Chapter 4: Customizing Recording Options

RealProducer Plus comes with a variety of options that allow you to create RealMedia suited to your needs. This chapter discusses how to change different recording preferences, how to adjust the settings for target audiences, and how to change audio and video capture settings.

Changing RealProducer Plus Preferences

RealProducer Plus 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 options, the use of recording wizards, and the temporary storage directory used by RealProducer Plus.

The Preferences Dialog Box - General Page

Copy Protection

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

Selecting the Allow Recording preference allows RealPlayer Plus users the option of recording the playback of your RealMedia clip onto their computers. When your clip is played back on a RealPlayer Plus, the user can click the Record button and your clip is saved on the user's machine. Deselecting this preference disables the Record button for RealPlayer Plus users.

Selecting the Allow Download preference gives any user--even those without a RealPlayer--the ability to download your RealMedia clip directly onto their hard drive.

To allow copying of your RealMedia clips:

From the RealProducer Plus 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 record your clip.
Select Allow Download if you want users to be able to download your clip to their hard drive.
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 RealProducer Plus 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 RealProducer Plus main window, the New Session dialog box opens.
Click OK to close this dialog.

Temporary Storage Directory

During a recording session, RealProducer Plus uses a 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 storage directory used by RealProducer Plus:

From the RealProducer Plus main window, choose Preferences from the Options menu.
The Preferences dialog opens.
Click the General tab.
Click the Browse button, select the new temporary storage directory, and click OK.
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 whether audio or video quality should be given priority during reduced bandwidth conditions.

The Preferences Dialog Box - SureStream page

Player Compatibility

RealProducer Plus allows you to record RealMedia clips that can be played on both RealPlayer versions G2 and 5.0. During the recording process, RealProducer Plus 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 to limit file size and processing time, unless you are sure you need 5.0 compatibility.

To change RealPlayer compatibility:

From the main RealProducer Plus 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 lower bandwidth stream. Choosing audio means that video quality will be sacrificed before audio quality. Choosing video means that audio quality will be sacrificed before video quality.

To change SureStream emphasis:

From the main RealProducer Plus 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.

Customizing Target Audience Settings

RealProducer Plus 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 affected by these settings and by the actual content (for example, fixed camera shots, amount of motion, and multiple camera shots).

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 RealProducer Plus creates RealMedia from your combined audio and video input when various target audiences are selected. These settings include an audio codec, a video codec, maximum frame rate, and target bit rate.

To modify target audience settings for video clips:

In the main RealProducer Plus 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. See "About Target Audiences" for more information.
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. The frequency response supported by the codec is also listed.
Click the Video tab.
Select a Video Codec. RealProducer Plus currently has one video codec available, RealVideo G2.
Choose a Max Frame Rate setting by sliding the bar. This sets the maximum frame rate at which you want to record video.
At lower values, the output emphasizes image clarity at the expense of smooth-looking motion. 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.

Recording at high frame rates during live encoding can give you smoother motion video.
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.

Tip
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.

	Tip
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 RealProducer Plus 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 in a multimedia presentation with other RealMedia (RealVideo, RealPix, RealText, and Flash with RealSystem G2).

To modify a target audience for audio-only clips:

In the main RealProducer Plus 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 Multimedia Presentation 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.

Changing Audio and Video Capture Settings

When recording from a media device, either to a file or to a live broadcast, your computer must be set up to use the necessary capture card. All audio and video capture cards have different settings; refer to your card's specific documentation for information.

Audio Capture Settings

With RealProducer Plus, you can set the recording volume of the audio capture device. Also, you can select different audio drivers if your computer has more than one audio capture card installed.

Adjusting Volume Control

While recording, you can adjust or monitor the volume using the Windows Volume Control window.

To adjust the recording volume:

Select Volume Control from the Options menu.
The Volume Control window opens.
In the Volume Control window, select Properties from the Options menu.
The Properties window displays.
Select Recording to adjust the input recording volume. (The Playback option adjusts the level of the volume you hear while you are recording, not the volume RealProducer Plus uses.)
Select from the list of volume controls the type of inputs you will be using and click OK.
The Recording Control window opens.
Select which recording inputs to use by choosing the Select box for each input.
Adjust the sound level by moving the sliders up or down.
Remember, if the volume is too high, the recorded sound may be clipped and appear distorted. If the volume is too low, it will be difficult to hear. Use the audio level meter in the RealProducer Plus window to monitor the level during encoding.
Close the Recording Control window and return to the RealProducer Plus.

Selecting an Audio Card

In some cases, your computer may have more than one audio card that you use for capturing audio input. RealProducer Plus gives you the option to choose one before you begin recording.

To select an audio driver:

From Options menu, choose Audio Capture Settings>Select Audio Driver.
A list of available audio drivers appears in a drop down list.

Select the driver you want to use.

Note
Your CD-ROM drive uses the installed audio card and is not considered a separate audio device, even though it may be listed separately. In order to use the CD-ROM as the single audio device, you must Mute the Line-In.

	Note
Your CD-ROM drive uses the installed audio card and is not considered a separate audio device, even though it may be listed separately. In order to use the CD-ROM as the single audio device, you must Mute the Line-In.

Video Capture Settings

With RealProducer Plus, you can set the following settings for your video capture card: video format, video source, and video compression. Also, you can select different video drivers if your computer has more than one video capture card installed.

Setting Your Video Card

RealProducer Plus allows you to set how your video capture card creates video input. Every supported capture card works differently, so be sure to refer to your card's documentation.

To change settings for your video capture card:

Select Video Capture Settings from the Options menu.
A drop down list gives you the following options:
- Video Format
- Video Source
- Video Compression
Select an option and adjust the settings according to your video capture card's documentation.

Selecting a Video Card

In some cases, your computer may have more than one video card that you use for capturing video input. RealProducer Plus gives you the option to choose one before you begin recording.

To select a video driver:

From Options menu, choose Video Capture Settings>Select Video Driver.
A list of available video drivers appears in a drop down list.
Select the driver you want to use.