Streaming Media Bible [Paperback]

Steve Mack (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764536508 | ISBN-13: 978-0764536502 | Publication Date: April 1, 2002

The Streaming Media Bible is the authoritative and comprehensive guide for producing professional-quality streaming media over the Internet. It provides an overview of what streaming media is, how it can be used and the tools and software programs available to consumers and businesses alike. It covers all aspects of streaming media, from the capturing, creation and optimization of source media files, to encoding and serving files over sites using the primary available technologies. Throughout the book, the streaming process is dissected and separated into its component pieces: original media creation, encoding, and serving. All three major streaming media systems (RealNetworks' RealSystem, Apple QuickTime and Microsoft Windows Media) are covered.
ABOUT THE CD-ROM
Includes a cross-platform CD-ROM with software and examples: RealPlayer, RealProducer, RealServerBasic
Windows Media Technologies, Windows Media Player 8, Windows Media On Demand Encoder, Apple QuickTime Player, QuickTime Encoder, SoundForge XP or CoolEdit, sample audio clips, sample video clips, video tutorials, and sample code libraries.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"This long overdue book provides the firm technical grounding that everyone in our industry should have."
-Rob Glaser, Founder and CEO, RealNetworks
* Create, encode, and serve professional-quality streaming media
* Master Real Video and Audio, Windows Media, and Apple QuickTime
* Optimize your streaming media architecture for blazing performance

If the streaming media pros can do it, you can do it too . . .

Streaming media can provide compelling live and on-demand content for Web sites of all types and sizes. This definitive guide tells you everything you need to know to produce professional-quality streaming media for the Internet, from an overview of the available systems and tools to high-end techniques for top-quality results. Guest tutorials from industry experts provide real-world perspective, while detailed case studies show you how it all comes together.

Inside, you'll find complete coverage of streaming media
* Learn what streaming media tools are available for consumers and business users
* Assemble the best system hardware for your streaming media needs
* Capture, create, and encode source media files of all kinds
* Master advanced performance optimization techniques
* Get detailed instructions for setting up live broadcasts
* Go beyond audio and video to stream animations, text, images, and other data types
* Find out what's involved in setting up a streaming server
* Insert advertising to turn your streams into revenue-generators

Software on CD-ROM
* Demo versions of Video Factory(TM), Batch Converter(TM), and Sound Forge(r) XP Studio
* Trial version of Peak VST
* BBEdit and BBEdit Lite
* UltraEdit-32
* Sample media files

About the Author

Steve Mack has been at the forefront of the streaming media industry for the last five years, first as one of the original employees of RealNetworks and currently as the owner of his consulting company, smacktastic. smacktastic provides a variety of Internet media services: large event production, hardware and software needs analysis and implementation, encoding, scriptwriting and content creation. As manager of RealNetworks' Media Lab, Steve oversaw the content created for the Real family of web sites. He also helped partners create web entertainment using the latest technologies and evangelized these technologies to partners. A highly rated public speaker, Steve has presented and given lectures at conferences. He also chaired the Internet Audio Workshop at the 105th Audio Engineering Society conference in Sept. 98.

Product Details

• Paperback: 850 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764536508
• ISBN-13: 978-0764536502
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #194,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To Read This Book is to Understand Streaming, October 15, 2002

By 

Jeffrey Crerie, Ph.D. (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Streaming Media Bible (Paperback)

I teach a course on streaming media and this is the book I recommend to all my students. Why? Because it is the most lucid and comprehensive treatment of the topic I have ever found. Like most, I began my education in network broadcasting on the web. I figured that with the evolving nature of streaming players and encoders and codecs, that the internet was all I'd need to stay on top of things. Well, needless to say, I gathered what can best be described as a "neutron cloud" of information, but no structure to organize my knowledge and give it context. Suffice it to say that this book provides the KNOWLEDGE and the STRUCTURE...the HOWs and the WHYs of streaming media. It's deeply informative, yet easy to read and understand. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to establish themselves in the field of streaming media, or anyone who just wants to produce better online audio or video.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book definitely made me SMIL!, July 29, 2002

By 

J. Bell (Muncie, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Streaming Media Bible (Paperback)

An outstanding resource for streaming media. I read Streaming Media Bible cover to cover and learned more about asset preparation than I ever learned in books dedicated to specific media types. As a result of reading this book, I now feel confident to prepare my own streaming assets.

If you want to learn SMIL, this is the book to start with. I have been trying to learn it for some time (and have muddled through two other books on the subject) and no one comes close to explaining it as well as this author does. After reading the SMIL sections, I felt confident enough to author a graduate level distance ed. course.

The CD proved to be a valuable resource for the times when my code looked right - but didn't function as expected.

How often can you say you enjoyed reading a tech book? This book is written in a clear, concise, easy to understand format. You don't have to be a technology guru to understand what is being presented in this book. As a streaming media beginner, I didn't feel overwhelmed by this book. Instead of trying to impress people with his knowledge of technical jargon (as many tech. authors do), this author chose to make the book understandable.

If you are interested in streaming media, definitely check this book out!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Stop Resource on Streaming Media, January 5, 2003

By 

Mr. JKW "jkw" (Honolulu, Hawai'i) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Streaming Media Bible (Paperback)

Steve Mack's "Streaming Media Bible" is your one-stop resource guide on all things Streaming Media. Whether you are a student or a hobbyist looking to get in on the action or if you are a professional in the field looking for a reference manual, the "Bible" is your one-stop resource guide on all that has to do with Streaming Media.

THE CONTENTS:

Like all other books in the Bible series of books, "Streaming Media Bible" takes you all the way from ground zero/step one assuming no knowledge of the subject to advanced topics, all along building up your skill set. By the end of the book your knowledge and skill of the subject, in this case Streaming Media, is enough to start you off well on your way in the field. Overall, not only is it a great learning tool, but later as you progress in the field it can also be looked back at and referred to as a reference manual.

Here are the topics that Mack addresses:

1. Basics of Audio and Video

2. Tools for Production

3. How to record and edit

4. How to optimize your files

5. How to encode your files for the Internet

6. How to install and administer and maintain a streaming media server

7. Other data formats

8. SMIL

9. Broadcasting Live

THE ANALYSIS:

Overall, this book is your one-stop source for all things dealing with Streaming Media. You get an overview of the basics one video and audio production, an in-depth look at web and streaming media technologies, how to develop your content and how to deliver and maintain your content. The book looks at all aspects of the field. By the time you are done with the book you have a very clear picture on how you can go about developing and delivering your own content. The best thing about the Streaming Media Bible (and most of the books in the Bible series) is that not only is it in-depth, it is STILL very easy to read and follow.

EXTRAS AND GOODIES:

The companion CD contains trial versions and freeware of some cool tools for streaming media including: Video Factory, Batch Converter, Sound Forge, Peak VST, BBEdit, UltraEdit-32 and Adobe Premiere. All in all, not a bad bag of goodies.

THE VERDICT:

Overall, Mack does a fine job of covering the various technologies and issues that deal with streaming media. This book was used as a text for an e-commerce streaming media course I took during the Fall of 2002. Whether you are studying this subject independently, an instructor looking to use this book for your course, a novice looking into the field or even a weathered professional, Mack's "Streaming Media Bible" is a fine choice for your library.

Highest Recommendation