Alright, well my two cents is that the problem isn't what you think it is, and here's why:
I build a lot of sites and the reason it's chugging is not anything to do with streaming... if you truly do have a preloader, and it does load in 100% before playing, it's not a streaming issue. It seems to be a CPU issue. If the computers with slower connections you are testing on are older computers (which for some reason is usually the case) then it may seem like it's the connection speed, where in fact it is the CPU chugging. The idea that animating on the timeline is x amount slower than doing it through code is a myth that's not true. It is true that you can optimize some thing through code, but unless you're doing some crazy animation stuff then that's likely not the issue either. The proper solution: bring down the cpu usage, which isn't an exact science you'll just have to futz around with things and use common sense, such as using blank keyframes when things are off the stage, making sure you aren't animating a lot of vectors (and if you are use bitmap caching), etc. - Taka On Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 2:27 PM, Karl DeSaulniers <[email protected]> wrote: > Please excuse the auto correction of my email client. It doesn't always know > what I am trying to say. :p > > That's preloaders not preliaders > > Sent from losPhone > > On Apr 1, 2009, at 4:17 PM, Karl DeSaulniers <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Yes you are correct about the preliaders and the different versions of >> sites per connection speed. >> >> Here is what I am experiencing and why I am lookijng for this solution. I >> have a preloader on my site and it preloads fine. But even with the preload >> I still get a lag when it starts playing. There is no way I am building >> three sites every time I make a site. So I wanted to have a streaming script >> watch the stream and adjust accordingly so that there would be no lag. I >> have been to many flash site that load significantly faster than mine and >> they have more in them. Alas too a lot of my animations are animations and >> not tween animations. I am not the best coder (as you can tell) so I am >> relying on animation to suffice. This is not the best practice I know, but >> bills need to be paid and I have no time to go back to school. I am self >> taught and so the industry standards on how to do this, I have not been >> introduced to. I don't mean to sound like the biggest idiot, but in AS I >> guess I am. Thanks for your input on this. Everything helps. >> >> Sent from losPhone >> >> On Apr 1, 2009, at 3:51 PM, Taka Kojima <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Back to the original issue at hand. I think that is is definitely not >>> optimal to be relying upon somebody's connection speed/bandwidth to >>> determine fps and/or how to display content. >>> >>> I believe that's why people use preloaders. >>> >>> On Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 1:03 PM, Anthony Pace <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hello Taka, >>>> >>>> I agree with you; as well, with regard to the swf, it would take a ton >>>> of in >>>> depth knowledge and understanding about its file structure, and how it >>>> handles tweens, that I don't have right now, in order for me to say if >>>> its >>>> even possible. >>>> >>>> Thanks. >>>> Anthony Pace >>>> >>>> Taka Kojima wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I believe the standard way of handling this is to have three different >>>>> versions of your movie. >>>>> >>>>> low, normal and high quality (how you down the file size is totally >>>>> dependent on you, could be dropping frames, could be lower rez, >>>>> whatever). Which one gets loaded in can be determined by connection >>>>> speed, I think this is pretty much the norm way of doing it, and while >>>>> Anthony's solution is good in theory, I think it would be too much of >>>>> a pain in the ars, not to mention a butt load of server-side >>>>> processing every time a user loads your site. >>>>> >>>>> - Taka >>>>> >>>>> On Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 6:44 AM, Paul Andrews <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> "default your mechanism"? >>>>>> >>>>>> LOL "defeat your mechanism"? >>>>>> >>>>>> Paul >>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Andrews" <[email protected]> >>>>>> To: "Flash Coders List" <[email protected]> >>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 1:36 PM >>>>>> Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] FPS question >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Karl, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Despite what has been suggested, this will still only have a chance >>>>>>> of >>>>>>> working work for some flash Movies written in a certain way. Many of >>>>>>> my >>>>>>> flash movies are only one frame, sometimes just a handful of frames, >>>>>>> so >>>>>>> your >>>>>>> attempt to smoothly run a high-bandwidth movie on a slow connection >>>>>>> would >>>>>>> fail for movies like mine - either because they load a lot of assets >>>>>>> at >>>>>>> a >>>>>>> particular frame, or because they load assets via code during the >>>>>>> movie. >>>>>>> Either or both of these scenarios would default your mechanism. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Maybe I have missed this somewhere - is a pre-loader out of the >>>>>>> question? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Paul >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karl DeSaulniers" >>>>>>> <[email protected]> >>>>>>> To: "Flash Coders List" <[email protected]> >>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 9:22 AM >>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] FPS question >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Anthony, >>>>>>>> I am going to have to buy you a steak dinner for all the input you >>>>>>>> have >>>>>>>> given me. (unless your vegetarian, then make it a shiitake steak) >>>>>>>> Your input is right on the money. ;) >>>>>>>> You basically have said what I was trying to, but my lack of >>>>>>>> terminology >>>>>>>> and experience made it sound like some unfathomable procedure. >>>>>>>> The only thing is your getting it backwards on how my movie was >>>>>>>> going >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> play. Oh and I am talking about a Flash swf movie (not video >>>>>>>> necessarily). >>>>>>>> The theory about sending some sort of packets to the server and >>>>>>>> bouncing >>>>>>>> back what an how to play the swf is what this is really about now >>>>>>>> that >>>>>>>> I >>>>>>>> have read your reply. Thanks. My theory was to set up a code to >>>>>>>> read >>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>> stream of data coming in to the browser, interp. it, talk to the swf >>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>> play the swf faster (skipping frames as you suggested) if the >>>>>>>> connection >>>>>>>> was slow and playing at regular frame rate when the stream was >>>>>>>> good. >>>>>>>> Never >>>>>>>> playing slow. That is exactly what I am trying to defeat. The >>>>>>>> skipping >>>>>>>> of >>>>>>>> frames or increase in fps, which may produce the same, was to give >>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>> effect that nothing had happened when presented with a slow >>>>>>>> connection. >>>>>>>> But, I see what you are saying with combining with a server >>>>>>>> language >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> implement it. Maybe coldfusion? I don't think that PHP could handle >>>>>>>> that, >>>>>>>> but, I know PEARL could. But I would like to see a flash server >>>>>>>> engine >>>>>>>> sometime in the near future. Something that launched and controlled >>>>>>>> your >>>>>>>> own applications for your website and/or a built in flash >>>>>>>> database.. >>>>>>>> hello >>>>>>>> Adobe!!! I wouldn't even mind a component for that... :P >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Thanks again, >>>>>>>> I think your suggestion has put me on the right path.. once again. >>>>>>>> :) >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Karl DeSaulniers >>>>>>>> Design Drumm >>>>>>>> http://designdrumm.com >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Apr 1, 2009, at 2:50 AM, Anthony Pace wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hi Karl, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> The only way to make 30fps play consistently on a lower bandwidth >>>>>>>>> connection, would be to send a message to the server, telling it to >>>>>>>>> send the >>>>>>>>> stream at a reduced quality; thus, the size and quality of each >>>>>>>>> frame >>>>>>>>> would >>>>>>>>> be greatly reduced on a slow connection. Yet, if a pause is >>>>>>>>> acceptable, >>>>>>>>> creating a buffer for the content and playing the buffered >>>>>>>>> content, >>>>>>>>> while >>>>>>>>> waiting for new content to download and be placed in the buffer >>>>>>>>> for >>>>>>>>> later >>>>>>>>> playing, would be an option. Your suggestion, sounds like it >>>>>>>>> would >>>>>>>>> result >>>>>>>>> in you playing the stream in slow motion. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Another idea would be to tell the server to reduce the amount, or >>>>>>>>> "drop", the frames sent; yet, this would not be 30fps, as the fps >>>>>>>>> would >>>>>>>>> drop based on the users connection. >>>>>>>>> E.G. if 30 fps plays well on 300KB downstream, but the user can >>>>>>>>> only >>>>>>>>> download solidly at 100KB, you could only send approximately 1/3 >>>>>>>>> (maybe >>>>>>>>> less to be safe) of the frames safely allocated for that second >>>>>>>>> while >>>>>>>>> ensuring no delays in matching frames to audio; therefore, frames >>>>>>>>> 1..4..7..10..13..16..19..22..25..28.. would be sent per second out >>>>>>>>> of >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> regular 30fps. (I hope I am not missing something and sounding >>>>>>>>> stupid >>>>>>>>> here) >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> This is really just theory, and is easier to say than to put into >>>>>>>>> practise; yet, it is not so difficult to figure out, that you >>>>>>>>> couldn't pull >>>>>>>>> it off if you were somewhat decent with a server side language >>>>>>>>> like >>>>>>>>> php and >>>>>>>>> know how to manipulate files by searching for index of frame >>>>>>>>> identifying >>>>>>>>> start and end keys in the hex to flush out as video stream. When I >>>>>>>>> say it >>>>>>>>> sounds so easy; yet, making it stable enough not to crash a server >>>>>>>>> with >>>>>>>>> multiple simultaneous connections might be something different. >>>>>>>>> Now >>>>>>>>> that I >>>>>>>>> think of it, can php even handle this? or would a c module be >>>>>>>>> needed >>>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>>> make things run totally stable? >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I know this won't really help other than to see why your logic is >>>>>>>>> off, >>>>>>>>> and maybe give you some ideas of how video is really transfered; >>>>>>>>> yet, >>>>>>>>> I >>>>>>>>> hope you can make use of it. I have worked a little, very little, >>>>>>>>> with >>>>>>>>> video in the past; thus, I am not an expert, so if anyone has any >>>>>>>>> ideas >>>>>>>>> that would make my statements look stupid, I hope he or she will >>>>>>>>> speak up. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>>>>> Anthony Pace >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Paul Andrews wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> How would you equate bandwidth with FPS? >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Seems to me that a loading Movie will need to load different >>>>>>>>>> assets >>>>>>>>>> at >>>>>>>>>> different times, so You may need 100K loaded at one frame >>>>>>>>>> followed >>>>>>>>>> by no >>>>>>>>>> new assets until 200 frames later when 150K needs to be loaded >>>>>>>>>> for a >>>>>>>>>> particular frame. