Flash Support Requirements to Manage Flash Media Basic Use Internet Explorer Problems Getting started with Flash Video Strategies Quicktime Media Support Linking to QuickTime Media content How to Embed with samples Encoding tools Real Media Support Setup Real Producer for Live Setup Real Producer for Archived Linking to Real Media content Encode and managing Real files Embedding with samples Configuring Real Player with Firewalls Using SMIL technology Encoding tools Windows Media Live event requirements Encoding tools Setup Windows Encoder - Archived | Live Linking to Windows Media content Secure Links Setup - Archived | Live Update IP - Push to Pull | Pull to Push Pay-Per-View Setup - Shopping Cart Presentations - How to Set Up Load Balancing Services - Large Webcasts Create a Live link with a Pre-Event message Windows Media Player Support Site Windows Media Player FAQ How to Embed with samples In Depth Information Site Find Your IP Address for Live Windows

Live Webcasting Large Live Webcast Deployment Encoding tools | Firewalls Load Balancing Services | Large Events Insert a Media Clip Prior to Webcast What is required to do a live event? Configuring Customizable Viewer/Popup Insert an Archived Ad during a live Webcast Update IP - Push to Pull | Pull to Push Archived Content Encoding tools Automated Encoding Process Podcasting | The Process | Using iTunes How to Embed with samples Upload Directly from your Browser Uploading your material via FTP software Configuring Customizable Viewer/Popup

Ecommerce Setup Setup a Shopping Cart | Process E-commerce | Credit Card Setup Troubleshooting Cannot connect to server errors Lost connections Audio and video do not sync Problems logging into your folder Streaming Introduction to Streaming Media - Basics General Information about Streaming Media In Depth Information Site - How To's Bandwidth Negotiation Technology Definitions

Costs / Payments No Setup Charges Billing Process for Streaming Media Calculating Bandwidth Charges Limiting your Bandwidth Expense Wire Transfers General Mailing Addresses Live Streaming Reports How do I add space to my account?

Billing Process (Streaming Media)
Our billing process works as follows:

For Package Accounts:
This is the most cost effective way to go as you are getting a better deal to buy in bulk. For Archive Accounts you would purchase a specific amount of Server Space and Bandwidth in advance. For Live Webcasting Accounts you would purchase a specific amount of Bandwidth in advance. You would be billed at the beginning of your monthly cycle. Each Clients billing cycle runs 30 days from the sign-up date so if you signed up on the 10th of the month you would be billed again 30 days from then.
For more information please review all of our offerings. Live Webcasting | Archived Content

For Pay As You Go Accounts:
Upon initial sign up for Server Space Only, Encoding and Server Space or Live Webcasting we bill you for the first month. After the first month we will bill you for your Server Space and Live Webcasting in Monthly increments.
Bandwidth charges are always billed in monthly increments. However if you use more than 2GB of transfer in one months time we will bill your card at this time. In other words every 2GB of transfer we will bill you incrementally for unless you keep a balance in advance.
If you know that your needs will be over 2GB of transfer per month please speak with a customer service representative about prepaid bandwidth. This will prevent daily charges on your credit card.
For more information please review all of our offerings. Live Webcasting | Archived Content

Creating Presentations using SMIL technology
A quick reference page to help you in creating SMIL presentations.
Quick Reference Page

Limiting your bandwidth expense
Encoding your live event at lower bit rates will reduce your financial exposure. We can not limit the number of streams or the amount of bandwidth to your account. It is an open pipe!! Video uses about 4 times the bandwidth as Audio does.

What's the difference between SureStream and Single Rate encoding?
(For Real Technology only!)

Single rate enables you to encode in one bit rate.
This is best used if you are using audio only for live or on-demand material.

SureStream technology enables you to encode your material in multiple bit rates within one file. This is good for video material when you know that your users will have all different types of connections. When a user clicks on the link it will automatically negotiate the connection and supply the correct bit rate for them. When using the SureStream option it is best not to select to many bit rates as the file may glitch up. 2 or 3 are reasonable.

