Video (Audio) streaming?

Video (Audio) streaming?

by Roland Ulcnik -
Number of replies: 28

Hello!

I'm new to moodle project, but very eager to find out its capabilities and use them to help make a good project - for everyone involved... help them learn, easy, without a hussle I went through driving 4 hours to attend classes and so on... of which very much could be done over then net (the tech is here and waiting, 'we' are obviousily not ready, that is our heads).

I'm interested in one thing that I do not seem to have found: that is adding video (you know what I'm talking about) lessons on demand. Is this possible in moodle? I'm talking about streaming media (ram, wm streaming,...) - Or perhaps even scheduled on time video lessons. I know many different tools can be used to achieve this, heck even Window Messenger would do for small groups (it up to bandwith available to teacher and students). But can it be done in moodle? If yes, I would very much like to, someone explain, how. Big thanks in advance. If not: why not: is it not yet done, it's not even planed (doesn't fit in the system) or whatever tha cause is, if someone knows.

Thanks very much in advance for your effort!

--
Roland

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In reply to Roland Ulcnik

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Vu Hung -

Hi Roland,

I have been using Moodle for one year. As far as I know, Moodle doesn't have any module has the functionality as you described: streaming media. Correct me if I'm wrong, Moodlers.smile.

I also read  the future plan of Moodle (http://moodle.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=3853). Streaming media is still not in the plan.

When I visited several universities in Vietnam to talk about Moodle, teachers often asked me about streaming media functionality. Teachers want to broadcast their lessons under the video+audio+powerpoint format to their students. I think it will be a big module in Moodle and it will need a long time to implement.

In a recent version of Dokeos, it was announced to be able to do conference. Has anyone tested this feature?  Is it good?

Cheers,

Vu Hung

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In reply to Roland Ulcnik

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Michael Penney -
You can stream video into just about any Moodle activity or resource. With the mediaplugins filter on, just link your streaming video or audio file in with the link tool. We've done it with Quicktime and Real, works fine.

Mark is working on a way to pull a streaming file into a lesson, this is aimed at audio, but it should work with video just fine.

You'll need a streaming server and a broadcast system to deliver the streaming video to Moodle.

What Moodle doesn't have is a conferencing tool, one that would sync slides with streaming video, or enable live video/audio/white board conferencing. For the first need, we've been experimenting with Slidesnow, for live (one way video with chat-back), works as a Moodle resource (link to external file), or for full two way conferencing many folks use Netword Educationware, search for the name for folks who are using NEW in Moodle.

We've done some work on developing a live presenting/conferencing tool for Moodle itself, but at present we don't have the funding/interest from our clients to pursue it.

PS, 'video on demand' under ~10 minutes/50MB is generally best delivered by http streaming rather than rtsp. Http streaming is even simpler, just upload your video file to Moodle and link to it (with the media filter turned on), no need for a streaming server for thatsmile.



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In reply to Michael Penney

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Roland Ulcnik -

Thank you, both, for replies!

It is encouraging to know that it is, after all as Michael siad, possible to use video files. One way video with live chat is enough for my current needs (for now). Nice...
Even nicer is the thing mentioned under P.S. -- that rel. short files do not need streaming server - which for testing and developing purposes, I do not need; nor I wanna get into that stuff right now... But its probably gonna become a "must" - we'll see.

Now I'm gonna dig in and try to make something useful...

--
Roland

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In reply to Roland Ulcnik

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Bhupinder Singh -
Suggest that you look at NEW there are discussions on moodle for this combination.
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In reply to Michael Penney

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Max Mansoubi -

Hi Michael,

Quoting you:

"We've done some work on developing a live presenting/conferencing tool for Moodle itself, but at present we don't have the funding/interest from our clients to pursue it..."

What would be the estimated funding needed to complete and release to the Open Source community such a tool over a period of few weeks/months?

Thanks,

Max

P.S. You might want to check a conferencing tool in another OSS application (dokeos.com). It doesn't seem too difficult or time consuming developing a similar feature for Moodle 1.5.x too. Am I wrong?

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In reply to Max Mansoubi

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Michael Penney -
Dokeos uses Flash communications server. It wouldn't be so hard to do in Moodle if the requirement to use Flash Com. is acceptable. Do you mind paying the Flash Com. license fee or are you looking for true open source?





