Learning Flash Media Server 3

Chapter 6. Broadcasting and Server-Side Bandwidth Control

Casting Many Streams

The idea of making a worldwide broadcasting system may seem a bit ambitious, but using FMS3, it’s actually quite easy. All you need to do is send out a stream containing audio and video using a “Studio” module, and have a “TV” module set to pick it up. You can even set up the bandwidth allocation so that the Studio module uses more client-to-server bandwidth, and the TV module is weighted so that most of the bandwidth is allocated from the server to the client. In addition, you can switch between live and recorded streams and bring in live reports from remote locations. Before you go out and hire a news team, remember that FMS3 generates a new stream for every client connected to the application. FMS3 has both bandwidth and connected-client limits, and so depending on your version of FMS3, you’ll be able to serve more or fewer clients. However, you can create a broadcasting application that optimizes bandwidth so that you can serve as many clients as possible while still delivering server side the best A/V possible.

Switching Cameras

As anyone who has worked in a TV studio knows, the producer switches between cameras, with most productions having about three different cameras. So before getting to the studio, this section looks at switching from one camera to another—a key skill for setting up your own worldwide video-broadcasting corporation.

Selecting a Camera

Like most of the changes discussed in this book, ...