Pro Webcasting Blog

Like any other communication platform, it’s best to have a plan before you jump into using an application or new method to reach your audience. Knowing the basic terms and what they mean or what they reference helps to provide a solid foundation for building a plan you are confident with. Knowing the fundamental terms in the world of webcasting will help you in the same manner to be more equipped to ask the right questions.  They will also help you determine what the right answers should be for your application and help you and your team create a solution which works specifically to bring success with connecting you to your audience.

The following is a list of some of the key terms and some “buzz words” that you will want to know to diversify your understanding when communicating with webcasts. This list by no means is intended as a comprehensive list of terms, but will help in engaging with some of the popular terms you may come across when needing to speak or understand the “lingo” of webcast terminology.

Bandwidth (a.k.a. pipeline)- This is a reference term which you’ll hear referring to how “big” your internet connection is. This is critical as it plays a vital role in both how large of a file size or how high of a resolution with which your webcast can be streamed. The lower the resolution and the less information you are sending with your webcast, the less bandwidth you will need. The higher the resolution and consequently more information, the more bandwidth you will need.

NOTE: Many locations and internet service providers (ISP’s) have limitations as to how much bandwidth they can provide you. It’s best to know what your bandwidth limitations are prior to determining how you will deliver your webcast.

Streaming BitRate- This refers to the constant rate of information in which you can transmit your webcast. The lower the resolution your webcast is, the less of a bit rate is required. Consequently other items including the amount of audio channels, quality of the audio and other peripheral factors all add up and demand more of a bit rate stream.

Encoding Transport- A term which is used to describe the format or coding language in which your stream will be transmitted. There are several different encoding transport standards. The critical determining factor is not what works best for you, but rather what is going to be compatible and easiest for your viewers to use on their viewing devices. Some devices have hardware and software limitations that only permit users to view encoding streams sent to them in specific standards while others are blocked.

This is critical to determine as the wrong assumption could potentially not allow you to have an audience at all.

Streaming Resolution- In it’s simplest form this refers to the difference between standard definition and high-definition quality content. Higher streaming resolutions will require more streaming bit rate and consequently more bandwidth to transmit and receive the message.

NOTE: Keep in mind that just because you can stream the highest quality streaming resolution doesn’t necessarily mean that your audience has the bandwidth capabilities to receive that high of a quality of transmission. A smart phone or tablet certainly isn’t going to need as high of a quality of stream as a conference room 90” screen, nor will those mobile devices most likely have the bandwidth to stream that high of a quality of image.

Codec- Codec is short for coder/decoder. It’s a software, hardware or combination device capable of encoding or decoding digital streaming data. It’s the “language” that enables computers to send and receive digital data streams or in webcasting allows computers to send and receive the content.

Codec’s should not be confused with compression format which is a way of storing data. Codecs often however are loosely used in reference with the word “format.” Knowing the difference between codec and compression however is key.

CDN (Content Distribution Network)- An infrastructure that provides the replication and distribution of an individual content stream to multiple viewers. Most often this incorporates either an internal INTRAnet or a network of computer servers distributed over a region or globally that provide load balancing of your webcast based on viewer demands.

Uplink- The information and streaming transmission FROM your webcast location to either the rest of your network infrastructure, your streaming distribution platform, or end-users. In most cases a CDN is required to distribute and “replicate” the stream to your audience based on viewership demand.

Additionally this is a term used when referring to transmitting from a location to a satellite.

Downlink- Opposite of uplink, this is the information and streaming transmission RECEIVED by either your network infrastructure, streaming distribution platform, or end-users.

This also refers to the reception of a satellite transmission.

Dedicated line (a.k.a. dedicated pipe)- A term used when describing exclusive bandwidth use without sharing the bandwidth resources with other devices or users.

Streaming Protocol- A computer streaming “language” that is used by the transmitting software or hardware device which is also known and can be interpreted or understood by the receiving device, software or both.

RTMP- RTMP stands for Real Time Messaging Protocol. It’s a protocol or common streaming “language” that computers use to stream audio, video and data over the internet or your local network. Without the transmission device and the receiving device knowing the same language the receiving device will not be able to show video or provide audio or other data from the stream.

RTP- RTP stands for Real-time Transport Protocol. Another common streaming “language” that computers and software use to stream audio, video and data over the internet. More commonly in use for VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) communications, but also used in streaming audio and video along with other data elements as well.

QoS- Short for Quality of Service. This is used in describing either the consistency in transmission or reception lines or the end quality for the audio and video portions of your stream. If there is not enough bandwidth or the connection is faulty the QoS for the end viewer will be broken up, “choppy,” pixelated, and/or the audio will have similar bad connection issues.

