Samples

If you’ve ever watched a video clip on a web site, you’ve seen audio/video streaming. If you’ve ever listened to music without downloading the music file itself, you’ve heard audio streaming.

Just how good the audio/video plays depends mostly on the quality of the network connection. So consider what kinds of network connection your viewers are likely to be using. High-speed, like we have at Cornell, or like DSL or Time Warner’s Road Runner? Low-speed, like a 56K dialup modem?

The faster the network, the smoother the viewing experience will be. These RealPlayer examples demonstrate the differences.

You'll need the free, current version of RealPlayer to view these samples.

Video Quality at Different Network Speeds

High-speed network connection (225 Kbps)

This 1:50-minute clip of a promotional Cornell hockey video shows the kind of quality that viewers can expect when using a high-speed connection (for example, Cornell network, Road Runner, DSL).

 

Dial-up/modem network connection (34 Kbps)

This 1:50-minute clip of a promotional Cornell hockey video shows the kind of quality that viewers can expect when using a low-speed connection (for example, dial-up/modem). Note how both the audio and video quality differ from the high-speed version.

Examples of Videoconferencing and Streaming Video

Multi-point videoconference (225 Kbps)

This 1:44-minute clip of a Nanobiotechnology Center lecture shows a 6-site videoconference at high-speed quality. Note that this is a recording of the videoconference; during the actual event, the participants saw a much larger image on their video monitors.

 

High-speed streaming video: Tom Eisner (300 Kbps)

This 1:54-minute clip of Cornell professor Tom Eisner was done in a professional studio.

 

High-speed streaming video: Cornell faculty (221 Kbps)

This 13:17-minute video illustrates several ways that Cornell faculty are using instructional technologies. Featured are George Hudler (plant pathology), Terry Herter (astronomy), Paul Velleman (social statistics), Geri Gay (communication), and Peter Martin (law). Note the clarity of web pages and other computer-based materials. Also note the effects of the various settings where the faculty were filmed.

 

High-speed streaming video: Cornell's Sept. 11 Memorial (225 Kbps)

This 39:50-minute video is of an Arts Quad memorial event following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Note the differences in quality between ambient sound and sound captured by the microphones. Also note the effects of the various angles of view.