ConferenceXP

A versatile video conferencing tool for the

Performing ArtsJosé Feghali

Texas Christian UniversitySchool of Music

ConferenceXP – a brief history

• Project began at Microsoft Research in 2001

• Successful deployment for distance learning, Spring 2003

• First 4-way distance learning deployment Autumn 2004

• Center for Collaborative Technologies at UW established, July 2007

• August 2008, CXP 5.0 released

TCU/RAM Masterclass 2007

2008 Developments

• CXP 4 - audio limited to 22 Kbps• Uncompressed audio – possible?• It is all about buffers!• Sync Bonus = (compressed) video

with uncompressed audio, any audio source

• Up to 16 bits, 48 KHz stereo (and above?)

• Quality V/C ~ 3 Mbps (1.5 Mbps video)

• Uncompressed video and audio ~ DVTS

Proof of concept

>>>

CXP 5 AdvancedSettings

>>>

Venue Service

The Good • Free for educational and research use• Video/Audio independence with sync

adjust• Webcam, DV video or other video input• Internal and external audio• Low latency• Multicast, unicast, reflector service• Multipoint conferencing (bandwidth?)

with multiple compression levels• Multi-camera possibilities from one

location

• Security (venue password, encryption)• Nat/Firewall transversal, diagnostics• Ability to stream CXP session live (WM)• Archive service = recording + playback• “Bonus” features include chat,

presentation, whiteboard, screen sharing, video playback

• Intel Mac (iSight drivers from boot camp)

• Wiki, forums, listserver

The Good (cont.)

The Bad

• No DV audio (yet…) ** STOP PRESS**• Compressed DV video requires WMP10• VISTA use requires installing CODEC - may

not work with compressed DV video• Accurate testing = use two computers• High compression = high CPU usage

Usage Notes and Future

• Some firewire devices work, others don’t

• Metronome method for synching• .NET framework – archive requires

SQL• Firewall ports• DV video – lower than 720x480

resolution• High bandwidth = switch off FEC• Future plans: HD, multi-channel

audio (?), venue redesign – CXP 5.1 in March 2009

Links

• Downloads: http://cct.cs.washington.edu

• Source code:

http://www.codeplex.com/ConferenceXP

• Forums: http://forums.microsoft.com/MSR/

• Wiki: http://cct.cs.washington.edu/project-wiki/

• Projects:

http://cct.cs.washington.edu/community/

• Listserver: cct-announce-

request@cs.washington.edu

Paul Cortese – Assistant to the DirectorJuan Guillermo Vizcarra

THANKS!

• Fred Videon - CCT, U of W• Jason Van Eaton - Microsoft• Justin Trieger - NWS• Brian Shepard - USC• Richard Gipson - TCU School of Music• Paul Cortese - TCU School of Music

J.Feghali@tcu.eduwww.feghali.com