{"id":200,"date":"2010-09-24T20:22:00","date_gmt":"2010-09-24T20:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/turner-experts-share-video-over-web-tips\/"},"modified":"2013-08-06T12:48:16","modified_gmt":"2013-08-06T12:48:16","slug":"turner-experts-share-video-over-web-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/?p=200","title":{"rendered":"Turner Experts Share Video-over-Web Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Turner Broadcasting\u2019s<\/a> team of new media production, photography and communications experts provided ample advice at the IABC Atlanta\u2019s Technology Special Interest Group meeting this week.\u00a0 Walking the talk, the Turner folks not only provided different examples of videography equipment for us to see and handle, but also they streamed the meeting live — capturing the presentation and Q&A from attendees using handheld flip cameras, while encouraging those of us present to the do the same.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It was an information-packed few hours on Turner\u2019s campus as we learned the best techniques and tools for doing web-based video storytelling. I was the first one to ask about lighting\u2013 a key concern of mine as I have been accustomed to the painstaking lighting set ups from professional shoots in my years in corporate communications.<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dennis Bassarab<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\u201cThe web is more impactful with tighter shots,\u201d noted Dennis Bassarab, Emmy-award-winning videographer and director of photography for Turner Studios. Bassarab advised us to remember that a person\u2019s eyes can capture an image much better than the sensor in any camera.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n

Lighting Key<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are some simple lighting paradigms \u2013 your foreground should be brighter than your background; you try to get lighting that is pleasant and fills the face out. Not harsh lighting \u2013 you don\u2019t want to see shadows in the background.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/div>\n
If you have a flip camera, the first thing you look for is where the light is coming from. If there is a window, you open the blinds and let the natural light hit your subject. \u201cNature is your light. Use that. If you have overhead fluorescents \u2013 they\u2019re not great, but you can use a white tablecloth over a chair or some kind of reflecting material to bounce light in. Use your desk lamps \u2013 those are great because they\u2019re low,\u201d Bassarab advised.\u00a0<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
David Broyles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

David Broyles, manager of Technical Operations, whose role includes overseeing Turner’s Digital Media Group and the DVD Authoring Group, reiterated that editing and encoding video depends on what you have to work with \u2013 namely, \u201cgood lighting and good audio.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
To Stream or Not to Stream?<\/strong><\/div>\n

David Kennerly, manager of New Media Production & Development, said one of the big things you need to decide is how do you want to capture video \u2013 by streaming it live (which requires compression) so people can watch it on demand, or to capture and encode it at your computer later? How you answer will dictate what technology you use. Encoding for streaming is ideally at 750 kpbs, although 500 kpbs is also good. Kennerly recommends dual bit rate streaming where you have two streams (one at 500 kpbs and one at 200 kpbs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
David Kennerly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n
Turner is moving to the Flash format for all their video compression (in fact, 30 percent of all video files are Flash). The H.264\/MPEG-4 standard for video compression is where the industry is headed, the Turner officials said. Not surprisingly, Windows Media Player is among the most prevalent players used on the market today.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Quick Time Pro got high marks for supporting MPG-4 formats and affordability. Others referenced included Premiere, Final Cut, Media Composer and Sony\u2019s Vegas Pro.<\/div>\n

What You Need to Get Started<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/div>\n
To get started with your own video storytelling over the web, here’s a basic list of\u00a0what you need:<\/div>\n
\u2022 Video camera
\n\u2022 Lighting kit (there are some inexpensive options and a house lamp or two can do wonders)<\/div>\n
\u2022 Microphones (lavaliere wireless mics are great)<\/div>\n
\u2022 Editing platform ( For Mac, consider\u00a0FinalCutpro, Premiere, Media Composer, iMovie, etc.; for PC, consider Premiere, Media Composer, Vegas)<\/div>\n
\u2022 Encoder<\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0FinalCut, Premiere, Media Composer, Vegas and other editing platforms can encode. Dedicated encoders include QuickTimePro, Sorensen Squeeze, Adobe Media Encoder, TMPEG Encoder.<\/div>\n

If you want to do\u00a0inexpensive live video on the web, Kennerly advised\u00a0that you\u00a0buy a\u00a0DV camera with a FireWire output and\u00a0a laptop with a FireWire input. You also need to\u00a0open an account with Livestream or Ustream\u00a0(Livestream offers an option to stream to iPhones).<\/p>\n

Kennerly said there are also ways to create more professional video streams. On the low end, you can transmit video using a\u00a0digital DV signal over FireWire directly into a laptop. He described this approach as\u00a0“a clean, easy way to capture live video for streaming to sites like Ustream or Livestream.” Another option is to use\u00a0an analog signal over RCA (red\/white\/yellow) through an external \u201cBreak Out Box\u201d like a Pinnacle FireWire or USB capture device. This\u00a0method\u00a0is effective\u00a0to get live video out of most vcameras, including older ones, into almost any computer with a USB 2.0 port. It also comes with software for editing and creating titles.<\/p>\n

