtss/

Digitize and edit video CAC/CETS Digital Video Editing Seminars: cac.psu.edu

/training Software: iMovie, Adobe Premiere, Media Cleaner

Creating Video(continued) Where to digitize and edit video

CAC Multimedia Labs- Pollock Library, 302 Patterson, 107 Rackley

Faculty appointment in the Faculty Multimedia Center : cac.psu.edu/fmc

Encode video for CAC/CETS Streaming Server: cac.psu.edu/streaming/specs.htm

Creating Video(continued) Upload video

Save to Firewire, Web/FTP site, JAZ, Zip Sign FMC Copyright Waiver

Serve video Web page

Play video QuickTime Player Examples: cac.psu.edu/streaming/examples.htm

Streaming Service

CAC/CETS Streaming Services Website

ets.cac.psu.edu/projects/streaming/www/index.htm