HLS (a.k.a. HL5 or HTTP Live Streaming)- An HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) based media communications protocol implemented by Apple for streaming through quicktime and iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, etc.). HLS originally was the only protocol that you could use to stream audio and video to iOS devices. HLS allows a client (aka viewer) device to select from a number of different alternate streams containing the same material encoded at higher or lower bit rates. This allows the streaming session to adapt based on the bandwidth they have on their receiving end providing a consistent signal with lower quality should the receiving bandwidth not be capable of higher bit rates.

Mpeg-Dash- MPEG DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) is a streaming protocol based on the mpeg dash codec. It works in similar fashion to the HLS protocol whereby it breaks the content into a sequence of small HTTP based file segments (or packets). Each segment contains a short interval of playback time of content that may be much longer in total duration. The content is made available in different bit rates so that viewers can receive a stream that is compatible to their bandwidth reception capabilities.

Helix- A server based multi-protocol delivery system that allows live streaming in multiple formats sent out in multiple bit rates all to be done at the same time. This data transport system allows you to send multiple inputs including network feeds, audio and video files, live video streams, and simulated or time released live feeds all through your own network infrastructure or through a CDN integrated system.

Encoder- A software or combination of hardware and software that allows you to transcode audio and video into a streaming codec standard including RTP, RTMP, HL5, etc..

Decoder- A software or combination of hardware and software that allows you to decode a streaming video transmission. This is usually based on limitations of a computer, operating system requirements and browser capabilities.

User Bandwidth Cap- Cap is short for capacity. In this term it refers to the limitations of bandwidth speed whereby limiting the size of download or streaming video format. If a user has less bandwidth the resolution and quality of audio which they can view live will be much smaller than on a higher speed connection. Just because a viewer is on a “high speed” connection does not necessarily mean they have enough bandwidth to view specific content; especially content delivered in full HD.

User Interaction Platform- A platform engaging users directly or indirectly during their content streaming experience to provide real time feedback of the content interaction to the content delivery device and/or personnel.

Real-time Streaming Analytics- Data feedback of viewer interaction with a live stream presented in real time. This analytical data can provide a host of information depending on the transport platform, viewer devices used, protocols being transmitted and other streaming elements. Some of the real-time streaming analytics that can be provided includes: how many users are currently viewing, bandwidth connection of viewers, location of viewers, device or software viewers are using to view the stream, quality of streaming experience for viewers, and more.

Server Load-Balancing- A reference to a strategy whereby when an array of servers either located within an internal network infrastructure or globally in various locations provides the connection for viewers within their pre-defined AOR (Area Of Responsibility). This diminishes problems with transmission latency while also allowing immediate flexibility and expansion and faster rates for streaming services when viewership location and amount of simultaneous views may not be precisely known. In this specific reference, server load-balancing is primarily used in conjunction with a CDN or other similar streaming network infrastructure.

End-User Viewing Experience- This term refers to the quality of experience the end viewer has with reference to the value delivered by viewing and/or engaging with interaction with streaming content.

Webcast Production- A referenced term used with reference to the quality of content created for a live or pre-recorded webcast. Webcast production elements range to the simplistic use of an app on a mobile phone or tablet device and the internal webcam to the use of high quality production lighting, set design, supporting graphic elements and a stage. A good general reference with webcast production to remember is the higher quality the webcast production the more value and higher viewership retention potential you provide for your webcast.

Remote Webcast (Remote Location Production)- This refers to an on-location live streaming webcast usually involving elements of production and streaming data support. Often times remote webcasts will require unique and untethered systems that allow you to stream your content or pre-record it due to the lack of network connection available on location. Microwave network or satellite uplink devices are most often used to acquire the desired amount of bandwidth needed to stream a remote webcast.

Sat-Uplink Stream Bandwidth- A term that refers to the amount of bandwidth whereby you can send a data signal via satellite. The higher the bandwidth the higher quality of transmission you can send or reception signal you can receive

Secure Stream (a.k.a. Secure Encoding)- Using unique algorithms with either the codec or streaming protocol, secure streaming is accomplished to encapsulate streaming media content so that viewership can be pre-defined or limited to a specific group while transmission of the stream can be sent over unsecured networks without decoding by unwanted viewers.

Video On Demand (VOD)- In the streaming world this refers to the ability to provide pre-defined content that can be seen at either a pre-defined time or viewed at any point per the viewers discretion and convenience.

If you would like to take your knowledge of webcast terminology further to build your webcast for success, check out our blog titled, “Webcast Production Quality Tips” where you’ll find a few great ideas to enhance your webcast content quality.  You can find that blog by clicking here- https://prowebcasting.com/webcast-production-quality-tips/