So, here I am, just about to launch a course on webinars and live video production, and I experience the worst two virtual presentations ever. In this blog, I’ll share the gory details and let you know how you (perhaps) can avoid the same fate. All that said, this is more a writer’s self-therapy for…
I was honored to present a free webinar entitled Video Codecs in 2021 and Beyond with Muvi on April 8, 2021. The slides and recording are below. Here’s the description. There has never been a time where so many video codecs were available (or soon to be available) for video producers. From MPEG, we have…
In this interview with Evelyne Kuo from BaishanCloud, we discussed technologies involved with distributing live streams to viewers across multiple geographic regions. The conversation included hardware HEVC encoders, QoS, QoE, using different encoding ladders for different content and potentially different regions, and considerations for choosing a CDN (get one that’s strong in each region you’re…
Reducing the reference frame setting from 16 to 1 when using x.264’s veryslow preset decreased encoding time by 46% on ten 2-minute test files while dropping the average VMAF score from 96.06 to 95.97, a decrease of less than .001. If you used the Medium preset, at the default setting of 3 reference frames, changing…
The webinar is over; thanks to all who registered and attended. You can watch the recorded version by registering using the Register Now button. The handout is available here. Description: This free webinar teaches streaming media novices how to produce high-quality H.264 output delivered via efficient encoding ladders that optimize quality, compatibility, and bitrate efficiency.…
This updated lesson was just added to the course Streaming Media 101: Technical Onboarding for Streaming Media Professionals. It details the evolution of per-title encoding from simple optimization technologies to complex, AI-driven systems. It’s an example of the technical perspective the course provides and our commitment to continually updating course content. Enjoy. Per-title encoding customizes…
Framing is the act of placing the subject within the camera frame. Do it correctly and the video looks just like your viewers are used to seeing on TV. Mess up here and you compromise the quality of your video from the start. This 12:42 video teaches you artistic fundamentals like rule-of-thirds positioning, head, look,…
This post provides an introduction to video codecs. It’s an entry-level article designed to help streaming newbies understand what codecs are, what they do, how to compare them, and why they succeed or fail. If you’re new to streaming and need to get up to speed quickly, I’m hosting two three-hour boot camps at Streaming…
This post discusses factors to consider when choosing a camera for four types of live events. It’s adapted from training materials prepared for a live streaming boot camp I’m producing at Streaming Media Connect on Tuesday, February 23: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET) / 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (PT). I’ll be releasing a course…
There are the handouts from the last few Streaming Media Events. They’re typically long and very detailed, so provide a lot of data and other information. I’ve segmented them by subject and included the videos where available. I hope you find this information useful. Production and Delivery FFmpeg Visual Quality Metrics Per-Title Encoding Hardware Transcoding…