Streaming Media: Basics For Producing Video For Internet Delivery

In most cases the produce step in live streaming requires a production system that will let you switch between several camera shots and multiple graphics and video playback devices—at least if you want to make it an interesting production.

This requires that you have a traditional broadcast production system which includes a video switcher, computer-generated graphics (CG), and a way to playback other pre-produced video clips, also known as B-roll.

The output of the switcher and audio will need to be combined and becomes the air product you want to stream to the web. This combined audio and video output will need to be compressed so that it can be delivered across the Internet and connect to a streaming server for final distribution. There are cost-effective “studio-in-a-box” systems that provide all of these elements and have encoders built in as well.

Streaming media is bandwidth-dependent so it may need to be compressed at different rates so that dial-up customers, DSL, and cable subscribers can get the best quality based on the available network bandwidth.

The produce step for pre-recorded programs is shot on camcorders and brought into the editing suite. The footage is then ingested into a computer with video editing software.

The raw material is edited down and graphics and transition effects are added in the edit program. When all the elements are placed on the program’s time line, the video is then rendered. The best practice is to render in full resolution first.

Package & Deliver
Once the editing is complete all the elements are then rendered into a single video file. The video file is then compressed and packaged based on the delivery method. In this respect the delivery method would determine the player that will be used to consume the video and the bandwidth that will be available to stream the media.

Now the next step is to determine what format you want to stream and what type of compression technology you want to use.

The compression process is called encoding. If you are producing live content you will want to use more expensive hardware encoders and if you are producing pre-produced you can use software-based encoding which uses your computer hardware.

The encoding process is math intensive and takes time to take full bandwidth video and produce a good quality video that takes up less space. Hardware systems should take less time because the encoding program is hardwired—that is why they are used for live streaming, so that it only takes between seconds and a minute or two to compress a video stream.

Again, these devices are very expensive. Therefore, if you are not producing live content you can wait up to several hours to encode video with encoding software on general computing hardware.

Streaming projects require the video, whether live or pre-produced, to be encoded and then stored on a streaming- enabled web server. These days, most professional editing packages make it a simple process to select a format for exporting the video from the editing system.

The final step is to put the various encoded videos onto the media server and then publish it to the web by using web technologies to link the media to a web page.

The last thing to consider is the cost of streaming media. Most Internet service providers (ISPs) charge for bandwidth usage and this should also be considered in your encoding strategy. The general rule is that the higher the quality, the more bandwidth will be used. This is not only server space, but bandwidth used for delivery.

If you have thousands of people streaming high quality media you may quickly find your ISP bill increasing.

There are companies that specialize in streaming media content and if you plan to have a medium to high volume of usage each month it would be worth a discussion with these specialty vendors.

Streaming media is a powerful tool for all ministries and the opportunities are expanding continually. If you are currently not using this tool you should consider it.

If you currently employ streaming technology, consider how to optimize its use through a well planned strategy.