Web streaming services like UStream.tv and Livestream (previously known as Mogulus) use a Flash applet to capture audio and video signals on source computer. Media stream is encoded by Flash and sent over to broadcasting server. Currently this approach has two shortcomings:

1. Flash applet audio capture is very limited: only one device a time, only one stereo channel pair and doesn’t support devices without volume level mixer. It doesn’t allow any advanced setup like multi-channel digital mixers.
2. Audio and video are encoded on the fly and no local copy is recorded. Streaming services offer server-side recording, but after downsampling and packet loss, quality is very low. Even worse: any connection fault will interrupt your recording.

Read the rest of this entry »