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In reply to Michael Penney

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Jamie Pratt -
Coming soon to a server near you :

There is work being done on an open source alternative to Flash Comm Server. It will be bleeding edge technology for the next few months at least I expect and it is not clear what the capabilities of the server will be. But there seems to be a fair ammount of energy behind the project. It should be able to handle streaming audio and video from the Flash player to a server and back.
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In reply to Michael Penney

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Max Mansoubi -

Dokeos has two different conferencing features:
1- Live audio-video based on Flash Comm server
2- Live chat for Q&A + streaming audio-video + 1-way whiteboard (The UI seems very close to a standard Webinar app UI). It seems the feature has been successfully tested with 500 simul users.
I mentioned the second one in my previous post. Such an implementation could be very helpful to many of us. Also, by adding/integrating Skype-based VoIP we will be able to have a very low-cost webinar-style conferencing tool.
Max

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In reply to Max Mansoubi

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Claude Whitmyer -
The major obstacle I've experienced with using Skype for VoIP is that it doesn't seem to allow more than 5 simultaneous users. Do I misunderstand that?
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In reply to Claude Whitmyer

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Max Mansoubi -

Hi Claude,

We haven't tried it yet with Moodle, but we are planning to do so. Could you briefly describe the configuration you used to experience Skype? I am trying to understand whether the simul user number limitation has anything to do with the available connectivity, or it is somehow embedded into Skype itself.

Thanks,
Max

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In reply to Max Mansoubi

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Claude Whitmyer -

I'm using the default configuration, but I'm pretty sure the 5 person limit is imposed by the software itself.

If you search the Skype Knowledge Base for "conferencing" you get the following FAQ:

 

How do I make a conference call?

It is now possible for up to 5 people to conference call with Skype! Starting a conference call is simple and there are several ways to do it. If you want to dial several people all at once and start a conference call with them, you first need to select participants from your Contact List by holding "ctrl" and clicking them. Once they have been selected, click the conference toolbar button. This will show you the conference tab and you will see the names of the participants you have called. If and when these participants answer your call, they will be added to the conference.

Or, if you are already in an active call and would like to add an additional participant to a conference, you can select the person you want to add to the conference from your contact list and click the conferencing toolbar button OR you can simply right-click a new contact from your Contact List and choose "Invite to conference".

Keep in mind that the host of the conference (the person who started the conference) is the only person that can add new participants. In addition, because Skype conferences are done Peer-to-Peer, it's important that the conference host (the person who starts the conference) has a good Internet connection and computer. If you are planning to conference with many participants you should choose the person with the best internet connection to be the initiator (host) of the conference. Please read also our user guides.

Don't Type! Skype!

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In reply to Claude Whitmyer

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Roger Chetcuti -

hi,

i have just started using moodle the past few days, and would like to ask if moodle allows videoconferencing? or if any module has been developed for this task.

Also, if this hasnt been the case, does anyone know how to integrate such a videoconferencing, (communication) tool into moodle?

Information on this topic would be really helpful!!

regards,

roger

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In reply to Roger Chetcuti

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Michael Penney -

Hmm, the Avacast sales rep said that avacast had a Moodle integration, we're signed up for a demo in the next few weeks. I know folks have done work with Eluminate, Bryan Williams (moodle.com) would probably be the best one to ask about that.

Search for NEW (Network EducationWare), an open source conferencing system that a number of folks are apparently using (as discussed on these forums).

Finally, from the Open University's announcement of their Moodle rollout, (search for Jason Cole and Open University) it sounds like a good party of their contribution to Moodle will be integration with OU's conferencing system.

Also see the discussion Jamie Pratt, Tim Takemoto, and others are having around the Whiteboard tool (search for Whiteboard, red5) and the ongoing work on an open source Flashcom like server for bidirectional swf streaming.

