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Macromedia Flash 8: Video Development

Course Outline

Macromedia Flash 8: 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 8. Topics include developing a rich media player using the new Flash Professional 8 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.

Course Duration:
3 days instructor led

Target Audience:
This course is for developers with extensive experience with Macromedia Flash (either Flash MX Professional 2004 or Flash 8). To take this course, you should:

Have completed the Macromedia Flash 8: Rich Content Creation course or have equivalent experience.
Have completed the Macromedia Flash 8: ActionScript course or have equivalent experience.
Have experience working with video (recommended).

Course Outline:

Unit 1: Introducing the Course

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

Unit 2: 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


Unit 3: Building a Component Based Media Player

Understanding the Flash Video development workflow
Using the Insert Flash Video command in Dreamweaver 8
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


Unit 4: Encoding Flash Video

Understanding Flash Video (FLV)
Introducing CODECs and video encoding
Converting to FLV using the Flash 8 Video Encoder
Understanding bandwidth and data rate
Using advanced encoding settings
Adding cue points, cropping, and trimming
Using encoding best practices


Unit 5: 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


Unit 6: Reviewing ActionScript

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


Unit 7: Building a Custom Media Player

Understanding the process for building a custom media player
Learning the ActionScript required for streaming
Creating a connection to the server
Controlling and managing streams
Introducing and using the embedded Video object
Adding video playback filters
Using the Sound class to manage audio
Listening and responding to stream events


Unit 8: 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


Unit 9: 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


Unit 10: 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

Unit 11: 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

External links: Adobe