HI-PODCASTS User Manual
(Windows Version)

How to send live TV to millions people on the earth

This is quick guide on how to easily become a TV broadcaster on HI-PODCASTS.COM.

Table of Contents

Step 1. Download and Install Windows Media Encoder

Step 2. Sign Up for a HI-PODCASTS.COM Account

Step 3. Create a New Channel

Step 4. Start Broadcasting

* Step 4.1, Select a channel
* Step 4.2, Select a source
* Step 4.3, Select your internet connection
* Step 4.4, Broadcasting

Appendix: Advanced Options

Step 1. Download and Install Windows Media Encoder.

You will need this to encode videos to the proper format.
Windows Media Encoder can be downloaded here or here.
After downloading Windows Media Encoder, install it.

Step 2. HI-PODCASTS.COM Account

You need a HI-PODCASTS.COM account to be able to broadcast.

1. Go to http://hi-podcasts.com/register

2. Fill out the form. Click "Register"
3. HI-PODCASTS.COM will send out an activation email to you, and information for downloading the HI-PODCASTS software.

Step 3. Create a New Channel

Once you have your HI-PODCASTS.COM account, you are able to create a channel on the webpage.

1. Go to the Broadcaster Login on the HI-PODCASTS.COM homepage.

* Enter your User Name and password to login (this is the username and password that you created earlier and it is also in the email that you should have received)

*Click on the "Broadcast Services" tab at top of page to enter your channel information.

*Click "Create Channel"

2. Fill out the form. Click "Submit".

Now you are ready to broadcast.

(The BROADCASTS DETAILS tab at the top of the page is your username and password for the HI-PODCASTS SOFTWARE.  The BROADCASTS SERVICES Tab is your channel name information, which can be edited with the Username /Password that you just created.

IMPORTANT: That means that you have 2 sets of usernames/passwords: One set is to edit your channel information identity, the other set is used when starting up the HI-PODCASTS SOFTWARE.

Step 4. Start your Broadcast

Upon starting your broadcast, the sign-in page pops up, and a small blue icon appears in the tool tray.

Enter your registered email address and password, click "Please Sign In" to log in.

Step 4.1, Select a channel

From the drop down menu, select your channel to which you want to broadcast your signal.

If you do not have a channel or want to create a new one,

Fill out the form and click "Submit". Refresh the sign-in page, and the new channel name will appear in the drop down list. Select it.

Step 4.2, Select a source

Now you have three options.

1. Live audio/video option

For this option, you need to have your audio and video capture devices or board on your computer. Those capture devices include TV Tuner and webcam. Select the device you want from the pull-down menu.

2. Live stream option

If you already have a stream ready, you can simply check "Live Stream" and enter the stream URL.

3. File list option

HI-PODCASTS.COM can also broadcast video files.
Choose a file that you want to broadcast from the local machine. You can select Multiple files to create a playlist.

All files must be .WMV files, but the files may have different formats and bitrates. (For best results try to keep them similar in size.) Make sure the CBR (constant bit rate for the video is between 300-400). Make sure the audio is small as well: approximately 32kbit.

As the file plays and comes to an end, the next file begins. After all the files play that are in the list, then the files automatically loop during broadcasting.

By pressing the arrow icons on the right, you can change the order of the files. The cross icon lets you remove a file from the file list. Moreover, you are able to change files in the file list while broadcasting, for example inserting new files, changing the order of files, removing a file whether it’s currently being broadcast or not, etc.

To help you with your testing, we’ve provided this video file you can download to test your broadcast settings.

For file-based channels, you can provide program information (such as program name, description, actors, year of production, etc.) for each of your files.
To create program information for a file, add it to the file list in the Source tab, select the file, and then click the "P" button.

A page will come up that allows you to enter or edit the program information.

press "Save" when you finish inputting/editting.

For file-based channels, a TV Guide will be automatically generated when you start broadcasting.

If the file has program information, the program name will appear in the TV Guide. If there is no program information, the TV Guide will show "(unknown)". It's OK if some files have program information and others do not.

Step 4.3, Select your internet connection

HI-PODCASTS.COM will intelligently select the correct bandwidth according to your Internet connection speed.

Step 4.4, Broadcasting

Wait for the broadcasting to get ready. Then browse to the Monitor page.

On this page, you are able to monitor the status of your broadcast.

To stop broadcasting,

Important notes:
When you close the browser, the HI-PODCAST is still running in the background. You can double click the blue icon in the tool tray to reopen the webpage.

To exit the system, right click the blue icon and click "Exit".

Appendix: Advanced Options

Before broadcasting, you can also configure the advanced options.

Specify your broadcast port and target upload bandwidth, then press "OK". Broadcast port tells HI-PODCAST which port to transmit on. If not set, HI-PODCASTS.COM will pick the port itself. Target upload bandwidth instructs HI-PODCASTS.COM to try to optimize for a specific upload bandwidth. If not set, HI-PODCASTS.COM will make the best use of whatever bandwidth is available.

If your channel is a private channel, you will see a Private Key field on the Options tab.

The Ads tab is only visible for signed partners. In this tab, you can specify the number of 30-second ad slots that will be inserted after each file, then press "Apply" button. This number must be between 0 and 10. This option is only used if you are broadcasting files rather than using a live source.

For questions or support, contact: info@hi-pod.com