“Don\u2019t forget webcams and internal cams in laptops for ‘talking head’ type scenarios \u2013 if you light well and get a decent microphone, this is an increasingly acceptable, inexpensive way to go,” he said.<\/p>\n

In the mid range, you can use\u00a0a capture card installed in a PCI slot inside your PC, like an Osprey 230 or 300.\u00a0Kennerly noted that this option is\u00a0a good way to capture higher-quality video, and the card comes with some cool software that gives you options for overlaying logos on your video. Alternatively, you can invest in a\u00a0higher-end external FireWire device\u00a0such as\u00a0the Canopus ADVC-110.<\/p>\n

For\u00a0high-end video efforts, consider\u00a0an SD capture card installed in a PCI-X slot inside you PC, like an Osprey 540 or 560, or an HD capture card installed in a PCI-X slot inside your PC, like a Blackmagic Decklink or an Osprey 700.\u00a0AJA also makes good cards for Macs and PCs.<\/p>\n

Encoding Software <\/strong>
\nAt this point you will be ready to encode\u00a0software for live streaming. Kennerly\u00a0pointed out that sites\u00a0such as\u00a0Ustream, Livestream, and Justin TV “offer their own proprietary encoders that are good for small, homemade shows, and they offer some flexible options.” He said you can stream for free if you can tolerate the advertising. “These sites also act as your video server and CDN (content delivery network) \u2013 they are very good options for getting live video on the web quickly.”<\/p>\n

You have a number of media encoder options beyond those proprietary options. For instance, Windows Media Encoder 9 is a free download from Microsoft.\u00a0A positive of that encoder is\u00a0viewers can watch a stream simply by clicking on a link, and WME offers lots of production tool, while a negative aspect is that some Mac users have trouble viewing WMV streams.<\/p>\n

Flash Media Encoder 3.1 is a free download from Adobe. Kennerly said a plus for\u00a0Flash is\u00a0that it is\u00a0easy to view for Windows and Mac users, and is now viewable on Android devices. On the negative side,\u00a0Flash files are difficult to edit\u00a0(offering very limited production tools). In addition, viewers have to watch Flash in a player embedded on a web page, or in a player like VLC.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Video Servers – Windows and Flash Good Options<\/strong><\/p>\n

Running your own video server,\u00a0continued Kennerly, can be difficult unless you are very tech savvy, but Windows and Flash both offer good media servers.\u00a0 A plus —\u00a0running your own server is good for small viewing audiences. A negative —\u00a0viewers will be reaching in and \u201ctouching\u201d your server, so you can\u2019t reach large audiences without crashes. Getting an account with a Content Delivery Network (CDN) is the best solution for serving live video to large audiences. SimpleCDN is an inexpensive CDN, while bigger CDNs like Akamai, Limelight, and Highwinds offer many packages and services.\u00a0Peer-to-peer streaming services\u00a0such as\u00a0Octoshape are an increasingly relevant way to deliver live video.<\/p>\n

Embedding Video on the Web —\u00a0HTML Skills a Must<\/strong><\/p>\n

To embed a video player in a web page, Kennerly advises that you either learn HTML or hire someone who knows it.\u00a0Windows Media Players, which play live MMS streams, are easy to embed. Flash Media Players, which play live RTMP streams, are harder to embed. Open source players\u00a0such as\u00a0Flowplayer and JW player are available, but they require\u00a0serious coding skills.<\/p>\n

Online Sites for Bargain Hunting, Knowledge Building<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Turner speakers also recommended the following online resources to learn more and to get tips on video shooting for the web:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/div>\n
\u2022 CreativeCow.com<\/a>\u00a0— \u00a0a great place for novices and experienced video creative people<\/div>\n
\u2022 B&H.com<\/a> \u2013 for excellent deals on cameras and other products<\/div>\n
\u2022 Cinematography Mailing List, or CML<\/a>— a free exchange of ideas with 16,000 members strong where you can gain access to some 20 different lists by specialty area<\/div>\n ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Turner Broadcasting\u2019s team of new media production, photography and communications experts provided ample advice at the IABC Atlanta\u2019s Technology Special Interest Group meeting this week.\u00a0 Walking the talk, the Turner<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[338],"tags":[627,626,628],"class_list":["post-200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-corporate-communication","tag-how-to-on-video-streaming","tag-tips-on-shooting-video","tag-turner-broadcasting-video-experts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=200"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/200\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":800,"href":"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/200\/revisions\/800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anne.myupcomingsite.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}