Bandwidth Negotiation Technology
Bandwidth Negotiation technology is the process by which we create many versions of one audio/video piece. In most cases we create 3 versions of each.  Each version is set up to best suit either a 28.8k modem, a 56k modem or a DSL/Cable Modem/Corporate LAN. When someone wants to view and/or listen they will see and hear the version that is best suited to their system. 

Therefore,  if you have a 28.8 modem you will get the version that best suits a 28.8 modem.   If you have the fastest connection available you will see and hear the best quality audio and video available with NO DOWNLOAD TIME!!!

Mailing Addresses

For Pay By Check customers: (Not for Encoding)
AudioVideoweb.com LLC
P.O. Box 356
Norfolk, MA. 02056-0356
USA

For Encoding jobs only:
AudioVideoweb.com LLC
121 Loring Avenue
Suite 350
Salem, MA 01970
USA

Definitions:

Bandwidth: The total amount of data a network connection is capable of sending through its system per second. This determines the length of time it will take to transmit data.
Example: a file that takes 10 minutes to transmit across a modem with a speed of 28,800 bits per second (bps) might take only one minute to transmit over a DSL line because the DSL line has a larger bandwidth capability, which can pass more bits through per second.

Buffering: Media players assimilate the incoming data and present it to the viewer, as audio and/or video. During network congestion, this data is not sufficient for the media player to continue playback and therefore, the player must pause to receive more data before resuming playback. This process is called "rebuffering". To help avoid "rebuffering," the media players buffer a certain amount of data on reserve in the beginning before playing the clip.

Caching / Cache: Data that is frequently accessed is often stored in the computer's memory so that it may be re-accessed at a quicker rate than if this data was stored on the computer's hard disk drive. The process of storing this data is called caching. The type of memory that stores this data is called the cache.

Digital Rights Management: Refers to qualifying the end-user prior to allowing the end-user to view or listen to the media file. It is a term usually referring to the software that enables Internet 'Pay-Per-View' (see Pay-Per-View).

Digitizing and Encoding: Digitizing refers to the process of capturing original media (film, video, sound recordings, etc.) into a digital format onto your computer. Encoding refers to the process of converting this digitized file into a streaming format.

Dynamic Symmetric-When-Optimal Routing: When a user requests information over the Internet, the request for that data usually travels down a different path than which the data is returned. This non-symmetrical form of routing often leads to latency. For Web page content, latency is seldom a problem. However, for streaming media, latency can lead to rebuffering (see Buffering) and delayed start-times.

Hops or Hop-Count: As data travels over the Internet, it passes through routers which interpret the incoming data and decide on the best route for the data to travel. Data traveling over the Internet may pass through as many as 30 routers before arriving at its final destination. Each router that this data passes through is called a "Hop." Thus, "Hop-Count" is the cumulative total of routers that the data passes through over the Internet en route to the end user.

ISP: Internet Service Provider. Companies that offer access to the Internet to subscribers.

Latency: This is the delay of transmission of data. Refers to the time it takes for a router, upon receiving the data, to determine which router to forward the data to next.

Load-Balanced: A single computer is only able to transmit a fixed amount of data. If the server receives too many requests for data at the same time, a bottleneck forms causing a delay in transmission of data. Load balancing refers to the process of grouping multiple servers together to act as one single system This will minimize the risk of this type of delay.

MP3: Digital format specifically designed for music.

Network Congestion: Situation that occurs when the amount of data being transmitted exceeds the capacity of the network. This results in data transmission delays and possibly lost data. If a router becomes overloaded, it will discard data as a last resort to manage the volume of data transmission.

One-Hop Connectivity: Refers to the number of "Hops" (see Hops) data travels through before connecting to the Internet. One-Hop refers to one router. The fewer switches or routers data travels through to access the Internet, the lower the risk of encountering network congestion.

