Free Streaming Audio

With tools like Total Recorder available to record streaming audio and free streaming audio content available from many online "radio" stations, increasing numbers of people are realizing that the Internet can be a source of entertainment content.

This is also true of free streaming video with ABC announcing in April 2006 that they will make episodes of their hit shows like "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" available on their website the day after they have aired on TV.

Essentially streamed audio and video content are media files made available online through two types of delivery systems. In the first method, users can view the content "in real time." in other words they consume the content as it is being delivered just like viewing regular television. In the second method, "on demand," viewers access the content, which is stored on the server, when they want to listen to or see the material.

How are the Streamed Files Handled by the User?

Much of the content available is free and can be viewed directly by simply clicking a link and waiting for the video or audio stream to buffer or to download. Buffering means a portion of the file downloads before the media begins to play. As the user is listening to or viewing that portion of the file more of the content is continuing to download.

Although most venues producing this kind of content take measures to prevent users from keeping the files, there are ways of capturing streaming audio and live streaming video. A popular tool to capture streaming audio is Total Recorder and a good streaming video recorder is the Replay Video Suite from wmrecorder.com. (The great popularity of MP3 players, especially the Apple iPod has driven the development of applications to record streaming audio. Now that many portable players can also handle video, more tools to record streaming video will begin appearing.)

What are the Basic Components of producing Audio and Video Streaming?

With streaming audio production, the material to be recorded is encoded through the computer usually through a line input into the soundcard. Encoding software translates the audio into a suitable file format. The file is then placed on the server where it can be accessed by the user.

With streaming video, content is produced via traditional methods with some sort of camcorder, normally a digital video recorder. The camera is then connected to the computer and the video captured, encoded, and compressed into the format selected. Content is then placed on a server for access by users.

Continue to: Differences between Streaming Video Recorder and Video Conferencing

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Audio And Video Streaming - Yes, There Are Two of Them

How are the Streamed Files Handled by the User?

What are the Basic Components of producing Audio and Video Streaming?

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