Chapter 4: Customizing Recording Options

RealEncoder comes with a variety of options that allow you to create RealMedia suited to your needs. Because there is no single best process for delivering all types of streaming audio and video, RealEncoder provides several ways in which you can customize and streamline how you record RealMedia.

This chapter discusses how to change different recording preferences, and how to adjust the settings for target audiences.

Changing RealEncoder Preferences

RealEncoder gives you the option to modify settings that affect all recording sessions. This section shows you how to change general recording preferences and SureStream preferences. You use the Preferences dialog box to make these adjustments.

General Preferences

The General page of the Preferences dialog box allows you to change copy protection preferences, the use of recording wizards, and the temporary directory used by RealEncoder.

The Preferences Dialog Box - General Page

Copy Protection

By changing copy protection preferences, you are allowing RealPlayer Plus users to be able to download your RealMedia clip to either their hard drive or to a mobile players. If you don't want users to be able to download or copy your clips, make sure these options are not selected.

Selecting the Allow Recording preference gives users of RealPlayer Plus the option of downloading your RealMedia clip onto their computers. When your clip is playing on a RealPlayer Plus, the user clicks the Record button and the clip is saved on the user's machine. Deselecting this preference greys-out the Record button for RealPlayer Plus users.

Selecting the Allow Mobile Download preference gives users the ability to download your RealMedia clip onto any type of recording device that accepts the RealMedia format. These devices are generally portable players that allow users to record and play back different media.

To allow downloading of your RealMedia clips:

From the RealEncoder main window, choose Preferences from the Options menu.
The Preferences dialog opens.
Click the General tab.
Select Allow Recording if you want RealPlayer Plus users to be able to download your clip.
Select Allow Mobile Download if you want users to be able to download your clip to a Mobile Player.
Click OK to close this dialog.

Recording Wizards

Once you become familiar with the recording process, you can disable the recording wizards and use the New Session dialog to create a new recording session. This preference allows you to easily toggle the wizards on or off.

To enable or disable the recording wizards:

From the RealEncoder main window, choose Preferences from the Options menu.
The Preferences dialog opens.
Click the General tab.
Select Use Recording Wizards if you want to use the wizards when setting up a recording session.
This is the default setting.
Deselect this option to turn off the wizards.
When you choose File > New Session from the RealEncoder main window, the New Session dialog box opens.
Click OK to close this dialog.

Temporary Directory

During a recording session, RealEncoder uses a temporary directory to store media files prior to creating the final RealMedia clip. Using the Preferences dialog box, you can change the directory used for this purpose.

To change the temporary directory used by RealEncoder:

From the RealEncoder main window, choose Preferences from the Options menu.
The Preferences dialog opens.
Click the General tab.
In the Directory Name field, type in the path of the new temporary directory. You can also click the Browse button to locate the directory.
Click OK to close this dialog.

SureStream Preferences

The SureStream page of the Preferences dialog box allows you to change different options when you record SureStream RealMedia clips. You can create a separate stream for older versions of the Player, and you can decide what component of your clip (audio or video) should be given priority during reduced bandwidth conditions.

The Preferences Dialog Box - SureStream page

Player Compatibility

RealEncoder allows you to record RealMedia clips that can be played on both RealPlayer versions G2 and 5.0. During the recording process, RealEncoder creates both a G2 stream and a separate 5.0 stream. However, you will still need a RealServer G2 to stream the clip.

We recommend that you create G2-only clips, unless you are sure you need 5.0 compatibility.

To change RealPlayer compatibility:

From the main RealEncoder window, choose Preferences from the Options menu.
Click the SureStream tab.
Select the version of RealPlayer you want your RealMedia files to be compatible with from the Player Compatibility drop-down list.
Click OK to close this dialog.

Emphasize Audio or Video

This option allows you to choose whether your clip will emphasize audio or video when a RealPlayer's connection degrades and must switch to a "duress stream."

To change SureStream emphasis:

From the main RealEncoder window, choose Preferences from the Options menu.
Click the SureStream tab.
Select whether to emphasize audio or video during duress conditions.
Click OK to close this dialog.

Optimizing Target Audiences

RealEncoder gives you the option to adjust the settings for a particular target audience. Each target audience setting is an array of various codecs (compression/decompression algorithms) and other settings that work best for that particular target bit rate.

The quality of the recorded output is effected by these settings and by the actual content. Fixed camera shots, amount of motion, and multiple camera shots can all determine the quality of your output.

There are two types of target audience settings: settings for video clips, and settings for audio-only clips. The following sections describe how to modify each type of setting.

Settings for Video Clips

Target audience settings for video clips are used to determine how RealEncoder creates RealMedia from your combined audio and video input when various target audiences are selected. These settings include an audio codec, a video codec, frame rate, and target bit rate.

To modify target audience settings for video clips:

In the main RealEncoder window, choose Target Audience Settings > for Video Clips from the Options menu.
The Target Audience Settings - Video Clips dialog opens to the Audio page.
Select a Target Audience from the list of target bit rates.
Select an audio codec for each type of audio format.
When you select a codec, read the description below. This helps you determine whether the codec is appropriate for the target audience.
Click the Video tab.
Choose a Max Frame Rate setting by sliding the bar.
This setting forces RealEncoder to record video up to a maximum frame rate. This setting forces the output to emphasize image clarity or motion smoothness, and is adjusted by moving the slider.

For example, if your content contains a lot of motion and you set the slider closer to the 7.5 fps setting, the resulting video image will be clearer, but will exhibit choppier motion.
Select a Video Codec. RealEncoder currently has one video codec available, RealVideo G2.
Click on the Target Bit Rate tab.
Enter the Target Bit Rate for the entire encoded file.
Generally, you should reduce the expected total bit rate by 25% to compensate for connection and packet overhead. For example, choose 20 Kbps for a 28.8 Kbps modem.
Click OK to save the target audience with the new settings and return to the main window.
You can click Restore Defaults at any time during the above steps to delete your changes and return the target audience to its original settings.

Settings for Audio-Only Clips

Target audience settings for audio clips are used to determine how RealEncoder creates RealAudio from your audio-only input when various target audiences are selected. These settings include an audio codec and whether you are creating a stand-alone clip, or for use with other RealMedia.

To modify a target audience for audio-only clips:

In the main RealEncoder window, choose Target Audience Settings > for Audio Clips from the Options menu.
The Target Audience Settings - Audio Clips dialog opens.
Select a Target Audience from the list of target bit rates.
Select an audio codec for each type of audio format.
When you select a codec, read the description below. This helps you determine whether the codec is appropriate for the selected target audience.
Select the Audio Mode:
- Choose Audio Only if the RealAudio clip is to be played by itself.
- Choose Audio with Multimedia if the RealAudio clip is to be played as part of a multimedia presentation, such as a SMIL presentation.
Click OK to save the target audience with the new settings and return to the main window.
You can click Restore Defaults at any time during the above steps to delete your changes and return the target audience to its original setting.