concerned about flash project..

i m a bit worried to tell you the truth.

i making a flash cd-rom for a local music/media group and what ive been designing is pretty heavy in content, navigation and imagary.

they want about 6-8, one minute video clips as well as mp3's that the user can listen to whilst browsing. my main concern is size and speed of preformance. is it true that a preloader will actually work when booted from the cd? if so how long on average would it take to load on a standard cd drive?

the intro i have is nothing eloborate but its 17mb big !
(its this big because of desired image quality) the rest of the files are tiny incomparison, that is excluding the externally loaded video and mp3's that they want me to incorporate.

basically im in need of some advice to ascertain whether or not im going down the right road using flash, or should i use director?

the thing is im not that much of a dab hand with director as iam with flash, so all my nice actionscripted tweening and dynamic colour changing would all go out the window...

if anyone has some examples of completed flash cd-rom work they think really works, it would be greatly aapreciated to see some of them...

thanks..

Quote:

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Originally posted by therhomworkshop
i m a bit worried to tell you the truth.

i making a flash cd-rom for a local music/media group and what ive been designing is pretty heavy in content, navigation and imagary.

they want about 6-8, one minute video clips as well as mp3's that the user can listen to whilst browsing. my main concern is size and speed of preformance. is it true that a preloader will actually work when booted from the cd? if so how long on average would it take to load on a standard cd drive?

the intro i have is nothing eloborate but its 17mb big !
(its this big because of desired image quality) the rest of the files are tiny incomparison, that is excluding the externally loaded video and mp3's that they want me to incorporate.

basically im in need of some advice to ascertain whether or not im going down the right road using flash, or should i use director?

the thing is im not that much of a dab hand with director as iam with flash, so all my nice actionscripted tweening and dynamic colour changing would all go out the window...

if anyone has some examples of completed flash cd-rom work they think really works, it would be greatly aapreciated to see some of them...

thanks..

---

Hello,

I have the same dilema, we are using flash to build a promotional CDROM that would be distributed natiowide but with director we could get better sound and video quality. I found flash to be a bit unstable for CDROM but i am not very good at using director yet.

I was me too wondering if using a preloader with the CD that will load the big movies in the interface will work and how can u do?
Like maybe while the Intro page is playing all the movie files get loaded in the interface in the background.

Regards

Xav

i havent tried it, but apparently it does work.

just put a preloader at the begining of your movie and that should be all you need...

ive put one at the begining of mine but i havnt tried it burnt to a cd yet... might give it a try now...

Quote:

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Originally posted by therhomworkshop
i havent tried it, but apparently it does work.

just put a preloader at the begining of your movie and that should be all you need...

ive put one at the begining of mine but i havnt tried it burnt to a cd yet... might give it a try now...

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Let me know but will it work if you use loadmovie? as i call my movies and sound externally. I am not embedding them in the Flash file.

Regards

okay have just tried it and it seems fine, it didnt actually do any loading, it auto-ran the cd (with the auto.inf file i made) quickly showed my finished loading screen then played the 18mb intro with no problems... however this is on a amd 1.2 gb PC, i really need to see what it looks like, or even if it works on a MAC.

Thanks, Indeed test it on slow machine we tested our cd on slow machine and it did get Jerky.

X

Another thing to keep in mind is that the PC Autorun will not work on MAC.

The CD must be burnt from a MAC for autorun to work on a MAC. I have yet to do it but apparently MAC adds the autorun files when it burns a CD if you check that feature.

All of your actionscripting should work fine on a CD-ROM including the preloader.

to my knowledge A preloader WILL NOT work on a CDROM.
The flash player loads everything into RAM first,
so you dont want to have a very large file for your inital
flash.
You can make Flash CDROMS ok, but the bet thing to do is to create a smallish inital interface or what ever, that loads your other stuff into it. That way the inital wait to boot your file, (as it is loading into flash) will not be too long.
A 17MG file is pretty big for the intial load, and you could get a long wait befor the projector boots up of the cd drive.
Generally speaking director deals with all this stuff better, but it is possible to do it with Flash, you just wanna make sure that you break your files up and dont have a large inital file.