Pay-Per-View: Just like pay-per-view events on television, this refers to streaming media which viewers must pay to see.

Peering: An agreement between Internet backbone carriers to exchange equal amounts of data at specified points along the Internet. Peering agreements enable competing companies to utilize cable laid by one another, thus reducing costs and duplication of cable routes. As the data is exchanged freely between the carriers, there is no economic incentive for one carrier to manage the incoming data of another carrier. Should one carrier submit data in excess of the "peering" agreement, the other carrier will usually discard the excess data. Peering connections on the Internet have often been associated with bottlenecks of Internet data transmission.

Public Exchange Point: Located in Santa Clara, CA (known as MAE West) and Washington, DC(known as MAE East), these are government-established peering points that offer free access to the Internet. They are the two largest peering points on the Internet, with the majority of carriers interconnecting into these exchange points to exchange data. They are often the two most congested points on the Internet because they are designed without any economic incentive to regulate or manage the flow of data.

QuickTime: Digital media software created by Apple Computers, that can be streamed over the Internet.

RealPlayer: Streaming media software created by RealNetworks for the Internet.

Redundancy: Systematic approach to eliminating single points-of-failure in a network or data storage system.

Router: A Router is a hardware device used throughout a network that receives incoming data and determines the route for that data to travel in order to reach its intended destination. A router is a switch with built-in capabilities than enhance its functions and performance.

Scalability: The ability to expand capacity of an existing data storage system or network without requiring replacement.

Streaming Media: Like television and radio for the computer, streaming media technology converts other mediums (audio and video) to digital formats that can be played back instantly by computers. It is comparable to the process that enables one to turn on a TV set and instantly see a program, or turn on a radio and instantly receive sound. The general term Streaming Media incorporates all the formats created specifically for transmitting audio, video and multimedia over the Internet.

Webcast: A live streaming media event broadcast for the Internet.

Windows Media: Streaming media software created by Microsoft.

Why do we keep losing the connection to the server?
A lot of times when you're using a shared Internet connection this happens. Even if you have a T1 or a T3 there may be times when the connection gets used up and the Real Producer can not continue to stream.

When you are testing your live connection begin your test at 8.5k "voice only" without video. Once you get this working slowly increase your kilobit rates and then add the video. This way you can figure out how much your connection can handle before it shuts you down and disconnects. One of the biggest mistakes people make is to try to send too much information over their connection and they wonder why they keep getting disconnected.

Getting disconnected regularly with your live connection.
TCP has more error checking built in so it works better for low bandwidth/congested situations. Tests have shown that while on a dialup, UDP was getting disconnected regularly and with TCP we did not get disconnected once. You can test this in Real Producer by going to options > preferences and then clicking on the live broadcast tab.

How to encode and manage Real Media Files?
Producing Video
Producing Audio
Planning a Streaming Media Presentation
Flash Animation

Encoding tools for all three formats
Real Producer
Windows Encoder Site
Quicktime Player/Encoder

How to link to Real Media content - Two Methods

1) The Account Management Interface will create the link for you:
Log into the Account Management Interface with the username and password we supplied you with. Click on the folder name where you would like to upload your material. This will log you into the folder automatically. Once the material is uploaded select one of your clips by clicking on the checkbox to the left. Select only one clip at a time. Then click on the Create a Link button above. A popup will appear. This will automatically create the link for you. Simply copy this link and place it on your website or e-mail it.

