Questions regarding Flash Media Server

Question

Hello,

I am interested in purchasing Flash Media Server from Adobe.
The company I work for runs a two-hundred seat auditorium, and we
would like to be able to broadcast events on the internet as an
option for clients. This would involve live streaming, as well as
recording the stream such that it can be played again at a later
date. (i.e. The presentation is at 10am, and an encore presentation
will be at 6pm.)

Thus far, I, along with the IT department have determined FMS
is the way to go simply because of the quality-vs.-size of FLV
files, as well as the ability to embed the video into the website
in a more aesthetically pleasing manor. These two factors have
ruled out Real Player, and Windows streaming.

The people in IT have downloaded the free demo version of
FMS. We have so far been able to attach web-cameras (via. USB) and
ran the included demonstrations, and tutorials. With success, I
have been able see myself on my screen, record it, and play it
back. In another sample, I was able to talk back and forth to
another co-worker in the building, and see each other in real-time.
Although with that sample, there was no recording.

FYI – We have already purchased Flash 8 Professional
and have good knowledge of the program. However, my knowledge of
Action Script is at a beginner level.

I will also throw in this: For the budget, we have to provide
a quote by the end of the month. Please pardon my request for fast
answers. Adobe has denied answers by phone because we have not yet
purchased the program. The included help files and tutorials are
long and lengthy, where-as I need something very direct. My hopes
are the public can still bring hope. If we can get a proper
streaming test from our auditorium within a week’s time, it
would be fantastic.

With all that aside, here is my list of questions:

1. Our auditorium has two cameras hooked up to a video
switcher. We use this for recording to DVD. The switcher will have
an output to go to a computer; however, it has to be an RCA style
jack. I’ve noticed with the FMS samples, Flash uses cameras
hooked up via USB or Fire wire. This does not appear to be an
option, but can we use a Capture Card (w/ audio) instead, and will
Flash recognize it? If it does not automatically, what code do I
use to find/use it?

2. Using the tutorial sample entitled, “Recording a
Stream,” I have successfully recorded video using a web
camera. I can see the recorded video (.flv file) on the FMS server.
However, the quality is very low. How do I control this? Is there
action script I can copy and paste here?

3. I heard FMS can control the output of the stream to
various clients. I.e. if a user connects with a 56k modem, the
quality will be lower. If a user connects with DSL, the quality of
the same video will look better. Is this fact or fiction? How is
this done?

4. Where should FMS sit? Currently our website runs off of
our own server. Should FMS sit on there, or on another box of its
own? When we connect our video switcher to a computer, should it be
another (third) computer as well?

5. To start off the journey of streaming out video from our
auditorium, where can I get/quickly make a SWF file that will
connect to our switcher (if allowed), and stream and record the
event (in various qualities if need-be, or however it works for
different user connections). A second SWF file will be needed to
play the live broadcast, and perhaps a third to play the
archived/recorded events.

Thank you in advance,
Rob

Anonymous · Answer

1. Our auditorium has two cameras hooked up to a video switcher. We use this for recording to DVD. The switcher will have an output to go to a computer; however, it has to be an RCA style jack. I’ve noticed with the FMS samples, Flash uses cameras hooked up via USB or Fire wire. This does not appear to be an option, but can we use a Capture Card (w/ audio) instead, and will Flash recognize it? If it does not automatically, what code do I use to find/use it?

You can use a capture card, assuming the Flashplayer recognizes the driver as a camera. Many work, including el-cheapos like the Hauppage WinPVR card (many fancy ones like Ospery work as well). You'll need to set the input selection of the car through the card's controller, as the Flashplayer can only select the input source (it can't modify the souce's internal settings).

For audio (we'll assume you're using a windows machine here), you'll want to go into the line in of your sound card from the switcher, and then use the sound mixer to select the input as your recording source. To the best of my knowlege, you won't be able to get audio into the flash player in any other way.

2. Using the tutorial sample entitled, “Recording a Stream,” I have successfully recorded video using a web camera. I can see the recorded video (.flv file) on the FMS server. However, the quality is very low. How do I control this? Is there action script I can copy and paste here?

See the docs ( http://livedocs.adobe.com/fms/2/docs/) for the client side Camera class and Microphone class. Specifically, you're looking for Camera.setQuality, Camera.setMode, and Microphone.setRate. Those methods will allow you to alter the bitrates, image dimensions, and quality of your audio and video.

3. I heard FMS can control the output of the stream to various clients. I.e. if a user connects with a 56k modem, the quality will be lower. If a user connects with DSL, the quality of the same video will look better. Is this fact or fiction? How is this done?

FMS can't dynamically recompress streams... it's bits in, bits out. To target different connection speeds, you would make several encodings of the same media at various bitrates, detect client bandwidth when the connection is made, and serve the appropriate version of the video. In the case of live broadcasts, you can set the client to receive the video at a lower framerate than the source (the rate the video is being pubslihed at), but it makes the video jerky and laggy. If you must target varied connection speeds, I suggest broadcasting separate live streams at different bitrates.

. Where should FMS sit? Currently our website runs off of our own server. Should FMS sit on there, or on another box of its own? When we connect our video switcher to a computer, should it be another (third) computer as well?

The broadcast location can be anywhere... all you need is a browser, an internet connection, and Flashplayer. The server does not need to reside at the broadcast location.

Whether you'll need a dedicated server for your FMS depends on how much traffic you need to handle at any given time, how powerful the exitsting server is, and how much load the other services are putting on that server . If you plan to serve video to more than a couple of hundred users at a time, I'd suggest a dedicated machine for your FMS.

5. To start off the journey of streaming out video from our auditorium, where can I get/quickly make a SWF file that will connect to our switcher (if allowed), and stream and record the event (in various qualities if need-be, or however it works for different user connections). A second SWF file will be needed to play the live broadcast, and perhaps a third to play the archived/recorded events.

See this example:

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/live_video_switcher.html

It's not exactly what you're looking for, but it will give you an idea of what's involved.

Another important note... FMS has zero built in security against abuse and resource theft... so you need to take care of that in your application code. Before you launch any applications, you'll want to look into securing them.

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