A Web page today is more like a circus than a library — what once were rows of text are now replaced by all kinds of special visual effects. It may not be boring, but with bandwidth still a problem causing delays and slowdowns, it's hard to argue with those who say that all this stuff is just so much clutter clogging the Web. Streaming video especially gets a finger pointed at it: It's supposed to be like television, but often has so many problems that it's hard to enjoy. But human beings are visual creatures who rely strongly on sight and hearing in the real world, so why should it be any different in cyberspace? Look at ITV — they've been streaming video and audio over the Internet for two years, focusing primarily on live events such as sports, Broadway premieres and, most recently, simulcasting television shows over the Internet at the same time they appear on network. "Live video provides users with an experience of something they might otherwise not have had," says Douglas Le Moine, the ITV director in charge of keeping the online site/system running smoothly on a daily basis. "My experience is that users appreciate having audio/video on the site as much as they appreciate have a chatroom, textual information or graphics." Le Moine encourages people to learn what they can about multimedia on the Internet because "if you're interested in getting a message out to people, this will be part of the de facto method of delivery in the years to come."

At Audionet, some 300,000 users a day agree with this assessment. That's how many visit this destination site to check out sporting events, movie clips, even listen to police scanners in major cities. "It's hearing and watching that sets the rocket off," says president Mark Cuban. "Do you know why there's only three Super stations [WTBS, WGN, WOR]? — 'cause only three people got off their butts and did something when this new technology called cable came along. Cuban affirms that the technology on the Net can enable anyone to create their own "T.V. station" and broadcast to a world audience — if they're willing to make the effort.

So let's talk broadcasting. Arnie Wolen heads Advanced Internet Solutions, which broadcasts radio stations over the Internet in real time ("With the exception of the occasional electrical outage, keeping the stream going has been a no-brainer," he says). AIS uses Microsoft's NetShow to create audio files as small as 22k which easily stream in real time to users with 28.8 modems. Wolen says that you can stream an audio signal at 22k in stereo and still have a 4k "fudge" factor left over — but where it gets complicated is when the audio is combined with video. Using the above example leaves you only with 24.8 for both streams (even dropping audio to 6k mono leaves just 18.8 for video). And going for a professional 30 frames a second requires dividing that 18.8 in order to get real time video. The result is a file so small it can't be seen. Wolen's answer is to drop the frame rate to 10-15 frames a second, creating an acceptable viewing experience when the video is not action-oriented and relatively still.

So it seems that it's the common denominator, the slowest modem speed being used by the masses, that will make the difference. Cable modems, satellite receivers and various fast phone technologies promise to change the complexion of the Internet, but until streaming media such as video can easily and effectively play an active part in everyday online use, WWW won't be standing for "What We're all Watching."


Do It Yourself Video
So you'd like to try streaming video yourself, but it sounds mighty complicated to get all the parts in place, not to mention paying for those parts? There's a number of products out there you can use for creating video, such as GEO Publishing's EMBLAZE, RealNetwork's REALPUBLISHER, and Microsoft's NetShow. But for ease of use, and without having to hassle with all kinds of hooks and tinkering to an existing Web site, I find Vivo's VIDEONOW extremely appealing. Read that as cheap (street price around $130.00) and easy to use. Just drag your digital video (AVI/Quicktime) or audio file (AIFF/Quicktime) into the program's window, hit the *Generate* button, and output a highly compressed video in a fixed size of 160x120 pixels. This can now be inserted as if it were just a GIF picture file in a Web page and then viewed by any user who has downloaded the free VIVO player and integrated it with their Netscape/IE browser. The file can also be created in the NetShow ASF format, also requiring the use of a free player program. Since these files use the standard HTTP conventions, there's no special server or effort required (the slim booklet accompanying the program attests to that), other than informing your Web site server provider so he/she can make the necessary *tweaks* to accept using this video format. .

The minimal choices to be made prior to this are: deciding whether to compress video or audio only (using standard voice or FM-quality sound), whether to go with ASF as opposed to Vivo files, and if these files will be most likely seen by users with 28.8 or 33.3 modems (33.3 allows for a more detailed video, but conversely slows down use when viewed over a 28.8). The original file can also be marked so that only a chosen section is converted. The program also has an analyzer function which checks the source video first for problems, and then alerts you should something be wrong. Text and copyright information can also be embedded into the outputted video as well.

But for those wanting more control — and willing to pay the price in the form of about three times the cost — VIVO's VIDEO PRODUCER ($600 street price) builds upon the tools and interface of its more simplified sibling. The output video can be of varying sizes, and you can choose from different types of compression techniques. Frame rate and audio quality can be varied, and Producer can be used as a plugin within Adobe's Premiere editing program. Another addition relates to performance: The video clip supports ActiveX and LiveConnect. This means that scripts can be created to take advantage of such multimedia aspects as synchronized video with audio and embedding URLs in the video.

Tips on Making Videos
While it's beyond the scope of this feature to detail how to create video and audio files themselves — GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) is always the rule. The original video should be well lit and the better the equipment being used, the better the results will be once converted. Recording directly to digital through a video capture or sound card is ideal, but digitizing from video tapes and cassette can do just fine. Just remember that you don't own copyright materials from films and T.V. shows — just putting something on the Internet (or getting it from there to begin with) doesn't mean it's public domain and okay to use. Remember to check it out first, because the possible legal hassles just aren't worth it.


Product Information
Advanced Internet Solutions — examples can be found at the following locations:

http://channel.sedona.net (3 new show broadcasts viewable using IE 4.0)
http://www.kqst.com (24/7 broadcast of radio station KQST)

Audionet and associated sites:

www.audionet.com
www.policescanner.com
www.pluggedin.com
www.ie40.com
www.sportsradio.com
www.sportsworld.com
www.westerns.com

ITV:

www.itv.net

Vivo:

www.vivo.com
VivoActive VideoNow 2.0
Power Mac — 16 MB RAM, OS 7.5 or greater, Netscape2.02/IE 3.02 or greater

PC — 486 DX2/66Mhz or greater, 16 MB RAM, Win95-WinNT, Netscape2.0/IE 3.02 or greater

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Marshal Rosenthal is a writer and photographer based out of New York City. His reports and features on technology and digital entertainment can be found in online and print publications both in the States and abroad.