RealSystem gives you the power to stream compelling multimedia presentations over a network. It includes RealServer, the most advanced streaming media server available, along with RealPlayer® and RealPlayer Plus, the world's most popular desktop applications for playing streaming media clips. This production guide will help you produce any multimedia presentation, whether it is a simple video on your home page or a multimedia extravaganza.
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To experience the many possibilities of streaming media, download RealPlayer from http://www.real.com, and then visit http://realguide.real.com. |
This production guide tells you how to assemble a RealSystem presentation. Although the book provides tips on producing great content, the more you know about producing audio, video, and graphics in general, the faster you will be able to put together a great streaming presentation. If you already know the basics of HTML, you'll find it easy to pick up Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL), the language used to assemble RealSystem presentations.
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This guide does not explain how to use RealSystem tools such as RealProducer. For specific information about using a particular tool, refer to the tool's user's guide or online help. |
If you're familiar with previous versions of RealSystem, this chapter will give you a quick update on the many changes in this version of RealSystem.
If you are new to streaming media, this chapter walks you through the steps involved in putting together a RealSystem presentation, explaining bandwidth and timeline concerns.
This chapter gives you the background you need to create a RealAudio® file. It then provides pointers on capturing and digitizing high-quality audio content.
Read this chapter to learn how to capture high-quality video content and optimize it for conversion to streaming RealVideo® clips.
Using Macromedia's Flash, you can produce dazzling animated presentations. This chapter explains how to stream Flash clips with RealSystem.
After you create your multimedia clips, you write a SMIL file that pulls the entire presentation together. This chapter explains how to use SMIL to specify when and how each part of your presentation plays.
RealNetworks® has developed several extensions to SMIL that enhance its media-streaming capabilities. This chapter explains these extensions, which work only with RealServer and RealPlayer.
If you want to integrate your presentation seamlessly into your Web page, follow the instructions in this chapter.
This chapter explains how to use SMIL to insert ads into your streaming presentation.
This chapter provides step-by-step instructions for moving your streaming clips to RealServer and linking your Web page to them. It also explains how to use a Web server to deliver simple presentations.
Refer to this chapter if you plan to broadcast an audio or video event.
If you are new to RealSystem, this appendix answers basic production questions and points you to additional resources on the Internet.
This appendix lists the basic steps you take to get a clip to stream from RealServer or a Web server.
For advanced users, this appendix conveys useful production techniques that help you get the most out of RealSystem.
Once you understand SMIL as described in Chapter 6, use this appendix as a reference when writing SMIL files.
If you create streaming clips in different languages, you can use these codes in a SMIL file to indicate language choices.
This appendix provides a quick reference for common file types used in RealSystem streaming.
The following table explains the typographical conventions used in this production guide.
Most RealNetworks manuals are available in both PDF and HTML formats from the RealNetworks documentation library. The library's main page is at http://service.real.com/help/library/index.html. In addition to this production guide, you may need the following resources:
This guide explains how to create streaming text. You can use RealText®, for example, to create a stock ticker or provide video subtitles. Get this book at http://service.real.com/help/library/encoders.html.
With RealPix you can create streaming slideshows of still images. RealPix Authoring Guide explains how to put a RealPix presentation together with special effects such as fades and zooms. You can find this book at http://service.real.com/help/library/encoders.html.
The basic reference for the RealServer administrator, this guide explains how to set up, configure, and run RealServer to stream multimedia. You need this book only if you are running RealServer yourself. It is available at http://service.real.com/help/library/servers.html.
This guide supplements RealSystem Production Guide. Available at http://service.real.com/help/library/encoders.html, it explains how to use JavaScript or VBScript to control RealPlayer functions for a presentation embedded in a Web page.
The authoring kit contains production tools and manuals in a single, convenient bundle. You can obtain the kit by registering at http://www.realnetworks.com/products/authkit/index.html.
RealNetworks offers SDKs for RealServer, RealPlayer, and RealProducer. Designed for programmers, SDKs help you integrate applications with RealSystem, or create new plug-ins for RealServer and RealPlayer. You can get SDKs by registering at http://www.realnetworks.com/devzone/downlds/index.html.
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