How To Stream Video
The Basics

Learning how to stream video is becoming increasingly important.  Whether it is for your business, your company's website or simply an online social network, streaming video is everywhere.

There are four basic steps involved in streaming video. These are creating, digitizing, compressing and serving the video.

Although there are basic steps one must consider when understanding streaming video as explained below, there are several other concepts to consider in order to truly enjoy streaming video.  These include:

• Saving Streaming Video
• Streaming Video Player
• Capture Streaming Video
• Record Streaming Video
• Download Streaming Video
• Create Streaming Video
• Copy Streaming Video
• Video Encoder

Unfortunate for some, streaming video can be a complex process. On larger streaming video projects one must be ready to spend several hours and invest in a fast PC with a large hard drive.

The four basic steps on "how to stream video":

Creating

• The first step is creating content. Traditional methods like the VCR, Camcorder and the camera can be used to create video content. The clarity of the final video stream is dependent on the type of film and filming technique.

Digitizing

• The second step of "how to stream video" is digitizing the video. In this step, the resultant video has to be converted to a digital file. This can be achieved by using a computer that has a video capture card with it.

• The camcorder, VCR or other video device is attached to the capture card through standard RCA cords or S-video cards. Even better quality can be attained by an S-video connection.

• The capture card can be run by using video editing software like Adobe Premiere. The resulting file can then be edited.

• There are different settings to capture the video. As the settings change, the quality of the resulting video will get affected.

• Capture cards have their own hardware compression. This may or may not work properly with the encoder chosen.

Compressing/Encoding

• The third step of "how to stream video" is of compressing or encoding the video. The digitized video file is too large to be transmitted over the Internet.  This file has to be changed to decrease the size.

• After the file is encoded, it can be viewed on the player linked with the encoding software vendor.

• Some of the leading encoders are Streamworks, VDO, Vivo and Real Video. A majority of encoders offer many options for encoding at different speeds, smoothness of motion and levels of image quality.

• Lesser frames per second indicates better resolution and vice versa. If a greater transmission rate is selected, both the image quality and fps would be improved.

• The method to encode video is dependent on the content of the video (talking head, fast motion or animation) and the upper limit of transmission speed available. The results must be seen on the control PC.

 
Serving the Video

• The fourth step of "how to stream video" is serving the video. The easiest method is to download the entire video file and then see it with a helper application or a plug-in.

• Raw video file are generally very huge and the user cannot view the video until the total file is downloaded. Such as a Windows Movie (.avi) file.

• Another technique is that of pseudo-streaming. In this method, if sufficient data has been downloaded to fill a playback buffer, playback is possible. The size of the buffer depends on the speed of the connection, the overall quality of the video and the length of the video.

• The aim is to have some data in the buffer at all times so that any disruption of the video playback is prevented. An example of this sort of playback is the Vivo encoded files (.viv).

• Another example is the regular Quicktime (.mov) files that can be pseudo-streamed by the Apple Quicktime plug-in.