Information on streaming live video...
by Nikolas Sideris
on
Oct 19, 2009 at 9:47:31 am
Hi, Quite new here, quite a newbie, and completely ignorant to what I'm asking.
So, I'm looking information about streaming live video to multiple users (let's say 1000 users).
Example: I'm hosting a show in a part of the world (any part, that has normal Internet access, for the shake of the example). I have 3 cameramen who are recording the show. The signal from the 3 cameras goes to a single computer, where a director is 'mixing' and 'directing' real time. The end result gets into a server and 'anyone' from 'anywhere' can be in a specific link (my website for example) to watch a video at almost real time.
Does this make any sense really?
I know *for a fact* (which may be stupid after all, since I have nothing to do with video or streaming or the internet pretty much) that I can get 3 people to have the cameras and a director. I realise that the end video will need to be 'downsampled' (brought to lesser quality) for broad/multicasting on the Internet. What I'm hazy about is the upload/download part of the idea. Do I need a dedicated server? Will a multicast option save tons of bandwith, or not? Do I need more than 1 mbit upload connection?
For the above questions let's assume that the length of the show will be around 2 hours, around 1000 people will watch and the quality of the video will be 'poor' (so no HQ things, unless it's really easy to do).
Any links, programs, ideas, support, comments are most welcome, please.
Re: Information on streaming live video... by Daniel Low on Oct 19, 2009 at 9:38:59 pm
[Nikolas Sideris]"Does this make any sense really?"
On a high level, yes
[Nikolas Sideris]"What I'm hazy about is the upload/download part of the idea. Do I need a dedicated server? Will a multicast option save tons of bandwith, or not? Do I need more than 1 mbit upload connection? "
The upload connection speed will depend on the quality of the video you want to offer if you are looking at giving a 'poor' quality picture then 1Mb/s link would be more than enough.
That dedicated line/link (not shared) would go to a streaming hosting provider that will then multicast your feed around the world.
You simply can't do it on your own.
__________________________________________________________________
"There's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance."
Steve Ballmer To USA Today: 30 April 2007
"We and Apple are neck and neck and we're chasing the two
other players,"
Steve Ballmer, referring to Nokia and Research in Motion. October 6th 2009
Re: Information on streaming live video... by Nikolas Sideris on Oct 20, 2009 at 5:39:57 am
[Daniel Low]That dedicated line/link (not shared) would go to a streaming hosting provider that will then multicast your feed around the world.
I would imagine that I need a 'special' service then. A dedicated server of my own (since I do "own" a server that I use for other websites) would not be enough for my purposes?
Also "poor" quality movie would be sized 320x240 and a framerate of... 24 (less?).
Daniel, you've been most helpful, thanks for your post! :) Just ignorant all the way here, so trying to grasp every little detail I can think of, so I can start organising this thing... :S
Re: Information on streaming live video... by Daniel Low on Oct 20, 2009 at 11:39:31 am
[Nikolas Sideris]"I would imagine that I need a 'special' service then. A dedicated server of my own (since I do "own" a server that I use for other websites) would not be enough for my purposes? "
Correct, the server maybe be capable of handling quite a few streams but your network won't.
[Nikolas Sideris]"Also "poor" quality movie would be sized 320x240 and a framerate of"
Frame size is no indication of quality. Keep the frame rate the same as your source frame rate.
__________________________________________________________________
"There's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance."
Steve Ballmer To USA Today: 30 April 2007
"We and Apple are neck and neck and we're chasing the two
other players,"
Steve Ballmer, referring to Nokia and Research in Motion. October 6th 2009
