Hello,

I am trying to understand conceptually the best way to deliver real streaming audio and video content. I would want it to be consumed with a web browser, utilizing the least amount of proprietary technology. I wouldn't be serving static files and using progressive download, this would be real audio streams being captured live. How does one broadcast a stream that will be reasonably in sync with the source? What kind of protocol is suitable?

Edit:

In research I've found that there are a few protocols: RTSP, HTTP Streaming, RTMP, and RTP.

HTTP streaming is somewhat unsuitable if you are streaming a live performance/communication of some kind because it relies on TCP (as its HTTP based) and you don't lose packets. In a low bandwidth situation, the client can get significantly behind in playback. ref

RTMP is a proprietary technology, requiring flash media server. Crap on that. The reason I looked at flash is because they are extremely flexible as far as user experience goes. SoundManager2 provides an excellent javascript interface for playing media with flash. This is what I would look for in a client application.

RTSP/RTP is what Microsoft switched to using, deprecating their MMS protocol. RTSP is the control protocol. Its similar to HTTP with a few distinct difference -- server can also talk to the client, and there are additional commands, like PAUSE. Its also a stateful protocol, which is maintained with a session id. RTP is the protocol for delivering the payload (encoded audio or video). There are a few open sourced projects, one of them being supported by apple here. It seems like this might do what I want it to, and it looks like quite a few players support it. It sounds like it would be suitable for a "live" broadcast from this page here.

Thanks, Josh