Also gingerbread girl is right, need to burn off a mac to get autorun on a MAC, Toast is the best for doing hybrid or cross platform autorun cds.

there a quite a few other threads that touch on these issues, so have a good hunt, around the boards, on MX and in the standalone player section.

cheers

To summarize:

Create an empyt movie with the same background and size as your main movie. The only frame on this movie will be actionScript:

stop();
loadMovieNum("yourMain.swf", 0);

Now your main movie is the _root, keep your levels and targets in mind - this is the one thing that catches everybody, it can be a bit confusing. I use level addressing to avoid confusion. This will load you movie much faster (as mentioned above).

Check my post on the Mac forum on how to make the hybrid cross platform CD.

http://board.flashkit.com/board/show...hreadid=231315

This was written for audio/Flash - but most of it still aplies to what your doing.

5G

The only difference from mac and pc is autorun and autostart when starting a CD. If you're gonna be doing lots of CD work its worth checking out:

http://www.multidmedia.com/ and http://www.cdeverywhere.com/

Later.

Quote:

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Originally posted by jakeinomics
The only difference from mac and pc is autorun and autostart when starting a CD. If you're gonna be doing lots of CD work its worth checking out:

http://www.multidmedia.com/ and http://www.cdeverywhere.com/

Later.

---

I just found out that MAC doesnt open .exe unless it has a special program. What do you use for the file type? .swf? I also noticed on export options that you can make a MAC .exe. Is that worth using?

<SNIP>
Create an empyt movie with the same background and size as your main movie. The only frame on this movie will be actionScript:

stop();
loadMovieNum("yourMain.swf", 0);
</SNIP>

Does this reduce the preceived load time because the CD ROM drive has already spun up? Hmmm. I suppose its a start at solving this problem that should be fixed in the player by using asych reads off the CD or a local drive.

Finally, for everyone using MP3 streaming audio (audio only or Audio/video) with the LoadMovie command, you'll run into the player "stuttering" problems that have been detailed extensively on these boards. That bug has still not been fixed in R50 of the Flash projectors. Just remember that if you're creating projects using LoadMovie to load SWFs with streaming audio, this bug will render your projects useless-at least until this bug is fixed! Hope this helps.

-Arjun

Arjun,

Are you referring to MX projectors? I've had no such problems streaming audio .swf's in F5 using this method.

Basically, you get the movie running so that when it does load more content, it has some place to put it. Into the movie.
5G

okay, this is a major problem if this is true...

ive got mx, and need to build a cd-rom mp3 player, am i going to be hampered by this stuttering problem?

any one had similar problems..?

or is there a way round it?

Hi,

The streaming MP3 problem doesn't seem to effect the Flash 5 projectors, just all current versions of the MX Projector. I haven't investigated in on the Mac, just Windows. So, it's hard to tell where the problem exists.

It seems like this problem is centered around the LoadMovie command. If you place streaming audio in-line into the SWF, then it seems to work. However, be prepared to have FLAs which are so large, that's its impossible to work with them efficiently.

Hopefully, this problem will be fixed soon since it makes the use of Flash MX as a multimedia CDROM platform useless! There's more info at this thread:

http://board.flashkit.com/board/show...hreadid=343101

and here:

http://board.flashkit.com/board/show...hreadid=335296

Hope this helps!

-Arjun

If the workaround is to make a .swf of the .mp3, this shouldn't be an issue. I convert the .mp3 to .wav (PC) or .aiff (Mac), import to the Flash timeline, then set you sound export settings in the Publish menu. I use 80-112kpbs for broadband.

The file size will be about the same as a standard .mp3 (5Meg for 3-4 minutes).

5G

Quote:

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Originally posted by Wheels
If the workaround is to make a .swf of the .mp3, this shouldn't be an issue. I convert the .mp3 to .wav (PC) or .aiff (Mac), import to the Flash timeline, then set you sound export settings in the Publish menu. I use 80-112kpbs for broadband.

The file size will be about the same as a standard .mp3 (5Meg for 3-4 minutes).

5G

---

If you use the LoadMovie command to load this exported SWF into a larger flash movie (like in a jukebox), you'll run into this problem. A streaming audio soundtrack loaded via LoadMovie causes this.