2) Create the link yourself:
There are two methods of creating a link to your Real Media:

a) Using Ramgen Method
Use the following text as your link. Simply insert the FTP Host, Login, and NameofMaterial from the e-mail we sent you with your account information.
Link = http://FTP Host/ramgen/Login/NameofMaterial.rm

b) Using the .ram method
Cut and paste the link below into a text editor like Notepad...

rtsp://FTP Host/FolderNumber/NameOfMaterial.rm

Substitute the number of your Folder where it says "FolderNumber"
Substitute the name of your material where it says "NameOfMaterial"
Select "File", then "Save as" Name it NameOfMaterial.ram
Create a folder in the main directory of your website and call it ramfiles.
Save it to this folder named ramfiles This is your link.
Now: On your webpage create some text for the link to your material hyperlink it to the Ram file Upload the ramfiles folder to the main directory of your website
Upload the page with the link to your material

How to link to Windows Media content - Two Methods

1) The Account Management Interface will create the link for you:
Log into the Account Management Interface with the username and password we supplied you with. Click on the folder name where you would like to upload your material. This will log you into the folder automatically. Once the material is uploaded select one of your clips by clicking on the checkbox to the left. Select only one clip at a time. Then click on the Create a Link button above. A popup will appear. This will automatically create the link for you. Simply copy this link and place it on your website or e-mail it.

2) Create the link yourself:
Cut and paste the link below into a text editor like Notepad...

<ASX version="3.0">
<ENTRY>
<TITLE></TITLE>
<AUTHOR></AUTHOR>
<REF HREF="mms://FTPHost/FolderNumber/YourMaterial"/>
</ENTRY>
</ASX>

From the e-mail we sent you with your codes,
Substitute the FTP Host where it says FTP Host,
Substitute the number of your Folder where it says "FolderNumber"
Substitute the name of your material where it says "YourMaterial"
Select "File", then "Save as"
Name it nameofmaterial.asx
Create a folder in the main directory of your website and call it asxfiles
Save it to this folder named asxfiles This is your link.
On your webpage create some text for the link to your material and hyperlink it to the .asx file
Upload the asxfiles folder to the main directory of your website
Upload the page with the link to your material - That's it!!

How to link to QuickTime Media content - Two Methods

1) The Account Management Interface will create the link for you:
Log into the Account Management Interface with the username and password we supplied you with. Click on the folder name where you would like to upload your material. This will log you into the folder automatically. Once the material is uploaded select one of your clips by clicking on the checkbox to the left. Select only one clip at a time. Then click on the Create a Link button above. A popup will appear. This will automatically create the link for you. Simply copy this link and place it on your website or e-mail it.

2) Create the link yourself:
Create the link below,

rtsp://FTP Host:2554/FolderNumber/NameOfMaterial.mov

From the e-mail we sent you with your codes,
Substitute the number of your Folder where it says "FolderNumber"
Substitute the name of your material where it says "NameOfMaterial"
Make sure you are connected to the Internet!!
Open Quicktime Player,
click "File" then "Open URL"
Input the rtsp file path from above in
Open it
Once the rtsp file is open and running, click "File" then "Save As"
In the save dialog box, click "Make movie self-contained"
Create a folder in the main directory of your website and call it movfiles.
Enter a file name with a ".mov" extension
Save it to the movfiles folder
On your webpage create some text for the link to your material and hyperlink it to the .mov file
Upload the movfiles folder to the main directory of your website
Upload the page with the link to your material

Need MakeRefMovie?
Download makerefmovie. It's FREE!! Here is the link:
MakeRefMovie

Create a Live Link for a Pre-Event Static Message:
Cut and paste the link below into a text editor like Notepad...

<ASX VERSION="3.0">
<ENTRY>
<REF HREF="mms://HostDirectoryHere.com/LoginName" />
</ENTRY>
<REPEAT COUNT="100">
<ENTRY>
<REF HREF="mms://HostDirectoryHere.com/LoginName" />
<REF HREF="http://www.YourWebsite.com/YourImage.jpg" />
<DURATION VALUE="00:00:20" />
</ENTRY>
</REPEAT>
</ASX>

Login to the Account Management Interface. Then click on Get Info next to the live account that you wish to create this link for. Now cut and paste the following information in.

