How to Create a Multimedia Streaming Video File

To make a video file which will be streamed from your website can be done in two ways:

1. Use a multimedia conversion utility program to convert an existing file into the streaming file format you require. Multimedia conversion can range from the very expensive to free. There are many of both types available and new ones arriving on the market all the time. If you prefer to use an Adobe multimedia product or RealNetworks Real Producer then you probably won’t go very wrong.

You could start your search with the following products:

• Zilla Free Video Converter-Decompiler (Freeware / for Microsoft Windows) http://www.dirfile.com/zilla_free_video_converter_decompiler.htm
• MPlayer (freeware for Linux) http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/MPlayer-020.shtml
• Advanced X Video Converter (Shareware / free trial for Microsoft Windows) http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Other-VIDEO-Tools/Advanced-X-Video-Converter.shtml
• WinAVI Video Converter 7.7 final (shareware / free trial for Microsoft Windows) http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Video-Recording/WinAVI-Video-Converter.shtml
• The RAD Video Tools (for Microsoft Windows; Freeware) http://www.divx-digest.com/software/radvideotools.html
• Sothink SWF Decompiler-Flash Decompiler 3.5 (free trial program for Microsoft Windows) http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/WEB-Design/Flash/Sothink-SWF-Decompiler-MX.shtml
• Total Video Converter 3.01 (For Windows; shareware / free trial) http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Encoders-Converter-DIVX-Related/Total-Video-Converter.shtml
• Prism Video File Converter (Freeware / for Microsoft Windows) http://www.snapfiles.com/get/prismvideocon.html
• Video Converter (Freeware / for Microsoft Windows) http://www.dirfile.com/video_converter.htm

2. Use video editing software programs such as Ulead VideoStudio or Adobe Premiere to create your streaming multimedia files.

Note: These methods are for creating stored video files for streaming, not live video broadcasts. Live events must use a streaming server.

Which Video Format?

The most popular file formats when creating video streams are:

• Adobe Flash
• MPEG (i.e. MPEG-4)
• Quicktime
• RealMedia
• Windows Media

Although each format has its own strengths and weaknesses the choice of which format to use is really down to personal preference. So chose the format(s) you feel will reach your audience. For distribution via the Internet, Adobe Flash and MPEG seem to be dominant at the moment. The best way to know what works best for you is to experiment.

You may also be interested in the following:

Adobe. “A Streaming Media Primer.” (10/5/2007)

http://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects/pdfs/AdobeStr.pdf

Adobe products.