Flash Streaming FAQ



Flash Video Streaming – some frequently asked questions…

Given below are the answers to the top 10 most common questions we get asked. If the answer you’re looking for is not here just call our team on 01242 587 734 and we’ll be happy to help.

How much disk space will I require for my streaming files?

Disk space requirements for streaming files will depend on the bit rate at which the files are encoded. A good rule of thumb is that flash video properly encoded for streaming at 500kbps will use about 0.2Gb of storage per hour of content. So you just need work out how much content you have in minutes and hours then calculate from there.

How much bandwidth do I need?

In regards to bandwidth usage, it depends on how many people view your videos, whether they view the whole thing or just a bit of it. Is it for a large site that gets hundreds of visitors a day, or a small one, which only a few people will watch? If you’re not sure ask us – we’re happy to give recommendations based on our experience with existing clients.

How do I view my streams?

Your Flash Video (flv) files must be embedded in a player on a web page to function correctly. Your streaming account comes with an online control panel to administer your content. Here you have the ability to generate the code needed to embed the flash video player within your web pages.

What Flash player do you recommend for my site?

We use the excellent JW FLV player as this is simple to use and very customisable to produce a great result for the viewer. You can use the simple ‘skin’ for the player using the control panel from your streaming account. Advanced users can also customise the player interface in many ways. More information on the JW player can be found here: http://www.jeroenwijering.com/

What bitrate should I encode my flv files at?

A very common question and one that the answer is changing for as internet speeds increase. A 320x240 player size will need to be encoded at around 300kbps to look professional. Larger player sizes are possible but will require higher encoding rates and videos encoded at the higher rate will 'buffer' for users with slow connections.

Will people behind firewalls be able to see my streams?

By default, flash video is streamed using the Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) protocol. If systems administrators allow users behind their firewall to view streaming media content, then yes. If not, this can usually be solved upon request to the administrator.

Is there any DRM, or digital rights management, for Flash Video content?

There are various ways to protect flash video content, for the most appropriate way of protecting your videos, please contact us.

How can I broadcast my live event using Flash Video streaming?

For this type of project you will need the following in place as a minimum -

  1. Camera: This will depend upon the quality that you want to produce and your budget. Whilst a webcam will work in some situations, generally you will want to use a DV camera. A high quality result starts with a high quality camera and a well lit shoot. We normally use a Sony HVR1E HDV camera or similar.
  2. PC / Encoding card / Encoding software. A reasonably high end PC with Windows XP installed will suffice. For the encoding card we recommend the Osprey 210 Capture Card – we can supply this and a range of other streaming hardware on request. The Adobe Flash Media Encoder software can be downloaded free of charge from the adobe site here: https://www.adobe.com
  3. Our live streaming service. Our costs are based on 2 things - length of broadcast & number of viewers. Please get in touch for specific pricing for your event.

I’m new to all of this and don’t know where to start!

Fortunately Adobe provides some great resources for those just starting out with Flash Video. An entire 'Flash Learning Guide' © Adobe 2010 can be obtained here: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/video_guide.asp