Adobe Media Server

Adobe Media Server

Adobe Media Server (formerly known as Flash Media Server) is a multimedia server designed to stream audio and video content to Adobe Flash and Adobe AIR applications. Adobe Media Server is developed by Adobe Systems and provides a comprehensive environment for delivering protected, high-quality live and on-demand content.

Overview

Adobe Media Server is built to work with traditional HTTP protocols as well as RTMP, a proprietary protocol developed by Macromedia (which was acquired by Adobe Systems). The server is capable of real-time communication, multi-way streaming, and high-quality audio and video delivery. It supports a range of video formats including H.264, AAC, and MP3, making it versatile for various media delivery needs.

Features

• Real-Time Media Flow Protocol (RTMP): Enables high-performance transmission of audio, video, and data between Adobe Flash Platform technologies.
• HTTP Dynamic Streaming (HDS): Offers adaptive bitrate streaming over HTTP to provide viewers the best possible experience.
• Protected Streaming: Incorporates content protection measures to safeguard media from unauthorized use.
• Digital Rights Management (DRM): Works with Adobe Access to provide a robust DRM solution for controlling content access and distribution.
• Live and On-Demand Streaming: Supports both live broadcasting and on-demand content delivery.
• Multicast Streaming: Reduces server and network load by simultaneously delivering live video to multiple users.

Applications

Adobe Media Server is used in a variety of applications, including:

• Video on demand platforms
• Live broadcasting of events
• Video conferencing
• Multiplayer online gaming
• Interactive applications and advertisements

History

Adobe Media Server has evolved through several versions, each adding new features and improvements over the previous ones. It started as Flash Communication Server, then renamed to Flash Media Server to better reflect its multimedia capabilities. With the introduction of support for the HTML5 video and the broader Adobe video ecosystem, it was rebranded as Adobe Media Server.

Future and Legacy

With the phasing out of Adobe Flash at the end of 2020, the role of Adobe Media Server has shifted. It continues to support streaming to Adobe AIR applications and provides back-end support for HTML5 video delivery, adapting to the changing landscape of web technologies.

See Also

• Adobe Flash
• Adobe AIR
• Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP)
• HTTP Dynamic Streaming (HDS)
• Digital Rights Management (DRM)