Sample files

To successfully test streaming qualities at various bandwidths on this page, you should:

• Install the free QuickTime Player
• Install the free RealPlayer Basic application

Below are links to files that were prepared for QuickTime and Real streaming at standard connection speeds.  Clips for these examples were downloaded from the Prelinger Archives (http://www.archive.org/details/prelinger) These examples were encoded using the default settings in either QuickTime Pro or RealProducer Basic by Jason Orrill, EITS, Instructional Multimedia Applications Support Consultant.

Video LAN

This is the highest data rate we recommend using. At this rate you should be able to watch the stream on campus with an Ethernet connection, but users elsewhere may have problems.
Quicktime | RealMedia

Video DSL

This is targeted at a medium speed DSL or cable (384kbps) connection. At this data rate students in dorms with cable modems should be able to watch the stream with no problems.
Quicktime | RealMedia

Video Modem

This is targeted for a 56k modem connection or better. This is the lowest data rate at which we recommend that you attempt to stream video.
Quicktime | RealMedia

Audio DSL

This is targeted at a medium speed DSL or cable (384kbps) connection. If you are streaming audio, this is the highest data rate you should need.
Quicktime | RealMedia

Audio modem

This is targeted for a 28k modem connection or better. If you have students accessing content from off-campus with a dialup connection, you will want to provide this level as an option. 
Quicktime | RealMedia

Progressive Download (or "Fast Start," QuickTime only)

This approach occupies a middle ground between traditional file downloads and streaming in that users can begin viewing the media before it has fully downloaded, but they cannot access portions of the file that are not yet on their computer. "Fast Start" files can be delivered from any standard web server,  but they do need to be encoded properly.
Quicktime Fast Start

HTTP Streaming (RealMedia only)

From the user's perspective, HTTP streaming is nearly indistinguishable from RTSP streaming. Except for buffering time, files streamed over HTTP are playable immediately, and the user can jump to any point in the clip at any time. However, HTTP is a less efficient way to stream, and so you will see a performance hit using this approach. Buffering times will be longer, and the stream may be more prone to interruption. You can deliver Real files with HTTP streaming from any web server, as long as you use a reference (.ram) file.
RealMedia HTTP Streaming

Quicktime Alternates

This page simply demonstrates how your software can determine which file to play from among several options. If users change their connection speed in their QuickTime preferences and reload the page, they should get a different version of the file. The actual movie files are the same ones linked to from the other QuickTime sample pages, except with a different reference movie.
Quicktime Alternate files example