Hi Michelle, We purchased a Wowza server here to host commercial media content for university-wide access as well as more limited access scenarios, such as course reserves.
I upload content on a fairly regular basis and haven't had many problems ripping content we've purchased streaming rights to. I primarily deal with video and have been using Freemake Video Converter, which is pretty intuitive and relatively easy to use. I'm not well versed in all the freeware available but depending on how DVD files are formatted, some require compiling sequences into one file which may require more advanced software, such as Final Cut or Premiere. We also needed to come to a cross-departmental consensus on video quality, file size, etc. based on the broadband/buffering capabilities of our university's wireless network. While I can't speak to the technical aspects of installing the server and configuring the subsequent authentication scenarios, we had qualified group of faculty & staff review the technical implications of various media servers, such as Abode, Darwin, Helix, IceCast, Video Furnance and Wowza, while simultaneously envisioning future use case scenarios for streaming media capabilities we'd like to offer. Feel free to contact me off list if you need any further elaboration. Best, Matt Gallagher Media & Music Cataloging Technical & Automated Services Rutgers University Libraries ph: (848) 445-5952 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michelle Ehenpreis" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 11:00:18 AM Subject: [Videolib] media servers Hello, I had posted some time ago about information on Wowza , which one of the many media servers available. I have now since looked into Sharestream , Helix, and Adobe. If anyone has had any personal experience with the ones listed or others, I would greatly appreciate any information that you can share. One particular problem that I am encountering is finding a server that accommodates all file types such as an MPEG Audio file, so if anyone has experience with effective ripping software to prepare files for the server, I would also love to hear about that as well. Thank you, Michelle Ehrenpreis Electronic Resources/Media Services Librarian Molloy College VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
