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Live Interactive Webcasting

Sun, 12/17/2006 - 23:44 — Lee

This guide is still in its initial stages of being written. We should be completing our first draft soon

A Live Interactive Webcast is basically like a global radio show that is produced and accessed via the internet. A discussion between two more more parties using a telephony program is streamed live so that many listeners can tune in and, when desired, call in to the show host and participate in the discussion. These shows usually include the use of a text chat room so that listeners and discussion pariticapants can communicate with each other during the show. Telephony + Two-way audio capturing + live streaming = Live Interactive Webcasting

TELEPHONY PROGRAMS - Any telephony program can be used, but there are some signifacant variances in audio quality, conferencing abilities, and common usage amongst potential participants.

  • Skype - good audio quality, widespread usage, can conference up to 5 participants (10 on some Intel machines)
  • Gizmo - decent audio quality, can conference up to 10 participants, open sources, relatively small (but growing) user base, call recording built in to the program
  • Jajah - decent audio quality, no conferencing, can be used to communicate with Skype users
  • Google Talk - Good audio quality, no conferencing, requires gmail account
  • Yahoo Messenger - inferior audio quality, supports many user conferencing, widespread usage
  • MSN Messenger - inferior audio quality, supports many user conferencing, widespread usage


LIVE STREAMING

In order to webcast live audio streams, a webcaster needs....

  • Access to a Dedicated Server - This is a computer whose sole function is to host websites. Most website hosting companies offer users space on a computer that hosts many other domains. It is possible that your school and workplace has a dedicated server available for use.


It is also possible to rent one from commercial providers. If you don't have access to one and don't want to pay for an entire server, it is also possible to rent access to a single stream from a streaming services provider.

  • Streaming Server Software -On your dedicated server, it is necessary to install some kind of streaming server program. Worldbridges uses Shoutcast because it is free and very multi-platorm and multi-player friendly. It is possible however to use commercial software like Windows Media Server, Helix (part of Real Media), Quicktime, or other open source alternatives like Icecast or Peercast. 
     more info about streaming media servers
  • Encoding Software - On the computer you are webcasting from, you will need to use a program encode and stream the audio to your dedicated server. For Windows computers, programs like Oddcast, Sam Broadcaster, Simplecast, or Winamp+DSP plugin can be used; on Mac, Nicecast can be used.
  • Lots of patience dealing with inevitable challenges that will arise


TWO WAY AUDIO CAPTURING - this is the trickiest part of live, interactive webcasting. The default settings of most computers are not set up to simultaneously capture and/or record both the audio coming from your microphone and the audio coming from other telephony participants. There are a variety of ways to do so, but none are a simple 'just click here' kind of solution....at least not yet. There are several programs for Mac and Windows computers that make it fairly easy to record calls that are not being webcast live. For more information about that, check out our Telephony Recording Guide. For information about capturing and live webcasting both ends of a telephony call with different Encoding Program, see the following guides:

Windows

  • Webcasting with SamBroadcaster
  • Webcasting with SimpleCast
  • Webcasting with Winamp
  • Webcasting with Oddcast

It is generally much easier to accomplish the mission of live, interactive webcasting on a windows machine when using a USB Microphone and Virtual Audio Cables .

Mac

  • Webcasting with Nicecast

Streaming Service Providers

  • Live365
  • Webcast2000
  • Streaming Media Hosting

Webcasting with Oddcast


Requirments

This method has worked for some webcasters, but not for others. Seems to depend on soundcards and other system specs.

You can watch a screenshot video of how to webcast using Oddcast.

Also, check out Mediacast’s Guide to using Oddcast

We have not been able to use this method with all soundcards and the audio produced has often been a bit more ‘metalic’. Stay tuned for updated info as our experimentation continues. It is a much simpler method though and has the advantage of being entirely free.

Webcasting with SamBroadcaster

From New Media Guides

Live Interactive Webcasting Using Sam Broadcaster

Requirements

For a guide on how to use SamBroadcaster for live, interactive webcasting, take a look at screenshot Video#1 and Screenshot Video#2 (flash)

Webcasting with Nicecast

From New Media Guides

Stay tuned for this guide.


In the meantime, here are some instructions from Erin about how to caputure music or other sounds from your computer and make them heard in a skype call.

In Skype:
-Set your audio output as the headset you're wearing, and your audio input as Soundflower (2ch).
  • In OS X System Prefs:
-Set both Audio Output and Audio Input to be the headset you're wearing
(or, output as your headphones and input as your mic, if they're separate).
  • In Audio Hijack Pro:
-Input: Set the Audio Source to Audio Device. Input Device: Default
System Input, Output Device: Soundflower (2ch)
-Recording: however you want.
-Effects:
1) Insert an Application Mixer effect with iTunes (or whatever program you're using to play sound)
as the application. Put the crossfader all the way to the right (towards Application).
Check monitor output and click Hijack.
2) Insert a second Application Mixer effect directly below the first
one. Use Skype as the application, again put the crossfader all the way to right.
Check monitor output and click Hijack.
3) Insert a Voiceover effect directly below the second Application Mixer
effect. Set the device to be whatever you're using as a microphone, and
click Start.
4) Insert an Auxiliary Output Device plugin directly below the other
three and set the device to Soundflower (2 ch).