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web streaming video
I have been trying just about every variation I can to come up with to find the best combination of speed-to-load vs. quality for a two-minute streaming video on the web. For prospective clients, speed-to-load is more important than quality. My reluctant conclusion: for most would-be-viewers with an “average” computer,
–offer viewers option 1: to view with an embedded windows media player, render the video to wmv @ 256 kbs, 320×240 and display at the same size
–offer viewers option 2: to view in a larger, external Windows Media viewer a copy rendered @512 kbs, 640×480 — though the “average” computer will stutter on some of this while playing
–offer also a link to download the better version
I tried Flash — about equal to the first option in quality and size.
I am discouraged. The small window in the first option above is just too small, but anything bigger stutters. Any suggestions?
( https://wisevideotours.com/start_sample_tour.htm )
By the way, to embed windows media player within a web site, there is an excellent way to get the necessary code: https://cit.ucsf.edu/embedmedia/step1.php Unfortunately, FireFox does not recognize the command to NOT start automatically, but the workaround splash page makes that not too obnoxious.
Rick Wise
director of photography
Oakland, CA
http://www.RickWiseDP.com
email: Rick@RickWiseDP.com -
2 Replies
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Bear in mind that editing plays a significant role in the quality of highly compressed webstreams. Gradients (think of sky) and soft transitions (think: dissolve, fly-ins, blurred wipes) will all damage the integrity of your stream.
At 256Kpbs, you’re fairly small, but feeding a good clean stream to an encoder should give you a terrific quality in Flash. Nothing can beat Flash for low-quality streaming, IMO. WMV would be the next best bet (again, my opinion based on experience), but if your editing isn’t kind to the encoder…you’ll have a bad stream anyway.
Editing for web and cell phone isn’t as easy as many folks would like to imagine; it takes special thought and consideration.
Moving titles are a bad idea for low bitrates, and non-contrasted colors are bad for low bitrates. Encoders love solid colors, slo/no motion, and large blocks of singular color/content.Douglas Spotted Eagle
VASST
Aerial Camera -
Thanks, Spot. You have confirmed my worst fears…. For the moment, the technology sucks for web streaming.
Rick Wise
director of photography
Oakland, CA
http://www.RickWiseDP.com
email: Rick@RickWiseDP.com
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