Digital Video 101:Deciphering the Bits and Bytes of
Online VideoPresented by: Gina (Cone) Krause, Matthew Haun, & Wendy
Collins
Gina (Cone) Krause & Matthew Haun With a combined total of over 30 years in the audio-visual, information technology and educational media sectors, the founders of Learning CORE provide customized streaming media services and solutions specifically tailored to the needs of education. Learning CORE has three guiding principles. The first is keep things simple. The second, do only things you love to do. And the third, which is best explained by a quote from the former Chairman and CEO of Deere & Company, that says “great companies have a sense of purpose that goes deeper than the bottom line.”
Wendy CollinsWendy is currently the Vice President of Digital Strategy for Infobase Learning where she guides the direction of its online products and digital media solutions for the education and library markets. With more than 20 years of experience in the e-learning and online education industries, she has designed and developed interactive courseware and web-based content platforms for both Fortune 500 companies and education institutions. In her spare time, she is an avid sports fan and enjoys findings ways to integrate new and emerging technologies into every day life.
Digital Video 101Introduction
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Attendees of this session will learn:The basics/best practices of digital video encodingThe basics/best practices of digital video formatsThe basics/best practices of digital video delivery optionsCommon terms and acronyms related to digital videoCritical lessons learned from specific case studiesWhere to find additional information about digital video
Digital Video 101Introduction
Session Objectives
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Improved Accessibility
Increased Technical Complexity
‘60’s-70’s
’70’s-80’s
‘90’s- 2000’s
2003 2005 20112009
Video Timeline
Digital Video 101Introduction
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Step 1:Produce a
Great Video
Step 2:Encode
Files
Step 3:StoreFiles
Step 4:Deliver a Great
Video to Any Device
Digital Video 101Introduction
Digital Video Workflow
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Do Not Try This UnsupervisedDon’t Be Afraid of TechnologyAsk Lots of QuestionsTake the Plunge!
Digital Video 101Introduction
Words of Wisdom
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Digital Video 101Digital Video Encoding
Encoding7
Buzzwords Bandwidth: The maximum amount of data a transport channel can
handle. Think- maximum number of cars that a highway can accommodate at a given location in one minute.
Bitrate: A quantity of data over a specific period of time. Think-number of cars on a highway passing a given point in one minute..
CODEC: Stands for COder/DECoder. A schema for the compression and playback of a video file. Examples include Windows Media, Flash (FLV), and MPEG4.
Digital Video 101Digital Video Encoding
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Basics What Is Encoding?
The process of making a video file smaller.
Or…. The process of converting analog-based media into a digital format.
Why Encode?
To make a video file compatible with various playback and delivery platforms.
Digital Video 101Digital Video Encoding
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Basics How to Encode?
Mac-based Software
PC-based Software
Enterprise Encoding Solutions
Cloud-based Encoding Solutions
Digital Video 101Digital Video Encoding
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Buzzwords
Digital Video 101Digital Video Encoding
Frame Rate Frame Types
I-Frame (Key Frame) P-Frame B-Frame
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Balance Quality vs. File SizeKnow your audienceIowa farmer or Seattleite / Mobile or Desktop user? Know your delivery platformBefore encoding, know what streaming technology is utilized.Trial and errorAdjust encoding parameters to subject matter.Talking head vs. a close up shot of fire.
Best Practices
Digital Video 101Digital Video Encoding
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Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats
Formats13
Which format is the “right” one for you?
Basics & Buzzwords
Video Producer Video Consumer1. Storage capacity (File Size) 1. Bandwidth (streaming)
2. Audio and Video quality 2. Storage (download)
3. Editing needs 3. Plug-in and CODEC requirements
4. Compatibility 4. Compatibility
Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats
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CODECS vs. Containers (File Extension)Master Source “CODECS”:MPEG2, H.264, On2VP7Master Source “Containers”:.AVI, .MOVDistribution “Containers”:.RM, .WMV, .FLV,. MP4
Basics & Buzzwords
= H.264 Video CODEC
+ AAC Audio CODEC
Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats
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Common Formats TodayBasics & Buzzwords
File Extension Company CODECS Supported
MPG, MPEG MPEG MPEG-1, MPEG-2
MP4 MPEG MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264
AVI (Windows Media)
Microsoft Video for Windows, DirectX
MOV (QuickTime) Apple MPEG-4, DV, ProRes
FLV, F4V (Flash) Adobe VP6, H.264, Spark
Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats
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Future Formats?Basics & Buzzwords
Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats
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Common Video PlayersBasics & Buzzwords
Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats
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Case Study
SOURCE FILES
DIGITAL MASTER FILES
DISTRIBUTION FILES
Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats
CODECS Containers Version 1 RealMedia6 .RMVersion 2 WMV9 .WMV Version 3 Sorenson, Apple .MOV Version 4 Sorenson Spark
(H.263), On2VP6 .FLV
Version 5 H.264 .MOV, .F4V, .MP4
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Create a high quality digital master file formatDon’t fall in love with a single formatBuy more storage than you think you will needConsider Open formats vs. Proprietary formatsCompatibility is key
Best Practices
Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats
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Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
Delivery21
CDN (Content Delivery Network): A network, or that portion of a network, built specifically to speed the delivery of Web-based content across the public Internet or private intranets.
