...Flash Video (On2 VP6) Architecture & Compressions
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[edit] Overview
A formidable entry in the “Platform and Player Independent” lineup of media architectures and tools is Adobe Flash. Flash files are well known for their small file sizes, web-friendly delivery mechanism (efficient packetizing), and extremely rich interactivity. Within the last few years, Flash has been able to fold video and audio files directly into the Flash authoring environment as objects that can be manipulated and blended into the overall design of a Flash file with text, images, and interactivity. It is also easier than ever to encode video into the FLV file format and attach either pre-designed or customized control bars to each movie.
The greatest advantage of the Flash Video format is the wide prevelance of the Flash Player on many computer platforms for many web browsers. From Adobe's website, these statistics have been posted regarding the penetration of the Flash Player from versions 5 through 8.
- For a full listing of the most current data, visit this page at Adobe that shows the Flash Player Version Penetration.
In terms of the percentage of installs on Internet-enabled desktops worldwide, Adobe reports a 98.7% as of March 2007.
- For a complete discussion of the most current data, visit this page at Adobe that shows the Flash Player Installation Base.
The Features of Flash Video have been outlined by Adobe as follows:
- Standalone video encoder
- Choose from either the high-quality On2 VP6 codec or the Sorenson Spark codec for advanced encoding options when creating FLV files. Use the batch processor to encode multiple video files at once.
- Video encoder plug-in
- Export video directly to FLV from leading professional post-production applications.
- Alpha channel support
- Overlay video composited with a transparent or semitransparent alpha channel with other content at runtime. Create unique effects using compositing tools such as Adobe® After Effects® software and import them into Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional with transparency preserved.
- High-quality video codec
- Produce video quality that rivals today's best video codecs while maintaining small file size with the advanced video codec in Flash Player, On2 VP6 and MPEG-4 H.264.
- Embedded cue points
- Embedded cue points Embed cue points directly into an FLV file to trigger events during playback and coordinate the playback of accompanying graphics and animations.
- Video import workflow
- Take advantage of a centralized dialog that presents options for FLV deployment during video import. The dialog also instantiates the skinnable video component and prepopulates it with required deployment parameters.
- Skinnable video component
- Use the video component to easily customize the look and feel of video projects without significantly increasing file size. The component works with multiple deployment options, including streaming and progressive download.)
- Advanced video encoder
- Easily import video using a new wizard, and improve video quality and appearance with new encoding options such as deinterlacing, advanced cue point control, and new video component skins.
- Advanced QuickTime export
- Render content published in a SWF file as a QuickTime video using the advanced QuickTime exporter. Export content that includes nested MovieClips, content generated with ActionScript™ language, and runtime effects such as drop shadow and blur.
- New video player component
- Integrate video into ActionScript 3.0 projects using the newly optimized video playback component, featuring new closed-captioning capabilities, as well as support for streaming FLV content and progressively downloaded FLV files.
ADOBE MEDIA PLAYER
In April of 2007, Adobe announced at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) trade show the release of a new computer desktop player for both video and interactive experiences. The software player is called the Adobe Media Player and is intended to combine the best of video streaming and downloads with layers of interactivity available through Flash authoring. A Press Release about the Adobe Media Player summarizes Adobe's announcement of the product and its cabilibities-- http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200704/041607AMP.html . Two paragraphs from the press release highlight its main features...
- Delivered as a lightweight download, Adobe Media Player delivers innovation for both viewers and content owners. For viewers, Adobe Media Player enables higher quality Flash format playback, the ability to download and view videos offline, ways to discover interesting new shows, full screen playback, one-click viewer ratings, and a powerful Favorites feature that automatically downloads new episodes of favorite TV shows or video podcasts. The player is cross-platform, based on open standards - including RSS and SMIL - and brings viewers the highly desired ability to play the Web’s most popular video format outside of their browser.
- For content publishers, Adobe Media Player enables better ways to deliver, monetize, brand, track and protect video content. It provides an array of video delivery options for high-quality online and offline playback, including on-demand streaming, live streaming, progressive download, and protected download-and-play. The Adobe Media Player enables a wider selection of monetization and branding options including viewer-centric dynamic advertising and the ability to customize the look and feel of the player on the fly to match the brand or theme of the currently playing content.
Another review of the new player is available through Streaming Media's website at http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=9549 . The same article compares the Media Player to the latest video/audio/interactive experience from Microsoft called Silverlight.
