• AT&T
• CD Networks
• Internap
• Level 3
• Limelight

• Digital Rapids
• Envivio (and press release)
• Grab Networks (formerly Anystream)
• Inlet (and press release)
• Rhozet
• Telestream (and press release)
• VBrick
• Viewcast (and press release)
• Winnov

Which is a huge swath of the professional compression tools market.

DRM service provider support
And we've had a bunch of support for Silverlight DRM powered by PlayReady from DRM service providers. Since Silverlight encryption is applied during content creation, not during content distribution, using DRM has no real impact on the server side; access to a DRM license server to provide licenses to the Silverlight client is the only big difference from a service perspective.

• BuyDRM (press release)
• Entriq
• ExtendMedia 
• Ipercast

• iStreamPlanet

I haven't had a chance to drop by everyone's booth yet, but will be highlighting some of their demos and cool announcements throughout the week when I find out which of the many projects we've been collaborating on are public now.

Silverlight 3: we're 1080p24
So, we had that whole HD on the web discussion a few weeks ago which spun out into many threads on different forums. A few die-hards said that only 720p60 and 1080p24 should count as full HD, based on the original ATSC definition.

It'll keep on being discussed, but that won't keep anyone from calling Silverlight HD, because we've now got 1080p24 working in Silverlight 3. This represents a huge amount of media playback tuning and testing by the Silverlight team, and it's really paid off. Much of the improvements have been since the public Silverlight 3 beta, so those not at NAB will have to take my word for it for the moment, but we're showing off:

• 1920x1080p24 VC-1 at 6 Mbps
• On a Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz system
• With smooth playback at any size using GPU scaling

And it is glorious.

On the same system we're also showing off H.264 720p24 2.5 Mbps with similarly smooth playback.

While those specs are obviously beyond what many home PCs can do due to screen size or network speed, with Smooth Streaming we can offer that as the highest-end experience while offering further bitrate bands as low as required.

And of course, optimization that enables 1080p on the high end makes 480p work on lower-end machines than Silverlight 2 could support, due to both media pipeline improvemetnts and offloading scaling and compositing to the GPU. The gains on single-core machines are particularly notable; we've got a quite nice Smooth Streaming experience even on NetBooks now.

The public release of Silverlight 3 will be later this year.

New Smooth-Streaming VC-1 implementation
We're working with the encoder tool vendors to integrate a new VC-1 implementation that's specifically tuned for Smooth Streaming. You may recall Expression Encoder's  Smooth Streaming mode uses the VC-1 Encoder SDK in 1-pass CBR mode with a fixed GOP size. While that certainly can produce good video that's Smooth Streaming compliant, in the end that's really the kind of settings used for live broadcasting. With on-demand content, we can do an analysis pass to figure out a variety of better ways to optimize the bitrate. In particular, we can dramatically reduce the incidence of frames compressed to the point where visible blocky artifacts appear.

What it does are awesome in so many ways that it makes my compression nerd soul twinkle with delight. But those details will have to wait for a long and Excel-chart laden blog post of its own.

In the interim, let me offer you a sample encoded in a not-quite-final version of what we're doing here. This is our favorite Big Buck Bunny content, encoded to these specs

• 1080p24 4 Mbps video with a 5 second buffer
• Smooth Streaming compatible VC-1 and WMA 10 Pro
• In a WMV wrapper, so you can play it in WMP

This is what the top end Smooth Streaming bitrate can look like once Silverlight 3 is released later this year. And as mentioned above, we're now doing 6 Mbps on a Core 2 Duo, we've got some further headroom for more challenging content.

Here's the file (hosted by Silverlight Streaming):
http://silverlight.services.live.com/31260/Big%20Buck%20Bunny%201080p24%204%20Mbps%20Smooth%20Streaming/video.wmv

Remember, Windows Media Player can Save As progressive download content without DRM if you want to make a local copy.

If you're here at NAB, Inlet is showing off the new VC-1 implementation as implemented in their Armada product, with a bunch of other output samples. Check it out.

