Many people would like to watch YouTube videos in their spare time. Some may even think of running a video-sharing site of their own providing video uploading and sharing services. It would be beneficial to both the Website owner and the clients. All you need to do is to select a suitable SDK (Server-side Develop Kits) product for encoding Flash videos. If you are interested in running such a site and you are quite familiar with web design and website running, you will find this article useful. The following will compare the most popular SDK products especially designed for providing video transforming and video publishing services for video-sharing sites.

First of all, you must make sure that the best format for online spreading is FLV which is comparatively smaller in size and with fewer losses in quality. At the time when YouTube and other video-sharing sites become popular, Flash video (FLV) also meets its booming time. But actually, most videos we get from our DV, Video Camera, cell phone, DVD, Windows Movie Maker, etc. are AVI, MPEG, WMV, MOV, VOB, and so on. If you have uploaded some videos to YouTube, you’ll find the videos will take some time to upload and show. And that’s because they must be converted into FLV format before shown on the site. And that’s why there are so many companies providing the SDK products especially designed for these video-sharing sites.

Here we will take SDK products from four different companies as the example.

This article can be divided into two parts: Part 1: Summery of the products; Part 2: Analysis in different aspects.

Part 1: Summery of the products

1. Moyea Flash Video MX SDK

Company: Moyea Software

Price: $1000 | €699

Version: 2.0.5.0

Size: 8.7MB

System requirement:

Windows NT4.0 + SP6/2000/XP or above

64MB Memory (128MB recommended)

512MB hard disc space or above

Microsoft DirectX 8.1 or above

Product page: http://www.video-to-flash.com/flash_video_encoder_console/

Description from its website:

Flash Video MX SDK V2 is to help server applications to convert the uploaded videos from virtually any format to Flash video (FLV), Flash (SWF), and AAC/H.264 MP4! With it you can build a video website like that of YouTube, Google video, Yahoo! Video, etc.

This program is also widely used in multimedia applications for video to FLV, SWF conversion under C/++, Visual Basic, Delphi, ASP, .NET, ColdFusion, and so on.

Enhanced by multiple and dynamic functions like powerful parameter settings with a Flash Player, thumbnail for the video content, batch conversion, templates, video effects, etc. It will serve server applications well and fulfill the need of multimedia applications!

Features from its website:

• Convert video and audio from virtually any format
  Windows media (AVI, WMV, ASF, WMA, WAV, using any AVI/WM codec like Divx, Xvid, etc); QuickTime (MOV, QT, DV, AAC, AIF/AIFF, using any QuickTime codec), and MPEG (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MP3).
• All kinds of FLVs are available
  Sorenson Spark (H.263) FLV, On2 VP6 FLV, and On2 VP6 with alpha encoded FLV are all available. Support to generate H.264 encoded MP4 files.
• Available for a wide range of programming languages
  This SDK is available with two different interfaces: COM and Command line, making it usable from virtually any programming language like Visual C++, Visual Basic, Delphi, ASP, .Net, ColdFusion, etc.
• Allow to place an image or text watermark over the video
  A solid or transparent image or text can be placed over the video.
• Powerful audio settings
  Removing or Replacement of the existing audio track is allowed. Full volume control is also available.
• Powerful video settings
  Brightness and contrast adjustments, parameter settings, video cropping, video trimming, and video resizing, etc.
• Video/audio sequencing
  Several source video and audio files can be sequenced into a single FLV file. If continue for the SWF file by calling the FLV2SWF tool, then a single SWF file can be arrived at.
• Handy snapshots
  Either you are to run the conversion or not, you are allowed to capture random frames or at a particular time point, or to generate a series of images with a set template.
• Process priority
  Allow to set process priority for the conversion.
• Support to lock the process to a specific processor
  Allow to lock the process to a certain processor under multi-processor CPU, avoiding interference of processes to achieve a faster conversion with less CPU occupation.
• Simultaneous encoding
  The SDK allows converting piles of files at a time with efficiency.
• Fine video and audio sync
  No audio crackling, video freezing, or playback stuck! Feel the results with the smooth playback!
• Deinterlacing utilized
  Support video deinterlacing to remove the artifacts for a better display of videos on the computer. DV, DVD and HDV content can't benefit more.

2. Movavi Software Development Kit for Flash Video

Company:  Movavi

Price: One Year License $300; Unlimited License $1000

Version: 1.2

Size: 15.4MB

System requirement:

Windows XP, Server 2000 or later.

IIS 5.0/Apache for use in web applications.

To convert QuickTime videos, the latest version of Apple QuickTime must be installed. Click to download QuickTime from the Apple website.

Product page: http://www.flvsdk.com/flash-video-engine/index.html  

Description from its website:

The Movavi Software Development Kit (SDK) is the driving force behind the Movavi Online conversion service and has proved its robustness and quality by handling thousands of conversions every day.

The Movavi SDK for Flash Video provides website operators with a complete video processing and hosting solution, enabling them to build their own video sharing sites. The software can also be used to power video blogging, user-generated content, forums and other social networking activities.

