Streaming Video Basics; Video Basics; Getting The Best Video; Network Considerations - VBrick 9000 Getting Started Manual

Streaming Video Basics

Video Basics

It is important that the source of the video being encoded and streamed is of the highest
possible quality in order to avoid using unnecessary bandwidth to transport source video
artifacts, distortion, etc. If using a camera, exercise common sense: good lighting and a steady
camera will improve overall performance. Cameras, DVD players, and live television
broadcast feeds from a TV tuner can all be used as video sources. VBrick supports standard
video via BNC connectors, or HDMI via mini-DIN connectors. BNC-to-RCA adapters are
readily available if RCA-type cables are used.

Getting the Best Video

Video quality is a subjective concept that depends on a variety of factors. VBrick's
philosophy is to make our network encoders as flexible as possible so they can be used
effectively in different applications on a wide variety of networks. This means you can
configure an encoder for maximum performance but you can also configure it in such a way
that it will only work well in a very limited environment. Video quality is also relative. What is
acceptable quality for a surveillance application on a low-bandwidth network is most likely
unacceptable for a corporate presentation or a two-way video conference on a high-speed
LAN. Much depends on your network, the bandwidth you have available, and the audience
you are trying to reach.
For best results, start with the default values and then adjust the bit rate, frame rate,
resolution, and other parameters with care. Experiment with different settings to see the
trade-offs in quality and performance. You can track your changes by periodically saving the
configuration file using the
VBAdmin. If the audio and video quality is still less than you would expect, re-apply your
saved configuration and try again. Keep in mind that the VBrick is stable, reliable and
flexible. In most cases a small amount of experimentation will help you find the
configuration settings that will deliver the best audio and video your network can support.
For more information, or help configuring your encoder, contact VBrick Support Services.

Network Considerations

Assigning Multicast Addresses

Many factors must be considered when designing a multicast address infrastructure since
Ethernet switch implementations can significantly vary between vendors. Furthermore,
multicast addressing techniques rely on an Ethernet to IP Address mapping rule, which does
not guarantee a unique physical address. In fact, it is possible to create multicast addresses
that differ from an IP perspective, but overlap when presented to the Ethernet network.
Addresses created in this situation can cause significant network and operational problems.
Encoder Getting Started
and options on the Manage Configuration page in
Read Restore
Chapter 9
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