Streaming Media: Like television and radio for the computer, streaming media technology converts other mediums (audio and video) to digital formats that can be played back instantly by computers. It is comparable to the process that enables one to turn on a TV set and instantly see a program, or turn on a radio and instantly receive sound. The general term 'streaming media' incorporates all the formats created specifically for transmitting audio, video and multimedia over the Internet.

Webcast: A live streaming media event broadcast for the Internet.

Bandwidth: The total amount of data a network connection is capable of sending through its system per second. This determines the length of time it will take to transmit data. For example, a file that takes 10 minutes to transmit across a modem with a speed of 28,800 bits per second (bps) might take only one minute to transmit over a DSL line because the DSL line has a larger bandwidth, which can pass more bits through per second.

Buffering: Media players assimilate the incoming data and present it to the viewer, as audio and/or video. During network congestion, this data is not sufficient for the media player to continue playback and therefore, the player must pause to receive more data before resuming playback. This process is called "rebuffering". To help avoid "rebuffering," the media players buffer a certain amount of data on reserve in the beginning before playing the clip.

Caching or Cache: Data that is frequently accessed is often stored in the computer's memory so that it may be re-accessed at a quicker rate than if this data was stored on the computer's hard disk drive. The process of storing this data is called caching. The type of memory that stores this data is called the cache.

Dedicated Internet Connection (DSL, T1 etc.)
A connection from your computer to the Internet. We recommend a connection that is not being shared and can be dedicated just to the purpose of delivering the feed from your encoder. We don't recommend using an analog modem.

Digitizing and Encoding: Digitizing refers to the process of capturing original media (film, video, sound recordings, etc.) into a digital format inside a computer. Encoding refers to the process of converting this digitized file into a streaming format.

QuickTime: Digital media software created by Apple Computers, that can be streamed over the Internet.

RealPlayer: Streaming media software created by RealNetworks for the Internet.

Windows Media: Streaming media software created by Microsoft

Audio broadcasting /  web streaming

Imagine using your computer to listen to the radio. It may seem like a strange thing to do, until you realise that there are thousands of radio stations around the world and most of them only broadcast locally.

By putting their programming online, these stations can now reach a global audience. Now you can listen to the programming you want – business news, lifestyle shows, sport or entertainment – live via your PC while continuing with other tasks. Best of all, Internet radio puts you in control. You can listen to what you want, when you want.

The technology that makes this all possible is called streaming audio. "Streaming" means that you don't have to download an entire audio file before the music starts to play.

If you're already familiar with these handy programs, we recommend that you download two free ones, RealPlayer from RealNetworks and the Windows Media Player from Microsoft. (Both support streaming video, too.)

These two plug-ins are not cross-compatible; you can't play a RealMedia file with a Windows Media Player and visa versa. Windows users may already have the Windows Media Player on their system as it comes bundled with Microsoft's browser, Internet Explorer. To find out click on the Start button, go to Programs, then the Accessories folder, then the Entertainment folder.

The audio players work adequately with 28.8 Kbps modems, but just like the rest of the Net, the faster your connection, the better the results.  Streaming audio technology is improving steadily month by month and can deliver high quality sound. In general, speech sounds better than music.

Media players allow you to take control of the sound. Just like with cassette recorders, software audio players have control panels so you can play, pause, fast-forward and rewind at will.