Open Source Video Platforms Kaltura Vs. Entermedia
So the big question is which one is better.
Well, that would be like asking which is better, Oranges or Apples.
There are some instances where you would not use oranges to make an apple pie or add apples to orange juice.
OK, maybe apples in your orange juice is ok, if you like that kind of thing.
But back to which one is better Kaltura or Entermedia. Well, they overlap each other in some areas but they really are exceptional in their own execution of services and what they can provide.
Entermedia is primarily an Open Source Digital Asset Management (DAM) system. What does this mean… it means in a nutshell that you will be able to have all your assets like video, images and audio available in one place that can be quickly and easily accessed and searched for use in creation of other media or projects like print, flyers or web development. Think of it as a depository like you would when using Expression Media Reader.
We will shortly get into where Entermedia and Kaltura overlap.
Now Kaltura.
Kaltura is an OPEN SOURCE VIDEO PLATFORM DELIVERY SYSTEM. What this means is that it is built for delivery of content to your website and allow you to edit, develop customization, analytical tracking and control of how the public consumes the content. Both platforms are free and open to all, meaning no license fees, no worry or issues with modification of the code to fit your needs, enhancements are encouraged and rewarded with credit by both companies.
So where is the overlap? What is the difference? Let’s first go into the overlap.
Both allow you to control and manage your content. You can upload files, video, images and even sound files. Both allow you to quickly and easily embed these assets into your sites by simply “copying and paste” methods.
Both are used by major companies and universities.
Entermedia and Kaltura both allow for you to quickly build out multimedia websites from templates and the ability to pick your video player of choice for those sites.
In a pinch, Kaltura can also act as a Digital Asset Management solution, supporting ingestion, transcoding and management workflows for documents.
Features include:
• Document upload in multiple formats (MS Office, OpenOffice)
• Conversion of documents into web friendly formats (PDF, SWF), making them available through any browser and not limited to software installation
• Integration of documents and video into Kaltura’s PowerPoint widget
This is where the overlap ends for our use of these platforms.
We are not close to having these two platforms doing all the same things, and the languages required to modify and properly service them is greatly different. Since it is open source there are tons of resources available for you to dig through and troubleshoot issues should they arise. My dealing with the past build of Kaltura has been that once you get the platform to a stable state, you walk away. No need to touch it again. You work totally within its GUI and backend Administration area.
The differences are as follows.
ENTERMEDIA
Entermedia is JAVA based. Peter is able to administer the system in its current state, but any further development for richer use would require assistance from Entermedia and the rates for support are about $20,000 for the year and go up from there. With proper resources and dedication of time as well as some support from Entermedia, we can get the platform to a fully functioning digital asset platform, that would service all of Yeshiva University for its need for images, audio and video. Peter Robertson would be better equipped to answer any other questions you may have about service and support for Entermedia.
KALTURA
Kaltura is PHP based but only a handful of us are capable of feeling comfortable dealing with the code and any modification. Kaltura seems easier to deal with once you have become comfortable with PHP than dealing with JAVA. The cost of running Kaltura CE (Community Edition is the Open source version) is variable. Hosting it with them would immediately allow for us to get up and running and the charge would be $299 per month and go up from there. It can get just a pricey as Entermedia if we host with them, but the payoff is instant. We would only have to worry about learning the administration of the system, rather than building out a box and configuring it correctly.
Detailed pricing and features can be found here: http://corp.kaltura.com/video_platform/editions_and_pricing
If we decide to build our own box, the costs drop dramatically. Since it is open source, and I have built this server in an older version, we would save money by the bucketful, but at what cost. The downside is that we would have no support other than in house and forums to assist with any issues we may encounter initially or in the future. Going this way would require a commitment to time, patience and resources. But it is possible.
Kaltura:
SOME OF ITS CAPABILITIES:
MEDIA UPLOADER and IMPORT WIZARD
Kaltura offers a simple-to-use media upload and/or import wizard, which allows users to add videos, photos, and audio files in a wide variety of formats. The wizard supports:
• Rich-media upload from computer
• Rich-media import from different media sources
• Social media access – publishers can access their personal accounts on various leading sites and directly import their media (Flickr, company folders etc.)
• Import media from any site
• Record media from webcam and microphone
• Publishers can add tags and keywords to their media as part of the upload/import process
• User Controlled. You upload it, you modify it to your liking, and you use it. SAMPLE LINK IS HERE: http://corp.kaltura.com/video_platform/content_ingestion#uploader
Email Upload
Using this feature, publishers can allow users to upload media (videos/audio/image) via email, simplifying the workflow of UGC content so that any user with a Smartphone can easily upload content.
• Support for multiple emails per publisher, with option to assign content ingested per email to a specific category (e.g., sports@example.com content assigned to category: Sports, fashion@example.com content assigned to category: Fashion)
• Publisher can define default values for metadata (Title, Description, Category, Tags, Admin tags, Transcoding Profile id, Partner data) per upload email address
• Out-of-the-box support for moderation (mandate moderation before publishing the uploaded content) SAMPLE LINK IS HERE: http://corp.kaltura.com/video_platform/content_ingestion#email_upload
• Video Management http://corp.kaltura.com/video_platform/video_management
• Bulk video Uploading. Bulk upload includes all content metadata, including support for custom metadata fields defined through the Kaltura management console. Publishers can configure exact settings for each content item, including selecting the appropriate transcoding profile, access control profile, scheduling start and end date and setting video thumbnail.
Desktop Loader
The Desktop Uploader is an application for Windows and Mac specifically designed for better and faster handling of ingestion of large files. Features include:
• No “lock-in” of user during upload
• Files are encoded before upload, reducing upload time
• File upload can be resumed in the case of connection failure
• Faster uploads
• Automatic updates
• Notifications in system tray
• Can be integrated into customers’ authentication and users system
These are only a few of the features that will jump out at you when you first try the system but there are many more available.
It even has an Adaptable 508 Video Player.
Of course theses features will increase the monthly fee or the development time should the decision to build it in house be reached.
100% compatible with WORDPRESS AND JOOMLA.
Here is a clip to demonstrate some more of its capability.
KATURA DEMO VIDEO: http://corp.kaltura.com/video_platform/overview
CURRENT USE: NONE, ONLY FOR DEMO PURPOSES
Entermedia:
SOME OF ITS CAPABILITIES:
• Enterprise ready Open source digital asset management solution used to track, manage and share digital assets online.
• Platforms Supported – Linux, Windows, OS X, Solaris
• Unlimited Users – No software restrictions
• 100% Web Based – Works with any supported browser
• Client Licenses – No Client License needed
• Drag and Drop – Users can drag and drop files from other applications directly into EnterMedia and have records created for them. (WebDav)
• Web Content Management integration – Brand your DAM solution for your needs using EnterMedia Themes
• Versioning – automatic version storage for edited files
• Storage for – images, videos, audios, documents, HTML, CSS, XML and more
• Video Support – Uploaded videos are encoded into a compatible format, allowing in-browser video previews
• Audio Support – Play audio files in your browser directly from EnterMedia
• XMP, IPTC Support – EnterMedia will extract any available meta-data for you
• Multi-Record Editing – Edit meta-data for several records at once
• Multiple Catalogs – EnterMedia allows you to combine more than one catalog. Each “catalog” is essentially an entire instance of the OpenEdit Archive and can be customized with its own properties, views, layouts, and more.
• Simple Search and Advanced Search – Searches through 100,000’s of assets across multiple catalogs in milliseconds. Displays recommended and related search terms.
• Dynamic Search Query Builder – Add any available meta-data field to your search query on-the-fly.
• Thesaurus – searches and collects synonyms. Displays recommended and related search terms.
• Saved Searches – Save common search queries and run them any time.
• Granular Permissions – Giving you more control over your Digital Asset Management solution
• Display – List or Gallery Views
• LDAP Support – authenticate users with a pre-existing LDAP server or use EnterMedia’s own user and group system
• Watermarking – protect your copyrighted images
• Cropping, Scaling, and Rotating – basic image manipulation tools
• Batch Upload/Download – Upload entire collections at once
• Drag-and-Drop Upload Interface – makes adding assets even easier
• Immediate download of originals and zipped assets
• Data Stored in XML – No database required
• Built in Synchronization for remote locations – easily keep several instances up-to-date
• Albums – Create, save, publish, and share customized albums
• Pluggable Database Storage feature – Use XML, MySQL, SQL, or any other database as your back-end
• RSS Feeds
• CSV Exports – export report or search results to spreadsheet format
• Reporting – See what your users are searching for and what they are downloading
• Multi-Language Support
• Image Orientation Detection: EnterMedia will check for information about the orientation of your images, as well as allow you to adjust the orientation yourself
• PDF Previews – preview any page of a multi-page PDF document
• Image/Document Conversions – Hundreds of standard conversion formats: ImageMagick + Adobe Formats
• Video Conversions – Create Flash previews of many FFMPEG compatible formats
• Online Player for MP3 Audio – Support for conversions using LAME encoder
• OpenEdit software and releases are listed under GNU Lesser General Public License
CURRENT USE:
• Currently it is available as a repository for staff and users to search for available images, videos and audio files. They are capable of uploading new assets and they are held for approval before they are made available for consumption.
This is the only use for this platform at the current time. Entermedia is currently in production on a limited use and can be access by this URL below for your media needs. The current stock is limited in choices, but Peter is adding new content every two days or so and the catalog will grow as time goes by.
A video presentation is available here: http://entermediasoftware.com/demo-videos2.html
So which one is better? I guess it depends on what your budget is and what language you are comfortable using, because modification and setup is required with both platforms. Tell me what you think by posting your comments and let the battle continue.