Importing Video

[misterchem]

I just signed up for Livestream after hearing from my colleagues about a function that allows users to "import video from web server". This is very useful for me because it allows me to import my lecture recordings directly from where they are hosted on my web page without me having to spend the bandwidth to reupload them (the files are quite large).

However, every single time I have tried this (using the "import from web server" option under Manage Library in studio), it has come up with an error message citing a problem with downloading the video. This has happened EVERY single time I have tried. I've double and triple checked my links, and ensured that they end with the correct file extension (.avi). I've tried pasting the links into a download manager and they downloaded fine. So why is Livestream having difficulties with this? I recently talked to my colleague and he tried to upload a video in the same way; it no longer worked for him, despite working fine previously.

I contacted Livestream support about this, and they replied telling me that the function is working fine. I have tried numerous, NUMEROUS times to upload in this way and it has failed each time. I have to say, I am NOT at all impressed with Livestream - why would they offer a feature that does not work WHATSOEVER?

[Henry_live]

Originally Posted by misterchem

I just signed up for Livestream after hearing from my colleagues about a function that allows users to "import video from web server". This is very useful for me because it allows me to import my lecture recordings directly from where they are hosted on my web page without me having to spend the bandwidth to reupload them (the files are quite large).

However, every single time I have tried this (using the "import from web server" option under Manage Library in studio), it has come up with an error message citing a problem with downloading the video. This has happened EVERY single time I have tried. I've double and triple checked my links, and ensured that they end with the correct file extension (.avi). I've tried pasting the links into a download manager and they downloaded fine. So why is Livestream having difficulties with this? I recently talked to my colleague and he tried to upload a video in the same way; it no longer worked for him, despite working fine previously.

I contacted Livestream support about this, and they replied telling me that the function is working fine. I have tried numerous, NUMEROUS times to upload in this way and it has failed each time. I have to say, I am NOT at all impressed with Livestream - why would they offer a feature that does not work WHATSOEVER?

The issue with your clip is likely that it is a .AVI file. AVI is an encasing file format and can include all sorts of Audio/video codecs which is why sometimes the servers have trouble recognizing them and transcoding them for use on the site. I would recommend loading them in FLV (VP6) or H.264 format for a better experience.

[waljo3]

I have been uploading to my site for a long time through livestream. Lately it has been rejecting my videos. It would upload up halfway then an error pops up. Tried it again then an error message pops up again when it was 90% of the way done? I am uploading quicktime movie files

[misterchem]

I've tried importing x264-encoded mp4 files, VP6 FLV, Quicktime movie files, and even Windows Media. None of these worked using the import feature. Every single time I receive an error stating that there was a problem downloading the video, similar to what waljo3 is reporting.

These all work fine when uploading directly, but the import feature is very useful for me as I don't have the bandwidth available to upload all of these large files.

[cseeman]

waljo3, Quicktime .mov, just like .avi is a wrapper so check that you're using a codec like H.264.

misterchem, if you are on a Mac, try creating an H.264 .mov using Apple's codec, not x264.

Can both of you do the above and confirm whether Apple's H.264 .mov works.

[misterchem]

Originally Posted by cseeman

waljo3, Quicktime .mov, just like .avi is a wrapper so check that you're using a codec like H.264.

misterchem, if you are on a Mac, try creating an H.264 .mov using Apple's codec, not x264.

Can both of you do the above and confirm whether Apple's H.264 .mov works.

As I stressed earlier, the issue is not with converting the file... Livestream studio's error message is exactly as follows: "Unable to download the video". I am not on a Mac so I am unable to create an H.264 mov. However, I do not see how that would make a difference. I am able to upload small files manually just fine. However, whenever I try to import one of my larger files from my web server, Livestream comes up with the aforementioned error message, regardless of codec or container.

[cseeman]

misterchem, servers can have mime type issues for example. I've seen issues where .fv4 and .mp4 wouldn't work in Flash but H.264 .mov would for example.
Try H.264 .mp4, please. Let's just eliminate this as one possible issue.

[misterchem]

Originally Posted by cseeman

misterchem, servers can have mime type issues for example. I've seen issues where .fv4 and .mp4 wouldn't work in Flash but H.264 .mov would for example.
Try H.264 .mp4, please. Let's just eliminate this as one possible issue.

I just tried. I was able to upload it manually just fine, but again when I tried importing it from my web server I got the same error message, "Unable to download the video".

[cseeman]

Who is hosting your website?
If waljo3 can post the same info maybe we can find the correlate.

Do you know someone using the same or another host to post a file to and then try to import from that?
That could determine whether it's specific to how the host is serving your site.

[misterchem]

Originally Posted by cseeman

Who is hosting your website?
If waljo3 can post the same info maybe we can find the correlate.

Do you know someone using the same or another host to post a file to and then try to import from that?
That could determine whether it's specific to how the host is serving your site.

The host is Network Solutions. My colleague used the same host and had no problems importing files in the past (with many different codecs and containers); this was about a month ago. Now both of us get the same error message whenever we try to import anything from our host, regardless of codec or container.