Windows Server 2008 R2 Unleashed (297 page)

high-speed network connections and can accept a 768Kbps bit-rate encoded stream, if

the file is published using unicast broadcasting, a network might become oversaturated

with too much data. A lower captured video stream can allow more users access to the

information.

1508

CHAPTER 36

Windows Media Services

3. For live broadcasts, an archive copy of the broadcast file can be captured and saved

to disk. This allows for future playback of the session. Select the check box to archive

the file and enter a filename to capture the session. Click Next to continue.

4. Information can be added to the broadcast file, such as title, author, copyright infor-

mation, rating, and description. This information is optional. Enter the desired

information and click Next to continue.

5. The next screen gives you the option to begin the broadcast when the Finish button

is clicked, or to simply finish the configuration and start the session later. Make the

appropriate selection and click Finish.

If you choose to pull where the session is initiated by the Windows Media server from the

encoder, you will be prompted with the following steps:

1. You will be prompted to enter a free HTTP port that can be used to communicate

between the Windows Media server and the Windows Media Encoder system. Port

8080 is the default, but by clicking the Find Free Port button, you can search for an

open port. Click Next to continue.

2. The next screen prompts you for the encoding options. The various bit rates for

encoding will be shown, displaying Total Bit Rate, Frame Rate, and Output Size.

Choose the desired bit rate or bit rates. Refer to the “Choosing the Bit Rate(s)”

sidebar for more details. Click Next to continue.

ptg

3. For live broadcasts, an archive copy of the broadcast file can be captured and saved

to disk. This allows for future playback of the session. Select the check box to archive

the file and enter a filename to capture the session. Click Next to continue.

4. Information can be added to the broadcast file, such as title, author, copyright infor-

mation, rating, and description. This information is optional. Enter the desired

information and click Next to continue.

5. The next screen gives you the option to begin the broadcast when the Finish button

is clicked, or to simply finish the configuration and start the session later. Make the

appropriate selection and click Finish.

For live broadcasts, it’s usually preferable to test the broadcast process to make sure that

the lighting, sound quality, and video quality are at the desired level. Playing around with

the different bit rates can provide better results based on the needs of the organization.

Although a producer can choose a higher bit rate to get better quality, the results might

not be better than those obtained at a lower bit rate and with presumably lower-quality

published media. If the lower bit rate produces results that are still acceptable, lowering

the bit rate can minimize bandwidth demands on the network, creating less demand on

the network and allowing the organization to have more simultaneous media streams.

Capturing Audio or Video for Future Playback

If you want to capture a session but there is no need for an immediate live broadcast,

choosing the Capture Audio or Video option enables Windows Media Encoder to capture

and encode the session for future playback. This option can be used to capture training or

Capturing Audio or Video for Future Playback

1509

conference sessions, press releases that will be broadcast at a later time and date, or orga-

nizational activities such as parties. The captured content can be stored and played back

either on a scheduled broadcast basis or on demand.

Preparing for a Captured Session

To prepare for a captured broadcast, a Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000 work-

station, Windows Server 2008, Windows 2003, or Windows 2000 server with compatible

camera and microphone, or a system with a video/audio capture card, must be configured

and tested for basic functionality. The camera and audio devices should be able to capture

and record video and audio content at the desired level of quality.

After the remote system is working properly, a session can be captured.

Capturing a Session for Future Broadcast

To capture a session, Windows Media Encoder should be launched on a system that has a

camera, microphone, and enough disk space to capture the content. After being launched,

follow these steps:

1. Select Capture Audio or Video, and then click OK.

2. Select the video and audio device source that will be capturing the event. Refer to

ptg

the “Choosing the Bit Rate(s)” sidebar for more details on choosing the capture

options. Click Next.

36

NOTE

Don’t worry about adding an extension to the filename. A .wmv file extension will be ini-

tially created for video files (Windows Media Video), and a .wma file extension will be

initially created for audio files (Windows Media Audio).

Choosing the Distribution Content Method

When given the option of choosing the content distribution method, the various options

determine the options given on the next screen of the wizard.

When the Windows Media Server (Streaming) option is selected, the capture of the

media will have multiple bit-rate options because Windows Media servers support vari-

able bit rates, and multiple users can receive a different media stream based on their

connection bandwidth.

When the Web Server (Progressive Download) option is selected, a recommended

option is selected because web servers only support a single bit-rate distribution.

Typically, the Web Server option chooses a lower bit-rate option to take the variable

bandwidth capabilities of web users into consideration.

The Windows Media Hardware Profiles option provides the option of choosing a single

video and audio bit rate at a higher bit rate than the Web Server option. When a

Windows Media hardware profile has been defined on the system, a specific bandwidth

and quality can be generated.

1510

CHAPTER 36

Windows Media Services

PocketPC devices typically have limited cache, buffer, and storage space, so a lower bit-

rate option is recommended. This becomes the lowest common denominator for media

capture and playback.

Lastly, the File Archive option creates the smallest captured file. However, the quality of

the video is typically poor, although the audio is of good quality. The assumption on this

setting is that the audio information is more important than the video information.

