Video Streaming

Overview

Video streaming is the distribution live or prerecorded broadcasts over a network. DISE supports receiving a video stream using the Video Object, and to output a stream signal using DISE Broadcaster. Using streaming in a DISE system is an efficient way to distribute global video content - for instance, with large systems it is a far simpler task to stream out a TV source than to set all players up with a TV tuner card.

Unicast/Multicast

Basically, unicast is communication from one sender to one receiver, whereas multicast is many-to-many and receivers must subscribe to the stream, else ignore it. The decision on whether to use unicast or multicast streaming depends on your network's bandwidth, size and physical setup as well as the chosen streaming solution.

Stream input

Streaming server

Our recommendation is to use a dedicated streaming server with the needed capture cards / sources, especially when delivery is vital and the source of the stream can change.

MPEG2 streaming

By using the Elecard MPEG2 plugin for DirectShow it is possible to play multicast or unicast MPEG-2 streaming with DISE.

Supported streaming types:

Container type: MPEG1, MPEG-PS (Program Stream), MPEG-TS (Transport Stream)
Transmission: Unicast, Multicast
Protocols: UDP, RTP

Typically you connect to the stream by entering a special elecard url like this:

Elecard URL:

elecard://234.5.5.5:1235/udp

Testing MPEG-2 streaming

To test that DISE accepts and plays MPEG-2 streams we create an example stream over the LAN using VLC media player.

Appoint a computer on the LAN as the streaming server.
Download and install VLC media player from here: VLC media player - Open Source Multimedia Framework and Player
In the application, select Media > Streaming.

In this example, the stream is a VOB file. In the File tab, select Add and browse to the file. Then click Stream.
Click Next.
Under Destinations, select UDP from the list and click Add.

In this page enter a multicast address and a port.
Under Transcoding options you can select what format you want to stream in. There is a preset MPEG-2 profile, here, you may select that or make your own.
If the media is already MPEG-2 such as our VOB file, uncheck the Activate Transcoding box.

Download and install the Elecard MPEG2 plugin on the player computer (see above).
In DISE Composer, insert a video object.
Check URL and enter a special Elecard URL to join the multicast stream.

You may have to force the video object to use the stream filter. Select the Options tab and check the Override auto-detected media format, then select Elecard or Elecard RTSP from the list.

In the Options tab, check the Continue play in background to prevent DISE from closing the stream (and having to buffer on reconnect).
When you preview the scene, you should see your streamed content.

AVC/H.264 support

Elecard also has a Elecard AVC Streaming PlugIn for WMP with support for AVC/H.264 as well as other formats.

Axis camera

Axis IP cameras are often accessed via "axrtsp://<axis-camera-ip>/axis-media/media.amp". The playback requires the "AXIS Media Control" ActiveX component, which can be installed by opening Internet Explorer on the player PC, browsing to "http://<axis-camera-ip>" and answering yes to the question to install the ActiveX. Alternatively visit the axis.com website and download the Axis Media Control software.

Windows Media

With Windows Media it is possible to connect to RTSP and MMS streams (Windows Media Services server).

Testing Windows media streaming

To test that DISE accepts and plays Windows media streams we create an example stream over the LAN using Microsoft Expression Encoder.

Appoint a computer on the LAN as the streaming server.
Download and install Microsoft Expression Encoder from here: Microsoft© Expression©
In the application, click Live encoding (bottom right)

A live source will be added for you. Under Device configuration, select a video device if there is one on your computer.

Or, you can add a File source to be streamed.
Uncheck the Audio box if you only want to stream video,

Go to the Output tab.

Check the Streaming box and note the port used (here: 8080)

Finally, click the Start button to begin streaming.

In DISE Composer, insert a Video object.
Check URL and enter: mms:/<URL of the broadcasting computer>:<sending port>/, for example mms://127.0.0.1:8080/

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Note: Remember the colon followed by the port number.

In the Options tab, check the Continue play in background to prevent DISE from closing the stream (and having to buffer on reconnect).
When you preview the scene, you should see your streamed content.

Stream output

DISE Broadcaster makes DISE Replay act as a streaming server.

Troubleshooting