Articles

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Encoding for Multiple Screen Delivery

Here’s the session description. This session details the playback capabilities and technology compatibilities of desktop, mobile, and TV screens, and explores the technical issues and feasibility of producing one set of streams for all platforms, including how technologies like transmuxing and live transcoding simplify the overall distribution workflow. Click below to download the handout. The video is directly below. 

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Producing and Distributing HEVC

Here’s the description; click below to download the handout and access the sample files. This session explores the current status of HEVC, identifying options for encoding live and on-demand HEVC and discussing player options in the streaming and OTT markets. Topics include the comparative quality and usability of HEVC encoders, how HEVC quality compares to H.264 and VP9 (if encoders …

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Streaming Camera Guide: How to Choose Your Next Camera

Streaming producers have an array of camera options, from the cameras in their smartphones to professional models costing four figures or more. In this article, we’ll identify the major camera categories; discuss their strengths, weakness and best use cases; and features to look for when choosing a camera within the category. While there are dozens, if not hundreds, of cameras …

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Video for the Long Haul: Exploring Backhaul Options

You’re streaming a high-profile event in the not-too-distant future, and you’re wondering about your options for transmitting your video to your streaming server or service provider. You’re concerned about quality, reliability, and

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In Defense of MPEG LA

Recent bad press received by MPEG LA seems to disprove the old adage that all PR is good PR. A few weeks ago, writing for Fox News, Steve Forbes said: One example is MPEG LA—a patent pooling entity and owner of the MPEG-2 standard commonly foun

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Stream With Care: Simple Production Tips for Quality Results

Most seasoned compressionists know that you can’t have high-quality streaming media without quality audio and video. In honor of our production issue, I thought I would list the production techniques that can make or break audio and video quality.  Let’s start with the setup. There are two concepts to keep in mind here: contrast ratio and detail. Cameras have limited …

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YouTube and VP9: A Made-for-Press-Release Event

The recent news that YouTube will demonstrate 4K video encoded with VP9 at CES with hardware support from a number of chip and TV vendors has all the earmarks of a made-for-press release event; all froth, no substance. That’s OK; press release

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A Buyer’s Guide to Field Encoders 2014

So you’re streaming a live event at some off-site location and you’re wondering what hardware or software to buy to encode the video to send to your streaming server. Well, you’re in the right place, because that’s the subject

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Apple Changes Encoding Recommendations for HLS

From my perspective, Apple Technical Note TN2224 is the Rosetta Stone of adaptive streaming, a document that translates multiple factors into concrete recommendations that should be considered by all producers streaming to Apple Devices. Which is to

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Review: Vidizmo EnterpriseTube

Let me be up front about this. Vidizmo EnterpriseTube is the first corporate YouTube product that I’ve reviewed. So if you’re looking for a comparative analysis detailing how the product stacks up with other options, this, unfortunately,

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