The IIS Smooth Streaming Format SDK 1.0 Beta 2 provides documentation,
tools, and samples you can use to create software programs that package
encoded video and audio bitstreams for on-demand and live Smooth Streaming
scenarios. In addition, the SDK supports the encryption of content using
Microsoft PlayReady DRM.
The following are the major components of the Smooth Streaming Format (SSF) SDK:
- A static-linked packaging library (SSFsdk.lib), along with appropriate
header files
- Sample binaries (dshowhlp.lib)
- Sample code and documentation
The Smooth Streaming Format SDK API has been designed to handle any supported
type of encoded video and audio bitstream (i.e. H.264, VC-1, WMA, AAC).
Encoding applications will use this API to convert encoded bitstreams into
fragmented MP4 (f-MP4) files that are compliant with IIS Smooth Streaming
and the Protected Interoperable File Format (PIFF) specification.
Scenarios
The Smooth Streaming Format SDK is designed for several specific scenarios.
Check the list below to see if the SDK aligns well with your business needs:
- Mux encoded (VC-1/WMA, H.264/AAC) video and audio samples into fragmented
MP4 chunks
- Generate valid Smooth Streaming files and manifests inside an encoding
application
- Validate existing output Smooth Streaming files against the latest
format spec
- Encrypt new or existing Smooth Streaming content using Play Ready
DRM.
- Create a software application that can broadcast content via Smooth
Streaming with low latency
Workflow
The overall workflow is as follows. The encoding application reads in
master- or mezzanine-level file sources and encodes them into VC-1 closed
GOP and WMA audio samples, or H.264 format and AAC audio samples. These
samples are fed into the input of the Format SDK. The encoding application
controls the flow of samples going into the SDK and requests formatted MP4
fragments when appropriate. The encoding application then writes the fragments
to disk as .ismv and .isma files. The encoding application also requests
the valid manifest files from the SDK and writes those to disk. The files,
compliant with IIS Smooth Streaming and the Protected Interoperable File
Format (PIFF), are now ready to be played from the IIS Server.
To help you visualize, here is a workflow diagram.
To see Smooth Streaming in action, check out the
Experience
Smooth Streaming page, where you can simulate different bandwidths and
see how Smooth Streaming responds. To learn more, visit the
IIS Media forum.