Encoding Streaming Video

This document is written as a courtesy for visitors to www.webelez.com. It is not meant to be, nor should it be used as formal documentation for Windows Media Encoder. Use it at your own risk. Everyone is encouraged to read Windows Media Encoder online help for detailed, comprehensive instructions. This document may contain typos or technical inaccuracies and does not represent a commitment on the part of We Be Lez to support Windows Media Encoder.

Where to Download Windows Media Encoder  

Download Windows Media Encoder from www.microsoft.com. On the Microsoft Web site search for "Window Media Encoder."

Best Practice Regarding File Size

Theoretically, you can make a streaming video as long as you like. In reality, that's not a good practice. Network traffic, Internet connection speeds, and the power of the user's computer all have an effect. It is recommended that you edit your videos to 60 minutes or less.  

Streaming Video Helps Protect Your Work

A nice feature about streaming media is it makes it difficult - not impossible - for people to steal your videos. If you want to charge for access to your videos and you don't want them downloaded and distributed, streaming is a convenient way to go. The Save feature is disabled on Windows Media Player for streaming videos. Users, therefore, cannot easily copy and distribute your work. That's not to say a dedicated hacker or noxious crank can't figure out how to do it. But it will prevent the average, honest guy from borrowing your work without permission.    

Windows Media Encoder Is Easy to Use

It's important to note that Windows Media Encoder is easy to use. A wizard walks you through all the steps. You just need to learn a few key terms and concepts so that you make the right choices in the wizard.  

A Few Key Terms and Concepts

Below are common concepts and terms pertaining to digital media:

Streaming: Streaming means a file is played as it downloaded from a Web server as opposed to storing it in a local file first. The Web server remains in constant communication with your computer. Data (the movie) is transferred, displayed, and discarded after you've seen it.  Streaming media can handle large files, but if the Internet connection is too slow for the media, the data must be slowed down to accommodate the connection; otherwise, data (for example, the audio stream) will be lost.  

You generally need specialized software on a server to support streaming media, for example, Windows Media Server. The most common file format associated with Windows Media Server is WMV. WMV files are the recommended format for streaming video.

Progressive Download: Progressive download is similar to streaming media - but with one critical difference: The entire file is downloaded to the user's hard drive.  That doesn't mean the entire video must be downloaded before the video can start playing; instead, the video buffers for several seconds and then starts playing. Progressive downloads are meant for short video clips and for servers that do not have streaming media software installed. We Be Lez, because it relies on the powerful servers at DWHS.net, uses progressive download.

Multiple Bit Rates: Multiple bit rates are very important when encoding streaming videos. Here's how it works: Windows Media Server can detect the connection of speed of users. In other words, if one person is connected on a blazing fast T1 line, another person is connected on a pretty fast DSL connection, and another person is connected on a relatively slow ISDN line, Windows Media Server can detect each person's connection speed and stream the video at a quality (a bit rate) appropriate for each person's Internet connection.

Encoding with Multiple Bit Rates: Windows Media Server can only adjust the bit rate if you encode the video as streaming and select multiple bit rates. This is easy to do; you just need to know how to do it. It is explained in the procedure below.

You Need a Powerful Computer

Windows Media Encoder requires a powerful computer. You should visit www.microsoft.com and read the hardware requirements. In general, if you have a computer that's more than three years old, you'll have to wait a long time while the video encodes, the quality of the encoding might not be as good as it could be,  and you won't be able to use the computer for anything else as the video encodes.  

Using the Encoding Wizard

The procedure below assumes you are encoding video from a file that is stored on your hard drive.  You can just as easily capture audio or video from a live event. The important part is that when you select Content Distribution, you must select Windows Media Server (streaming) and when you select the encoding options you must select multiple bit rates:

Use the following procedure to encode a video from a file:

1. Open Windows Media Encoder. By default, Window Media Encoder opens the New Session dialog box. If it does not, click New Session on the toolbar.

2. Click Convert a file (if you're capturing directly from a video camera, click Capture audio or video instead).

New Session dialog box with Convert a file clicked

3. Click OK. The New Session Wizard opens.

4. Click the Browse button to the right of the Source file field to select the video that you intend to encode.  

New Session Wizard after a video has been selected

5. Click Next. The Content Distribution dialog box opens.  

6. Click Windows Media server (streaming).

Content distribution with Windows Media Server selected

7. Click Next. The Encoding Options dialog box opens.

8. Complete the fields on the Encoding Options dialog box as described below:

The Video field at the top should default to Multiple Bit Rates Video (CBR) and the Audio field should default to Multiple Bit Rates Audio (CBR). If they do not, select Multiple Bit Rates Video (CBR) and Multiple Bit Rates Audio (CBR). If the options are not available, it means you probably did not select Windows Media Server (streaming) on the previous dialog box. Click the Back button to verify you selected Windows Media Server and then return to the Encoding Options dialog box.  

For the Bit Rate field at the bottom of the dialog box, select multiple bit rates. For example, you can select 340 kbps, 282 kbps, and 148 kbps.  The 340 kbps setting is comparable to VCR quality and the audio is similar to FM radio. As you select slower bit rates, the quality drops, but it makes your videos accessible to people with slower or busy Internet connections.  Anything below 148 kbps drops to a grainy, small video and the audio sounds like you're listening to it through a tin can.  

Multiple bit rates selected

Again, as explained in the introduction, the nice thing about selecting multiple bit rates is that the server detects the connection speed of users and streams the video at the appropriate quality.  

9. Click Next. The Display Information Wizard opens.  

10. Complete the fields on the Display Information Wizard. Keep in mind these fields should be completed with formal information. The end user can ultimately see whatever you type. The information displays to the right and below the video.

Complete Display Information

11. Click Next.  The Setting Review dialog box opens.  As a best practice, make sure the Begin converting when I click Finish option on the bottom left is not selected.

12. Click Finish.

Final Review Before Encoding

You can start encoding now if you like, but considering encoding may take an hour or two it's a good idea to review your settings one last time.

Use the following procedure:

1. Click Properties on the toolbar. If the Properties button is not active, wait a second or two. Sometimes it takes moment after you close the Wizard for the Properties button to become active.

2. When the Session Properties dialog box opens, review the Sources tab to verify you have selected the correct video for encoding:

3. Click Output and make a note of where the video is being saved so you can find it later  

 4. Click the Compression tab to verify you have selected multiple bit rates:

5. Click other tabs as you see fit. For example, you may want to click the Attributes tab to check for typos in your identifying information. When you are done, click Start Encoding.  

Processing Power Required

Bear in mind, even if you have a powerful, modern computer, Windows Media Encoder will require most of the PC's resources. You won't be able to use your computer for much else while the video is encoding.