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| The Vanguard of the Video Revolution |
NSV Support and More! |
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Independent Video in
the Information
Age
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News
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Independent and non-traditional media can benefit through the use of the
Internet as a method for content distribution. Both live and pre-recorded video
can be made available to a global audience.
One of the primary obstacles for video content distribution over the Internet is
the cost of specialized software required to encode video. Video encoding
consists of converting video content into compressed digital data that can be
easily distributed electronically.
There are several software development companies that sell closed source
software for video encoding and content distribution. The cost and available
features of the different software packages vary. Some software companies
require additional royalty payments for use of their encoding software.
Thanks to the efforts of several software developers, there is free software
that does not require royalty payments. This software can be used for both
commercial and non commercial projects.
NullSoft Video
Justin Frankel, the creator of the Winamp media software player, also developed
NullSoft video. This format was specifically designed for distributing video
media through the Internet and is based on the Shoutcast Internet protocol.
Both open source and closed source video codecs are supported by NullSoft video.
Codecs are software programs that allow media to be digitally encoded or decoded
using a specific compression architecture. These video codecs include the VP3
open source and the VP6.1 / VP6.2 closed source. The MP3 and AAC audio codecs
are supported as well. The VP3 video and MP3 audio codecs are included with the
NullSoft video tools download.
A free set of tools for encoding and streaming video through the Internet using
NullSoft video was also created. You can download the NullSoft video tools
package direct from the NullSoft web site. (http://www.nullsoft.com/nsv). You
can download a updated version of the NullSoft video tools here : (http://www.scvi.net/software.htm).
This update includes the latest Lame MP3 audio encoder, software improvements
and access to a updated version of the VP3 video codec.
NullSoft video content can be streamed through the Internet with the following
free media server software :
Shoutcast DNAS (http://www.shoutcast.com/download)
Icecast (http://www.icecast.org)
Steamcast (http://www.steamcast.com)
(http://www.scvi.net) is the unofficial information resource website for
NullSoft video.
You can find many tutorials, guides and third party software tools to download
here. Scvi.net also hosts a partial directory of stations using the NullSoft
video format (http://www.scvi.net/tvpls.htm)
There are several media software players that can view the NullSoft video
format.
These include :
Winamp : (http://www.winamp.com)
Video Lan Client : (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/)
Mplayer : (http://www.mplayerhq.hu)
Xine : (http://xinehq.de)
X box : (http://www.xboxmediacenter.com)
NullSoft video can also be deployed with ActiveX components for web site use.
This will allow people to watch NullSoft video without the need for installing
additional player software. You can find more information here : (http://www.scvi.net/activex.htm).
Theora Video
The Theora video project is being developed as a complete open source video
solution. The group behind this project is (http://www.xiph.org.) This format
uses the Theora video codec (http://www.theora.org) and the Ogg Vorbis audio
codec (http://www.vorbis.com).
The Theora video project uses the Theora video codec which is based upon the VP3
video codec developed by ON2. The Theora video codec offers core architectural
improvements to provide better video encoding and playback performance.
Both live and pre recorded video can be distributed via the Internet using
Theora video.
Additional information regarding Theora video can be found here : (http://www.scvi.net/theora.htm).
Theora video content can be streamed through the Internet with the following
free media server software :
Icecast (http://www.icecast.org)
JRoar (http://www.jcraft.com/jroar)
Flumotion (http://www.flumotion.com/download)
Steamcast (http://www.steamcast.com)
There are several media software applications that can play the Theora video
format.
These include :
Video Lan Client : (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/)
Mplayer : (http://www.mplayerhq.hu)
Xine : (http://www.xinehq.de)
Xbox Media Center : (http://www.xboxmediacenter.com)
Real (Player) Alternative : (http://www.free-codecs-com/download/Real_alternative.htm)
Theora video can also be deployed with Java components for web site use. This
will allow people to watch Theora video without the need for installing
additional player software. You can find more information here : (http://www.scvi.net/cortado.htm).
Tim Gnatek of the New York Times wrote a article entitled "Internet TV: Don't
Touch That Mouse!".
(http:// http://www.friends.ca/News/Friends_News/archives/articles07010402.asp)
This article highlights some of the problems associated with content delivery
via the Internet. These problems include how independent broadcasters will be
able to "keep up with viewer demand, given the cost of the servers and Internet
connections required" in addition to "How do you get it (video content) from
your garage to the Web?''
These barriers on the information superhighway are being removed by Internet
video stations using alternative media distribution methods.
Some of these alternative methods include :
P2P video streaming
P2P video streaming does not require a centralized server architecture for
content distribution. Each client that views the video content automatically
relays it to the next person requesting access to the video. This greatly
reduces the need for large amounts of bandwidth for content delivery.
Unlike P2P file trading, P2P video streaming can be used to broadcast live video
content using several encoding formats and is supported on various computer
operating systems.
You can find additional information regarding P2P video streaming here :
(http://www.scvi.net/stream/)
Video podcasting
Video podcasting allows people to publish video content via a web host with no
specialized server software. A specialized data client using Really Simple
Syndication provides users access to the most current video content. The video
content can be downloaded on a computer or hand held media device for viewing at
a later time.
You can use both NullSoft video and Theora video for video podcasting.
You can find additional information regarding video podcasting here : (http://www.scvi.net/podcast/)
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