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`Chapter 2: Streaming Media Basics
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`This chapter introduces you to streaming media and RealSystem G2. It shows you the diiferent types of
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`streaming media that you can create with RealProducer Plus, what you need to get started, and discusses the
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`importance ofknowing your audience.
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`Although you do not need to know this inforrmtion in order to use RealProducer Plus for basic tasks, it is
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`recommended that you have a working knowledge ofthese topics.
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`What is Streaming Media?
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`Streaming media created by RealProducer Plus can be either RealAudio or ReaIVideo. Before the advent of
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`streaming media, you had to wait for a media file to download from the Internet or a network server in order to
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`experience it. When you create streaming media, users can view it almost instantly.
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`Streaming media allows you to send small packets of information over a network connection. The user receives
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`the information packets and plays your media piece by piece. The process is almost invisible to the user, except
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`for a small amount ofbuifering at the beginning.
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`Step by Step: Streaming with RealSystem G2
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`RealProducer Plus G2 is an integral part ofthe RealNetworks RealSystem G2. Below is a brief overview ofthe
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`steps that you can take to create streaming media and put it on the Internet, or your company’s Intranet.
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`Step 1: Start with a Media Source File
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`RealProducer Plus creates streaming media from two kinds of sources: audio and video. Whether the source is a
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`digital file or a live feed directly to your computer, you can convert it into a RealMedia clip.
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`Ifyou are creating a digital file for your source, you should save it under the following formats:
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`0 Audio (.au, .aiffi .wav)
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`0 QuickTime for Windows (.mov); must be QuickTime 3.0 compatible
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`Ifyou are sending audio and video directly to your computer, you will need:
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`0 a media device (such as a VCR, video camera, or microphone)
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`Step 2: Record Your Source into a RealMedia Clip
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`RealProducer Plus takes your input media source and records it into a RealMedia clip. Your clip can be saved
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`as a file to be streamed at a later time. The figure below shows how RealProducer Plus converts your source into
`RealMedia.
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`Recording RealMedia Clips
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`Media Sources
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`RealMedia
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`Clips
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`_D‘
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`RealMedia File
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`~
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`a Audio or 1li'ielee File
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`.
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`
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`RealProducer Flue
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`RealMedia clips are also known separately as RealAudio and RealVideo. You will learn how to create these
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`types in the next chapter, "Recordin from Media Files".
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`RealAudio
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`A RealAudio clip is created by converting an audio file or by recording fiom a microphone (or other audio input)
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`onto your computer. RealProducer Plus uses various audio codecs (compression/decompression algorithms) to
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`convert your standard audio into a format that can be streamed.
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`You also have various compression options based on the type of audio you are converting: voice, voice with
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`background music, music only, or stereo music. As expected, the quality ofthe original audio will have the
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`greatest efiect on the ultimate quality ofthe compressed audio.
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`RealVideo
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`A RealVideo clip is created by converting a video file or by capturing fiom a video source, such as a video
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`camera or video cassette player, to your computer. RealProducer Plus converts diiferent attributes ofthe video-
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`such as fiame rate, type ofmotion, and size ofthe image-into a ReaIVideo clip using a video codec.
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`Step 3: Transfer Your Clips to a Server
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`Once your streaming media clip is created, you will want to show it to your audience. With RealProducer Plus,
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`you can publish (upload) the clip to your server. This server can be either a RealServerTM G2 or a standard Web
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`server. Ifyou plan on using a Web server, you will not be able to take advantage ofmany G2 features.
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`See "Publishing to the Internet" for more information on publishing your clips.
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`Step 4: Stream Your Clip
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`You will use a RealServer G2 or a Web server to stream your clip to the Internet (or to an Intranet). The
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`RealServer G2 is a separate software product, created by RealNetworks, that allows you to stream live or
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`recorded RealAudio and ReaIVideo files to anyone using a RealPlayer. The server can work with Web servers
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`to stream media over the Internet or to users on a corporate Intranet.
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`For more information on how you can obtain and use a RealServer G2, go to the RealNetworks Web site at
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`hfip J/www.realcom and look for the links to this product.
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`Step 5: Play the Clip
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`Once your audience has connected successfully to your streaming media clip, they will want to experience it. A
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`RealPlayerTM G2 is all they need. Two versions ofthe RealPlayer are available from RealNetworks, a fiee
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`version and a Plus version. The RealNetworks Web site (hflp '//www.real.com) has more information about each
`version and how to install and use them
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`Know Your Audience
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`Whenever you create a RealMedia clip, you should always keep in mind the connection speed ofyour audience.
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`Are they using lower- speed modems, or are they playing your clip over a high- speed network?
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`This section introduces you to your target audience, and shows you a way to increase your audience:
`SureStream
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`About Target Audiences
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`When you select a specific target audience, you are actually specifying a maximum bandwidth for your
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`RealMedia stream at the selected target audience. Bandwidth, measured in kilobits per second (Kbps), is the
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`amount of data that can be sent through an Internet or network connection during a set period oftime. Standard
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`modems are commonly referred to by the bandwidth they are able to receive--for example, 28.8 and 56 Kbps.
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`In addition to these standard audiences, you can record clips for connection speeds of 100 Kbps, 200 Kbps, or
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`higher. These higher bandwidths, however, are generally more typical of corporate Local Area Networks
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`(LAN5) or entertainment-based Web sites.
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`Keep in mind that the maximum bandwidth a connection is capable of is greater than the average bandwidth
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`carried across it. For that reason, 28 Kbps connections actually only use approximately 20 Kbps, while a 56
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`Kbps connection actually uses about 34 Kbps.
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`Norrmlly, these constraints can alfect your recording in many ways. Sometimes you have to compromise
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`between reaching the largest audience (with the lowest— speed connections) and the quality ofyour work.
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`Fortunately, RealProducer Plus enables you to record for a number oftarget audiences simultaneously using
`SureStream
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`About SureStream
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`With SureStream recording you can reach the widest possrble audience, and provide all users with the best
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`listening and viewing experience optimized for their bandwidth.
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`There are several advantages to using SureStream You can create:
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`0 a single RealMedia clip recorded for multiple target audiences (up to two)
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`0 a clip that will autonntically switch to a lower bandwidth during poor network conditions
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`0 a clip that is compatlble with an older version ofRealPlayer
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`SureStream RealMedia files can combine several different streams that take advantage of any or all ofthese
`features.
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`For example, you can record a video clip for both 28 Kbps and 56 Kbps audiences, and RealPlayer G2 will
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`automatically use the correct stream based on the user's connection speed. Meanwhile, a separate stream can
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`exist for people who still own a RealPlayer 5.0 so that they can experience your clip. All streams are contained
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`within a single RealMedia file.
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`Keep in mind that ifyou are broadcasting SureStream files, you must use a RealNetworks RealServer G2.
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`Copyright © 1998-1999 RealNetworks
`For information on RealNetworks' technical support, click here.
`Comments on this document? Click here.
`This file last updated on 09/02/99 at 09:53:00.
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