Choosing the right method of recording produces better results for the system playing

back the content.

3. Enter a name for the file to be saved. Click Next to continue.

4. Choose how you want to distribute your content. Your choices are Windows Media

Server (Streaming), Web Server (Progressive Download), Windows Media Hardware

Profiles, PocketPC, or File Archive. Click Next to continue.

5. Optional information can be added to the captured file, such as title, author, copy-

right, rating, and description information. Enter the desired information and click

Next to continue.

6. The next screen gives you the option to begin the capture when the Finish button is

ptg

clicked, or to simply finish the configuration and start the session later. Make the

appropriate selection and click Finish.

Because a live session is not being viewed, sometimes it’s hard to know what the resulting

quality of the captured video and audio will be. Testing the various capture methods and

fiddling with the bit rates can confirm whether the resulting video and distribution of the

video content will be acceptable.

Using Other Windows Media Encoder Options

Windows Media Encoder can also convert videos as well as capture screen content from a

video session. These functions are useful utility features that give media producers some

basic tools for editing and publishing content.

Capturing Screen Content with the Windows Media Encoder Software

Capturing screen content from video is not as simple as you might think. Simply pressing

Ctrl+Print Screen does not capture video content. This usually results in a grayed-out box

where the video was being played. Third-party screen capture tools also typically do not

capture video screens—they typically capture bit images of a video screen, and the DirectX

video or streaming video caches video content that does not show up on the active screen.

A tool like the one built in to Windows Media Encoder allows users to capture video

screens. The screen capture function in Windows Media Encoder can capture an entire

streaming video session. This is useful if you are watching a webcast, a video stream, or

Using Other Windows Media Encoder Options

1511

some other session that you might not otherwise be able to download for replay later. By

capturing the entire video and audio session using Windows Media Encoder, you can

bypass any access limitations to the streaming information.

To capture a screen using Windows Media Encoder, do the following:

1. Click the Capture a Screen option, and then click OK.

2. On the Screen Capture Session window, choose to capture a specific window, a

region of the screen, or the entire screen. Choose to capture audio from the default

audio device by selecting the appropriate check box and then click Next.

3. Depending on the option selected in step 2, choose the window or region you want

to capture, and then click Next.

4. Enter the name of the file to which you want to capture the file, and then click Next.

5. Choose the quality setting: low, medium, or high. Click Next to continue.

6. Optional information can be added to the captured file, such as title, author, copy-

right information, rating, and description. Enter the desired information and click

Next to continue.

7. The next screen gives you the option to begin the capture when the Finish button is

clicked, or to simply finish the configuration and start the session later. Make the

appropriate selection and click Finish.

ptg

After the session has been captured, it can be played back by opening the file with

36

Windows Media Player or another video playback tool.

Converting Videos to Windows Media Video Format

Converting a file might be necessary for the producer of media content. Many times, a

video file is stored in a format or has been encoded with a codec that is not widely or easily

distributed. A video file might also be stored in a format that does not support the Windows

Media server publishing capabilities. One way to convert the file is to use the screen-captur-

ing capability of Windows Media Encoder, as covered in the section “Capturing Screen

Content with the Windows Media Encoder Software.” The other way to convert the video is

to use the conversion functionality built in to Windows Media Encoder.

Windows Media Encoder can convert files from the ASF, AVI, BMP, JPG, MPG, MP3, WAV,

WMA, and WMV formats to a WMV video format supported by the Windows Media

server. To initiate a file conversion, do the following:

1. Click the Convert a File option in the Windows Media Encoder software, and then

click OK.

2. Select the source file of the file you want to convert. Choose the directory and file-

name where you want the output written. Click Next to continue.

3. Choose how you want to distribute your content. Your choices are File Download,

Hardware Devices (CD, DVD, Portable), Windows Media Server (Streaming), Web

Server (Progressive Download), Windows Media Hardware Profiles, PocketPC, or File

Archive. Refer to the “Choosing the Distribution Content Method” sidebar for more

details. Click Next to continue.

1512

CHAPTER 36

Windows Media Services

4. The next screen will prompt you for the encoding options. The various bit rates for

encoding will be shown, displaying Total Bit Rate, Frame Rate, and Output Size.

Choose the desired bit rate or bit rates and click Next to continue.

5. Optional information can be added to the captured file, such as title, author, copy-

right information, rating, and description. Enter the desired information and click

Next to continue.

6. The next screen gives you the option to begin the capture when the Finish button is

clicked, or to simply finish the configuration and start the session later. Make the

appropriate selection and click Finish.

After the file has been converted, it can be played back by opening the file with Windows

Media Player or another video playback tool.

Summary

Windows Media Services is a combination of server components and tools that help orga-

nizations go beyond text-based communications to include audio and video communica-

tions. Windows Media Services is a component that can be added to the Windows Server

2008 R2 family of operating systems and can easily be enabled on a server system.

ptg

However, the server component is predominantly a publishing and distribution func-

tion—it relies on add-ins such as Windows Media Encoder to provide capture and conver-