Substitute the Host Directory in the 2 location where it says "HostDirectoryHere.com"
Substitute the LoginName where it says "LoginName",
Substitute the image location where it says "http://www.YourWebsite.com/YourImage.jpg"
Select "File", then "Save as"
Name it anything.asx
Create a folder in the main directory of your website and call it asxfiles
Save it to this folder named asxfiles This is your link.
On your webpage create some text for the link to your material and link it to the .asx file
Upload the asxfiles folder to the main directory of your website
Upload the page with the link to your material - That's it!!
Now when users click on this link the image will show up until you start the encoder at which time the live event will automatically begin.

<REPEAT COUNT="100"> - Set this to the amount of times you would like it to repeat. This is based on the number of seconds you insert into the DURATION VALUE
<DURATION VALUE="00:00:20" /> - Set this to the amount of time before it checks to see if the live event is running. 15-20 seconds is usually a good amount.

I am having problems logging on to my folder?
Make sure you are typing the FTP Host, Login, and password exactly as it is on the e-mail we sent you. You can not cut and paste this information in. You MUST type it in and upper/lower case do matter!!

How do I add more server space to my account
There is no limits placed on server space. Just upload as much material as you have and we will automatically adjust your account.

My audio and video do not sync up
This is usually caused by one of two things:
1) The method of encode was not correct. Selecting exactly the right settings for your audience is very important. Try many different encodes and screen sizes and compare the qualities until you find the best one.
2) Sometimes the connection that the user is connecting with can't handle the type of encode and latency will appear.

To Upload From a Browser:
1) Log into the Account Management System
2) Click on your Folder name
This will log you directly into your folder.
You will be able to upload and create your links from here.

How to upload your material via FTP Software
A standard method of uploading your material is by using FTP software more commonly known as an FTP client.

FTP for the PC:
WS_FTP

FTP for the Mac
Fetch

How to Embed with samples
Here are 3 sample links that demonstrate how to embed the 3 formats. Simple cut and paste the source code into your web page.

Real Video Sample - HTML Code Instructions
Real's embedding info page

Windows Sample - HTML Code Instructions
Microsoft's embedding info page

QuickTime Sample - HTML Code Instructions
QuickTime's embedding info page

What is required to do a live audio/video event?
1) A Windows based computer with a reliable Internet connection.

2) Enough bandwidth on the upload speed of your Internet connection to cover the bit rate or bit rates you wish to send out. You need to add all of the rates you are going to stream together and make sure that they do not go over about 80% of your maximum upload speed on your connection.

3) For audio streaming it is recommended to have a pci sound card installed instead of a integrated sound card. There tend to be more issues with integrated sound cards that come as part of the motherboard of the computer.

4) If you wish to do video as well as audio you will need to have a video capture device for your computer. There are many companies and models of video capture devices on the market. You will want to make sure that you purchase a device that is compatible with the windows media encoding software that you are using. The manufacturer of the device should be able to tell you if it will work with the windows media encoding software.

5) You will need to download the Windows Media Encoder from the Microsoft Windows Media download site below - Windows Encoding Software
This is a free download and will enable you to broadcast your event using AudioVideoweb.com's services. For more information on the specifics of setting up your Live Broadcast in the windows media encoder click here.

Link to Purchase Windows Encoding Software
Link to purchase Real Encoding Software

Firewalls
Firewalls will cause problems for all formats of live webcasting. You must setup your live connection on the outside of your firewall or have your administrator pop a whole in the firewall so that you can send your signal through.
More info http://service.real.com/firewall/index.html

Shopping Cart Setup Information: More info with images

The HTML code is supplied for you from within the Pay-Per-View Shopping Cart and can be simply cut and pasted into your webpage. The information below is for advanced developers that wish to create their own code.

View an example Pay-Per-View Shopping Cart page: Simple - More Advanced

To setup the Pay-Per-View Shopping Cart System to work on your website please add the following html code to the pages that will list the content.

