Beginning ActionScript 2.0

Chapter 20. Managing Video

One of the most exciting technologies Flash provides is the capability to import and modify video on-the-fly. Flash 8 provides a whole set of new tools to work with and to enhance the video experience in Flash.

Flash 8 uses the On2 codec. Although Flash 8 can still play the Spark codec used in Flash 6 and 7, the new codec solves issues Flash 6 and 7 had on OSX, as well as provides a complement of capabilities and clarity previous Flash video did not have.

You can deliver your video as an FLV file (Flash video) or SWF file (Flash movie). Having the video defined as SWF limits you to transmitting data to just HTTP. This is often referred to as progressive video. The video is downloaded to the user's cache and is played as frames arrive. With FLV, you can also transport the video over HTTP, but you can use Flash Communication Server to provide the file as a true streaming media. Packaging the video as SWF enables you to use normal movie clip controls to control the clip. Because movie clips are limited to 16,000 frames, so is your video. With an FLV file, you must use a specific set of controls designed for the netConnection object, regardless of whether the FLV file is being served from the Flash Communication Server.

This chapter explains Flash video and shows you how to best create and deploy video in your Flash applications.

Terms, Technology, and Quality

When dealing with Flash video, you will encounter some terms for properties that are helpful to understand ...