If you import the MP3 or WAV into the Flash authoring tool, Flash expands it to its full size. Import a few songs into an FLA and you're screwed on RAM consumption in the authoring tool. Finally, trying to export a movie from the Flash authoring tool will take forever, making development nearly impossible! Using external SWFs as assets in a large presentation makes workflow easier, but this bug negates all those benefits. Hope this helps.

-Arjun

so let me get this straight..

even if i make a swf file for every mp3 that i want to play (import them to the timeline, then export as swf) there is still a stuutering problem?

is this right?

or is this wrong?

Quote:

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Originally posted by therhomworkshop
so let me get this straight..

even if i make a swf file for every mp3 that i want to play (import them to the timeline, then export as swf) there is still a stuutering problem?

is this right?

or is this wrong?

---

If you use the LoadMovie or LoadMovieNum command to load the SWFs, you will run into this problem.

-Arjun

O.K.

There seems to be some confusion here, and much of what Arjun has said goes against my direct experience.

First, bringing an MP3 into Flash and exporting it as a .swf is a bad idea. Use either .wav or .aif. Flash is good at making MP3's but bad at compressing them even further. If you are going to use an .mp3 with Flash, leave it alone - do all of your compression outside of Flash first. But as I said, you are better off converting it back to .wav or .aif and then bringing it in.

Secondly, in the method I have described you are only bringing one sound track in to Flash and then exporting it as a .swf that will later be loaded dynamically using loadMoveNum() not loadMovie() (which is used in Flash 5 to load into a MC - not to a _level).

I have had no stuttering problems using this method (as I stated before).

Thirdly, the only reason you may "bloat" things is if you don't have a good sound card are enough RAM. I've never seen anything "bloat-up" on import. Either way, it can take up to 10 minutes to make a .swf this way. If you are getting any kind of stuttering with this method, try reducing the the sound stream setting in the publish settings.

Use the blank movie method I described and load your sound .swf's to the second movie on a level. You should have no problems.

5G

The stuttering problem is caused by the very use of LoadMovie or LoadMovieNum. Did you check out the other threads that I referred to? Finally, if you really., really want to see this problem, try using LoadMovie to load SWFs into a projector running on a CD. The slower the CDROM speed, the greater your chance of encountering this problem.

I hope you understand that is for the Flash MX/Flash 6 projector, not the Flash5 projector. In Flash 5, these techniques worked fine; its broken in the newest version.

Finally, import a few 44kHz, 16bit Stereo WAVs into your FLA and you're in trouble. If you start with MP3, import a 128KBps MP# and watch that one explode to a 44kHz 16-bit Stereo WAV inside the Flash MX authoring tool.

[quot]Either way, it can take up to 10 minutes to make a .swf this way.[/quot]
Exactly why one would want to use LoadMovie. But, loading a SWF with Streaming audio is unreliable in the Flaxh MX/6 projector. What's the confusion?

-Arjun

Yes Arjun,

I agree, MX is not the solution for projector delivery of streaming audio or video at this time. I thought you had covered that.

I was recommending Flash 5, and not trying to bring a .mp3 into Flash to export as .swf (which is basically an .mp3 in Flash wrapper) - but rather convert it to .wav or .aif first (which are large files) but do compress nicely when exported as a .swf. Recompressing an .mp3 is always a bad method and will give your diminished results every time.

So the confusion was: will he have problems trying to convert the .mp3's to .swf then using loadMovie in MX - the answer - yes. Will you have these problems when using an .aif or .wav to .swf in Flash 5 using loadMovieNum? No.

5G

I've been running into the same problem. I have a standalone .exe that loads .mp3 files to narrate each "screen" in this CBT. The problem is inconsistent, i can't make it happen on command. It has never happened to my laptop(dell latitude) which is faster than the problem IBM laptops. The audio is not streamed just loaded and then played. So it'll be going along and then the audio stutters and cuts out.