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> How can you possibly balance the load? >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Paul >>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karl DeSaulniers" >>>>>>>>>> <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>>> To: "Flash Coders List" <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 7:54 PM >>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] FPS question >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Close. I am trying to basically see if I can control how fast my >>>>>>>>>>> movie >>>>>>>>>>> plays according to the type of stream it is receiving. If slow >>>>>>>>>>> on >>>>>>>>>>> bandwidth >>>>>>>>>>> play faster, if normal or high bandwidth play at normal fps. So >>>>>>>>>>> that when >>>>>>>>>>> their is low bandwidth while loading page, the user never knows >>>>>>>>>>> or >>>>>>>>>>> sees it. >>>>>>>>>>> No "lag" if you will. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Sent from losPhone >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> On Mar 31, 2009, at 1:24 PM, "Paul Andrews" <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> I'm pretty confused by your requested, so I've probably got >>>>>>>>>>>> this >>>>>>>>>>>> wrong. >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> You're trying to slow down a playing movie because it's not >>>>>>>>>>>> streaming >>>>>>>>>>>> it's content fast enough to play at the true frame rate? >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> Paul >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karl DeSaulniers" >>>>>>>>>>>> <[email protected] >>>>>>>>>>>> To: "Flash Coders List" >>>>>>>>>>>> <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 7:10 PM >>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] FPS question >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Sorry I guess I was not clear on my first post, but I am >>>>>>>>>>>>> looking >>>>>>>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>>>>>>> find out how to ready how much stream I am getting and adjust >>>>>>>>>>>>> my >>>>>>>>>>>>> frame rate >>>>>>>>>>>>> of the movie (swf) accordingly. Main part of my question is to >>>>>>>>>>>>> figure out >>>>>>>>>>>>> how to get the stream info so to be able to adjust the FPS to >>>>>>>>>>>>> it. >>>>>>>>>>>>> Better?? >>>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks for any input. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Anthony, thanks for the FPS link, that will come in handy. >>>>>>>>>>>>> BTW I am still coding in AS2 for this project. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> Karl DeSaulniers >>>>>>>>>>>>> Design Drumm >>>>>>>>>>>>> http://designdrumm.com >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> On Mar 31, 2009, at 12:04 PM, Anthony Pace wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sorry I didn't respond earlier... passed out last night and >>>>>>>>>>>>>> just >>>>>>>>>>>>>> woke up. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.flashperfection.com/tutorials/AS3-Dynamically- >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Change- >>>>>>>>>>>>>> The- Frame-Rate-09765.html >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Should help you out. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Karl DeSaulniers wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> in this i mean movie = swf . >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> i am not necessarily asking about just a moviclip but the >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> whole >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> movie. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hope that clarifies. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Karl DeSaulniers >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Design Drumm >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://designdrumm.com >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Mar 30, 2009, at 8:47 PM, Anthony Pace wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> First you say swf, and yes, controlling the frame rate for >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> an >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> swf is doable; yet, then you say movie... do you mean movie >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> clip, or >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> stream? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Karl DeSaulniers wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ok here is a new one. Is there a way to control the way >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> your >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> swf plays according to the bandwidth it's getting? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> For eg: control how fast FPS your movie plays according to >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> stream of info it's getting from the server? If the stream >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> low play fast >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and if the stream is good then play regular fps? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> All of this to simulate "no lag". >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Karl >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sent from losPhone >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>>>>>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>>>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>>>>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>>>>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>>>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>>>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Flashcoders mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Flashcoders mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Flashcoders mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders > > _______________________________________________ > Flashcoders mailing list > [email protected] > http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders > _______________________________________________ Flashcoders mailing list [email protected] http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