But it shall be, and once again, I shall be there.

Compressionist Party: Tuesday, April 21st, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

And, as many of you have emailed me to ask about, yes, we’ll be doing the Compressionist Party again. And I’ve finally got (most) of the details figured out. I think this may be the 8th annual incarnation, although I can’t quite remember when my wife and I threw the first of these in our Hilton suite for a few industry friends. People always seem to have a lot of fun.

It’ll be at the Encore Las Vegas (sometimes called the Wynn Encore).

As in past years, we’re scheduling this as a “between events” kind of thing, since there are so many big industry parties every night, so people can drop by between being at the exhibits and later events, or after an early dinner. I’m trying to arrange for some drinks and light snacks, but there won’t be a full spread. And there will be no pounding music.

It’s a casual event without any presentations; just chit-chat and networking between compression nerds. We get a good mix of Microsoft folks, people from tool vendors and service companies, and hands-on digital media folks.

We won’t know the actual suite number until this weekend. So your best bet is to RSVP to me (Ben dot Waggoner at, well, you know the company) with how many you’ve got coming and what times you’ll think you’ll be there, and I’ll email details when we’ve got them. I like to track a ballpark estimate how many folks we’re going to have when so we don’t get the room too full or too dry. Or drop by and see me at the booth, ala:

My booth schedule: 9:00-1:30 Mon-Thur

This is simple. I’ll be at the Microsoft booth every morning of the exhibits (we’re right near the main entrance of South Hall, across from Grass Valley). I’ll be talking about and demoing my usual stuff: Silverlight, compressing for it, Smooth Streaming, etcetera. Come by, ask questions, and see some demos of our great new stuff!

Encoding for the Next Generation: MPEG-2/H.264/VC-1

This session was part of the all-day Next Generation DVD track sponsored by the DVD Association.

I talked about the various options for and issues in encoding for high definition, focusing on Blu-ray but also talking about digital downloads. It's apparently become somewhat infamous, with mentions of it over at Doom9 and AVSForum. Although now that I look, they're both from the same guy...

Here's the deck: Encoding for the Next Generation.pdf

In-Depth Microsoft Silverlight

This was a three-hour media-focused overview of Silverlight and the Expression tools. It took a look at encoding and hosting video and audio assets for integration, and  incorporating those into a Silverlight Rich Interactive Application. I used a shorter version of the same presentation for the "Successfully Set up your own Streaming Media Solutions in a Worship Environment" track, so I won't bother to include both.

Here's the deck: In-Depth Microsoft Silverlight.pdf

I've been blogging versions of the tutorials. So far I've got:

Tutorial 1: Default Settings (no blog post there, as it's just a demo of the pretty-good quality that EEv2 can do without changing ANY settings, automatically adapting to the 480i 16:9 source).

Tutorial 2: Movie Trailer at 2 Mbps

Tutorial 3: Encoding screen recordings (less the navigation demo in the online version)

Now I need to figure out a good .pptx to Silverlight conversion workflow.


And if you like this stuff, don't forget about my class at Stanford in June.

We had a couple of big announcements around Silverlight I wanted to mention here.

First, we announced New Support for Silverlight by Content Companies Worldwide

We're working with a ton of companies on content deals, but these five stand out for the reach of customers they're going to expose to Silverlight:

• MSG Interactive is using Silverlight as a platform to deliver live on-demand digital content to Madison Square Garden's huge community of sports and entertainment fans.
• Tencent, China’s largest Internet portal, with more than 300 million unique viewers, announced it is developing a series of Silverlight-based next-generation Internet services and media experiences.
• Abertis Telecomwill use Silverlight as the platform for a new video content delivery channel going live this spring, providing end users with convenient access to dozens of channels of Spanish-language TV content within a Web-based application.
• Terra Networksis using Silverlight as the platform for the new HD channel on Terra TV, its online video and TV platform with service in 18 countries in Latin America and United States reaching millions of subscribers around the world.
• Yahoo! JAPAN, the most trafficked Web site in Japan, plans to roll out video distribution and Internet services that use Silverlight as the application platform.