Basics & Buzzwords
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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Progressive Download (also known as HTTP Streaming or Pseudo Streaming): A method of delivery that describes the download process of video files, which allows a user to view a file’s contents before the download has been completed.True Streaming (also known as RTMP Streaming): Video that is streamed from a Streaming Media Server, to a Player that is not locally stored in the users’ cache, or anywhere on the clients’ hard drive. Adaptive Streaming: Adaptive Streaming allows the user to see the best quality video based on the users’ available bandwidth.
Basics & Buzzwords
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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Before You Can Choose the Best Delivery Method You Must Answer Two Main Questions:
Storage 1. Hosted Storage (Turn Key)2. Local Storage
Methods of Delivery3. Progressive Download4. True Streaming5. Adaptive Streaming
Basics & Buzzwords
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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Question 1: Where you will store your content?
Local Solutions:
1. Talk to your IT department about what options they can offer.
2. In some cases, your institution may use a combination of local and hosted solutions.
3. Start with a few files and see if this works best for your users.
Process and Reasoning
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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Question 1: Where you will store your content?
Hosted Solutions: Implies that the media is stored off –site.
Examples of hosted solutions include, but are not limited to: CDNs such as Akamai, Limelight, Amazon, Google, YouTube and others. Most smaller CDNs rely on the larger companies named above, or…
Process and Reasoning
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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When using a Hosted Solution…Cut through the hype : Look beyond the sales pitch to be sure the service you get meets your needs.
Remember bandwidth and budget limitations.
There is no right answer, each option has pros and cons.
Best Practices
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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Where you will store your content?
Hosted Solutions: Finding a Hosting Provider:
1.Estimate your content storage and # of simultaneous users per term.
2.Know your budget.3.Ask to test the providers
services.4.Negotiate rates with several
service providers.
Process and Reasoning
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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How will you deliver your content?
Progressive Download, True Streaming, or Adaptive Streaming?
1. Main difference between true streaming and progressive download is how the content is received and stored by the end user’s device that is accessing the content.
2. Adaptive streaming allows for optimum delivery based on the user’s bandwidth.
3. The mode you choose may have significant impact on how you produce your files.
Process and Reasoning
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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Progressive Download (HTTP Streaming/Pseudo Streaming)
HTTP Web Server
The entire video is stored on a viewer’s hard drive. This presents security risks to the content, as well as the inability to immediately seek a specific portion of a program.
Viewer’s Computer
Basics & Buzzwords
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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True Streaming ( also known as RTMP Streaming)
Basics & Buzzwords
Streaming Media Server
Viewer’s Computer
The video is NOT stored on a viewer’s hard drive as it’s immediately discarded after playback. This greatly improves security as well as offering the viewer immediately seek access to a specific portion of a program.
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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Adaptive StreamingBasics & Buzzwords
Streaming Media Server
Viewer’s Computer
First Step – Determine viewer’s available bandwidth.
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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Adaptive Streaming - continuedBasics
Streaming Media Server
Viewer’s Computer
Second Step – Based upon bandwidth audit, deliver the video file best suited to the viewer’s internet connection.
250Kbps400Kbps800Kbps1,500Kbpsetc…..
Adaptive streaming allows for the switching of a video stream based on viewer connection speed variables.
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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“Talk the Talk” - Educate yourself on the terminology used.Get first-hand advice: Get recommendations from colleagues on who and what they use. Every situation is unique, and defining your needs will help you make better decisions on what solution (or combination thereof) is best for you. Start with a solution that is scalable.
Best Practices
Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery
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Digital Video 101Key Resources
Resources35
Digital Video 101Key Resources
Talk to colleagues from the National Media Market, CCUMC or LearningCORE.Experience digital video as a content consumer“The Business of Streaming & Digital Media” by Dan Rayburn & Michael Hoch (April, 2007)“Video Compression for Flash, Apple Devices and HTML5” by Jan Ozer (May, 2011)
Getting Started
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Streamingmedia.comVideohelp.comStreaminglearningcenter.comCreativeCow.net – ForumsLynda.comGoogle is your friend!
Websites
Digital Video 101Key Resources
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Streaming Media East/West ConferenceDV Expo ConferenceNAB Conference
Conferences
Digital Video 101Key Resources
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1. Know the basics and the buzzwords
2. Know your users
3. Balance quality and file size
4. Garbage In, Garbage Out
5. Keep it simple
6. Start small, but build a scalable solution (Think Big!)
7. Start with test files
8. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes!
9. Ask questions
10. Ask more questions!
Digital Video 101Top 10 Lessons Learned
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Any Questions?
Digital Video 101Questions
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Wendy CollinsPhone: 212-896-4359
E-mail: [email protected]
Gina (Cone) Krause & Matt HaunPhone: 843.321.9741
E-mail: [email protected]
Digital Video 101Contact Us
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