EventStream: Interactivity Authoring That Works
EventStream simplifies cross-player event triggering, and, in turn, CineStream and Cleaner 5 simplify EventStream. I found it easier to visualize my EventStream creations when using CineStream’s timeline as opposed to Cleaner 5’s EventStream window. Although editing and authoring take place in CineStream, the code that actually creates the interactivity is in Cleaner EZ or Cleaner 5. Since Cleaner EZ is included in CineStream, this is transparent to end-users.
Under the Hood
While the simplicity is welcome, a noteworthy trade-off for this simple interface approach is that you don’t know what the technology is doing under the hood. For example, QuickTime can do way more than just the few EventStreams available, and the same goes for Real and for WMP.
Also, when you make a progressive download QuickTime movie, all the EventStreams will work fine. But if you make the same source into a QuickTime streaming movie and put it on a streaming server, most of the EventStreams won’t work. The problem is not QuickTime, but rather the way the file is created by Cleaner 5 – it will put progressive-download-only capabilities into the streaming movie. This can be worked around by having a hybrid movie with a streaming track and keeping all the EventStream tracks in the progressive download part of the movie.
When creating an EventStream (display text) for Real, Cleaner 5 creates a SMIL file which points to both the streaming movie and a Real Text file. If you want to have more control over what EventStream does, like changing the font of the text or its color, then you need to go into the SMIL document yourself and change it from there. This might be a problem for video editors with no SMIL experience, though.
Ready, Set, Interact
EventStream doesn’t replace other more advanced tools like LiveStage Pro for QuickTime, or hand-coding SMIL for Real. However, for someone new to interactive streaming, or for those who need cross-player output from a single source, EventStream technology is an excellent option. And for those already using Media 100 editing products, EventStream is a no-brainer – you already own it!
Untitled
| Event Support by Player |
| | Quicktime | Real | WMP |
| Chapter | | | |
| Display Text | | | |
| Go to Time | | | |
| Play | | | |
| Open URL | | | |
| Pause | | | |
| Replace Movie | | | |
| Hot spot | | | |