Providing videos – u:stream server

The u:stream server allows employees of the University of Vienna to make existing audio and video recordings available for online playback or download.

u:stream can be used to record courses or stream them live on the internet.

 Note

If teachers want to make videos, the ZID recommends the service u:stream (ustream.univie.ac.at). It offers a better performance and is easier to use than the u:stream server, which is no longer being developed.

With Kaltura you can:

  • use existing videos
  • record your own videos on your computer
  • publish videos in Moodle and on websites

You can find detailed user guides in the u:stream administration user guide.

Registering for the service

Use the form Zum u:stream-Server anmelden (Registering for the u:stream server) in the ZID servicedesk.

You will receive an e-mail as soon as the registration has been completed.

Upload recording

Log in to the u:stream server to upload audio and video recordings and make it available for online playback. Please use the user guide Upload.

Assign a correct name for the file. You may use the following characters:

  • abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
  • ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
  • 0123456789
  • . - _+

If the file name contains non-permitted characters, you will receive an e-mail with the subject line Dateiname abgelehnt (file name denied). Change the name of the file directly on the streamin share. Do not change the name repeatedly.

You can upload files in the following formats:

  • Video: AVI, MPG, MPEG, ASF, WMV, PS, TS, MP3, OGG, SWF, FLV, MP4, MOV, MKV
  • Audio: MP3, OGG

If you try to upload a file in another format, you will receive an e-mail with the subject line Bearbeitung fehlgeschlagen (processing failed). Convert the file into a format that the u:stream server recognises, before uploading it.

  • Use the free transcoder software Handbrake to convert video files. Use one of the presets, such as Fast 720p30. Then, upload the newly created video to the streamin share.
  • Für Audiodateien können Sie einen beliebigen Audiokonverter verwenden. Achten Sie darauf, dass Sie eine Datei mit der Endung MP3 (Codecs: MPEG-1 Audio Layer III oder MPEG-2 Audio Layer III) erzeugen.

You will receive an e-mail after a few minutes, informing you that the file is being processed. If you do not receive an e-mail even though you uploaded the file in a suitable format, please contact the u:stream Support.

You can check the status of the progress in the streaming queue.

 Notes

  • The u:stream server does not offer the same video quality as recordings via u:stream in lecture halls. Add _dvd at the end of your file name (example: videoname_dvd.mp4) to use the converting profile that offers the best quality. You can find more information in the user guide for Verarbeitungsprofile (converting profiles, in German).
  • After your video has been converted, you will receive a download link and a link to a web page with a web player. This web player does not offer a download option by default. However, students can generate downloads of the recordings easily with the right software. The ZID cannot prevent this technically.

Making recordings available

Following the conversion, you will receive an e-mail containing several links that you can publish (for example on Moodle).

  • Publish the stream link to enable online playback.
  • Publish the download link if you want users to be able to download and save the recording.

If you are deleting the file on the u:stream server, all links to the stream and the download will become invalid. You cannot open the file anymore.