Media Archives Version 2

This new Media Archive Version 2 page part allows you to easily manage and output your media files in an organized manner, including audio, video and documents, on any page of your website that you'd like. This page part is useful for creating a media library for your business, or a sermon archive for your church, that viewers can watch, listen, read, and subscribe to. This page part also generates rss feeds that can be used to create and manage podcasts.  Working with HD videos online has never been easier. 

To see a live sample of the New Media Archives page part in action GABC Media or CUMC Media. NOTE: These sites have allowed us the opportunity to custom style their media archives to better match their site's look and feel. If you are interested in having your media archive page part custom styled, please submit a support ticket and we will route the request to your account manager who will be in contact with you asap.

Overview Video

NOTE: For easy viewing, the video's size is 1280 x 720 (HD) and should be viewed in full screen.

Overview Text

Looking from an overall perspective, Media Archives are setup from a Channel > Series > Episode format. For example, in a church sermon archive setup, we would have a channel called Sunday Morning Sermons with a series called Summer Series, that would contain episodes for each Sunday morning. So following the Channel > Series > Episode format we'd have Sunday Morning Sermons > Summer Series > God's Love on 2/6/2011.

Each Channel does have its own rss feed url, as well as, each series, therefore, you can decide to create a podcast at the channel level OR the series level if you'd like.

To get started follow the steps below to add and manage Media Archives on your page.

Adding Media Archives

When working on your page, click the 'Install Page Part' button.

Next, you'll see that the Media Archives page part will be added to the page. In the right hand section you'll see a tab for 'Media' which is where you manage your Media Archive's media channels, series, and episodes. You'll also see a tab for 'Settings' which is where you'll adjust the overall settings for your Media Archive page part.

Media Archive Settings

Within the 'Settings' tab of your Media Archive page part, you'll be able to adjust the Thumbnail size for your media archives, as well as, the player size that you'd like to use for your player. For resolution, you can set the player size to be: 720 pixels X 405 pixels (High Definition) or 400 pixels X 225 pixels.

Step 1: Adding Channels

Once, you've set your initial settings for your Media Archives, clicking on the 'Media' tab will allow you to see links to create new channels, series, and episodes. You must first add a new Channel to your Archive by clicking on the 'Channel' link. Once this is clicked you will see the steps below to begin inputting the overall data for the channel.

When you're finished inputting the data, click 'Save Changes' and then click the 'Back to episodes list' link. This will take you back to the listing of channels and episodes.

Step 2: Adding Series

Add a new Series to your Archive by clicking on the 'Series' link. Once this is clicked you will see the steps below to begin inputting the overall data for the series.

When you're finished inputting the data, click 'Save Changes' and then click the 'Back to episodes list' link. This will take you back to the listing of channels and episodes.

Step 3: Adding Speakers

Add a new speaker to your Archive by clicking on the 'Speakers' link. Once this is clicked you will see the steps below to begin inputting the overall data for the speaker. This is useful to set up in advance of adding episodes as you'll be given a drop down to select existing speakers to add to the episode when you're entering episode data.

Step 4: Adding Episodes

Add a new episodes to your Archive by clicking on the 'Episodes' link. Once this is clicked you will see the steps below to begin inputting the overall data for the episode.

Begin with adding the Title, Description, and the Date and Time of the episode. If you're inputting data for the episode but not ready for it to display on your website yet, you can leave the 'Is Active' option unchecked. This will allow the episode to exist but not be visible yet on your website.

Continue with selecting the Channel and Series that this episode should belong to. Next, select the Speaker of the Episode if one is to be selected.

Next, you'll attach the media files to the episode. You'll select the Audio, Video, and Transcript files that you'd like to add to the episode. When selecting files, you'll be able to choose files that are located within the system, hosted elsewhere on the internet, or be able to remove the file previously attached. If you choose to, you can add video files that are hosted on Youtube or Vimeo easily to this player.

      

Editing Channels and Series

To edit a Channel to change items such as the Name, Titles, or images, click the 'Channel' drop down to select the channel. You will notice a new gray area appear with the channel information included, along with an 'Edit' link. Click the edit link to edit the channel.

To edit Series information, first select the Channel you want to edit in the Channel drop down and then select the Series from the Series drop down. You will notice a new gray area appear with the series information included, along with an 'Edit' link. Click the edit link to edit the series.

Editing Episodes

Select the Channel and Series from the dropdowns that the episode is within. Once you see the episode, click the 'edit' link to edit the episode.

Deleting Channels, Series, or Episodes

Select the Channel and Series from the dropdown choices to see the information display for the Channel and Series, as well as, a listing of the episodes within them. Click the 'Delete' link in the Channel or Series to delete the channel or series. To delete the episode, click the small trashcan icon with the episode. THIS CAN NOT BE UNDONE.

Media File Types and Compression Suggestions

For Video: .m4v formatted files are highly recommended as they work best with the player for your site as well as multiple players that are out there should your viewers decide to download the file. It is also highly recommended for Itunes. You can also use .flv, .f4v and High Definition encoded (h.264) .mov files

For Audio: .mp3, .mp4 (AAC encoded)

For Docs: .pdf files only (forced due to podcasting in iTunes)

NOTE: If you will be using the media archives module in a mobile environment, please make sure your audio and video are in the following formats. This is for your end users / viewers as other formats will not play. The only option that will work for video and audio in mobile environments are:

Video: .m4v and .mp4 and for Audio: .mp3

Compression Suggestions for .mov and .flv files (non mobile versions). Mobile versions should use .m4v (video) and .mp3 (audio).

We are not definitely video experts, but some of our clients are quite good. We requested some tips and information from a client who is using Media Archives for longer (60+ minutes) video files. There are many different ways to edit, compress and encode video this is just one suggestion from a client who is producing good results. This client uses Final Cut Studio* by Apple for editing and Episode* by Telestream for conversion. We hope this information is helpful.

Step 1 - Export Video From Editing to QuickTime 
For Shorter Videos: Export final video using the same settings as the original shoot. This will produce a larger file.
For Longer Videos: Export final video using QuickTime conversion setting to export as photo jpeg. This will produce a more compressed file but at higher quality.

Step 2 - Compress to FLV 
Open the file using Episode* by Telestream. Convert the file as Flash8 VP6E. Convert the file to 300x400 (adjust the 320x240 template option). For web videos over about 30 minutes change the frame rate to 15fps.

Other FLV Encoding Software:
On2's products Flix Pro* and Flix Exporter* have received good reviews for their FLV encoding. Be sure to read their information completely and understand what is needed and what you are purchasing before you buy.
http://www.on2.com/

*Episode by Telestream, Flix Pro, Flix Exporter and Final Cut Studio are purchased 3rd party products. We do not own these programs and do not know how to use them, so we cannot support them. We also do not officially endorse or recommend either as a company. There are many other products available that can perform similar functions with greater or lesser results. These are merely the products this specific client uses.
http://www.telestream.net/
http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/
http://www.on2.com/ 

Sorenson Squeeze

Podcasting

With each media file that is attached to an episode, you'll be able to select if the file should be allowed to be downloaded, as well as, if it should be included in the podcast feed. This allows you to restrict the downloading of files (so that they're only viewed and played on your site) or only available through your podcast....or both.

The next two areas are useful if you'll be podcasting this series or channel. This is where you can add in the Podcast category and keyword information that is used when visitors are searching through iTunes.

This is followed by adding in a subtitle, media or scripture reference if needed, and finally a program ID reference if you need to use one.

Click 'Save' and 'Back to episodes list' to finish adding / editing this entry and go back to your list of episodes.