Multiple Item Purchase Setup:

Create an html FORM on any web page that will have content using the html FORM tag:
<form method="post" action="http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/ppvlnk/purchase/add/multiple">

For the "Add to Cart" and "Check Out" buttons:
<input type="submit" name="Add to Cart" value="Add To Cart">
<input type="submit" name="Add to Cart" value="Check Out">

To Add a Continue Shopping Button:
(This will return the user to a page of your choice)
Follow the <FORM> tag with the following hidden input tag:
<input type="hidden" name="continue_url" value="xxxxx">

The "xxxxx" would be replaced with a URL to return to their shopping page (for example: "http://www.audiovideoweb.com/cart_demo1.html").

Using Checkboxes and Single Links for each item selection:
Inside the html FORM, use one checkbox tag for each clip to be purchased. All checkboxes need to be named the same: purchaselink[], The VALUE attribute of the CHECKBOX tag should be set to the "link" we supply you with for that item, for example:
<input type="checkbox" name="purchaselink[]"
value="http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/ppvlnk/purchase/add/item/109223735555">

Be sure to include the brackets "[]" at the end of the checkbox name.

For the Single link without a Continue Shopping button use:
href="http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/ppvlnk/purchase/add/item/109223735556
For the Single link with a Continue Shopping button use:
?continue_url=http://www.audiovideoweb.com/cart_demo1.html

An example selling three clips can be seen here:

Some coding examples:
<HTML>
. . .
<FORM method="POST"
action="http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/ppvlnk/purchase/add/multiple">
<INPUT type="hidden" name="continue_url"
value="http://www.mysite.com/myclips.html">
. . .
<INPUT type="checkbox" name="purhaselink[]"
value="http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/ppvlnk/purchase/add/item/109223735555">Clip
#1
<INPUT type="checkbox" name="purhaselink[]"
value="http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/ppvlnk/purchase/add/item/109223735556">Clip
#2
<INPUT type="checkbox" name="purhaselink[]"
value="http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/ppvlnk/purchase/add/item/109223735557">Clip
#3
. . .
<input type="submit" name="Add to Cart" value="Add To Cart">
<input type="submit" name="Add to Cart" value="Check Out">
</FORM>
. . . </HTML>

Requirements to Manage Flash Media:
MX Professional 2004
Free Trial | Buy it

Basic Use:
No programming or building of Flash files is required. Simply follow the instructions below to enable your flash media.

1) Install the latest version of Flash Player.
2) Log in to your account at AudioVideoweb.com
3) Upload your FLV files onto the server by clicking on the folder name to login and browsing to find the file on your computer and then clicking on upload. After uploading is complete the file becomes available for streaming instantly.
4) Select a file or files for playback and click Create New Flash Group. Name the group and click save. Select the Video Screen Size and Skin and click on Save Data.
5) Now you are supplied with the links to your content.

Internet Explorer Problems:
I have inserted the HTML code into my webpage, but cannot see video in Internet Explorer?

When you are creating a new HTML document (using the embed code), in order for Internet Explorer to correctly interpret the embed code (for proper viewing on your webpage), the HTML document header (the first two lines of the HTML document) must be XHTML standard complaint.

Here is what the standard XHTML header looks like:
(
)

Video Strategies for Flash Websites:

Video support in Flash has continued to evolve since its introduction in Flash MX and Flash Player 6. Flash Player 7 greatly improves video quality, supports higher frame rates, and provides additional opportunities for loading dynamic media at runtime.

At the core of Flash video is the Flash for Video (FLV) file format. FLV files contain encoded audio and video data that is highly optimized (through the use of Sorenson's Spark codec) for delivery through the Flash Player. This keeps the Flash Player footprint as small as possible by using a single video rendering format.

