One video, multiple audio... How?

[spinfold]

Hello!

I am trying to stream (over an intranet) one video from a single capture card, with multiple audio inputs into separate sound cards.

I.e. one stream containing Video A, with Audio 1, a second stream containing the same Video A with Audio 2, and a third with the same Video A again but with Audio 3. These would then need to be setup as three separate streams.

The snag I am hitting at the moment is finding software which allows selection of the same video input.

I am testing with my integrated webcam at the moment. I can setup one stream with "Integrated Webcam" as video source and "Sound Card 1" as audio source. If I then try to create a new stream with the same "Integrated Webcam", the software complains it is already in use. I have tested the concept by using a different webcam, which works successfully. So I know I can separate the audios, but we need to be able to use one video.

I have tried with ManyCam and CamSplitter, which in theory allow you to use the same video input simultaneously in different software on your computer - but I am unable to find any software which allows selection of the same source in the same software! I've experimented so far with Windows Media Encoder, BroadCam, Unreal Live Server and VLC. At this stage the format of the stream is unimportant just so we can prove the concept.

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Cornucopia]

First,
WHY separate audio? Why not a single MIXED audio stream?
or
Why not a single data stream that has 4 streams multiplexed into it: 1-video + 3-audio, where the viewer/player decides which stream to use. I'm pretty sure I've used WME in such a config before.
or
Why not use you ManyCam/CamSplitter idea and just have multiple instances of the same software open?

Need more info...

Scott

[spinfold]

Not sure what you mean by mixed audio stream? The different audios will be different language translations of the video, from different microphones potentially in different cities or even countries. We have an internal infrastructure which can bring that audio back into a central point feeding the stream server, which can then go into the inputs of the individual sound cards.

Would your WME solution embed the same video with different audio, into different streams? Or would it only result in 1x video+mute stream, and 3x audio+no video streams?

I tried running multiple instances of all the streaming servers I tried, none of them opened another instance (on Windows 8). Is there any way to force multiple instances of software to open?

Happy to answer any more questions you have. Thanks for your fast response

Stuart

[Cornucopia]

OK, different languages!

No, that would not use a mixed stream.
You could use a multi-channel stream with each individual language residing on its own channel (and ONLY on its channel), then direct the end user to only listen to that channel. But that has limitations: 5 channels=5 languages max, plus, the user & player have to be capable of knowing how to do the switching to (only) the correct channel. Not likely to work out well in practice.

Using a number of separate WME vbs scripts (each one designating a different -adevice, but using the same -vdevice), or using this in combination with ManyCam/Camsplitter, should get you what (I think) you were originally expecting to have: V1A1stream + V1A2stream + V1A3stream, etc.

There are other streaming formats that might be more efficient (MOV/MP4, MPEG2-TS), because those have few restrictions on the number of channels. WMV/ASF will normall only allow 1 main audio stream (others may be included as lower-bitrate fallbacks, but that is only accessible as a bitrate limitation choice) and one video stream. However, Peter Wimmer, author of Stereoscopic Player, has already successfully demonstrated how to generate non-bitrate-fallback, multi-stream WMV video for use in stereoscopic applications, so I am sure a similar feature could be implemented for multi-lingual applications (though nothing has been created yet).

Doing a Google search on "multiple language live audio streams" yielded some good info. Seems most streaming servers handle multiple languages through html server<-->client preset investigation & negotiation. IOW, the server polls the client's language preference, and provides a link to a pre-designed stream for that language only. I can see that as being more efficient bandwidth-wise, particularly if multi-casting + cacheing of the video side isn't enabled for the system.

Checked: my previous use of WME with multiple streams was incomplete without subsequent merging of multiple single-stream files into a single multi-stream one with the Windows Media Stream Editor. That certainly wouldn't fit the bill for live streaming needs like yours.

HTH,
Scott

<edit>WMV/ASF does support 1v+multipleA streams, but the method suggested is exactly what I had done: separate file-based encodes + remuxing with stream editor. That does not take into account in-encoder-app multi-stream muxing nor live capture/encoding, so I'm guessing that WMV option is off the table for now. Unless true "live" is not a necessity...</edit>

[spinfold]

Thanks for the continued advice, Cornucopia.

I followed instructions found here:
http://www.euphoriaaudio.com/tutorials/wmestart.php

I can get to "Setup Step 7" but when I run the BAT file I get the error in the image attached. Googling around suggests that maybe there is a combination of 32- and 64-bit software in the chain which is preventing it running properly. I am on Windows 8 (64-bit) and have the latest versions of WME Series 9 and WME SDK, which I assume are both 64-bit as they run perfectly as standalone programmes.

Are you able to shed any light?

Stuart