Frequently Asked Questions
Encoding Questions
- Why am I experiencing problems using RealProducer G2 on the Redhat Linux 6.0 operating system?
- Save the downloaded archive file to the same directory where RealProducer is currently installed. Please note that the default install for the existing RealProducer distribution is /usr/local/rprod.
- De-compress the archive using the command:
gzip -cd rprodpatch.tgz | tar xvf - This will decompress the archive and update the Java binaries and libraries in the existing bin and lib directories.
- Change to the bin directory and run the included patchrprod file by using the command:
./patchrprod This shell script will update bin/realproducer and set the correct library paths from:
LD_PRELOAD=$REALDIR/lib/libdl.so.2 to:
LD_PRELOAD=$REALDIR/lib/compat.so After the patch has been successfully installed, RealProducer will function correctly on Redhat Linux 6.0.
- What file formats does RealProducer G2 accept as input for encoding?
Input formats vary according to whether audio or video is being encoded. RealAudio content may be created either from previously recorded digital audio files or from an external audio source. RealProducer G2 does not support compressed input files. Use a sound-editing utility to convert unsupported formats to a supported format.
Audio Encoding
Type Platform Sample Size .wav audio Windows, UNIX 8- or 16-bit mono or stereo .au audio Windows, UNIX, Macintosh 8-bit m or stereo or 16-bit linear mono or stereo .pcm audio Windows, UNIX 8- or 16-bit mono or stereo .snd audio Windows, Macintosh 8- or 16-bit mono or stereo .sd2 audio Macintosh 8- or 16-bit mono or stereo .aiff audio Macintosh 8- or 16-bit mono or stereo Live feed Windows Live, Mac Live, UNIX Live 8- or 16-bit mono or stereo Note: You can use a stereo input file to produce a mono or a stereo output file. However, you cannot use a mono input file to produce a stereo output file. The valid sampling rates are: 8 kHz, 11.025 kHz, 16 kHz, 22.05 kHz, and 44.1 kHz.
Video Encoding
RealProducer G2 supports AVI and QuickTime. Uncompressed files offer the best results. RealProducer supports any size image from any video source, but it will automatically crop the height and width to multiples of 4. The most common video image sizes are 160 x 120, 176 x 144 pixels, or 320 x 240 pixels. Input files are also required to be in 24-bit RGB color mode.
Encoding from a live source is supported with specific video capture cards.
- What software should be used to convert files into formats which can be encoded by the RealProducer G2?
RealNetworks does not specifically recommend any one piece of third party software. However, there are several conversion products available which offer compatibility with RealProducer input formats. There are some shareware products available on the Web and we offer other products from our RealStore site.
- Can I manually create encoding templates with RealProducer G2?
The RealProducer G2 does not allow the creation of custom encoding templates. The new encoding matrix offered in the RealProducer G2 creates optimal encoding combinations. If, however, you need to use a special combination of encoding options, command line encoding is still available.
- What is the difference between live encoding and live broadcasting?
Live encoding and live broadcasting are two methods used by the RealProducer G2 to encode from a live source.
Live encoding occurs when encoding is from a live source to a static file. The inputs into your sound card and video capture device can be a microphone, CD, tape recorder or other media device such as a video camera, DVD or laserdisc.
Live Broadcasting occurs when encoding is from a live source and the encoded stream is being broadcast over the internet live at the time of encoding. A RealServer is required for live broadcasting with RealProducer G2.
- Can the RealProducer G2 encode for live broadcasting?
The RealProducer G2 can be used for live broadcasting so long as the hardware and drivers on the system support live broadcast encoding. If the system components do not support live broadcast encoding, there may not be an error message, but the live broadcast will not successfully occur.
- Why does RealProducer G2 return the message, "Source file contains an unsupported video format"?
If the RealProducer G2 returns the error message, "Source file contains an unsupported video format," your source file is in an unsupported image size, video format, or it may be an unsupported compressed file.
RealProducer G2 supports AVI and QuickTime. Uncompressed files offer the best results. RealProducer supports any size image from any video source, but it will automatically crop the height and width to multiples of 4. The most common video image sizes are 160 x 120, 176 x 144 pixels, or 320 x 240 pixels. Input files are also required to be in 24-bit RGB color mode.
For more information, please see the RealProduction Guide located in our Documentation library.
- Can RealProducer G2 create content for streaming from a 5.x RealServer?
No, RealProducer G2 cannot create content which can be streamed from a 5.x RealServer. To stream content from a 5.x server, the stream must be a 5.x compatible stream. RealProducer Plus has the capability of creating 5.x streams, but RealProducer cannot.
There has been inconsistent behavior and problems when using the RealProducer on the 6.0 version of Redhat Linux. To resolve these issues, RealNetworks has created a patch. Please download the patch from the following link, then use the installation instructions below.
The installation instructions are as follows: