Do I have to specify connection speed in my streaming audio/video recording software?
Specifying your connection speed is very important, whether you have a broadband or a dial-up connection.
The quality of the receiving stream depends on the connection speed you specify.
Some streaming media recorders use connection speed from your player like Windows Media Player or RealOne Player, other stream recorders allow you to select connection speed whether for all the streams or for every single media stream (please contact us if you experience problems in changing the connection speed).
Say for example that your connection speed is 33.6k and you're downloading a video clip that has two bit rates (speeds) listed in its header (28.8 kbps and 232 kbps). Some players for example RealOne Player allows you to see these speeds (Clip info/Clip source for the RealPlayer).
If you specified your connection speed at 33.6k or even 128k, than the 22.8k version of the video will be downloaded. This version will have a lower video and audio quality than the 232k version, but it'll be downloaded faster.
If you select 256k for your connection speed, the better quality 232k version will be downloaded but at a much lower rate.
Note that if you have a 33.6k connection, you won't be able to record/download any live stream at a speed of 232k or even 56k. As for the other streams (not live), they could be downloaded in many cases (no matter how much time it takes :).
Note that multiple bit rates are not always available on the same stream. If your connection speed is lower than the stream bit rate, you should probably search for another URL where a lower speed version of the stream is available.
Hint: Looking for an easy way to convert Youtube to MP3 or download YouTube Videos? Try Freecorder.
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