A sample set-up for broadcasting live video.

The illustration below shows a set-up for streaming live video and audio. Stream audio only using a microphone, mixer and other appropriate audio equipment.

The broadcaster computer captures and encodes the video and audio. The encoded signal is sent to a QuickTime Streaming Server over an IP network. A Mac OSX Server, with QuickTime Streaming Server, sends the signal to client computers who tune in with QuickTime client software, such as QuickTime Player.

The broadcaster computer digitises and compresses the video and audio feed. The data stream is routed through Sorenson Broadcast, which configures it for broadcast, and sent out to a high-speed IP LAN. The data is received by a streaming server running Mac O/S X Server and QuickTime Streaming Server (or either open-source equivalents). In this example, the streaming server acts as a multicast reflector. The streaming server feeds the stream to an MBone (multicast backbone) and/or to a unicast reflector connected to the rest of the Internet.

What’s needed?

To deliver live QuickTime streaming media, the following are required:

• Audio-visual equipment to record the live event.

• An A/V-equipped computer (the broadcaster) to digitise and compress the live data and then broadcast it to the streaming server.

• Broadcasting software such as Sorenson Broadcaster, a transmitter application that compresses video and audio and configures it for live streaming.

• A high-speed PI network.

• A dedicated streaming server (the reflector) capable of running Mac OS X Server with QuickTime Streaming Server installed. Use this server to send the captured media to the viewers. The streaming server must be connected to the broadcaster computer over an IP network.

• A connection to a multicast backbone (MBone).

• Optional - a third computer to act as a unicast reflector to stream out to areas where the web is not accessible through an Mbone.

Steps to be taken to set-up streaming live video or audio:

• Set up the broadcasting software following the instructions that came with it.

• Connect the audio or video equipment to the computer you are using to capture and encode the signal.

• Use the broadcast software to create a Session Description Protocol (SDP) file on the computer under use to capture and encode the live signal. See the instructions that come with the broadcast software.

• Copy the SDP file to the QuickTime streaming server computer. Be sure to copy the file into the media folder that is being used for streaming. If it is not there, steaming will not happen.

• Set up the web page to show the streamed media.

• Copy the SDO file to the QuickTime Streaming Server computer. Be sure to copy the file into the media folder that is being used for streaming. If it is not there, streaming will not happen.