Optimal Settings for WMP Streaming Video

[john_doe1]

I'm using Windows Media Encoder and a capture card to capture a video camera. What are the optimal settings to use for Bit rate, Video Size, Audio kbps and kHz, stereo/mono, etc. on Windows Media Encoder to stream the video online? I don't want something too bad that will give poor video/audio quality or something too high that will keep buffering or affect people with slower internet connections.

It's to record a college class, so there will be projector images, small text, writing on whiteboard, etc.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[john_doe1]

anyone?

[creamyhorror]

It would probably be best if you could capture a bit of sample footage first and then try encoding it with different settings in WME to see how they look. Depending on your resolution (which I assume is SD), you can try 500-2000kbps. Stereo audio at 64-96kbps, or maybe 128kbps if you're going for quality over filesize/buffering time.

[john_doe1]

Those settings seem a bit high for streaming video. I'm worried about filesize/buffering time.

I'm currently using 381Kbps bitrate, 640 x 480, 32Kbps and 44kHz mono (a/v) 1-pass CBR.

[john_doe1]

I'm currently using 381Kbps bitrate, 640 x 480, 32Kbps and 44kHz mono (a/v) 1-pass CBR.

[creamyhorror]

Well, if it looks good to you then go for it.

[poisondeathray]

If feasible for your workflow, you would get much better quality if you recorded lossless or uncompressed then encoded to your final streaming format offline, at a 2nd stage. This allows you more efficient bitrate allocation by using a 2pass mode.

If you used h.264/aac you would get much better quality and smaller filesize than using wmv. At these low bitrates ranges , probably less than 1/2 for the same bitrate if you used wmv

[mp3superfreak]

We use 640x480 at 380kb/s for our video streaming using WME, but let our customers know it does not work well for displaying websites or any fonts under 18-20 point. For smaller fonts or screen sharing, we recommend a web-conferencing product such as Adobe Connect.

[john_doe1]

If feasible for your workflow, you would get much better quality if you recorded lossless or uncompressed then encoded to your final streaming format offline, at a 2nd stage. This allows you more efficient bitrate allocation by using a 2pass mode.

If you used h.264/aac you would get much better quality and smaller filesize than using wmv. At these low bitrates ranges , probably less than 1/2 for the same bitrate if you used wmv.

Are these settings I can change in WME? I will look into that.

I heard encoding to flash is the way to go now. I just have to find a cost efficient software and capture card that can do this.

[john_doe1]

whoops just edited the message above. i quoted the wrong person.