The Adobe Media Player is still in beta and is expected to be in full release by the end of 2007.
H.264 & AAC Compatibility
In an update to the Adobe Flash Player 9 software, the MPEG-4 H.264 encoding standards supported by Apple, Inc., have been added. As now stated by Adobe in its Labs Reports...
- H.264 is the next-generation video compression technology, ... also known as MPEG-4 Part 10 (ISO/IEC 14496-10). H.264 delivers excellent video quality across the entire bandwidth spectrum — from 3G (Mobile phones) to HD (Broadcast) and everything in between. Numerous broadcast, cable, videoconferencing and consumer electronics companies consider H.264 the video codec of choice for their new products and services, including Apple, Sony, Nokia, SanDisk, Palm, Blackberry and even Microsoft.
The AAC audio encoding is also added to Flash Video's features...
- AAC is a standard audio format defined in the MPEG-4 video standard, and is also the default audio format of the Apple iPod, and the standard audio format for Sony’s PlayStation 3. Flash Player supports HE-AAC v2. HE-AAC v2 is an extension of AAC that uses Spectral Band Replication (SBR) and Parametric Stereo (PS) techniques to increase coding efficiency at low bitrates.
With the introduction of H.264 and AAC audio encoding, Flash Video has become a stronger player in the online and mobile video marketplace by supporting a world standard and the foremost Format of Convergence.
[edit] Guidelines
On a general, industry-wide level, Akamai has generated a whitepaper technical guide to "Best Practices in Digital Media Delivery" http://www.akamai.com/html/perspectives/whitepapers_content.html. No endorsements of Akamai products and services are to be inferred; however, the guide summarizes nicely the major media architectures and includes references to additional resources.
A recent article, Crash Course in Flash Video, written by Lisa Larson for streamingmedia.com (Sept 24, 2007) offers an excellent overview of Flash Video and how to encode files for either progressive download or streaming delivery over the Internet.
[edit] Resources
- Flash Video Article from the Wikipedia
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_Video
- VP6 Codec Article from the Wikipedia
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VP6
- Flash Player Article from the Wikipedia
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_Player
- Larson, Lisa, Crash Course in Flash Video, StreamingMedia.com, Sept 24, 2007
- http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=9711
- Adobe's Introductory Web Page on Flash Professional and Video
- http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/flashpro/video/
- Adobe's Flash Developer Center with Plentiful Tutorials & Examples of Flash Video
- http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/video.html
- Adobe Tutorial on Encoding Flash Video
- http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/dialogbox/encode_video.html
- Adobe Labs Update on Flash Player 9 and H.264 Video Encoding
- http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/Flash_Player:9:Update:H.264
- Adobe Press Release Announcing H.264 Support in Flash Video
- http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200708/082107FlashPlayer.html
- Gallery of Flash Video
- http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/flashpro/video/gallery/
- Samples of Flash Video in website for University of Utah Trademarks & Licensing Program
- http://www.trademarks.utah.edu/library/video.html
- Sample of Flash Video with CLOSED CAPTIONS option from the Lowell Bennion ServiceCenter, University of Utah
- http://www.sa.utah.edu/bennion/dvd/FASL_captions_bb.htm (click on the CC button to reveal captions)
- "Q&A with Adobe's Chris Hock," on Flash Video, by Jan Ozer, Streaming Media, June 20, 2007
- http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=9628
- On2 Technologies' Website for their VP6 Video Codec
- http://www.on2.com/technology/vp6/
- NAB 2007- Major Announcements from Microsoft and Adobe Shake Up the World of Online Video
- http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=9549&page=1&c=31
- http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/pdfs/200704/041607AMP.pdf
- Comparison of Media Architectures (using a 1-minute movie)(QuickTime, Real, WindowsMedia, MPEG-4, MPEG-1, MPEG-2)
- Encoded and posted by Media Solutions, University of Utah
- http://stream.uen.org/medsol/digvid/html/sampler_compare_archs.html
- Comparison of Progressive Download & Streaming Movies, organized by production values found in source materials
- Encoded and posted by Media Solutions, University of Utah
- http://stream.uen.org/medsol/digvid/html/sampler_linear_movies.html
- Streaming Media Format and Encoding Matrix (Windows Media, Real, QuickTime, Flash Video at various bandwidths)
- Encoded and posted by MultiMediaPros, Inc.
- http://www.multimediapros.com/encoding.asp (scroll to matrix at bottom of page)
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