The interface is clean and straightforward, with reasonable default settings that let relative novices create content encoded for a variety of bandwidths and applications. Users can also customize almost every aspect of encoding, using the Profile Manager to save custom settings for future projects. An output preview, similar to Real's bandwidth simulator, shows you what your content will look like online before you actually post it. The overall quality of the Microsoft media clip we generated was comparable to that of RealNetworks . Microsoft excelled in overall audio quality.
Basic setup includes creating on-demand unicast or broadcast publishing points.
In lay terms, publishing points are virtual URLs pointing to your streams that you can either integrate into your HTML code or e-mail to your audience. Very similar in implementation to RealServer, Microsoft's solution has a variety of integrated monitors. Client connections, used files, station events, and current streams can be tracked and configured. The server lets you allot the number of clients, and decide the maximum bit rate or file bit rate per resource or on a global basis. You can configure proxy server authentication as well.