Concept: Create streaming profiles quickly available in the VT-Stream drop-down list
Module: Windows Media Encoder
Assets: None
Time: 10 minutes

NewTek has provided integrated Internet streaming since VT[2] shipped in 2000, but VT[4] has upped the ante with streaming capabilities that are both simpler and more flexible.

VT-Steam is simpler because it can be as simple as selecting VT-Steam from the VT[4] modules window, and clicking the Stream button. At that moment, VT-Stream detects your outbound Internet Protocol (IP address) and presents that in your Stream Location window.

What bit-rate you choose for audio and video can be selected in the drop-down windows, but this certainly doesn’t cover all the options available to you within Windows’ Media Encoder. What can you do to create your own? The answer is to create a custom profile within Media Encoder, and save that profile with a relevant description.

First, let’s launch Windows Media Encoder, and choose the Broadcast a Live event from the Wizards tab:

In the next window choose the VT VfW Capture Device as your video source and Video Toaster as your audio source, and click next

Choose whether your stream will Push to a server or Pull from the encoder and click next :

Go ahead and leave port 8080 as the HTTP Port and click next:

If you wish to have both broadband and modem customers have access to your stream, you need to set a bit rate for each in the Encoding Options window. (Perhaps check 109 Kbps for modem viewers, and 282Kbps for broadband viewers). Click next:

On the next panel, check the box if you wish to archive a .wmv file to the hard drive while you stream. This is optional and can be changed later:

Since we are doing a live stream, it is not necessary to include video files for welcoming new viewers, so leave the default ‘No’ checked and click Next:

On the final panel, you can include any specific information you’d like, including copyright notices and a description of the event. Click Finish.

Click ok on the notice of no restriction to access for the stream.

We are finally at the Streaming panel. Click on the Properties button at the top:

On the session properties is the Compression Tab. This is where you can refine the audio and video properties for each stream and then save that as a streaming profile. Select the Compression tab and then click the Edit button to the right:

For this example, we have chosen two streaming bitrates, and each of those is now available to for modification on this Custom Encoding panel. If you have no further need to modify the file, you may click on the Export… button to the right:

By default, Windows Media saves these in C:\Program Files\Windows Media Components\Encoder\Profiles

Instead, save this profile in \\VT4\User Data\Default User\StreamProfiles as something descriptive, such as Custom300kProfile.prx

Now, when you access VT-Stream, the Video bitrate drop-down menu will have your customized entry available anytime you need it!