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In reply to Michael Penney

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Visvanath Ratnaweera -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Translators
May be this is relevant http://www.epresence.tv/

There have quite a collection here http://epresence.tv/mediaContent/website_archived.aspx the second link "Open Source and Free Software: Concepts, Controversies and Solutions (May 9-11, 2004)" is worth seeing.
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In reply to Visvanath Ratnaweera

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by albert hofmann -
epresence don't works, it's just a market game, they give us the source code, but it's broken.

they want your money.
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In reply to Michael Penney

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Melanie krüger -
How excactly does it works with the streaming? Where do I switch the media plugins filter on ? How does the linking of the video files works? What kind of link tools do i need? My video files are lying on a server in .flv format and I want to have them embedded in a flash player.
I guess my first step would be to go to the lesson and -> add resource ->compose a webpage? But then? I would know how to embedded a youtube video, but the video files on the server do not have such an embedding code as the ones on youtube


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In reply to Melanie krüger

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by E. L. Cooper -

OK it is useful to first decide of you are actually talking about streaming video (like watching live tv on your PC) or if you are refering to progressive download video (like youtube)

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In reply to E. L. Cooper

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Melanie krüger -
I am talking about streaming. Because the Video Files are to big to upload them to moodle, i put them on a server and now? How can they be received in moodle?
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In reply to Melanie krüger

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Melanie krüger -
I think it is called "on demand streaming"
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In reply to Melanie krüger

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by E. L. Cooper -

Embeding an flv into moodle is usually accomplish with progressive download. That is what youtube does. Actual streaming examples are watching live TV via a site like TVU  Youtube streams from the user point of view but actual streaming is really for live broadcasts.

As to how to embed- the simplest (if it is on another server site or outside of moodle) is to select link to a file and drop the link that ends in flv there. DOn't upload. Just save. No need to create frames of players. Moodle will do it. Save and play.

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In reply to Michael Penney

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by dinesh chopra -
HI Michael
As i learn from form http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=25640

My requirment is also same
I wana create a virtual class room.
In that class room a (video+audio+text)/video streaming data is available

I dont know from where mediaplugin is download, i search a fluplayer but it is not working well for me. No readme file with guidelines. how to use it

Pls tell me the proper link and address, from where I get the accurate information

Pls help me, I need it.


thanks and best regards
Dinesh Chopra
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In reply to dinesh chopra

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Michael Penney -
Hi Dinesh, in your site administration block, type "Filters" in the search box. Click "Settings" to the right of the Multimedia Plugins name. Here you'll find a set of filters you can enable.

Now you can link to a file that ends with a supported video/audio type's 3 letter extension (.mov, .flv, etc.) and Moodle will load the appropriate code for the video player automatically.

For a full virtual classroom with 2 way communication, you will want to look at one of the web conferencing plug-ins such as Wimba, Elluminate, DimDim, etc.
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In reply to Michael Penney

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Sajith Achary -
Hi Moodlers,

I am new to this Moodle community. I am a layman considering the technicalities used in Moodle. I wanted to embed tutorial videos from youtube. Could anyone give me the guidelines on how to embed the videos onto my webpage?

Is it possible that I don't have to dwell into the coding part and can just embed the videos externally. Or if I have to embed the videos then how is it done in the coding ?

Please teach me step-by-step on how to show video on the webpage. If externally then better. Or if I have to go into coding then please specify which file i should alter and in which tag I shud make the changes?

Please help........

Sajith
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In reply to Sajith Achary

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Glenys Hanson -
Hello Sajith,

It's very easy. Have you turned on the Multimedia plugins? Click on the link to get an explanation in Moodle Docs.

Then you just insert a link to the URL of the multimedia resource into your text.

Cheers,
Glenys
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In reply to Glenys Hanson

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Colin Fraser -
Picture of Documentation writers Picture of Testers
That is one way. You may also want to try converting the youTube video using mediaConverter. This gives you the opportunity to use the video on your own site. Just be mindful of copyright issues, and be careful you do not infringe.
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In reply to Roland Ulcnik

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Colin Matheson -
The free dimdim add on is a great tool for presenting a lesson online. The free version allows you to stream 1 presenter camera, 3 microphones, text chat, and you can share a document (presentation), white board, or your computer screen.
http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=932

You don't need the module to run DimDim, but it is nice because the meeting times show up in the calendar and your student names are automatically imported from Moodle into the DimDim meeting.
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In reply to Roland Ulcnik

Re: Video (Audio) streaming?

by Danny Wahl -
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the Kaltura plugin yet. We're using it. It's still in "alpha", but after some hours of hacking around it's up and running. Some quick resources:

http://moodle.kaltura.org/

http://www.kaltura.org/

http://www.kaltura.org/project/moodle_plugin

http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=3226&filter=1

http://www.kaltura.org/moodle-kaltura

http://www.kaltura.org/kaltura-moodle-plugin
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