Audio/Video Streaming

Overview:

RealAudio and Internet Wave are two options for streaming audio files within a Web page. Real Video is the best option for streaming video files.

How to work with streamed audio/video...

1. Plug-in / Helper Application Software
   
   To try out the example links given above, or to access any streamed audio or video site, you must install a "helper application" or "browser plugin" which will allow your desktop computer to "play" the streamed audio or video file. Below are links to sites where you can download free streamed audio/video player software:
   
   

   Real Player
   Internet Wave

   
   

2. Create and Edit Audio and Video Files
   
   Sound editing/recording software programs include:
   

   GoldWave
   CoolEdit
   SoundEdit 16 plus Deck II (Macintosh)
   Sound Forge (Windows)
   

   Video editing software program:

   Adobe Premiere
   
   

   Instructions on creating and editing audio files

   Sound Files (Using SoundForge for Windows and SoundEdit 16v.2 for the Macintosh)
   Recording and Preparing Audio Content (IWave)
   

3. Encode the Files
   
   Once your sound or video file is recorded, you need to "Encode" the digital audio file so that it can be played by the sound/video streaming helper application or plugin software. You may want to encode the same audio/video file in several different formats. Some encoding software is free:
   

Real Audio Encoder
Real Video Encoder
Internet Wave Encoder

Here is a brief description of the procedures for encoding files for Iwave, RealAudio and RealVideo.



4. Put Files on the Server
   
   To serve your streamed audio file (to make it available to others on the Internet), you must store it on a server. Streamed video and some streamed audio files require that a special server software be installed and running (e.g. Real Audio). Other streamed audio files can be served from a standard web server, but will require some web server configuration settings be modified (e.g. Internet Wave). Refer to the appropriate (Real Audio or Internet Wave) web site for additional information on installing and configuring the server software. After configuring the server software, you will need to copy your encoded files from your local desktop computer to the server - using a program such as ftp (file transfer protocol).
   
   

5. Test the Files
   
   Once you have your server configured and your encoded audio/video files stored on the server, you are ready to test your files to see if they play. Use the audio/video streaming helper application or plugin software that is appropriate. If you are using a plugin software program to play the streamed files, you will not need to configure your web browser software, simply install the plugin and play the sound. If you are using a helper application to play the streamed files, after installing the helper application on your computer, you will need to configure your web browser to user the helper application.