The Movavi SDK for Flash Video enables website operators to embed the Movavi conversion engine into almost any Win32 server-based application that supports COM technology, including applications written in C/C++/C#, .NET (Visual Basic), ASP, Perl, PHP, Python, and others.

Features from its website:

• Supports popular scripting languages using COM technology: C/C++/C#, .NET (Visual Basic), ASP, PHP, Python, Perl, and others.
• Supports the conversion of AVI (DivX, Xvid), MPEG (1, 2, 4), MP4, 3gp, 3gp2, WMV, MOV (QT), VOB to Flash video; output is fully compatible with Adobe Flash Player 8 or later.
• Customizable output quality, video and thumbnail image sizes.
• Smart Queuing limits the number of simultaneously converted files and prevents site hang-ups.
• Includes tools to support interaction with services, monitor results, and gather statistics.
• Lets site visitors upload videos using an HTML form.
• Documentation includes sample implementations.

3. Video Encoder Engine for Adobe Flash (Windows Version)

Company: Sothink

Price: $600.00

Version:  1.x

Size:  8,854 KB

System requirement:

Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista
Intel PII processor or above (P4 or K8 is recommended)
128Mb of RAM or above

Product page: http://www.flvsdk.com/flv-encoder-command-line/index.html  

Description from its website:

Free to download Video Encoder Engine for Adobe Flash (Windows Version) and experience the trial version of Sothink Video Encoder Engine for Adobe Flash (Windows Version). Convert video to Flash on your server side with ASP, ASP.net, PHP and other languages. It is the complete and creative solution for starting video uploading and sharing service instantly.

To help you to build your own video hosting site, we also provide full source code of live demo sites written in ASP, ASP.net and PHP with detailed SDK documents and tutorials.

Features from its website:

• Convert any video to FLV format in command line (console) mode.
• Video to Flash SDK for developing server-side Flash video encoding application.
• Support converting AVI, MPEG, MPG, MPE, DAT (VCD), VOB (DVD), WMV, ASF, ASX, MP4, MOV, 3GP, 3G2, 3GPP, DV, QT, RM, RMVB, and etc. to Flash video with server-side applications.
• Convert video to Flash in batch mode.
• Faster conversion speed and higher quality than other Flash Video Encoder or Video to Flash Converter.
• Full control over the converted Flash Video: dimension, frame rate, key frame interval, bit rate and etc with command-line parameters.
• Advanced video editing function lets you crop the video.
• Convert video to FLV with different zoom mode (LetterBox, Pan&Scan, and Stretch).
• Support embedding external subtitles into FLV.
• Audio sample rate, bit rate, channels and volume are adjustable with command-line parameters.
• Create thumbnail image for the converted video in JPEG format.
• Support adding watermarks, logos and copyright images.

4. Video to Flash Console 1.4

Company: GeoVid

Price: Single License 999.95 USD; Site License 8999.95 USD

Version: 1.0

Size: 11.8 MB

System requirement:     

Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 2003

HDD - 1 Gb and more

Ram 128 Mb and more

DirectX 9 or better

Product page: http://www.flvsdk.com/video_to_flash_console/index.html  

Description from its website:

Convert Video movies to SWF or FLV Flash files! Video to Flash Converter Console version is a powerful tool for converting your digital videos in a batch or command line console mode. You can use console Video to Flash Converter on a webservers and run conversion using command line parameters automatically by scheduling or by script calling. Video to Flash Converter Console provide SWF and FLV files ready for the web. You will have Full control over the converted Flash Video: video quality, frame rate, size, duration and other parameters, you can handle parameters using command line.

Features from its website:

• Command line interface useful for automation and servers
• Convert most of video files to original flash SWF and FLV
• All possible video and audio quality parameters
• Logo for customization

Part 2: Analysis in different aspects

What’s included in the program?

1. Moyea Flash Video MX SDK V2:

Moyea Flash Video MX SDK Command Line

       Flash Video MX Command Line

       FLV2SWF Command Line

       Picture Grabber Command Line

Moyea Flash Video MX SDK COM

       Encoder Object

       EncodingTask Object

       VideoInfo Object

       License Object

       FLV2SWF Object

       PictureGrabber Object

Moyea Task Dispatcher

User manual for Flash Video MX SDK and Moyea Task Dispatcher

2. Movavi Software Development Kit for Flash Video:

Movavi engine manager tool

Movavi engine service

Movavi interface library (COM object)

3. Video Encoder Engine for Adobe Flash (Windows Version)

Video Encoder Engine for Adobe Flash (Windows Version)

ASP, ASP.net and PHP source codes

Demos of video site in ASP, ASP.net and PHP environment

User manual for how to set up a video hosting site

4. Video to Flash Console 1.4

GeoVid Flash Player

Video to Flash Console

Input format:

1. Moyea Flash Video MX SDK: Windows Media (AVI, WMV, ASF, WMA, WAV, using any AVI/WM codecs like DIVX, XDIV, etc.); QuickTime (MOV, QT, DV, AAC, AIF/AIFF, using any QuickTime codecs) and MPEG (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MP3).