Second we also announced Silverlight DRM, Powered by PlayReady, our DRM solution. The press release above still has the most public details now. Some of the high points include:

• It will work in Silverlight 2 for both Mac and Windows
• It is compatible with both the current Windows Media DRM 10 and the new PlayReady DRM
• Details will be up at www.microsoft.com/silverlight/ soon.

Here's my schedule for booth duty and conferences if you'd like to swing by and say hello.

Encoding for the Next Generation: MPEG-2/H.264/VC-1

Saturday, April 12th 3:30 pm - 4:45 pm

Las Vegas Convention Center N252

This session is part of the all-day Next Generation DVD track sponsored by the DVD Association.

I'll be talking about the various options for and issues in encoding for high definition, focusing on Blu-ray but also talking about digital downloads.

Successfully Set Up Your Own Streaming Media Solutions in a Worship Environment

Sunday, April 13th 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Las Vegas Convention Center N115

This is going to be a fun event. We're going to be demonstrating the end-to-end experience of live broadcasting for both live events and on-demand HD, emphasizing the hands-on and best practices aspects.

Microsoft Booth

Monday, April 14th 1:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Wednesday, April 16th, 9:00 am - 1:30 pm

I've got two shifts at the booth, and I always happy for more company. I'll be manning the Silverlight pod. Come on down to get some questions answered or see some demos.

In-Depth Microsoft Silverlight

Tuesday, April 15th, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Las Vegas Convention Center N256

This is a three-hour media-focused overview of Silverlight and the Expression tools. We'll take a look at encoding and hosting video and audio assets for integration, and how to incorporate those into a Silverlight Rich Interactive Application.

Annual Compressonist's Party

Tuesday, April 15th, evening

The Wynn

Yep, it's time again for the my annual compresionist's party at NAB. And now that I work for Microsoft, the snacks are better than ever! We're not exactly sure what time and which room yet; I'll share details when we get closer. But we try to start early enough and run late enough that we're a good stop on the way to or from dinner. Drop on in and let's talk about the news of the compression world from the show.

RSVP is not required, but if you think you're coming, drop me an email so I can track a rough headcount. My email is first name period last name at Microsoft.com

Audio and Video Compression In-Depth
Friday 4-7pm

Whether for HD, DVD, on-line stream or podcast, you need to be on the forefront of compression technology. But with all the different standards, formats, platforms, codecs and tools that are readily available, choosing and customizing the ones best for your projects can be downright overwhelming. This session will act as a guide through the myriad of options facing you and help you to determine what will best meet your need. We will also talk about best practices for capturing and preprocessing audio and video.

Audience: This class assumes some basic background in compression.

DVD Authoring: The Next Generation --- Encoding for Next Generation Discs - MPEG2, AVC, VC-1

Saturday 11:45-1:00pm at Post-Production World

Not one, not two but THREE different codecs are available to use in Next Gen DVD formats! This session will provide a summary and overview of MPEG-2, AVC and VC-1, and a chance to identify encoding tools and workflows available to next Gen compressionists!

Audience: All users wishing to get a better understanding of the Next Generation video formats and encoding options.

In-Depth: Dig Deep into Powerful Technology --- In–Depth: Professional Video and Audio Compression

Tuesday 10am-1pm at Post-Production World

Whether for HD, DVD, on-line stream or podcast, you need to be on the forefront of compression technology. But with all the different standards, formats, platforms, codecs and tools that are readily available, choosing and customizing the ones best for your projects can be downright overwhelming. This session will act as a guide through the myriad of options facing you and help you to determine what will best meet your need. We will also talk about best practices for capturing and preprocessing audio and video.

Audience: This class assumes some basic background in compression.

This will be largely a repeat of my Friday class, except I can talk about what gets announced on Monday .

Content Creators & IP Delivery: Content Creators Discuss the Challenges of Delivering Digital Content over IP Platforms