This document provides instructions for using the audio and video streaming features in FilesAnywhere MediaFolder. It explains that users can stream MP3 or WMV files after uploading them by clicking play. It also provides information on how to encode video files into the streaming WMV format using the free Windows Media Encoder. Published streaming media files can then be played or shared with others in MediaFolder view.
1. HOW TO USE AUDIO/VIDEO STREAMING FEATURES
IN FILESANYWHERE MEDIAFOLDER
The FilesAnywhere MediaFolder streaming audio and streaming video features are really easy to
use. Just upload any WMV file that has been encoded for Server Streaming playback or MP3 file.
Change to the MediaFolder view, and then click "Play" on the Video thumbnail for the file you want to
stream to your computer.
Streaming allows the video or audio file to be played immediately, after a short buffering period,
instead of downloading the entire file before playing it on your local computer. This works well to play
the media file very quickly after clicking it, for files of any size.
Encoding Movie Files
You can encode your movie files as Windows Media streaming WMV files by using the free Microsoft
Windows Media Encoder, available at this link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/encoder/default.mspx
All popular video formats are supported, including AVI and MPG. Once you download the encoder
application, using this software is simple. Just start a new session as a "Convert a file" type…
2. Browse for your current movie file and choose a destination…
Then choose the "Windows Media server (streaming)" option as the output file type...
3. You can choose several different “bit rates” for the streaming content. This allows different quality
levels to be seen depending on the internet connection of the person viewing the video. You should
include a lower bit rate for users having average to slower connections, for example 148kbps. The
more bit rates you add, and the higher the bit rate, the larger the video file will be…
Give your movie file a name and any other information you want to display in the movie properties:
4. Press Finish after reviewing the settings…
Your movie will then begin encoding…
5. Publishing Your Streaming Media Files
Upload the converted WMV (or MP3) file to your FilesAnywhere account using any Upload method:
6. From within FilesAnywhere, click the "Media" button on the toolbar to switch to the MediaFolder view,
then click "Play" or directly click the icon for your uploaded WMV file.
You can also use the FileShare feature to send links to your videos by selecting the "Share as
MediaFolder" option:
7. Streaming will work for MP3 files also to stream audio content, with no conversion! If you have audio
content in a different format, such as WAV format, you can use the Windows Media Encoder with the
steps above for audio files too, to produce a streaming audio file in WMA format.
As you may already know, these streaming features are available for all Workgroup plan and Private
Site plan users.
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance with the FilesAnywhere portion of the streaming.
We won't be able to help you with the encoding steps, but there is a lot of information on the web
about using the Microsoft software to encode your files for streaming on a Windows Media server.
www.FilesAnywhere.com
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