The Streaming Process
Record
Begin by evaluating your subject in terms of practicality for your intended goal of the project. Subjects that are people will most likely need to be informed directly about acquisitioning their image. When filming non-human subjects and locations, it may be advantageous to seek out area administrators that may ease the recording process. Generally, locations filmed outside of the University campus will require permission and/or proper documentation.
You can rent supplies for your filming needs through The University Teaching and Learning Center. Its staff members can also provide ample instruction about camera operation and accessory management. It may be helpful to look at the list of equipment and technologies that faculty and staff are permitted to check out. Depending on the type of project you construct, filming may be the shortest (or longest) step in your process. It is important to spend significant time pre-planning the entire project in order to avoid time constraints and production errors.
Capture
Also referred to as "digitizing," the capturing phase will provide you with a means to digitally edit recorded material using computer software. Generally, the subject matter is recorded in a camera using VHS, miniDV, DVD, or Memory Card. At Electronic Resources and Information Technology (ERIT), you have access to a capture station that streamlines raw footage into a digital format.
By connecting a Firewire (IEEE 1394) cable from the camera to the computer, the client can import footage and subsequently arrange clips in a particular order. Given that computers are constantly "working" on other applications at the same time, it may be easier to capture your footage in small (:30 sec or less) chunks to avoid any video artifacting that can ruin the image.
Edit
Depending on the length and objective of your project, editing time can vary from ten minutes to several days. This phase is particularly important because the cohesiveness of the project is ultimately important. Smooth and succinct editing is necessary for a clear and precise media project. Here again, ERIT provides equipment and technology to facilitate this phase. In the same place you capture material, you can also edit clips into an ideal order with computer software.
The level of expertise required to use the editing software varies by program. The machines at the ERIT have software for the novice video editor as well as those who have a stronger grasp or familiarity with editing. There is a sign-up time sheet on the lab door that you may fill out for direct assistance from an ERIT staff member.
Compress
At this stage, you have recorded and digitally edited the project to prepare for online streaming. In the compression phase, you will be directed back to 6-TECH Technical Support for format selection and compression. At this point, the media files will be on a CD/DVD-ROM and encoded with a familiar media format (Quicktime, Windows Media, or Real Media). After you make a service request, a compression consultant will compress or shrink the true file size to maximize server space. Using professional grade utilities, the consultant reduces "information" in the media file by lowering the quality of the video/sound resolution. Most of the time, these reductions are negligible but necessary in order to adequately utilize server space.
Information Technology Services (ITS) offers three standard compression formats that are frequently used by PC and Mac users alike: Quicktime (.mov), Windows Media (.wmv), and Real Media (.rm). Clients may choose to use multiple compression formats to provide users with playback options and security.
Stream
The final stage of the process is the actual implementation of the produced media files that users access on the Internet. While ITS offers compression and hosting of these files, it is your responsibility to provide appropriate linkage from a departmental Web site. After the files have been placed on our RealHelix media server, we will provide you with the targets for each compressed file.
Our streaming media formats each have different linking instructions that you must follow in order to provide reliable access to users. Read our Access Methods document for information about how to correctly link to your media files.