Stream live video to multiple devices across network

[joe90bass]

On February 13th we're having our official opening, and our beloved First Minister and cohort are doing the honours. As we don't have the space in our hall to accomodate all the officials and pupils, I've been asked to not only record the opening on camera but also to stream it across the network for playback on PC and projectors.

 

Has anyone done anything similar? I've used Windows media services for playback of video and audio in the past but not for live playback, I'm not sure if this can be done with 2008 server?

 

Thanks

[Domino]

hmm, if you can output from the camera to VLC, it has very good network streaming features.

 

Not sure how nicely it'd play with most cameras, worth a shot though

[itgeek2008]

Try this website, its free

 

Flash Meeting

[chilbs]

I've used Windows Media encoder in the past.

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5691ba02-e496-465a-bba9-b2f1182cdf24&displaylang=en

Edited January 7, 2009 by chilbs
spelling

[joe90bass]

hmm, if you can output from the camera to VLC, it has very good network streaming features.

 

Not sure how nicely it'd play with most cameras, worth a shot though

 

It's free, can be used as a client and a streaming server, and when we're done can be used to play DVDs and video. Has to be worth a look - thanks!

[Zimmer]

We have done this a few times in the past for similar events. We also stream the college's student radio station as and when the media department requires to do so.

 

We simply use the Server 2003 Streaming Media Service.

 

On the workstation we use Windows Media Player.

 

I tend to get our Intranet developer to stick a MMS:// linky on the staff/student homepages so the streams are easily accessible.

[joe90bass]

We have done this a few times in the past for similar events. We also stream the college's student radio station as and when the media department requires to do so.

 

We simply use the Server 2003 Streaming Media Service.

 

On the workstation we use Windows Media Player.

 

I tend to get our Intranet developer to stick a MMS:// linky on the staff/student homepages so the streams are easily accessible.

 

Do you use the encoder (as suggested by chilbs) to get the live feed into media services?

[Domino]

It's free, can be used as a client and a streaming server, and when we're done can be used to play DVDs and video. Has to be worth a look - thanks!

 

tis the no1 goto for video for me - I've never had it fail to play a video file, even ones that are half downloaded...

 

We've used it to stream DVDs from a teachers machine to two classrooms of students before, no issue.

 

Like I say, the only unknown is getting the video from a camera too it - depends on the type of cam

[maniac]

Just beware if you use the Multicast streaming feature of VLC, it can knock out wireless networks and Routers if you're not careful!

 

Mike.

[Zimmer]

Do you use the encoder (as suggested by chilbs) to get the live feed into media services?

 

Sorry for the late reply Joe... Yes we use the encoder for streaming audio feeds from our student radio station.

 

If I remember correctly the video streams for live events get piped directly into the media server from the camera source... I'll have to check for you as it's been a while since we needed to use it.

[joe90bass]

Thanks for all the advice. We had our opening today and we successfully streamed the proceedings to classrooms!

 

For anyone else interested we used Windows media encoder, 2008 Server media services and my techs Dads DV Camera

 

Points learnt - use an XP machine for the encoding, there are issues with Vista. For high quality video encoding use a beefy processor, the encoding didn't seem to be RAM heavy though.

If the output seems juddery on the encoding machine don't panic, as I found out it's actually okay on the PCs of those watching!

 

Joe