Digital Video 101:Deciphering the Bits and Bytes of

Online VideoPresented by: Gina (Cone) Krause, Matthew Haun, & Wendy

Collins

Gina (Cone) Krause & Matthew Haun With a combined total of over 30 years in the audio-visual, information technology and educational media sectors, the founders of Learning CORE provide customized streaming media services and solutions specifically tailored to the needs of education. Learning CORE has three guiding principles. The first is keep things simple. The second, do only things you love to do. And the third, which is best explained by a quote from the former Chairman and CEO of Deere & Company, that says “great companies have a sense of purpose that goes deeper than the bottom line.”

Wendy CollinsWendy is currently the Vice President of Digital Strategy for Infobase Learning where she guides the direction of its online products and digital media solutions for the education and library markets. With more than 20 years of experience in the e-learning and online education industries, she has designed and developed interactive courseware and web-based content platforms for both Fortune 500 companies and education institutions. In her spare time, she is an avid sports fan and enjoys findings ways to integrate new and emerging technologies into every day life.

Digital Video 101Introduction

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Attendees of this session will learn:The basics/best practices of digital video encodingThe basics/best practices of digital video formatsThe basics/best practices of digital video delivery optionsCommon terms and acronyms related to digital videoCritical lessons learned from specific case studiesWhere to find additional information about digital video

Digital Video 101Introduction

Session Objectives

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Improved Accessibility

Increased Technical Complexity

‘60’s-70’s

’70’s-80’s

‘90’s- 2000’s

2003 2005 20112009

Video Timeline

Digital Video 101Introduction

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Step 1:Produce a

Great Video

Step 2:Encode

Files

Step 3:StoreFiles

Step 4:Deliver a Great

Video to Any Device

Digital Video 101Introduction

Digital Video Workflow

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Do Not Try This UnsupervisedDon’t Be Afraid of TechnologyAsk Lots of QuestionsTake the Plunge!

Digital Video 101Introduction

Words of Wisdom

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Digital Video 101Digital Video Encoding

Encoding7

Buzzwords Bandwidth: The maximum amount of data a transport channel can

handle. Think- maximum number of cars that a highway can accommodate at a given location in one minute.

Bitrate: A quantity of data over a specific period of time. Think-number of cars on a highway passing a given point in one minute..

CODEC: Stands for COder/DECoder. A schema for the compression and playback of a video file. Examples include Windows Media, Flash (FLV), and MPEG4.

Digital Video 101Digital Video Encoding

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Basics What Is Encoding?

The process of making a video file smaller.

Or…. The process of converting analog-based media into a digital format.

Why Encode?

To make a video file compatible with various playback and delivery platforms.

Digital Video 101Digital Video Encoding

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Basics How to Encode?

Mac-based Software

PC-based Software

Enterprise Encoding Solutions

Cloud-based Encoding Solutions

Digital Video 101Digital Video Encoding

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Buzzwords

Digital Video 101Digital Video Encoding

Frame Rate Frame Types

I-Frame (Key Frame) P-Frame B-Frame

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Balance Quality vs. File SizeKnow your audienceIowa farmer or Seattleite / Mobile or Desktop user? Know your delivery platformBefore encoding, know what streaming technology is utilized.Trial and errorAdjust encoding parameters to subject matter.Talking head vs. a close up shot of fire.

Best Practices

Digital Video 101Digital Video Encoding

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Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats

Formats13

Which format is the “right” one for you?

Basics & Buzzwords

Video Producer Video Consumer1. Storage capacity (File Size) 1. Bandwidth (streaming)

2. Audio and Video quality 2. Storage (download)

3. Editing needs 3. Plug-in and CODEC requirements

4. Compatibility 4. Compatibility

Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats

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CODECS vs. Containers (File Extension)Master Source “CODECS”:MPEG2, H.264, On2VP7Master Source “Containers”:.AVI, .MOVDistribution “Containers”:.RM, .WMV, .FLV,. MP4

Basics & Buzzwords

= H.264 Video CODEC

+ AAC Audio CODEC

Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats

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Common Formats TodayBasics & Buzzwords

File Extension Company CODECS Supported

MPG, MPEG MPEG MPEG-1, MPEG-2

MP4 MPEG MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264

AVI (Windows Media)

Microsoft Video for Windows, DirectX

MOV (QuickTime) Apple MPEG-4, DV, ProRes

FLV, F4V (Flash) Adobe VP6, H.264, Spark

Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats

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Future Formats?Basics & Buzzwords

Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats

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Common Video PlayersBasics & Buzzwords

Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats

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Case Study

SOURCE FILES

DIGITAL MASTER FILES

DISTRIBUTION FILES

Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats

  CODECS Containers Version 1 RealMedia6 .RMVersion 2 WMV9 .WMV Version 3 Sorenson, Apple .MOV Version 4 Sorenson Spark

(H.263), On2VP6 .FLV

Version 5 H.264 .MOV, .F4V, .MP4

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Create a high quality digital master file formatDon’t fall in love with a single formatBuy more storage than you think you will needConsider Open formats vs. Proprietary formatsCompatibility is key

Best Practices

Digital Video 101Digital Video Formats

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Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

Delivery21

CDN (Content Delivery Network): A network, or that portion of a network, built specifically to speed the delivery of Web-based content across the public Internet or private intranets.