Edited video content is encoded into the FLV format as it is imported into the Flash authoring environment (or encoded into FLV format from third party applications via the Flash Video Exporter plugin). Once imported into the Flash authoring environment, FLV files can be converted to movie clips and can benefit from all of the programmatic manipulations ActionScript has to offer, or exported back out as standalone FLV files that can be invoked and streamed by the Flash player.

On the delivery side, developers can choose from a variety of options for embedding video into Flash movies or options for streaming external video files at runtime, or options for exporting Flash video to other formats. Developers need to carefully consider the types of video content, bandwidth, length, and the level of user interaction needed before choosing a suitable delivery mechanism.

In this TechNote we give an overview of the new video capabilities in Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004 and discuss some of the different strategies for incorporating and deploying Flash video. There are additional informational, how-to, troubleshooting, and third party resources at the end of this document to aid developers in using video for Flash.

Overview of new video capabilities in Flash

With the introduction of the Flash MX 2004 platform, support for video has improved with the addition of many new capabilities to the authoring and runtime environment, giving developers more options for delivering embedded video and progressive and streaming files. In short, developers have many new choices to tailor the delivery method to best match the nature of differing video content and ultimately to deliver the best possible user experience.

• Video Import Wizard
  The wizard adds many new choices for encoding imported audio and video as well as providing basic clip scaling, cropping functions and contrast and brightness controls.
• Media Components
  a set of authoring components that enable connections to external video files and connections to Flash Server, and a new set of Behavior actions that work with Slides to accelerate and simplify the creation of advanced interactive video presentations.
• Flash Video Exporter
  a new plug-in for use with third party applications that enables users to export Flash encoded audio and video directly from a third party authoring environment.

Flash Websites

There are several alternative approaches to using video with a Flash-based website. The overriding factor in choosing the optimum method for delivery is performance, which developers can best address by matching the appropriate delivery mechanism with the actual content. For example, approaches that work for short video clips embedded into a Flash movie will not work with large video files that require external streaming. Likewise it is not efficient to architect, code, deploy, and maintain an elaborate client-server delivery mechanism when presenting short, highly-compressed and optimized clips.

Video content has its own set of considerations that developers must take into account when applying optimal compression techniques which have an effect on image quality and file size. Developers must consider all of these factors and decide on what tradeoffs are acceptable when selecting the most appropriate method for delivering video within the Flash player.

There are three distinct approaches for delivering video content with FlashMX 2004 and Flash Player 7:

• Embedded FLV – Video content is imported into the Flash authoring environment and embedded into the published SWF.
• External FLV – Video content is remotely played from a host SWF containing a user interface and movie controls linking to the external file. Options include Progressive and Streaming FLV downloads to the Flash player.
• Exported FLV – Content created in Flash is exported to QuickTime, AVI, or sequences of still frames for playback by other software.

Embedded FLV

Embedded video is a straightforward method of delivering short video clips and has been around since Flash Player 6. It is an easy to use, timeline based technique and gives quick results. Video clips can be imported and encoded into the Flash authoring environment. Playback is limited to simple play and stop commands, and the video framerate must match that of the host movie, an important consideration that will require authoring for the lowest-common-denominator download speed.

For web delivery, content must be completely downloaded and must fit into available memory on the user's machine before playback can begin. The biggest limitations to embedded video are movies having a maximum of 16,000 frames and audio sync cannot be maintained beyond about two minutes. The entire video clip must be published each time the movie is tested or previewed, which can lead to lengthy authoring sessions.

Progressive FLV

Flash Player 7 introduced progressive download, a technique where external FLV files are cached on the user's local hard drive and played through the host SWF at runtime with no limitation to the file's size or duration. Audio and video stays in sync and the frame rate is completely independent from that of the movie host, enabling developers to create several versions of content optimized for different download speeds. Since an external FLV is published separately from the host FLA , authoring time is more efficient. For lengthy audio/video content that requires fairly straightforward delivery, external progressive FLVs can be a good choice.

The Flash MX Professional 2004 authoring environment contains Media Components that can be used to quickly add FLV or audio MP3 playback control to a Flash project. Media Components provide support for both progressive and streaming FLV files.

