Audio / Video Streaming

What is media streaming and how to use it

Hosting and streaming
Most web hosting accounts will have streaming already setup in your account. Check with your hosting company support to confirm this. In some cases you may need to install "mime" types and streaming in your control panel.

Web browsers and streaming
HTML5 browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, IE9+, Firefox and Opera have streaming built into the browser software. Older browsers like IE7 and 8 can not play newer video files like mp4. In these cases a wmv file is usually used and the video may not stream on some computers. Flash software has streaming built into the player application plugin.

How quickly does the video load?
If your videos are taking a long time to load, and you are using a newer browser, then you probably do not have streaming installed in your hosting account. You will want to contact your hosting company and make sure that your account is setup to stream audio and video.

Check with your hosting provider to make sure that your account is setup and will display and stream the following video "mime" file types:

mp4, m4v, ogv, webm, wmv, mov

For audio the following should be setup to stream:

mp3, ogg - (ogg for Firefox & Opera)

Doing a quick streaming check
One way to check your hosting account for streaming is to upload an mp4 file 10 or more megs in size. Use IE9+ or Safari, or download the Google Chrome browser and check the mp4 video file, live from your website link, in one of these browsers. If the video starts playing within 3 to 10 seconds then streaming is working properly on your website. Larger videos, 100 or more megs should start within 30 seconds (usually less than 15 seconds).

About the video and audio file types
Below are 7 popular video types and 2 audio types that allow for the highest compatibility in all popular web browsers. To have some of these movie file types work in your hosting account you may need to setup the "mime" types in your hosting control panel. See "troubleshooting on the HTML video support page.

Type	Browser Support	codec
mp4	Chrome, IE9+, Safari, iPad, iPhone, Android, Blackberry	(H.264)
m4v	Chrome, IE9+, Safari, iPad, iPhone, Android, Blackberry	(H.264)
webm	Chrome, IE9+, Opera (Firefox - limited)	(VP8)
ogv	Firefox (some versions)	(OGG)
wmv	Non HTML5 PC Windows browsers (XP), IE7, IE8	Windows
mov	Older browsers with Quicktime installed	Mac / Win
flv	Flash video. Uses a .swf file if Flash player is installed	Mac / Win
mp3	Chrome, IE9+, Safari, iPad, iPhone, Android, Blackberry	Audio
ogg	Chrome, IE9+, Opera, Firefox	Audio

mp4
The most popular file type for HTML5 video. Works on most mobile devices as well. Excellent for streaming.

Important: Be sure when converting to mp4 you use the H.264 (*mp4) option if available.

m4v
Almost the same as mp4. Excellent for streaming.

webm
Required to display videos in Opera and some versions of Firefox. Excellent for streaming.

ogv
Required for most versions of Firefox. Excellent for streaming.

wmv and mov
These are older less popular movie file types and are usually used for fallback. May or may not stream in some browsers depending on the computer setup and hosting account options. Fair to poor for streaming.

Flash video (.flv .swf)
Due to not being supported by Apple mobile devices this video type is now used for fallback in older Windows and Mac browsers. Excellent for streaming if Flash player is installed.

mp3
The most popular audio file type. Streams in almost all browsers. Very few hosting accounts do not have this "mime" type already setup as a default with streaming.

ogg
Newer audio type. With HTML5 code this file type is required for some browsers like Firefox and Opera that do not support mp3. You will probably need to have this "mime" installed in your control panel.

Converting your video for web use
For help with converting your video to a compliant media format, see "software" on the HTML video support page.

Note: Be sure you have all the mime types installed for each of the above in your hosting account, otherwise these video and audio types will not play on your website.






Related Topics:
HTML5 Video Tutorial
Setup YouTube Videos