Basics & Buzzwords

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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Progressive Download (also known as HTTP Streaming or Pseudo Streaming): A method of delivery that describes the download process of video files, which allows a user to view a file’s contents before the download has been completed.True Streaming (also known as RTMP Streaming): Video that is streamed from a Streaming Media Server, to a Player that is not locally stored in the users’ cache, or anywhere on the clients’ hard drive. Adaptive Streaming: Adaptive Streaming allows the user to see the best quality video based on the users’ available bandwidth.

Basics & Buzzwords

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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Before You Can Choose the Best Delivery Method You Must Answer Two Main Questions:

Storage 1. Hosted Storage (Turn Key)2. Local Storage

Methods of Delivery3. Progressive Download4. True Streaming5. Adaptive Streaming

Basics & Buzzwords

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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Question 1: Where you will store your content?

Local Solutions:

1. Talk to your IT department about what options they can offer.

2. In some cases, your institution may use a combination of local and hosted solutions.

3. Start with a few files and see if this works best for your users.

Process and Reasoning

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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Question 1: Where you will store your content?

Hosted Solutions: Implies that the media is stored off –site.

Examples of hosted solutions include, but are not limited to: CDNs such as Akamai, Limelight, Amazon, Google, YouTube and others. Most smaller CDNs rely on the larger companies named above, or…

Process and Reasoning

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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When using a Hosted Solution…Cut through the hype : Look beyond the sales pitch to be sure the service you get meets your needs.

Remember bandwidth and budget limitations.

There is no right answer, each option has pros and cons.

Best Practices

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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Where you will store your content?

Hosted Solutions: Finding a Hosting Provider:

1.Estimate your content storage and # of simultaneous users per term.

2.Know your budget.3.Ask to test the providers

services.4.Negotiate rates with several

service providers.

Process and Reasoning

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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How will you deliver your content?

Progressive Download, True Streaming, or Adaptive Streaming?

1. Main difference between true streaming and progressive download is how the content is received and stored by the end user’s device that is accessing the content.

2. Adaptive streaming allows for optimum delivery based on the user’s bandwidth.

3. The mode you choose may have significant impact on how you produce your files.

Process and Reasoning

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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Progressive Download (HTTP Streaming/Pseudo Streaming)

HTTP Web Server

The entire video is stored on a viewer’s hard drive. This presents security risks to the content, as well as the inability to immediately seek a specific portion of a program.

Viewer’s Computer

Basics & Buzzwords

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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True Streaming ( also known as RTMP Streaming)

Basics & Buzzwords

Streaming Media Server

Viewer’s Computer

The video is NOT stored on a viewer’s hard drive as it’s immediately discarded after playback. This greatly improves security as well as offering the viewer immediately seek access to a specific portion of a program.

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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Adaptive StreamingBasics & Buzzwords

Streaming Media Server

Viewer’s Computer

First Step – Determine viewer’s available bandwidth.

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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Adaptive Streaming - continuedBasics

Streaming Media Server

Viewer’s Computer

Second Step – Based upon bandwidth audit, deliver the video file best suited to the viewer’s internet connection.

250Kbps400Kbps800Kbps1,500Kbpsetc…..

Adaptive streaming allows for the switching of a video stream based on viewer connection speed variables.

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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“Talk the Talk” - Educate yourself on the terminology used.Get first-hand advice: Get recommendations from colleagues on who and what they use. Every situation is unique, and defining your needs will help you make better decisions on what solution (or combination thereof) is best for you. Start with a solution that is scalable.

Best Practices

Digital Video 101Digital Video Delivery

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Digital Video 101Key Resources

Resources35

Digital Video 101Key Resources

Talk to colleagues from the National Media Market, CCUMC or LearningCORE.Experience digital video as a content consumer“The Business of Streaming & Digital Media” by Dan Rayburn & Michael Hoch (April, 2007)“Video Compression for Flash, Apple Devices and HTML5” by Jan Ozer (May, 2011)

Getting Started

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Streamingmedia.comVideohelp.comStreaminglearningcenter.comCreativeCow.net – ForumsLynda.comGoogle is your friend!

Websites

Digital Video 101Key Resources

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Streaming Media East/West ConferenceDV Expo ConferenceNAB Conference

Conferences

Digital Video 101Key Resources

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1. Know the basics and the buzzwords

2. Know your users

3. Balance quality and file size

4. Garbage In, Garbage Out

5. Keep it simple

6. Start small, but build a scalable solution (Think Big!)

7. Start with test files

8. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes!

9. Ask questions

10. Ask more questions!

Digital Video 101Top 10 Lessons Learned

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Any Questions?

Digital Video 101Questions

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Wendy CollinsPhone: 212-896-4359

E-mail: wcollins@infobaselearning.com

Gina (Cone) Krause & Matt HaunPhone: 843.321.9741

E-mail: info@learningcore.net

Digital Video 101Contact Us

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