Chapter 6: Recording Tips

Because there is no single best process for delivering all types of streaming audio and video, this chapter shows you various tips on how to get the most out of your RealProducer Plus recording session.

This chapter discusses how to improve RealProducer Plus performance, use RealProducer Plus more effectively, produce high-quality audio and video, and edit file information.

Improving RealProducer Plus Performance

A number of factors can influence how much of your system's resources are used during a recording session. Use these tips to get the best performance possible.

Multiple Streams

Generally, the more streams you create in a SureStream clip, the more processing power you need. Recording for more than two or three customized target audiences that each use a broad range audio codecs, or creating a 5.0 compatible stream can all effect performance.

Use the Statistics dialog to monitor performance, and then adjust target audience settings to get the performance you want. See "Monitoring Real Time Performance" and "Customizing Target Audience Settings" for more information.

Disabling Viewers

By disabling the input source window, the output source window, and the audio level meter during live recording, you can lower the amount of processing power needed to record. Consequently, you can increase the frame rate of your recorded file and decrease the time it takes to record your clip.

To disable viewers during recording:

1. Choose the View menu from the main RealProducer Plus window.

   Viewers that are currently active are designated with a checkmark:

   • Input Source

   • Encoded Output

   • Audio Meter

2. Deselect a viewer to disable it.

Resizing Live Video

If you are creating a live broadcast and want to resize the video input, make sure you use the settings with your video capture card instead of using the resizing feature of RealProducer Plus. Resizing video decreases processor performance during live recording.

Using RealProducer Plus Effectively

RealProducer Plus has features that allow you to more easily use RealProducer Plus and increase efficiency while recording your media clips. Here you will learn how to select different video outputs, and how to drag-and-drop clips into RealProducer Plus.

Selecting a Video Output

Even though only one Output Viewer is shown in the main window, you can use it to view the different video streams that are being created when you record a video clip. Using this feature, you can monitor the true output as it will appear to the audience.

To select a video output:

1. Create a new recording session with a video output.

2. Select more than one target audience.

3. Start recording.

   The video stream with the highest bandwidth appears in the Output Viewer.

4. Click with the secondary mouse button on the Output Viewer.

   A menu lists all video streams being creating in this recording session.

5. Select a bandwidth to monitor the video stream in the Output Viewer.

Drag-and-Drop Recording

RealProducer Plus supports drag-and-drop recording. This feature allows you to quickly convert an input audio or video file into RealMedia.

To use drag-and-drop with RealProducer Plus:

1. Click an input file icon and drag it onto an open RealProducer Plus window.

   This opens a new session with path and file name information entered appropriately.

2. Enter any descriptive information (title, author, and copyright) and customize recording settings before clicking Start.

Producing High-Quality Audio

This section describes how to successfully create quality sound for RealMedia clips. It gives you overall audio tips, describes audio sampling rates, and shows you how to use the audio level meter.

General Audio Tips

Follow these tips in order to get the best quality from your different audio sources.

• Use high-quality source files or a recording input device.

• If you are not doing a live broadcast, capture or "digitize" the sound to a supported file format such as a .wav or .au file whenever possible.

  This allows you to use a sound editor to adjust the amplitude of your signal to maximize the available dynamic range. If you do not adjust the signal, the resulting RealMedia file may sound flat.

• If your original audio file signal exceeds the acceptable amplitude range, the file may be "clipped." Clipping can give rise to clicks or pops on playback. If your source file contains a clipped signal, your final RealMedia file will have high-frequency background noise or static. Lowering the input volume will help reduce clipping.

• When encoding live-source audio, you have less opportunity to manipulate your input signal. Be sure that volume levels are prepared and tested before encoding.

• Cut any unnecessarily long silences from the beginning or end of the output file to conserve space.

Audio Sampling Rates

The following sampling rates for your source audio are supported for this version of the product. For fuller sound, use the higher sampling rates and a better audio codec.

