Octopus Frequently Asked Questions
So you've been checking out the Xuggle Octopus testing and demo site and you're wondering what the hell is going on. Well, hopefully we'll answer some of those questions here, but if you have other questions, feel free to contact us at info@xuggle.com.
What is Octopus?
Here's a Youtube recording explaining what Octopus does:
Why is the demo system down?
This is our test server, and we sometimes take it down to do maintenance work, or to run tests. If you want to arrange a private demo contact us and we'll figure something out. Either which way, drop us a line if it's down: info@xuggle.com.
Why are you running this demo system?
We run this server to collect data from real-world conditions. It is running in the cloud and collecting data on traffic conditions as you play with it. So if it's up, play with it... we really appreciate your usage.
No seriously, what the hell is Octopus?
Octopus is a streaming media server that can read media from any source (e.g. Webcams, browsers, Youtube, files, etc.), mix them together in and generate new audio and video streams -- in real time.
You're shitting me, right -- You don't really mix the streams in real time?
Wow... thanks for your refreshing honesty! But yes, we do.
If you want to see that for real, using a debug flash player turn on the "redraw regions" features to see we're not rendering multiple video files in flash.
If you still don't believe us, then take your favorite Flash RTMP subscriber (or write one yourself) and connect to this stream:
rtmp://octopus.xuggle.com/scatterchat/audience
In the demo application Octopus is generating a custom stream for each participant (which has their own audio removed), and one combined audio stream for the audience (live) and one on-disk recording (archive). All streams are receiving the same video. So if you have 3 people chatting, Octopus is creating 5 different streams: one for each webcam partipant, one for the live audience, and one for posterity.
Do I need headphones?
At the moment yes. Like all flash-based video conferencing solutions today, echo can be a problem. With Octopus we actually have access to raw audio in the server and are working on echo-cancelling technology, but it's not ready yet.
Who cares?
Good question. Octopus is useful if you have 2 or more people "on stage" or having a conversation that you want to broadcast to an audience.
Using Octopus every audience member just receives one stream, so if their bandwidth only supports one webcam download today, Octopus can merge as many other webcams into that stream on the fly as you need. Imagine your event has 4 cameras broadcasting -- each audience member can see a monage of all 4 cameras while only taking the bandwidth of one stream!
Also, you will save at least 50% of your bandwidth bills over any other available multi-party broadcasting solution.
If you're just sending re-broadcasting one stream to an audience, we don't recommend using Octopus -- instead you can use Xuggler to modify that one stream for free on your own server.
When is Octopus coming?
We're in alpha testing right now, and expect to start offering this service in the cloud in mid 2010. Details will trickle out over the next few months.
Gimme gimme gimme! Can I use it now?
We're interested in hearing from partners who want to help bring this technology to market. Contact us at info@xuggle.com
And no, Octopus is not open-source. If you want open-source code for free, check out Xuggler.
What are the key Octopus features?
- Read from any media input source.
- Mix audio and video together in real time in a media server (Red5 or Wowza).
- Allow custom 'renderers' that can change how the media looks on the fly.
- Do noise-removal and automatic-gain-correction on audio.
- Record conversations
- Stream data to any output source (web-browsers, files, RTP).
- Finally we're hard at work on acoustic echo canceling. Stay tuned.
How does this scale?
We've done lots of things to really make this sing and as a result we run our test system on an Amazon EC2 medium instance with lots of room to spare. The trade-off is CPU time for bandwidth, but when you have 2 or more people on stage with an audience watching, the bandwidth savings quickly add up.
What does the demo system do?
The demo system lets up to six people log on with webcams and add up to 3 media files. It can read from Youtube (by using the Youtube ID, not the full URL, sorry), or from any HTTP based media file source. All partipants see each others reactions and the media files at the same times, and the audience (i.e. someone not using their webcam) sees all their reactions in real time. Finally we've provided some switches that let you turn on and off noise-reduction and automatic gain control, and to change the visual modes we display with. The three visual modes currently implemented are:
- Presentation: Make the last media file played be largest.
- Grid: Lay out everyone in a standard 'grid-like' pattern.
- Scatter: Continually resize each video based on which one is loudest at any time.
What if Octopus doesn't grab my video camera?
Yeah, that's a bug we need to fix. Sorry. To work around, click on the small box in the lower right hand corner. When it expands move your mouse and click on "settings". Then pick your camera from the drop-down (if you're on a Mac, choose the USB camera option).
If I use my webcam with the demo system am I being recorded?
Yes, you are. We make a recording anytime someone connects or plays media to use for quality control and research purposes. The recordings are for internal Xuggle use and we will not be posting them to Youtube or doing crap like that. If you don't want to be recorded, then don't test the add camera feature.
The system crashed, what do I do?
While Octopus is pretty awesome, it is in alpha testing right now so we can work out the kinks before launch. So, if the system crashes on you -- SWEET! That means you have great data than can help us make Octopus better!
Please send us that data. Drop us an e-mail at info@xuggle.com letting us know as much as you can:
- What day, time, and timezone were you using Octopus?
- How many webcams were active?
- How many media files were active?
- If you can see, what are the numbers being reported in the upper-right hand corner?
- If you were experience echo, did it go away when everyone had headphones on?
- Any other thoughts you have.