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Encoding Specifications for the ITS QuickTime Streaming Server
The ITS QuickTime Streaming Server
uses the QuickTime format. This format can be created in
applications such as Apple iMovie, Adobe Premiere, Media Cleaner,
and many more.
In the table below are
settings we recommend you use when encoding your files. These settings
have been tested with our server and provide good results. If you
do not use these settings we may not be able to stream your file.
Please note that when compressing your files for streaming, you must select the option to prepare
a Hinted Track for a Quicktime Streaming Server. Otherwise your video will not stream over the Web!
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QuickTime
Settings Table
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Video
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56K
modem |
LAN/cable/DSL |
| Size
(width x height) |
160 x 120 |
320 x 240 |
| Compression |
MPEG-4 |
MPEG-4 |
| Frame
Rate |
7.5-12 |
15-24 (15 recommended for wireless users) |
| Key
Frame Rate |
120 |
75 |
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Audio
|
56K
modem |
LAN/cable/DSL |
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Compression
|
MPEG-4 (AAC Audio) |
MPEG-4 (AAC Audio) |
| Sample
Rate |
22 |
44 |
| Sample
Size |
16 |
16 |
| Channels |
Mono |
Stereo or Mono (Use mono unless you have a compelling reason for using stereo) |
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| Total
Data Rate (audio+video) |
<4.7 KiloBytes/Sec.
(38 kilobits/sec.) |
>65 KiloBytes/Sec.
(~500 kilobits/sec.) |
The video settings
above can be tweaked slightly depending on your source material.
For example, material with a lot of action and camera movement
needs higher frame rates. But by increasing the number of frames
each frame receives less information, and this reduces the quality
of each frame. So material with little action should be set to
lower frame rates to preserve detail.
Note that Data Rates
are measured in units per second, the most common units
are KiloBytes and Kilobits. They are very different and are easily
confused, so make sure you know which one you are using. KiloBytes
is indicated by capital K and B (KB). Kilobits uses lower case
k and b (kb). Sometimes the "B" is dropped and you might
simply see "K/Second".
The Data Rate setting
for 56K modem should not exceed 4.7KB/s (38kbps) as this is generally
the highest amount of data such modems are
capable of receiving. Increasing the rate will result in stuttering
and dropped connections.
The Data Rate setting
for LAN/cable/DSL users can be increased to improve overall quality.
Higher numbers are not unusual, however this increases the demand
on the network and should be used with care. If the compressed
media looks ok there is no need to increase the Data Rate. With the popularity of wireless modems, we recommend keeping the overall data rate for video to 500 kilobits/sec with a frame rate of 15 frames/sec or choppy playback may result.
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