4 Types Of Technology You Need To Be Using In Your Streaming
With the advent of technology and new platforms of broadcasting, streaming media services are on the rise. Offering the viewers a broader choice of audio and video content with high-definition and improved quality, streaming offers a real-time and improved experience to all.
While streaming, the media content played on the viewer’s device is remotely transmitted over the internet. The streaming process is completed with the help of streaming technologies or protocols.
Based on the content quality, the best streaming platform is Netflix. With thousands of titles, Netflix is available all over the world. The best part about this streaming platform is that it is truly universal. If you can watch US Netflix in South Africa, you can watch it pretty much from anywhere in the world.
Before we move ahead to find the various types of technologies used in streaming, let us find how streaming works and how streaming is different from downloading.
Difference Between Streaming And Downloading
Streaming and downloading are both linked to the media content but are different terms. The key points that help to differentiate between the two are:
Speed
Streaming is a more efficient and real-time process. While downloading, the file is first saved to the hard drive of the device and then played.
Wait period
You can stream the video or audio while it is being buffered. But while downloading, the content cannot be played until the complete file has been stored on the viewer’s device.
Quality
Streaming offers the best technology that offers high-quality audio and display. In contrast, downloading uses the TCP or IP, which might reduce the quality relatively.
Server
Downloads operate with any regular web server using typical web-serving technologies such as HTTP and FTP protocols. Streaming requires the RTSP and must be operated on a server designed specifically for streaming.
Copyright
When a user streams the media content, there are fewer copyrights issues than those raised downloading the media content.
Learn How Streaming Works
Streaming allows a viewer to watch the media content seamlessly. In the simplest terms streaming refers to sending or receiving the data over the network continuously. It enables playback to begin while the rest of the material is being sent.
Every media content available is broken down into small data packets for ease of transfer and maintaining quality. The streaming device interprets the data, buffers it, and converts it into an understandable format for the user. Either you are streaming on small screens, on your personal device, or home television the process remains similar.
Top Streaming Technologies To Keep An Eye Out For
There are various streaming technologies especially linked to video streaming. From the traditional to the advanced and modern, the top 4 technologies that are highly used in streaming are:
Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP)
It is commonly used for the live stream with the help of the RTMP-enabler encoder. The protocol used for the transfer of content is HLS. It provides a low latency stream but is robust and universally supported.
Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)
RTSP was created to control streaming media servers in entertainment and communications networks. To offer media streams, RTSP servers collaborate with the Real-Time Transport Protocol and the Real-Time Control Protocol.
Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG-DASH)
It enables adaptive-bitrate streaming, which Netflix employs. It enables viewers to obtain the highest possible video quality that their current internet connection speed permits.
HTTP Live Streaming (HLS)
HLS has emerged as the most popular streaming protocol. HLS is supported on all media devices. As a result, a feed may reach as many viewers as possible, making HLS the most secure protocol for scaling a live stream to big audiences today.
Pros Of Streaming Technologies
Streaming technologies offer a range of benefits to the user that includes:
- Quality sound and picture
- Reduced buffering time
- Elimination of download need
- No space consumption
- Instant playback option for ease
Cons Of Streaming Technologies
Though streaming technologies offer great content quality and speed, there are few cons associated with them. The main cons are:
- Internet speed can impact negatively
- There is a risk of online cyber threats.
Conclusion
Streaming technology has come a long way since its inception. A strong infrastructure is required to broadcast high-quality videos or audio, which is offered by streaming technology. Delivering a fantastic experience to the users is easy with the appropriate technology that drives excellent video streaming.
