Windows Media

Windows Media Server

In addition to QuickTime, Wowza Media, and Real, Duke supports the streaming of Windows Media video via a Windows Media Server.  Our Windows server supports both live and on-demand (VOD) streaming.   The streaming video can also be delivered via Microsoft Silverlight application.

Creating Video Files for Windows Media Server

First you will need a video file to work with. It’s best to start with a high quality video source.  If you don't already have video clips, you can shoot your own footage, purchase stock video, or create a screen capture using a screen capture application. We recommend that when editing your video clips in preparation for streaming you:
  1. Start with high quality video
  2. Use higher frame rates if your video includes a lot of motion
  3. Pick a resolution that is appropriate for your target audience.  320x240 and 640x480 are common for Internet delivery of standard definition (4:3) content; 640x385 and 640x360 are emerging standards for presenting native widescreen video.  These latter are gaining traction since video shot originally at 720p, or 1280x720, scales to 640 x 385, and video shot originally at 1080p, or 1920x1080 scales to 640x360.
  4. If possible, keep content at its native frame rate to avoid quality issues.

Bit Rates

Bit rate is the amount of data transferred per second.  Make sure your bit rate is reflective of your target audience. If your visitors are connecting with DSL, do not encode the video at 2 Mbps. Click here for a bit rate calculator.

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File Encoding

Before you can upload your files Windows Media server you must have the appropriate file format.  Windows Servers use the file type, Windows Media Video (.wmv).   There are many options for encoding your video as a WMV file.  Below is a partial list of applications:

  1. Windows Media Encoder  
  2. Windows Expression Encoder
  3. QuickTime Pro - Flip4Mac Installed 
  • For more information about these tools and quickstart guides, click here

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File Upload

Duke Windows Media Server

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Publishing Windows Media

There are several options for publishing Windows Media video files.  The Windows Media player is the default desktop player and video player for the web.  Windows Media player comes bundled as part of the Windows Operation system.   Microsoft Silverlight is a cross browser – cross platform implementation of the .NET Framework.  It will run on all popular browsers to deliver Rich Interactive Application (RIA)

  1. Windows Media Player
  2. Silverlight
  • For more information about these tools and quickstart guides, click here

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Live Streaming with Windows Media Server

Live streaming is possible with Windows Media Server.  "Live" streaming is distinguished from "on-demand" streaming.  "Live" means an event is being broadcast in real time as it is captured, and so must be viewed in real time as well.  "On-demand" means someone creates a file, encodes it for streaming, and uploads it to a server so that viewers can access it at a later time of their choosing.  To broadcast live video via Windows Media Server, you will need to use an encoding tool equivalent to QuickTime Broadcaster (for QuickTime Streaming Server), Flash (Wowza) or the RealProducer (for Helix Universal Server).  The following application is currently recommended for Windows Media Server:

  1. Windows Media Encoder
  2. Microsoft Expression Encoder
  • For more information about these tools and quickstart guides, click here

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Microsoft Silverlight

Silverlight Streaming by Windows Live offers a free streaming and application hosting solution for delivering high-quality, cross-platform, cross-browser, media-enabled rich interactive applications (RIAs). With the ability to author content in Microsoft Expression Encoder and other third-party editing environments, Web designers maintain complete control of the user experience.

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