| Requirements for Using it on a
Computer |
In order to play streaming media, the user should download the latest
free Realplayer (other streaming
systems are available, but the RealMedia player is the most widely used on the Web).
Hardware recommendations include a Pentium-class PC with MMX technology or a Macintosh
PowerPC computer with a sound card and speakers. A fast connection to the Internet is
necessary. The better the connectivity (T1 or faster), the clearer the quality of the
media stream will be; on slower, less powerful machines, media streams are susceptible to
interference from other traffic on the Internet and may result in a fragmented or
distorted playback. A 28.8K modem is at the lowest end of the scale in terms of its
ability to handle streaming media. |
| Requirements for Using it to
Create Materials |
Recording, digitizing, and encoding streamed files is difficult and
time-consuming; it requires professional equipment and expertise at all levels. Hardware
On the Apple platform, a Power Macintosh running at speeds of 200 MHz or better or
preferably a G3 Macintosh is suggested. On the PC platform, a Pentium II or better running
at no less than 200 MHz is required. No less than 96M of RAM (random-access memory), is
strongly suggested, especially for video capture. It is not uncommon to have 300M of RAM
on capturing stations. A very high-quality graphics card is also helpful. A video and/or
audio capture card is required with the proper cabling to connect to a VCR, CD player,
microphone, cassette player, or whatever the media source may be.
Software
There are various compression schemes and encoding software that are used to create video
and audio for the Web. Generally, video and audio are captured uncompressed and then
processed for the Web. Most capture cards come with their own capture software, but other
more costly programs such as Adobe Premiere work with many cards and also allow for high-quality
editing features. Similarly, audio programs such as Sonic Foundry's Sound
Forge offer high-quality features. Once the video or audio is captured, the media has
to be encoded and compressed for the Web. Other programs, such as Media
Cleaner Pro from Terran Interactive, offer more versatile and higher-quality encoding.
Lastly, RealNetworks
provides a range of products, including free encoders, that can be used in conjunction
with Web delivery of audio and video formats.
For streaming media, server software is required to allow users to play video and audio
streams simultaneously. Depending on the multiple streams required, the cost can vary
greatly.
Faculty seeking further guidance may benefit from exploring "Teaching with Real
Media" developed by Academic Technology Support at California State
University-Los Angeles. |
