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.
Many 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.
Find what You're Looking For
- What does the Media Archive look like?
- Installing Media Archives
- Media Archive Settings
- Step 1: Adding Channels
- Step 2: Adding Series
- Step 3: Adding Speakers
- Step 4: Adding Episodes
- Editing Channels and Series
- Editing Episodes
- Editing Speakers
- Deleting Channels, Series, or Episodes
- Embedding Media vs. Media Archives
What does the Media Archive look like?
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.
Installing 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 center 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.
You can also sort by Date Ascending or Descending, and you can choose to show the Series or Episode Description in the Lists.
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 'Add New Speaker' link.
Fill out the information for your new speaker on the next screen then be sure to "Save 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.
See how to edit your Channels and Series information
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.
Editing Speakers
Select "All Channels" then select the speaker you wish to edit from the "Show Episodes from" dropdown.
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.
Embedding Media vs Media Archives
With our WYSIWYG toolbar, you can embed one video or audio file directly onto your page. Our WYSIWYG toolbar is HTML 5, so embedded media works on all browsers. If you have multiple videos, or a series of videos, we suggest you use our Media Archive page part.
How to embed a singular video
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.
Podcasting with iTunes
With each Channel or Series there is an associated feed url that is output by our system. This url is what you'll use to submit to iTunes to generate a podcast with. When viewing the Channel, select and copy the RSS Feed link that is displayed. Your podcast feed is dynamically generated meaning that there is not a physical file that is created and managed for your podcast. As you add, edit, and delete within your archive, your podcast is instantly updated as well.
Podcasting is different from allowing someone to download an audio or video file from your website. Podcasting uses a technology called RSS to send a file to a program that can read and display RSS information. This program is called an RSS Reader. Google offers one a free RSS reader program (http://www.google.com/reader) and they are also built into most modern browsers. iTunes is the program that most people associate with podcasting. iTunes uses standard RSS technology to accept your podcast feed along with some additional information about your file that iTunes publishes. SiteWrench v4 allows you to podcast any Media Archive individually through iTunes.
To add your podcast to iTunes you will need an iTunes account. Most human Americans have iTunes accounts, but we STRONGLY encourage you to not use your personal iTunes account for your church's podcast. During the setup process and possibly in the future, iTunes will need to be able to communicate with you via email. A best practice is to create an iTunes account for the church that is tied to a non-personal email address (ex: webmaster@yourdomain.com or media@yourdomain.com or iTunes@yourdomain.com) which is routed to an active email address or is routinely checked.
- Access iTunes and navigate to the iTunes Store.
- Click on the Podcast menu item in the main navigation.
- Next, click the 'Submit a Podcast' link in the submenu.
- To obtain the feed url, select the Channel (and series if you want to grab a series level feed) from your Channels drop down list and the screen will refresh with that channel's info. You'll see a RSS feed url that you will copy and then use to submit to Itunes, You can click the link to load the link in a new window, and then copy the entire link from your address bar as well. As in the example below, our link would be:
- Paste the feed url into iTunes and submit.
NOTE: You do have to have at least 1 active and published episode with a media file attached in order for your podcast to be submitted and reviewed by Itunes.
Continue through the steps to complete the submission to iTunes. After the Podcast URL is successfully submitted, iTunes will review the podcast and will send an email to the "Podcast Manager" with the Store ID #. This will be in a link. This is the link that you will use to post on your site to send users directly to your podcast in iTunes! This process usually takes 24-48 hours.
Migrating your podcast from another provider to our Media archives feed (our podcast feed)
If you will be launching your site soon with us, it is important to reroute your podcast feed to our media archives module before you launch with us. This is because more than likely your current feed routes through your current domain's setup and once your domain is pointed to us your podcast feed link would go down.
- Setup your new media archives with us. You can still continue to edit your archive even after you reroute your podcast so our side does not have to be fully setup to reroute your podcast unless you want it to be. Your channel does need to include at least 1 active episode in order for it to be accepted as a live feed by Itunes.
- Access your current podcast and follow the steps in Apple's help article on how to add the new feed url tag to your existing podcast so that it will reroute your existing subscribers to your new feed with us: http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/specs.html#changing
- Once the feed is updated with Itunes, your existing subscribers will have their podcasts updated to route to the new feed with us. NOTE: The Itunes store can take 2-3 weeks to cache the new url and feed information with us and display it in store and search results.
- NOTE: Due to recent changes in Itunes, your channel that you choose to podcast can only contain all video OR all audio. You will need to create a separate feed AND therefore podcast for a channel of Video vs a channel of Audio. An example would be that of your 'sermons' channel. You'll need to have a separate feed and podcast for all of the videos from every Sunday vs all the audio from every Sunday even though on our front end view we offer the ability to see both. This just pertains to podcasting due to recent Itunes changes and restrictions.
- Any questions or need assistance in this process, please submit a ticket to us and we'll team up to help you through this process.
Updating images and displaying in iTunes
When you are making image updates to your archive your image is saved instantly with your archive in our system. However, within iTunes, images do take time to appear in cache results and could take up to 1 week to see the change. This includes when you first create your podcast as a standard iTunes podcast image is used until your image is approved and cached. This also includes any changes you make to your archive image as well after its been approved and working in iTunes. All other changes including adding, editing, and deleting episodes and episode data are instant within iTunes.
As a note, iTunes uses the metadata in your media files to display as images within each track or as the image for your overall podcast. When encoding your media files, be sure to add an image in as the 'artwork' so that it can be associated as metadata for the file. Then, once the media file and associated images are uploaded into our system, they should begin to appear within iTunes within a few days to 1 week.
Here is a sample podcast that is not showing artwork for the podcast. You'll notice the standard image being listed from iTunes.
Next, we encoded the mp3 file with an image in processing to include 'artwork'. Saved and exported the file, and then uploaded the mp3 into the Files area.
Now, you'll see in the podcast, that the image is being displayed for the podcast image.
Podcasting outside of iTunes
You can still allow people to subscribe to your 'RSS Feed' that is output by the Media Archive channel so that they can receive the new files you post. This would be similar to podcasting with Itunes but not having to use Itunes. This is useful for people who do not use Itunes or have feed readers, or other apps, that could connect to your feed and get the updates. For example, an Android user who wants to get your sermons as you update them. This will vary by user and their app / reader preferences, but generally, linking them to your feed url will allow them to get the updates you post.
Copy the feed url link our system display's to you within your archive. Be sure to add your website address to the front of this link that is displayed. You can click the link to load the link in a new window, and then copy the entire link from your address bar as well. As in the example below, our link would be:
http://support.sitewrench.com/swx/pp/media_archives/107871/channel/1659.xml
You would then create a link using the copied link, such as on an image or text, or send this link to your end viewers so that they can use it with their readers or apps.
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