Analyzing Video Encodes with MediaInfo

Posted by Derrick on November 22, 2009 under Video Streaming and Compression | Be the First to Comment

Analyzing video encodes with MediaInfo is something that many video editors, videographers, producers and other media professionals should consider. You can use MediaInfo on a PC or Mac to analyze the total video or audio datarate as well as many other details of your output file.  You can view other information such as: Video Codec, Audio Codec, File Format, Frame Width, Frame Height, Frame Rate, Display Aspect Ratio.

Above is a screen capture of what is displayed when dragging an output file into MediaInfo.

Video Streaming and Compression Training Sessions for Churches

Posted by Derrick on June 29, 2009 under Video Streaming and Compression | Be the First to Comment

Freeman Compression Inc.  is hosting five Video Streaming and Compression training sessions for Churches.  The sessions include: An Overview of Video Streaming and Compression, Improving Video Compression Workflows with Sorenson Squeeze, Sawmill Professional: Analyzing Your Web Server and Streaming Server Log Files, An Overview of Live Streaming, and Audio Podcasting and Video Podcasting.  Contact us at 407.477.5837 or E-mail us at info@freemancompression.com for more details about having these training sessions at your Church.

An Overview of Video Streaming and Compression – 2 hours

Training Session Summary: This session is designed to give Pastors and Church technical staff a better understanding of Video Streaming, Video Compression, Live Streaming, Web/Streaming Server Analytics and Podcasting.  The session will provide a good overview of how Churches can take advantage of delivering videos for Downloadable Streaming, Real-time Streaming,  Live Streaming and Podcasting.  This two hour session is great for those that aren’t familiar with streaming and compression.  The training will also give a good understanding and the cost to move forward with streaming and compression projects. The presenter will show various streaming and encoding tools during the presentation to give staff a better understanding of what’s available.  There will also be more details on the cost of the various streaming and compression tools.

In this training session attendees will also learn about the following:

• 2-pass CBR
• 2-pass VBR
• 1-Pass CBR
• 1-Pass VBR
• Audio and Video CODECS
• Streaming Formats
• Pros and cons of Downloadable Streaming
• Pros and con of Real-Time Streaming

Improving Video Compression Workflows with Sorenson Squeeze – 2 hours

Training Session Summary: Sorenson Squeeze is a powerful tool for encoding and the application holds many untapped secrets that many users aren’t aware of.  This session will show attendees how to improve their video compression workflows with Squeeze.  Learn how to utilize features such as:  Capture, Video Trimming, Output to FTP, Output to Local, Multiple Video Creation from Source Files, One-off DVD creation, and Watch Folder Encoding.  You’ll learn time-saving tasks to help you get your encoding projects done quicker.  During this 2 hour training session you’ll also learn how to encode Downloadable Streaming and Real-Time Streaming videos in various media formats.  Formats such as Windows Media, H.264, and Flash Video will be covered in this training session.  Users will learn how to encode SD and HD Sources for Web Server and Streaming Server Delivery.

Sawmill Professional: Analyzing Your Web Server and Streaming Server Log Files – 1 hour

Training Session Summary: Sawmill Professional is a superior log file analysis tool that helps you gather statistics about your viewers.  This session is designed to teach you about log file analysis and how to take advantage of Sawmill Professional for analyzing your log files. With this tool you can analyze log files from Streaming Servers, Web Servers and many other devices. Learn how to resolve domain names, create custom reports, use filters, and gather data from specific cities and states. When providing on-line streaming content it’s important to be able to prove that viewers are watching and this training module help you do it.

In this training sessions attendees will also learn about the following:

• Creating Profiles
• Single Page Summary Reports
• Videos Viewed Reports
• Gathering IP addresses of Viewers
• Error Reports
• How to Create Customized Reports
• How to Resolve Domain Names
• How to View Session Paths
• Where to Locate Web Server and Streaming Server Log Files
• How to process log files

An Overview of Live Streaming (Featuring Telestream’s Wirecast) – 1 hour

Training Session Summary: If you need to get familiar with Live Streaming this training session is for you. Learn how your Church can take advantage of Live Streaming using Telestream’s Wirecast tool.  The instructor will walk you through the Live Streaming set-up process with Wirecast.  Wirecast is available on the Mac and PC platforms and comes with a host of features to improve your Live Streaming broadcast.  If you need to switch between sources, include lower third graphics or need to display a presentation during your Live Broadcast, then Wirecast is the tool to use.  Learn how to utilize these items in this training session.

Audio Podcasting and Video Podcasting (Featuring Telestream’s Episode) Set-up – 2 hours

Training Session Summary: This session is great for those planning to create an Audio Podcast or a Video Podcast.  This two hour session will be very hands-on and Instructor Derrick Freeman will walk attendees through the Audio Podcast and Video Podcast Set-up.  You’ll also learn how to encode your audio and video files for your Podcast using Telestream’s Episode in this training module.  Additionally attendees will learn why their Church should create a Podcast and what the many benefits are.

If you would like to host the Video Streaming and Compression training sessions for Churches at your Church contact Freeman Compression Inc. at 407-477-5837 or E-mail us at info@freemancompression.com.