Streaming FLV

Streaming FLV files have many of the same properties of Progressive FLV files but are remotely served from a Flash Server. This approach provides the most efficient delivery of FLV and audio MP3 files by streaming data to the host SWF file and requires the least hard disk and memory resources on the client end. Since data is not cached locally on a user's hard disk, this technique also provides the most secure method of delivering media.

The Flash Server has the ability to deliver multiple simultaneous real-time communications, provides smarter delivery of content by adjusting to the client's connection speed, and has advanced monitoring of traffic and throughput. For media projects that require the greatest flexibility in efficiently handling the most complex data streams, this is the best choice for delivery.

Exported FLV & QuickTime Flash Tracks

Flash can export movies to other formats such as Apple's QuickTime or Microsoft AVI. Flash can also export image sequences to a variety of formats, such as GIF, PNG, JPG, AI and EPS.

Note: AVI export is only available in Flash for Windows.

QuickTime video can be imported into Flash where Flash tracks can be added and exported back out as QuickTime and played with the QuickTime player or plugin. This provides much of the Flash feature set, especially navigational overlays and sprites, directly into a separate track within a QuickTime movie. Another use is to use Flash to “translate” graphics formats not supported by QuickTime into QuickTime movies.

Note: QuickTime support for Flash is usually based on the next-to-latest version of Flash. The current version of the QuickTime Player (version 6 as of this writing) supports playback of Flash Player 5 SWF files. This is because Apple's development of QuickTime is not synchronous with the latest Flash Player development. Also, it is up to the software developer to decide how much of the Flash player feature set to include in its own players, so it is likely that not all of the Flash player functionality will be present in all software titles. This can limit the scope of ActionScript that can be carried out on these titles. For details see Apple's Developer Center article on QuickTime 6 support for Flash.

The Flash Media Handler inside the QuickTime player supports an optimized case for the alpha channel graphics mode, allowing a Flash track to be cleanly composited over other tracks. QuickTime allows the SWF file format to execute any of the standard Flash movieclip actions.

When exporting a QuickTime movie from Flash, you can specify dimensions, alpha transparency, layer options, streaming sound, controller placement, playback options, and more.

Deployment on CD-ROM/DVD

Flash content can be authored for deployment in CD-ROM or DVD, usually by creating a standalone projector that encapsulates the content and the Flash player. In cases where more functionality is needed than the Flash player is designed to provide, or in cases where full-frame video needs to be deployed along with graphic or sound assets not handled by Flash, it may be more suitable to develop in an authoring environment.

Wire Transfers - (A Minimum $100.00 Monthly Package Required)

*You MUST Open an account at AudioVideoweb.com LLC before the wire transfers can be set up.Please insert a note on all transfers with your Company Name and/or Customer Number. Once your account is opened all future transfers must be received prior to customer's billing date to prevent any interruption or deactivation of service. To use Wire Transfer it is required that you select a Package only. Pay As You Go services are NOT applicable with Wire Transfers.

For all wire transfers please follow these steps:
1) Select a service from our offerings.
2) E-mail the following information to wire-transfers@audiovideoweb.com

Service Required: (Please select a Package from our offerings - Live | Archive)
First Name:
Last Name:
Company Name:
E-mail Address:
Phone Number:
URL of your Website:
Street Address:
City:
State:
Zip/Postal Code:
Country:

Once you have E-mailed us this information we will setup your account and will E-mail you your customer number with an invoice. Now you are ready to direct your wire transfer to us using the following information:

You MUST use the information below at your bank Exactly as it is written.

BANK INFORMATION FOR WIRE TRANSFERS:
Bank Name: Bank of America
Account Name: Audiovideoweb Com LLC
Account Number: Number is released to active customers only via invoice

Wire AVA Number: 026009593
or
ABA for ACH Deposits: 011000138