June, 2015

• 7 June

  Choosing the Number of Renditions and Encoding Sets

  I recently received an email inquiry that asked, “on average for multiple devices, how many different renditions/encoding sets do you recommend?” The answer was complex enough that I figured I would answer it in a blog post.  There are multiple interlocking considerations, as you would suspect. Let’s start with Quality and Compatibility. Quality and Compatibility  1. The starting point for …

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• 4 June

  Video Production Resources for Live Event Production

  I recently received an email asking about resources for video and webinar production. I sent off a list of video, audio, and lighting related resources, so I thought I would expand upon that in three blog posts. This first is on video-related resources for streaming production.  Choosing Cameras and Lighting for Single-Speaker Webinars (1): I actually presented this as a webinar, …

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• 4 June

  Amazon Charges Outrageous Prices for Kindle Delivery

  Perhaps it’s just me, but something about being a book author often feels like I have a sign on my back that says “Kick Me,” or worse. Maybe it’s that publishers get to hold onto my royalties for 3-6 months, so I can finance their business. Isn’t that special? Or maybe it’s Amazon’s Kindle royalty strategy; I get 70% if …

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• 2 June

  New Book Helps Business Users Produce More Effective Webinars and Videoconferences

  Book by streaming expert Jan Ozer provides media and technical training to help non-media professionals produce top quality audio and video. Galax, VA, June 2, 2015. Doceo Publishing announces a new book entitled Mastering Webcam and Smartphone Video: How to Look and Sound Great in Webinars and Videoconferences: Webinar Edition ($24.95), by streaming expert Jan Ozer. The book provides media …

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• 2 June

  My New Book: Mastering Webcam and Smartphone Video

  Just a quick note about my new book, Mastering Webcam and Smartphone Video: How to Look & Sound Great in Webinars and Videoconferences ($24.95). Here’s the who, what, where, why, and when. Who:  The book is targeted towards non-media professionals who produce webinars or frequently Skype or FaceTime with business associates.  What: The book provides media and technical training to help those …

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May, 2015

• 13 May

  How to: Encoding for HEVC

  Handout at the main article. Here’s the description. This session explores the current status of HEVC, identifying options for encoding live and on-demand video using HEVC and discussing player options in the streaming and OTT markets. Topics include the comparative quality and usability of HEVC encoders—including encoders from x265 and MainConcept and techniques for maximizing output quality using both codecs.

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• 13 May

  Handouts for Replacing Flash Section

  Handouts for Replacing Flash with MSE/EME session – click below. Here’s the description:  The Media Source Extensions and Encrypted Media Extensions are the standardized toolsets that enable browsers to deliver adaptive streaming and digital rights management without plug-ins. This session details what these extensions are, how they’re being supported by the different browser and tools vendors, and how soon those …

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April, 2015

• 29 April

  VP9 vs. HEVC Quality Comparison is up on StreamingMedia.com

  My article, The Great UHD Codec Debate: Google’s VP9 vs. HEVC/H.265, is up on Streaming Media. Here’s the intro that describes what I tried to do. As of today, the great UHD codec debate involves two main participants: Google’s VP9 and HEVC/H.265. Which one succeeds—and where—involves a number of factors and will likely differ in various streaming-related markets, which I …

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• 15 April

  Adobe Media Encoder Gets HEVC and VP9

  (February 4, 2017: While the Fnord plug-in appears to be available, there’s no mention of the HEVC plug-in on the Vanguard site. Note that AME now has HEVC encoding in the latest version, most likely using the MainConcept HEVC codec). In their latest Creative Cloud reveal, which I wrote about here, Adobe didn’t include either HEVC or VP9 in Adobe …

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• 8 April

  DRM Resources on Streaming Learning Center

  Someone sent me an email this morning asking about DRM-related information. I collected these resources for him, and then thought it might make a useful blog post. So, if you’re interested in Digital Rights Management, here are four resources you can check out on the Streaming Learning Center and beyond. 1. I gave a session on DRM at Streaming Media …

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