• 8000 Hz

• 11025 Hz

• 16000 Hz

• 22050 Hz

• 32000 Hz

• 44100 Hz

• 48000 Hz

Using the Audio Level Meter

While you record RealMedia clips, you can monitor the Audio Level to be sure you are encoding the optimal dynamic range. Green indicates a normal reading. Red warns that you are close to an over-modulated input. The best sound quality will occur when the top red bar is often lit but the clipping indicator (the red light above the meter) is never lit.

The Audio Level Meter

Clear the clipping indicator during recording by clicking on it. This allows you to track if audio clipping is occurring without watching the audio level constantly.

Producing High-Quality Video

This section describes how to successfully create quality video for RealMedia clips. Follow these tips in order to get the best quality from the different types of video sources.

Recommended Video Types

In order to get high quality output, your video source should meet the following requirements organized by video type.

AVI Files

• AVI files should have a 24-bit color depth.

• The standard video frame size for the Internet is 176 x 144.

• The file should be uncompressed for best results.

• If you want to use AVI files that are greater than 2 GB in size, the source files must have been created with a video program that creates files in the AVI 2.0 format. The AVI 2.0 format is a new standard for AVI files that allows for unlimited file sizes. AVI 1.0 files are limited to 2 GB.

  Some examples of programs that use the AVI 2.0 format are Sonic Foundry Vegas™ Video, AmCap, and VirtualDub. Contact RealNetworks technical support if you need assistance with your specific system.

  Additionally, you must be using either a FAT32 or a NTFS file system on your computer. See your Windows documentation for details.

• Indeo drivers must be installed on your machine for RealProducer Plus to be able to open AVI files created with YUV9 format. The Indeo drivers are available from the Intel Web site (http://www.intel.com).

  However, if you captured an AVI file on the same machine as RealProducer Plus, there is typically no problem.

QuickTime Files

• Use uncompressed 24-bit or 32-bit RGB QuickTime versions 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0 files.

• Use 8-bit or 16-bit mono and stereo audio.

• You can record some compressed files, but only if the DirectShow filters support the format you are using.

MPEG-1 Files

• Use high audio and video stream rates for best quality.

• MPEG-2 files are not supported.

Video Capture Devices

• When using an external video source, start with the best possible quality. In particular, different video formats yield different qualities when captured (digitized).

  The common video formats in order of quality are:

  • Betacam-SP, also known simply as Beta. This format is common among video production professionals.

  • Laserdisc or DVD

  • S-VHS or Super-VHS

  • VHS

• Video playback devices commonly have two types of video outputs, S-video and composite. S-video produces better results.

Editing File Information

RealProducer Plus gives you the ability to change information about a saved RealMedia file. You can change either clip information (title, author, copyright, description, or keywords) or file properties (allow recording, allow download, indexing, and audience rating).

This feature is useful if you want to create a media clip, but don't want to enter keywords or a description. You can edit them into a clip at a later date.

To edit file information:

1. In the RealProducer Plus main window, select File>Edit RealMedia File.

   The Edit RealMedia File dialog opens with any current information listed.

2. Enter any new clip information for the RealMedia file.

3. Enter any new file properties for the RealMedia file. See "General Preferences" for a description of these properties.

4. Click Play to view the new file.

5. Click Save to save the new file and return to the RealProducer Plus main window.

Creating Keywords

A new feature in this version of RealProducer Plus is the ability to add keywords to your clip. The keywords allow you to give search engines a way to recognize your streaming media.

Since RealMedia clips do not contain text like normal Web pages, the only way that your audience can search for your clip is through the keywords that you specify. Therefore, choosing the best keywords is vital. Three to four words should be all you need.

For example, if you are creating a RealVideo clip of ABC Corporation's CEO, Pat Jones, giving the fourth-quarter financial report, the keywords might be:

ABC Corporation, Pat Jones, Q4, report, investments, finance

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This file last updated on 11/09/00 at 15:28:55.