Get them:
[RealPlayer 8.0] [RealProducer 8.0]
Basic versions are free, but the full-featured 'Plus' version of the program will require payment. The basic version should be sufficient for most purposes.
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In our first Sound Bytes, we looked at how to create RealAudio files from audio files on your computer, and putting them onto a webpage using features provided by Real Producer 5. Since then Real Networks has introduced a new system they call Real System G2, first implemented in Real Player and Real Producer 6.0. (The most recent version number of both applications is 8.0.)
The method of converting existing files into RealAudio remains very much the same, despite the many version changes that RealProducer has gone through. In the next issue we’ll take a look at how you can best encode your RealAudio to suit your target audience and deliver the best performance. Following that we’ll find out how you can manually configure your RealAudio to play from your page. This offers you more choices and more control over how the audio is presented.
GeoMedia charges
One-time sign-up fee: $4.95
5MB of free streaming per month.
Aditional streaming:
$5 per 100MB block per month.
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But before we delve into some of these advanced options, it would be a good idea to take a look at GeoCities’ GeoMedia program, which allow you access to RealSystem G2 technology on their servers. I’ve come across folks who asked what difference it makes; some people are actually paying for this feature that they do not really need. That’s why I thought this merits some discussion.
Now, an ordinary GeoCities account without GeoMedia gives you space on a web server to build your site and put your files. This includes RealAudio and other Real Media files, so not having GeoMedia should not stop you from putting a little more zing into your pages with RealAudio.
Also, having only 5MB free is not sufficient for most purposes. A short real audio file that lasts just a few minutes can easily go up to a megabyte or more, and very likely only about ten visitors to your site can listen to it, unless you pay for the additional space.
GeoMedia allows you the option of using GeoCities’ RealServer G2 for your Real Media files. RealServer G2 is different from an ordinary web server and offers better performance when visitors check out your Real Media. However most websites would not require this feature. A quick comparision:
| RealServer (GeoMedia) | Ordinary Web Server |
| Able to use a special protocol (rstp://) to coordinate playback of media files to deliver better quality. |
Uses standard http://. Sufficient for most purposes, provides reasonably good quality. |
| RealServer is able to adapt to varying net congestion and delivers optimum quality audio and video at any one time. |
Sacrifices a little quality if net congestion occurs. Not serious if audio is properly configured and congestion is not very bad. |
| Allows broadcast of live audio or video fed into your computer from recording devices. |
Sorry, no live broadcast...but then again I don’t think this is a feature that many people would require. |
If we put live broadcasting aside, we can see that the difference between using and not using GeoMedia lies mainly in the quality and performance. Actually the difference is not a great one unless you use very large files involving not just RealAudio but also RealVideo, RealPix, RealFlash, etc., or if you have very many visitors listening in at the same time.
There are ways of getting around these minor concerns, and in the next issue we’ll find out how it is done. If you want to use the live broadcast feature, then you’ll just have to pay for GeoMedia, or find some other hosting service. I’ll let you know if I ever figure out how to do it for free. =)
Keith K. Klassiks put his RealAudio knowledge to good use recently in designing an educational website about the
Symphony Orchestra for a school project. Why not check it out, or drop by his site in
GeoCities Vienna? And while you’re at it, don’t forget the guestbook!