2. Movavi Software Development Kit for Flash Video: AVI (DivX, XVid), MPEG (1, 2, 4), MP4, 3GP, 3GP2, WMV, MOV (QT), VOB

3. Video Encoder Engine for Adobe Flash (Windows Version): AVI, MPEG, MPG, MPE, DAT, VOB, WMV, ASF, ASX, MP4, MOV, 3GP, 3G2, 3GPP, DV, QT, RM, RMVB

4. Video to Flash Console 1.4: Most of video files

Output format:

1. Moyea Flash Video MX SDK: FLV and SWF

H.263

       encoded as H.263 Flash video (*.flv)

       Video: H.263, Audio: MP3

VP6

       encoded as Flash 8 video (*.flv)

      Video: VP6, Audio: MP3

AVP6

       encoded as Flash 8 with Alpha video(Available in v2.3) (*.flv)

       Video: VP6, Audio: MP3

H.264

       encoded as H.264 MP4(Available in v2.3)(*.mp4)

       Video: H.264, Audio: AAC

2. Movavi Software Development Kit for Flash Video: Flash videos that is fully compatible with Adobe Flash Player 8 or later.

3. Video Encoder Engine for Adobe Flash (Windows Version): FLV videos

4. Video to Flash Console 1.4: FLV and SWF

Interfaces to other applications:

1. Moyea Flash Video MX SDK: Command Line and COM Component

2. Movavi Software Development Kit for Flash Video: It does have an interface for adding tasks to the converter and monitor converter operating.

3. Video Encoder Engine for Adobe Flash (Windows Version): Command Line

4. Video to Flash Console 1.4:  Command Line

Compatible Programming Languages

1. Moyea Flash Video MX SDK: Available with two different interfaces: a COM component and a Command line, making it usable from virtually any programming language like VB, VBScript, Delphi, C++, PHP, C#, PERL, VB, ASP/ASP.NETetc.

2. Movavi Software Development Kit for Flash Video: Supports popular scripting languages using COM technology: C/C++/C#, .NET (Visual Basic), ASP, PHP, Python, Perl, and others

3. Video Encoder Engine for Adobe Flash (Windows Version): ASP, ASP.Net, PHP, Perl and etc.

4. Video to Flash Console 1.4: Not specified

Other functions for the output:

1. Moyea Flash Video MX SDK:

Watermark adding: Both image (JPG/TIFF/GIF/BMP/PNG) and text watermarks are supported.

Video settings: Frame rate，bit rate, size, keyframe, brightness, contrast, video fade-in/fade-out and so on.

Screen capturing: Users can capture images as thumbnails for the output video.

Editing functions: Cropping, trimming, merging, deinterlacing, brightness and contrast adjustment, volume control, audio replacement, etc.

Control while encoding: With some settings, a task still can be paused, resumed or canceled by commands as it is processing.

Task Dispatcher helps to control and dispatch the tasks automatically. Keep the tasks convert in order.

Examples of what the site would be like with the application you make.

2. Movavi Software Development Kit for Flash Video

Allows to run/stop a converting service.

Customizable output quality, video and thumbnail image sizes

Smart Queuing limits the number of simultaneously converted files and prevents site hang-ups.

Lets site visitors upload videos using an HTML form.

3. Video Encoder Engine for Adobe Flash (Windows Version)

Watermark adding: All common image formats are supported including BMP, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and TIFF.

Thumbnail capturing: Generate thumbnails for the Flash video.

Video and audio settings: set bit rate, frame rate, sample rate, zoom the video size, adjust audio volume, crop video, etc.

4. Video to Flash Console 1.4

Preserve original aspect ratio.

Audio settings: Audio compression level; set audio quality; set video quality.

Video settings: Set keyframe, control video quality.

Watermark adding: Allow inputting logo file as watermark.

Bonus:

1. Moyea Flash Video MX SDK: Moyea Task Dispatcher

Moyea Task Dispatcher runs as a Windows Service, monitors the task queue and dispatches each of them in FIFO manner.

1. You can "Start", "Stop", "Pause" and "Continue" Service by using Moyea Task Dispatcher Manager.

2. Set the limit of memory usage, process priority and deadlock checking timeout for every task.

3. Set the number of simultaneous tasks, the interval of the status info refreshing and so on.

4. Examine Task Executer and path of the registered task.

5. Check and manage the running task.

2. Movavi Software Development Kit for Flash Video: The Interface of Movavi Engine.
It's used to add tasks to the converter and monitor converter operating.

3. Video Encoder Engine for Adobe Flash (Windows Version): Full source code of live demo sites written in ASP, ASP.net and PHP with detailed SDK documents and tutorials are provided in its Help content.

4. Video to Flash Console 1.4: GeoVid Flash Player