RealMedia Complete (670 pp)
by Jonathan Angel
Since some of the chapters contain extensive graphics, most will take a few minutes to download . They are in PDF format.
Chapter 1
An Introduction to Internet Broadcasting
This Chapter features a quick history of Internet audio, RealAudio, RealVideo and RealMedia. It also surveys some interesting RealMedia sites on the Web and tells you how and where to find them for yourself.
Chapter 2
This Chapter is what I think of as the "plumbing chapter." It provides a general background on how RealMedia works, from source digital audio or video files, to their highly compressed Web counterparts. It then tells how RealMedia files travel over the Internet, with an overview of the "metafiles", protocols, and data transfer mechanisms that are required.
Chapter 3
Installing the RealPlayer and RealPlayer Plus Promo
This Chapter covers installation of the RealPlayer Plus, a special edition of which is included with this book. The information here will also help you install the standard RealPlayer Plus, plus any forthcoming releases.
Chapter 4
The RealPlayer Plus isn't your only option for playing RealAudio files. Third-party players can offer a dramatically different look and feel. Often, they also have additional features. One or two of them are even free to use—as long as you like.
This Chapter covers the installation and use of these products. You'll find each on the CD-ROM that comes with this book.
Chapter 5
How to Record High-Quality Audio
The key to creating a good RealAudio clip is starting with a high-quality source. This chapter covers how to make a good sound recording, how to transfer it to your computer well, and how to "post-process" it for best results with RealAudio.
Chapter 6
The RealAudio Encoder is the software component that shrinks your audio files drastically so they can be streamed over the Internet. In this Chapter, you’ll learn how to install and use it.
If you'll never be encoding audio alone—only together with video—you can skip this Chapter, as you'll be using the RealEncoder instead.
Chapter 7
You can get better results from the RealAudio Encoder by processing your digital audio with third-party sound editors. This Chapter will introduce you to some of the many possibilities.
Chapter 8
How to Record High-Quality Video
To create a good RealVideo clip, you don't just have to start with a high-quality source. You also have to make sure it's optimized for RealVideo encoding and capture it well. This Chapter provides an overview of all these issues.
Chapter 9
Using the RealEncoder and RealPublisher
The RealEncoder is software that shrinks AVI or QuickTime video clips into RealVideo format. In this Chapter, you'll learn how to install and use it. You don't need to have created your own video clips first—the CD-ROM includes some sample videos you can use to get the feel of the RealEncoder.
Chapter 10
Video editing software lets you capture, edit, and embellish your video clips. The editors featured in this Chapter are particularly interesting because they've been enhanced with RealVideo-specific features. For example, you can design image maps and save RealVideo files—all without needing to leave the editing environment.
Chapter 11
If you want bigger, sharper images than RealVideo can provide, try RealFlash. This vector-based animation tool gets the most out of 28.8 Kbps bandwidth.
Chapter 12
This Chapter tells how to configure Web servers so they can host RealMedia files successfully. Your network administrator or Internet service provider might have sorted these issues out for you. But if not, here's where to turn.
Chapter 13
Attractive Web pages that reference RealMedia content are key to getting your audience to tune in. They'd be a lot easier to design if Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and other browsers all used the same commands. Unfortunately, that's not the case, but this Chapter covers authoring for whatever browser your pages are likely to encounter.
Chapter 14
Using Scripting to Control the RealPlayer
If you want more control over the appearance of your RealMedia-enabled Web pages, you'll find it with JavaScript. Using scripts to communicate with an embedded RealPlayer lets you drive it via forms or image maps. Unfortunately, scripting isn't compatible with every browser.
Chapter 15
This Chapter will help you decide whether you need a server to host your RealMedia files. It also includes instructions for installing and using RealNetworks’ Basic Server—included on the CD-ROM in its Windows 95 and Windows NT versions.
Chapter 16
This Chapter explains how to take advantage of a RealServer's bandwidth negotiation feature. This lets you give users the best possible RealVideo and RealAudio quality.
Chapter 17
You’ll learn how to go on the air with live RealAudio and RealVideo broadcasts. You’ll also find out how to archive live broadcasts to disk, and how to simulate them for testing purposes. Finally, this Chapter introduces splitting and multicasting—two ways to extend the reach of your broadcasts.
Chapter 18
This Chapter describes how to create events files. These are the key to synchronized presentations—Web pages that change under the control of a RealAudio or RealVideo stream.
Chapter 19
This Chapter provides an introduction to capabilities in the RealPlayer 6.0 and RealServer 6.0—the next generation of RealMedia.