RealPresenter allows you to adjust some settings for advanced users. In this section you will learn how to tell RealPresenter the audience you are recording for, how to choose the type of streams you will create, how to tell RealPresenter the type of video input you will use, and how to choose a scheduling program.
In order to make sure that you create the best presentation for your intended audience, you can select the bandwidth you believe they will connect at.
Whenever you create a streaming media presentation, you should always keep in mind the connection speed of your audience. Are they using lower-speed modems, or will they connect over a high-speed network?
This section discusses the importance of knowing your audience's bandwidth, how SureStream helps you reach all audiences, and how to adjust RealPresenter to create presentations for your specific audience.
When you select a specific target audience, you are actually specifying a maximum bandwidth for your presentation's stream at the selected target audience. Bandwidth, measured in kilobits per second (Kbps), is the amount of data that can be sent through an Internet or network connection during a set period of time. Standard modems are commonly referred to by the bandwidth they are able to receive-for example, 28.8 and 56 Kbps.
In addition to these standard audiences, you can record clips for connection speeds of 100 Kbps, 200 Kbps, or higher. These higher bandwidths, however, are generally more typical of corporate Local Area Networks (LANs) or cable modems.
Keep in mind that the maximum bandwidth a connection is capable of is greater than the real bandwidth carried across it on average. For that reason, 28 Kbps connections actually only use a total bit rate of about 20 Kbps, while a 56 Kbps connection actually uses about 34 Kbps.
A SureStream file is suited for generating output for more than one target audience. SureStream files enable you to create multiple output streams with different settings from a single input. All streams exist in a single output file.
For example, you can create a RealVideo clip for both 28 Kbps and 56 Kbps audiences, and RealPlayer will automatically use the correct stream based on the user's connection speed.
A single rate file is only meant for one target audience and is much smaller in size. As a result, it takes less hard drive space. But, if your audience connects at a lower speed than the file is created for, they will not be able to play your single rate file.
Once you have decided on what audience you will try to reach, RealPresenter gives you a variety of options to create presentations for them.
If you select Single Rate, you can only choose one Target Audience.
RealPresenter gives you a number of choices, so let's go over them.
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Tip |
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| If your audience is generally unknown, it is best to select 28.8 plus a higher bit rate audience like a DSL/Cable Modem bit rate. That way, all levels of users can best experience your work. |
If you are recording video to narrate the streaming presentation, you must choose a few settings so that RealPresenter can capture the video correctly. If you select only target audiences 28.8K or 56K, or if you selected Audio Only, you can skip this step.
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Note |
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| The default settings are automatically set according to your video capture card. Only change these settings if you have prior experience working with video capture programs. |
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Additional Information |
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| Generally, the lower the frame rate is, the higher the picture quality will be, but the video will look choppier. You can adjust the picture quality in the next step. |
See "Checking Audio and Video" for instructions on how to test your audio and video feed.
If you have Microsoft Schedule Plus installed on your computer, you can use it to help you schedule your live broadcast. The main advantage with using Schedule Plus is that RealPresenter can instantly notify your audience when and where a presentation will take place. The audience's calendars are updated and they are pointed to the location of the broadcast.
If you don't plan on using Schedule Plus to schedule your live presentations, you can use your e-mail application instead.