Now i read that a loaded mp3 (streaming or not) is cached in the browser when using the plug-in. I'm wondering has anyone tried to increase the available storage via the right click options menu for the standalone exe. to see if it helps. Maybe it's a memory problem. I've done it but i can't recreate the problem consistently to see if i actually fixed it.-e

thanks everyone...

will try what you suggest wheels, i have done this before in flash 5 but this was a web based project so it just streamed from the server...

will try this and test it thoroughly,

thanks again for the advice...

Make sure to check the link I posted on the first page of this thread.

5G

wheels,

earlier you mentioned about using a smaller swf file with just actionscript telling the player to load another movie...

just wanted to know is there any point putting a preloader on this ?

do preloaders work on cd's ? some people say they do others say they dont... whats the score ?

also ive managed to make the cd drive icon (pc) change to the one for the project, but how do i actually change the icon of the flash.exe file on the disc ? also how do i do all this icon changing on a mac ?

i apologize for asking more questions...

thanks..

How did you change the CD icon? I actually had problems with that on both Mac and PC and never followed up on it. Please share it and I'll get it into the new FAQ.

To change the other icon you just add this to your autorun command.

Code:

---

[AutoRun]
open=ShanePC.exe
icon=support/bluesky.ico

---

As far as changing the Mac icon, you'll need to get Resedit (Mac) http://www.versiontracker.com there is more info on how to do this in the Mac forum.

As far as preloaders go, I've never tried one on a CD - maybe someone else?? The word seems to be that it's not possible.

basically i used exactly the same code you have there..
this would change the cd drive icon but not the flash.exe icon.. strange... know why this may be?

Makes sense, I thought you said you had changed the projector icon. I know it's possible, but I'm not sure how. Check the projector forum or Macromedia's site.

I tried doing it on the desktop, got it to work on my machine but not the CD.

5G

no you cant do a preloader on a cd, cos of the way the flash player works on cd it loads everything into ram first anyway, so you wold only see a flash of your preloader and then your movie would start.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Wheels
Makes sense, I thought you said you had changed the projector icon. I know it's possible, but I'm not sure how. Check the projector forum or Macromedia's site.

I tried doing it on the desktop, got it to work on my machine but not the CD.

5G

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I think you need a program called exescope. I did it a long time ago and still have the program but forgot how to use it. There is a tutorial out there somewhere.

cheers gingerbread girl downloaded the program you suggested and it works fine ! !

need to see if it works okay on cd though...

found out how to do this on a mac as well... check out the instructions below.. thanks to jake@firebox...

"simply edit the icon 32x32 pixels in photoshop, indexed color using mac system palette, save with icon (i think he means with icon extension eg. start.icon) select file, get info, select icon, copy, select file you want to copy icon to, get info, select icon, paste"

he said for more complex stuff head over to http://www.iconfactory.com....

ave'nt tried it yet, as i avnt got a mac, would any one like to try it to see if it works..? would love to know if it does...

thanks again everyone..

arrgghhh ! !

it works on my hard drive but not when burnt to CD.. ! !

it just appears with the defdault exe icon, you know the blue rimmed window box...

anyone got any suggestions..?

Quote:

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Originally posted by therhomworkshop
arrgghhh ! !

it works on my hard drive but not when burnt to CD.. ! !

it just appears with the defdault exe icon, you know the blue rimmed window box...

anyone got any suggestions..?

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okay ive managed to do it now... basically i didnt re-write the cd properly... doh!

also found this neat plugin for mac and pc called iconbuilder, check it out at the iconfactory link above if you dont already know about it...

Nice job homshop!

Make sure and remind me to add your methods to the new FAQ when you see it come up, better yet - add it to the unofficial now and I'll just move it over later.

http://board.flashkit.com/board/show...hreadid=356715

5G

okay im offically scared...

i tried out my intro on an new ibook today and it looked really really bad.. like it just stutter's along, looking like it was about to crash...!!!

why is there such a massive preformance difference between mac's and pc's when it comes to the flash player? its ridiculus !!! im constantly told that mac's are better for graphics and video, but this just takes the piss ! !

am gona try using a HQX projector file next to see if that may work. will have to allocate it a s**t load of memory though..

am seriously thinking of porting over to director though, flash seems just a little to slow on mac's for my liking..

will let you know how i get on..