#1 2009-08-06 12:20:31

**_mburke_**

Live Streaming

Does Adobe Connect support Flash Medica Encoder streams?  I am wanting to use a video mixing software package known as Wirecast for switching between multiple cameras and adding titles, transitions, effects, etc. to our live broadcast via Connect Pro.  We want to use Wirecast for this purpose.   I know Connect is Flash based.  Just wanted to make sure Connect supports Flash Media Encoder streams. Any information concerning this would be helpful.

**_Terry_at_RefinedData_com_**

Re: Live Streaming

Hi,

Connect Pro does not support external live streams but is itself a live streaming platform written in Flash. The good news is that you can build custom pods using the SDK that will do what you need.

If you don't want to reinvent the wheel, we already have two solutions that will work for you:

1) SlipStream is a custom Connect Pro pod that allows a host to specify the full URL to an FLV file located anywhere on the Internet or the address of a live stream (rtmp://) provided  by a Flash Media Server (FMS) or Content Delivery Network (CDN) provider. You can introduce Flash Video files in a meeting without having to load the data in to the meeting room in advance.

It will also allow you to stream high quality content from a video capture device, TV broadcast or camera at much higher resolution than is possible via the built-in Camera Pod. You can easily use SlipStream to broadcast a larrge presenter video while simultaneously using the Adobe Camera and Voice pod to transmit low quality video from other users.

You can use multiple instances of the pod in a single room.

In your case you would need to transmit the media generated from Wirecast to an FMS instance or CDN account and SlipStream would broadcast it in your meeting.

2) TalkingStick is the big-brother to SlipStream. While the former can deliver a single FLV or live stream, TalkingStick can handle multiple FLVs, webcams and live streams simultaneously. The pod acts like a video mixing board allowing you to queue up multiple inputs and switch between them dynamically.

The host can preview each feed and decide which one to broadcast at any moment.

TalkingStick can be used to broadcast high quality webcam feeds (full screen video is not only possible but very impressive, but FLV files and multiple live streams.

TalkingStick also works beautifully in a large group lecture, seminar or webinar environment. Each attendee can request the right to speak and the host can remotely activate their camera when and if they should be given the right to speak - the pod can broadcast audio, video or both.

Hosts get to see preview video from all of the users who have asked to speak, in the order their requests were made and can choose who to broadcast next. This is as close as you'll get to a live lecture where you can switch between the main speaker and various audience members who would like to contribute.

Just let us know if you'd be interested in trying one of these solutions out in your own Connect Pro meetings.

Note: You must use your own FMS instance or have a CDN account to facilitate live streams in your meetings or we can arrange thiis for you if you need help.

Regards,

Terry

Full Disclosure! Refined Data is an Adobe Connect Pro Partner / Reseller who also builds custom pods and applications for sale. Our products include Footprints, the Carbon Savings Calculator and Connect-to-Moodle, an integration between ACP and the world's most popular Open Source LMS.

**_mburke_**

Re: Live Streaming

Are you saying we would not be able to use a software program like Wirecast or CutFour for video mixing, switching of cameras, and adding transitions, effects, etc. and bring this into Adobe Connect Pro Meeting or Training?

**_dyun_**

Re: Live Streaming

It is supported, through the Camera and Voice Pod as demonstrated in this example:
http://connectusers.com/community/galle … /index.php

However, there are limitations in terms of video quality that you can achieve in Connect Pro.  If this is a really important event for you, you might want to contact Adobe about getting the Event Services team to help you out.  They are great and share best practices and have run many events using external camera setups as you are describing above.  See here for more info about Event Services: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatco … tservices/

Also, if high quality, pristine video is very important to you, you probably want to consider one of Terry's great alternatives above.

-david

**_Terry_at_RefinedData_com_**

Re: Live Streaming

The built-in camera pod can broadcast webcams or other compatible video sources recognized by your computer.

Since not all video sources are acceptable to Flash I've found this inexpensive tool a godsend. It's called DV Driver and is available from http://www.trackercam.com/TCamWeb/dvdriver.htm for only $20.

This is great for being able to broadcast video from an external camcorder via a Firewire connection.

It may also help you feed your Wirecaast output in to the camera pod. Just be aware of the fact that the Camera pod quality is far from the quality that your Wirecast system is capable of producing.

Good Luck,

Terry

**_fhermann_**

Re: Live Streaming

Hi Terry!
Thanks for your helpful answers. Could you please provide some links for the mentioned pods:
1. SlipStream and 2. TalkinStick.
I can't find them via Google... :-(

Many thanks,

Florian