Faculty Support Services for Teaching with Technology

Creating streaming media is simply a matter of making your content accessible on the streaming server. The process involves only a few basic steps: taking content in some form, digitizing it, compressing it in a format the streaming server can use, moving your files to the streaming server, and then linking your web page to the streaming server.

Technical note: The streaming format that is provided on the Cornell instructional streaming server uses a Helix server which supports Real, Quicktime and Windows Media streaming. Audio or video files need to be prepared for streaming in a particular format with care taken to stay within a data rate that your audience can receive. The data rate is determined by how your audience connects to the Internet (modem, DSL, cable, etc) and the network conditions between the Cornell server and their location. Generally, the further a person is geographically from Cornell, the more opportunity there is for network constraints to have an effect, so lower data rates are often necessary as distances increase. If you must have high quality, or you want a higher certainty that the file can be viewed, downloading (rather than streaming) is a better choice.

Downloads:

The following PDF's provide more detail about the process described below.

• Streaming Audio and Video on the Web handout (PDF)
• WinSCP for Windows (PDF)
• Fetch for Macintosh (PDF)

How Do I Create Streaming Files?

An overview of the process

• Locate and prepare source materials or media content. Audio or video files in a digital format (AVI, QuickTime, WAV, etc.) can be converted into streaming files. Audio or video from live or taped sources can also be digitized and converted to streaming file formats.
• Digitize your audio or video files, and then compress the files with a streaming format.
• SFTP your streaming files to the streaming server. (Request an account)
• Link from a web page to the streaming media or embed the streaming file on a web page.

• Not all audio or video file formats can be converted to streaming.
• Availability and capability of Macintosh and Windows conversion applications vary.
• Digitizing from a live or taped source requires either a digital video camcorder (with a firewire (IEEE1384) DV output) and a computer with a firewire port, or a computer with an analog capture card. [If you do not have the necessary software or hardware, the ATC lab is available for digitizing materials and creating streaming files.]
  

The following are general instructions on how to get started. Detailed help is available from the Academic Technology Center.

Create the Streaming Files

Quicktime files on a Macintosh

1. Capture the live or taped material using a firewire connection between the camcorder and computer using iMovie.
2. Edit or trim as necessary.
   
3. Export using a streaming preset.

Windows Media files on a Windows computer

1. Capture the live or taped material using a firewire connection between the camcorder and computer using Windows Movie Maker.
2. Edit or trim as necessary.
   
3. Export using a streaming preset.
   

Real media on a Windows computer
(note: at this time, Real media can't be produced on Macs with OS X 10.4 although it can be played back on both platforms. )

1. Download RealProducer. The free version is often adequate.
2. If you have an analog capture card you can capture live video. Otherwise you can convert different file formats to Real streams.
3. Open the RealSystem Producer program.
4. In the window, set the Input Source to File (the file is in digital format).
5. Browse for your digitized audio or video file on the system.
6. In the window, set the Output to a location on your system. This is where the file will be stored when it is created.
7. Click OK. The next window has the settings to encode the file for streaming.
8. Select the encoding options. This affects how the streaming file will be played, and the type of connections that can play the files. For example, set to Single Rate and 28K modem. This will create a streaming file that can be played on systems that connect with a modem.
9. Under Recording Controls, press Start. The file begins encoding.
10. Press Stop when finished.
11. Save the file.

Post the Files on the Streaming Media Server

You can put the streaming files on the streaming media server (Streaming1) server using an SFTP program. When you sign up for the Audio/Video Streaming service, you are given a Streaming1 account that allows you to upload your media files.

How do I use SFTP?

In order to connect to the Streaming1 server, you need the following information: 

• The address of the server - streaming1.video.cornell.edu
• The user ID for your account - your NetID (e.g. pmg1)
• The password for your user ID - this should NOT be your e-mail password. If this is a new account, CIT will provide your initial password.
  

Once you have this information, you are ready to begin using SFTP. You connect to Streaming1 using a program called an SFTP client. Two of the most common SFTP clients are FileZilla for Windows and Fetch or Fugu for the Macintosh.

Instructions for putting your streaming media files onto the streaming media server (Streaming1) using WinSCP for Windows and Fetch for Macintosh are available. [Instructions require Acrobat Reader ]

Embed the streaming file on a web page

You can embed the audio or video into the web page, instead of opening the RealPlayer program separately. For some examples and details about how to to do this, go to Embedding Streaming Media.

What if I Need Assistance?

For help at any step along the way to providing streaming media for your instruction, please send e-mail to atc_support@cornell.edu.

The Academic Technology Center has equipment and software available to digitize materials. The ATC also provides assistance and instruction in creating streaming files.

• Computing and Communications Center Room 124 Garden Ave.
• Open Monday-Friday 9:00AM - 5:00PM during the academic year
• Closed on university holidays

Maintenance Schedule

Any regular system maintenance and server restarts for any of our services will be scheduled weekdays between 5:00 am and 7:00 am. All users should be aware that a system may become unavailable during this maintenance time.

• (607) 255-9760
  atc_support@cornell.edu

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