1-Day Wowza Media Server Training – Mac

Posted by Derrick on May 3, 2009 under Video Streaming and Compression | Be the First to Comment

Class Summary:

The Wowza Media Server 2 training teaches Flash on-demand and live streaming set-up. It also covers Flash encoding using the On2 VP6 codec, Flash encoding using the H.264 codec and how to deliver these files from the Wowza Media Server 2. Learning to stream Live Flash video using Wirecast with Wowza Media Server 2 is a special topic that is included in this training class. Flash video is one of the most exciting developments in streaming video and you’ll also learn how to author your web pages for Flash Streaming. Learn how to take advantage of cross-platform, cross-browser video playback that the Flash format provides with the Wowza Media Server 2.

Students will learn in this training:

• How to set up their Wowza Media Server 2
• How to configure On-demand streaming
• How to configure Flash live streaming
• Flash encoding using the On2 VP6 codec
• Flash encoding using the H.264 codec
• Live Encoding from RTSP-based encoders
• Live Streaming to iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch
• On-demand Streaming to iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch
• How to use Wirecast to stream Live Flash video
• How to use Sawmill to analyze Wowza Media Server 2 log files

Software Featured for Class

• Wowza Media Server 2
• Wirecast
• Sorenson Squeeze 6
• Dreamweaver
• Sawmill Professional

Class Overview

1. Streaming Server Set-up

Your instructor will walk you through the process of the set-up for the Wowza Media Server 2 server for Flash real-time streaming. This section of the class will cover all of the install, networking and test procedures to make sure the server is functioning properly.

2. Wowza Media Server Overview

This portion of class provides students with an overview of how the Wowz Media Server works.  In this training module the instructor teaches students about: Application.xml files, Vhost.xml files, Modules, Properties, Stream Types, AddOnPackages, HTTP Streamers, Live Streaming Packetizers and Content Storage.

3. Application Setup

This portion of the training teaches students how to utilize the available applications on the Wowza Media Server and how to customize their own applications for streaming.  The hands-on instruction shared in this portion of the training allows attendees to successfully navigate and use Wowza Media Server 2.

4. Configuring On-demand Streaming

In this section of training, students will learn to set-up on-demand streaming for On2VP6 and H.264 content. Students will learn where to place videos that are streaming from the server and how to reference on-demand streaming folders.

5. Configuring Live Streaming

This section will cover the procedure for setting up live streaming on the Wowza Media Server 2. Students will learn all of the necessary configurations required for live streaming to work on the streaming server. This training module will teach students how to set-up live streams using Wirecast.

6. Authentication for Live Streaming

In this training module students will learn how to create an application for Live Streaming that requires Authentication from the Live Encoder.  This protects who can stream to your Wowza Media Server. In addition to creating your application, you will learn how to add users who have Live Streaming privileges.

7. Flash Encoding Using the On2 VP6 Codec

Learn how to encode Flash On2 VP6 content for real-time streaming for delivery from Wowza Media Server 2. You will learn how to encode Flash On2 VP6 videos using Episode Pro 5. Your instructor will guide you through the different adjustments that need be made in the encoder and will teach you how to create great looking videos for streaming server delivery. Learn about key frame every, frames per second, frame sizes, audio codecs, and other compression adjustments in this portion of the training.

8. Flash Encoding Using the H.264 Codec

Learn how to encode Flash H.264 content for real-time streaming for delivery from Wowza Media Server 2. You will learn how to encode Flash H.264 videos using Sorenson Squeeze Compression Suite. Students will be guided through various adjustments that need to be made in the encoder and will learn how to create great looking videos for streaming server delivery. Learn about key frame every, frames per second, frame sizes, audio codecs, and other compression adjustments in this part of the training class.

9. Authoring Flash On-Demand Streaming Videos and Live Streaming Videos in Web pages

This section will teach students how to create web pages for Flash streaming videos. Many Video Editors and multimedia professionals can encode their videos to the Flash video format, but don’t understand how to author their web pages to deliver Flash streaming videos. This class will teach you how. Students will learn about Embed and Object Tags as well as javascript code and how they make web pages with streaming videos look great.

10. Analyzing Wowza Media Server Pro Log files with Sawmill Professional

Students will learn how to analyze log files from Wowza Media Server Pro. Also, learn where to locate the log files on Wowza Media Server Pro. In addition, class participants will learn how to gather information from log files such as: domain names, session paths, most popular videos viewed, most popular viewing days, most popular viewing months, video playback errors, viewer demographics and other information.

11. Streaming to iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

One of the features of Wowza Media Server 2 is that it allows video content providers the ability to delivery On-demand and Live Streams to the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.  This class will show you how to configure your Wowza Media Server for streaming to the iPhone. The class covers set-up of both On-demand and Live Streaming to the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Wowza Media Server 2 Advanced Topics:

The Wowza Media Server Training can be customized for you or your organization to include some of the following Advanced Wowza Media Server 2 topics:

• Re-streaming from RTSP based Live Encoders
• Re-streaming from RTSP IP Cameras
• Re-streaming from SHOUTCast Live Streams
• Secure Streaming Set-up
• Live Streaming Record Set-up
• Amazon EC2 Set-up
• Streaming Set-up to Multiple Wowza Media Servers
• Dynamic Streaming with Wowza and RTMP

Give us a call about signing up to attend one of our Wowza Media Server Trainings in Orlando or On-line.  Call Freeman Compression Inc. at 407.477.5837 for more information or E-mail us at info@freemancompression.  Contact us about training times for your country if you are an international student.