Flash video development

Overview
Macromedia Flash: Video Development provides students the knowledge and hands-on practice they need to produce and deliver high-quality Flash Video over the internet using Flash Professional CS3. Topics include developing a rich media player using the new Flash Professional pre-built components as well as ActionScript; using high-quality encoding techniques, including the new Flash Video codec enabling the delivery of higher quality video over lower bandwidth connections; creating live video; and exporting the new alpha-channeling and video color filters. This course will focus on delivering the best experience possible with Flash Video, exploring bandwidth scaling, progressive downloading, and streaming with the Flash Media Server and Flash Video Streaming Services.

Prerequisites
This course is for developers with extensive experience with Macromedia Flash CS3 ActionScript. To take this course, you should: · Have completed the Flash CS3: ActionScript course or have equivalent experience. · Have experience working with video (recommended).

Course Content Introducing the Course

• Getting familiar with the course methodology and format
• Understanding the course objectives
• Understanding the course prerequisites
• Viewing the course outline

Introducing Flash Video

• Defining streaming
• Defining digital video
• Understanding key Flash Video concepts
• Looking at the evolution of Flash Video
• Viewing Flash Video market adoption statistics
• Examining the streaming video market
• Identifying key benefits of Flash Video over traditional media
• Introducing the Flash Media Server for streaming video

Building a Component Based Media Player

• Understanding the Flash Video development workflow
• Using the Insert Flash Video command in Dreamweaver
• Building a media player with the FLVPlayback component
• Building a media player with FLVPlayback Custom UI components
• Binding playback properties and components
• Building a playlist and video picker
• Skinning FLVPlayback Custom UI components

Encoding Flash Video

• Understanding Flash Video (FLV)
• Introducing CODECs and video encoding
• Converting to FLV using the Flash Video Encoder
• Understanding bandwidth and data rate
• Using advanced encoding settings
• Adding cue points, cropping, and trimming
• Using encoding best practices

Delivering Flash Video

• Understanding video delivery options
• Comparing embedded vs. progressive download
• Streaming Flash Video
• Using Macromedia Flash Video Streaming Services
• Using the Flash Media Server
• Tracking FLV Playback

Reviewing ActionScript

• Reviewing ActionScript basics
• Using Media Component properties
• Using Media Component methods
• Handling Media Component events
• Using ActionScript to control the Media Components

Adding Flash Video Effects

• Understanding filters, blends, and masks
• Masking the FLVPlayback component
• Importing alpha channels with video
• Creating a Flash movie that uses video with alpha channels
• Understanding differences between author-time and run-time effects
• Embedding the FLVPlayback component inside a MovieClip
• Using blend modes
• Using ActionScript to apply filters

Enhancing the User Experience

• Understanding the importance of the user experience
• Creating auto detection for bandwidth, Flash Player version, and connection speed
• Creating playback controls
• Using full screen playback
• Creating error handling

Working with Cue Points and User Accessibility

• Introducing embedded cue points
• Understanding accessibility issues for video playback
• Manipulating cue points with ActionScript
• Adding closed captioning
• Controlling video with keyboard commands

Using Live Video

• Introducing live video
• Using the live video encoder
• Setting the live encoder
• Recording a live stream
• Playing a live stream
• Creating bandwidth strategies