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- Back to main F.A.Q: Real Audio and Video
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- 1. Can I stream Real Audio and Video.
- 2. Where can I find more about Real
Audio.
- 3. General Information on Real Audio.
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- 1. Can I stream Real Audio and Video. -
Top
- Yes you can stream real audio and video with any
hosting plan.
Below a few samples
AMERICA, brought to you by
American Star Airlines at: http://www.americanstarair.com/
click
here for A 56k MODEM
click
here for DSL/Cable
Hopetown
Lighthouse Steel Drum Band
Brought to you by http://hopetownlighthouse.com/
Notice! These above presentation requires the use of the real
audio
player which may be downloaded here for free at
the above real
player link button. Once you reach the site, click where it
says "RealPlayer 8 Basic beta is our free player.
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- 2. Where can I find more about Real Audio. -
Top
- RealAudio.com
Real Audio Help
Search Real Audio Knowledge Base
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- 3. General Information on Real Audio. -
Top
- The following information contains general information
about
RealAudio. Specific questions about its features and functions
should be addressed to sales@realaudio.com.
What is RealAudio?
RealAudio refers to a client-server based system which allows
web sites to deliver (or "stream") pre-recorded and live
compressed audio data to multimedia computers with a RealAudio
Player.
The Player continuously decompresses the audio stream and plays
it in
real time, on demand. Unique flow control technology allows computer
users with sound cards to listen to whole clips, or just sections,
when they want, as often as they want.
Not counting the player, the system has two components, the
RealAudio Encoder and the RealAudio Server.
RealAudio Encoder
The encoder is a software only solution (no proprietary hardware
required) and is used to
convert the live or prerecorded content into the RealAudio or
RealVideo formats. The 3.0 Encoder will encode .wav, .au and live
raw audio data including sound from CD players, tuners, microphones
and mixing boards. Download RealAudio Encoder from:
www.realaudio.com/products/encoder/realaudio/
RealAudio Server
RealAudio 3.0 features broadcast quality audio over the Internet
for
the first time. RealAudio 3.0 technology introduces stereo sound
to
28.8 Kbps modem users. Version 3.0 also introduces scaleable bandwidths
between 28.8 Kbps connections and ISDN connections and above,
producing
near CD quality sound at ISDN connections and beyond. Content
providers
can select from multiple codecs at the same bandwidths to enable
them to
customize RealAudio sound for different content types.
The delivery system has been enhanced by improving the communication
reliability with Robust UDP and other features designed to improve
sound
quality, including PerfectPlay (with the RealAudio Player Plus)
and
Bandwidth Negotiation. Download a RealAudio 3.0 Server license
from:
www.realaudio.com/products/server/
How Does the System Work?
RealAudio technology utilizes an interactive system between the
RealAudio
Server and the RealAudio Player to enable real-time audio delivery
over
the Internet. When the user clicks on a link on a Web page, the
audio
buffers and then begins to play, all within a few seconds. This
gives
the deceiving impression that the RealAudio file is linked directly
to the
Web page. In reality, information is passing between the Web server
supporting the Web page, the RealAudio Server supporting the audio
file,
and the RealAudio Player. When the user clicks on the RealAudio
link,
it is actually activating a metafile, which in turn sends the
location
of the RealAudio file to the Player. The Player then sends a signal
to the
RealAudio Server requesting that file. The file is sent to the
Player
and played as it is received. The entire process is completed
within seconds.
How Does One Deliver Live Content?
The RealAudio and Video system will allow you to stream prerecorded
files
on demand from your web pages. It will also allow streaming of
live content
in realtime. Real-time encoding and serving technology allows
organizations
to broadcast live events including breaking news stories, sporting
events,
corporate meetings, and more, live, as they're happening, without
time delays.
In a live situation, the RealAudio or video encoder must be connected
to the
Real server so that the incoming audio or video can be compressed
into the
Real format and be streamed over the internet (or intranet). Clearly,
this
assumes you'll need two machines...one for the encoder and one
for the server.
Generally, when doing live encoding, the encoder should be run
on its own
dedicated machine! Additionally, the encoder may be at a remote
location
apart from the server (perhaps at the live event or radio station
in question)
or it may be on the same network as the RealAudio/Video server.
In situations
where the RA/RV encoder will be remote you may send the newly
created RA/RV
stream from the RA encoder to the RA/RV server simply by specifying
the
destination of the server. The stream will then be sent over the
Internet
via TCP/IP to be received by the server...and then multiplied
and streamed
out to the listners. When the encoder is remote, you can send
the stream to the
server via:
a dedicated internet connection (min. 56kbs or 64k ISDN)
satellite
The experienced audio technician may seek professional results
by experimenting
with a number of different techniques including compression, noise
gating,
equalization and normalization equipment. A list of such equipment
as well
as other hints for getting the best sound with RealAudio can be
found here:
www.realaudio.com/help/content/audiohints.html#Other_Refs
What are the Memory and Sound Requirements?
The RealAudio server allows you to freely stream your live content
without
saving it to hard disk, thus making for a maintenance free system
that wont
fill your hard drive with large files on a daily basis. However,
in some
instances you may want to archive live content for play back at
a later time.
The RealAudio server provides such an option.
Audio Storage
Depending upon the level of audio compression, RealAudio files
require hard disk space
equal to approximately 1.1 - 2.4 kilobytes per second of audio.
Sound Requirements
RealAudio will encode most common monaural PC formats. RealAudio
2.0 comes with two
audio encoding algorithms. The RealAudio 14.4 algorithm provides
AM sound quality, while
the 28.8 algorithm offers FM sound quality.
EXAMPLES OF AUDIO FILE STORAGE REQUIREMENTS:
Program length RealAudio RealAudio
14.4 kbps 28.8 kbps
1 hour 3.6 MB 8MB
5 hours 18 MB 40MB
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