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What is "streaming media"?
How do live streams work?
What is buffering?
Do the different streaming players (QuickTime, Real, Windows Media, etc.) all work the same way?
What's up with the different "formats" or "codecs"?
What are the direct links to your media streams?
If it's all just streams, why can't I listen to any of them with just one player?
What is the difference between the uncompressed and compressed steams?
Why is the uncompressed stream only in Windows Media?
Do I have a good enough net connection to listen to the uncompressed stream?
I have a Mac. Can I listen to the uncompressed stream too?
Does KEXP stream in stereo or mono?
Q: What is "streaming media"?
A: There are three ways of getting audio and video files (which are usually very large) to the end user:
1. Download - Download the entire file over the net, save it to the user’s machine, and then play it from the hard disk.
2. Progressive Download - Download part of the file, and start playing the file as the last part of it downloads. The file is saved locally, as if it were downloaded, but playback begins before the download finishes.
3. Streaming - Play the file directly from the network as it gets to the machine. This method never saves the file to the local hard disk.
Q: How do live streams work?
A: The information isn’t saved anywhere. The server you connect to passes the data along to you as soon as it gets it. Since you can never have an existing file for a live event, streaming is the only delivery method for live material.
Q: What is buffering?
A: When a file is streamed, it is played entirely over the network. No network is 100% reliable or consistent, so the player software stores some of the stream, 10 seconds for example, before playing it. That way, it always has 10 seconds worth of material to play if there’s a network problem, so the connection can be fussy for up to 8 or 9 seconds, and the viewer will never see a problem because the player just plays the buffered material while it waits for more of the stream over the network.
Q: Do the different streaming players (QuickTime, Real, Windows Media, etc.) all work the same way?
A: Every streaming system works differently because they are made by different people, but they are largely the same. All use streaming, some also use progressive download.
Q: What’s up with the different "formats" or "codecs"?
A: The different formats, or codecs (coder / decoder), are various ways of compressing the audio and/or video. Some are open standards, created and updated by not-for-profit organizations; these are generally free to be used by anyone. Other codecs are proprietary, created by companies for use only in their products; these are general kept secret, or shared only with partner companies.
What are the direct links to your media streams?
A: Windows Media: http://www.kexp.org/audio/kexp.wmx
Real: http://www.kexp.org/audio/live.ram
MP3 (32k): http://live-mp3-32.kexp.org:8000/listen.pls
MP3 (128k): http://live-mp3-128.kexp.org:8000/listen.pls
Q: If it’s all just streams, why can’t I listen to any of them with just one player?
A: This is because of two things. The first is the codec; the player has to be able to decode the stream, and not all players can decode all codecs. The second is streaming protocol; this is the method that the server uses to get the stream over the network to the player. Some protocols are proprietary, and there are even several protocols that are open standards, but companies can’t settle on which one to use, so players usually only use one or two "best" (in the eyes of the company) protocols and can’t use any of the others.
Q: What is the difference between the uncompressed and compressed steams?
A: You get a better sound with the uncompressed stream. The KEXP uncompressed audio data transmission exceeds FM broadcast quality and approaches that of pre-recorded CDs.
Q: Why is the uncompressed stream only in Windows Media?
A: RealNetworks’ encoding software, which takes the audio and turns it into a stream, doesn’t have the option to transmit a stream uncompressed; the Windows Media encoding software does have that option. We are also looking into the possibility of an uncompressed QuickTime stream.
Q: Do I have a good enough net connection to listen to the uncompressed stream?
A: The uncompressed stream is 1.4Mbps, or megabits per second. A megabit is 1000 kbps, or kilobits per second. You can listen to the uncompressed stream if you have 1.4Mbps of AVAILABLE bandwidth. If you have a DSL connection running at 512kbps, sorry, you don’t have enough bandwidth. If you have a cable modem connection, ask your provider how high the bitrate goes, and see if it’s more than 1.4Mbps. If so, it’s worth a try. If you have a 1.5Mbps connection, you have more than 1.4Mbps, yes, but what else is the connection being used for? If someone else on your network is watching a 400kbps stream, that leaves around 1.1Mbps for you, which isn’t enough. If you’re listening at work, even if your workplace has a lot of bandwidth, during certain times of day, it can get bogged down with people doing all sorts of things. It all depends on what bandwidth you start with and what’s being done with it.
Q: I have a Mac. Can I listen to the uncompressed stream too?
A: If you have enough bandwidth and a fast enough computer, certainly.
Q: Does KEXP stream in stereo or mono?
A: In stereo for the Real Audio stream and the uncompressed WindowsMedia stream. In mono for the compressed WindowsMedia stream.
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