Introduction
How this Manual is Organized
Conventions in this Manual
Additional RealSystem G2 Resources
Technical Support
1 What's New in RealSystem G2?
New Streaming Possibilities
Advancements in RealAudio and RealVideo
Easier Presentation Assembly
Enhanced Protocol Support
Compatibility with Previous Releases
2 Creating RealSystem Presentations
Streaming Multimedia Clips
Choosing Media to Stream
Clip Types Played by Previous RealPlayer Releases
Using Editing and Production Tools
RealNetworks Production Tools
Additional Tools
Working with Timelines and Bandwidths
Synchronizing Clips to a Timeline
Keeping a Bandwidth Budget
Writing a SMIL File
Hosting a Presentation on a Server
Using RealServer G2 or a Web Server
Web Server HTTP and RealServer RTSP
Launching a Presentation
Working with the RealServer Administrator
Using RealNetworks Logos
Playing Clips Back Locally
Viewing a Presentation with RealPlayer
Protecting Copyrighted Content
Downloading RealPlayer Plug-Ins
3 Targeting Bandwidth
What is Bandwidth?
What is Preroll?
Choosing a Target Bandwidth
Developing a Bandwidth Strategy
Understanding Clip Bandwidth Characteristics
Delivering a Single Media Clip
Developing Multiclip Presentations
Supporting Multiple Bandwidth Connections
Using SureStream Clips for Multiple Bandwidths
Letting RealPlayer Choose between Multiple Clips
4 Producing Audio
Steps for Streaming RealAudio
Capturing Audio
Optimizing Audio
Creating RealAudio Clips
Choosing RealAudio Codecs
Encoding RealAudio with RealSystem Tools
Streaming Other Audio Formats
5 Producing Video
Steps for Streaming RealVideo
Recording Video
Digitizing Video
Creating RealVideo Clips
Choosing RealVideo Codecs
Encoding RealVideo with RealSystem Tools
Streaming Other Video Formats
6 Producing Animation
Preparing a RealFlash Clip
Choosing a Target Bandwidth
Dividing Bandwidth Between Shockwave Flash and RealAudio
Adding RealPlayer 5.0 Compatibility
Maximizing Flash Efficiency
Keeping Shockwave Flash Files Small
Minimizing CPU Usage
Using Interactive Commands
Creating a RealFlash Clip
Exporting Shockwave Flash
Tuning Shockwave Flash
Exporting Audio
Delivering the RealFlash Presentation
Supporting RealPlayer 5.0
7 Assembling a Presentation with SMIL
Creating a SMIL File
SMIL General Rules
Specifying Clip Locations
Linking to Clips on RealServer
Creating Relative URLs
Linking to Clips on a Web Server
Linking to Local Clips
Grouping Clips
Playing Clips in Sequence
Playing Clips in Parallel
Ending a Parallel Group on a Specific Clip
Repeating a Clip or Group
Combining <seq> and <par> Tags
Specifying Timing
Setting Begin and End Times
Using Begin and End Times with Groups
Setting Internal Clip Begin and End Times
Combining clip-begin and clip-end with begin and end
Setting Durations
Setting a Fill
Clip Timing Example
Switching Between Alternate Choices
Setting Language Choices
Setting Bandwidth Choices
Adding Presentation Information
Managing the Playlist
Using Coded Characters
Laying Out Multiple Clips
Defining the Layout
Setting the Root Layout Region
Defining Playback Regions
Using Percentage Values for Regions
Adding a Background Color
Fitting Clips to Regions
Ordering Overlapping Regions with z-index
Assigning Clips to Regions
SMIL Layout Example
Linking to Other Media
Making a Source Clip a Link
Targeting RealPlayer or a Browser
Defining Hot Spot Links
Setting an Anchor
Defining Spatial Coordinates
Setting Temporal Coordinates
Linking to a SMIL File
Linking with a Timeline Offset
Defining Image Options
Setting Image Bit Rates
Overriding GIF Transparency
Linking to a Web Page or Clip
Controlling RealPlayer
Ensuring Reliable Image Transmission
8 Playing Clips in a Web Page
Choosing the Netscape Plug-in or ActiveX Control
Using <EMBED> Tags for the Netscape Plug-In
Supporting Other Browsers
Using <OBJECT> Tags for the ActiveX Control
Setting Basic Parameters
Adding RealPlayer Controls
Basic Controls
Individual Controls and Sliders
Information Panels
Status Panels
Linking Multiple Controls
Multiple Controls Example
Controlling Image Display
Setting Automatic Playback
Laying out SMIL Presentations
Defining the Layout with SMIL
Defining the Layout with HTML
Omitting SMIL Layout Information
Parameter Reference
9 Inserting Ads in a Presentation
How Ad Serving Works
Displaying Banner Ads
Laying Out the Banner Region
Setting Banner Ad Properties
Specifying Durations for Rotating Banner Ads
Interleaving Rich Media Ads with Clips
Creating a SMIL File for a Rich Media Ad
SMIL File with No Regions
SMIL File with No Regions
Disabling the RealPlayer Playlist
Playing Interstitial Ads
10 Delivering a Presentation
Using RTSP and HTTP in URLs
Streaming Clips from RealServer G2
Linking your Web Page to RealServer
Using Ramgen
Listing Alternate Presentations
Combining Ramgen Options
Playing Clips from a Web Server
Limitations on Web Server Playback
Configuring Web Server MIME Types
Creating a Ram File Manually
Adding Comments to a Ram File
Testing your Presentation
Advertising on RealGuide
11 Broadcasting a Presentation
Broadcasting vs. On-demand Delivery
Broadcasting Tools
Preparing a Broadcast
Using SMIL with a Broadcast
SMIL Limitations for Broadcasts
Including On-Demand Clips with Broadcasts
Synchronizing Multiple Broadcast Streams
A Quick Steps for Streaming Clips
Streaming a RealAudio or RealVideo Clip
Embedding a RealVideo Clip in a Web Page
URL Reference
B Advanced Production Techniques
Smoothing Transitions between Clips
Hiding Regions with z-index
Writing Complex SMIL Switch Statements
Switching with SureStream Clips
Switching with Multiple Test Attributes
Displaying Captions for the Hearing Impaired
Filling a Captions Region when Captions are Off
Resizing the Playback Area for Captions
C SMIL Quick Reference
Header Tags
<meta.../>
<layout>...</layout>
<root-layout.../>
<region.../>
Clip Source Tags
Image Source Tag Options
Group Tags
<par>...</par>
<seq>...</seq>
<switch>...</switch>
Hyperlink Tags
<a>...</a>
<anchor.../>
D File Type Reference
E SMIL Language Codes
Glossary
Index