Where to config to point to my own media node server?

[rahul286]

I can understand your concerns about our free service. As a user, I also avoid SASS many times and I want to have total control over my data.

I just want to clarify that our free plan has some premium upgrades from day-1. As of now, we have enough “silver” plan subscribers which are taking care of free users. So we are already “grabbing” (or getting) enough money to run this service.

media-node installation script is used like 1-2 times in a month. So I admit it might not be updated always. If a bug is reported, we solve it quickly. We are also using similar media-node for our free server. Rest, all headache can be skipped by using our installation service! We run human-checks and live-fixes so our installation service has more to it than simple running media-node installation script.

I already explained, our reason for using media-node. They are really our reasons. WordPress already has some plugins which might does what you need. You may try - http://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-video-posts/ . I did not check its code but from description it looks like they are directly converting videos from PHP.

We hope to add some new features to media-node this year. I hope, at that point, it’s existence will make more sense.

About “refund” - yes we do offer refund for all products as well as setup/installation services like media-node installations. It’s easier to offer refund than creating free version or “live-demo with admin access”.

Please free free to send if you have any questions or doubts.

[rtmike]

I am however a little confused about what I need in order to allow users to upload video.

Do I need both rtmedia pro AND ffmpeg addon? I am assuming that ffmpeg addon is for those who will not be using your conversion service and for those who are not running media-node?

So since I am running media-node, do I only need rtmedia addon?

[rtmike]

If anything, your previous reply makes me wonder why you are raising the price on rtmedia if you have plenty of users for it. Captured audience is the usual reason with the excuse that it costs a lot of money to maintain software.

[rahul286]

Let me explain step-by-step:

rtMedia (free)

1. rtMedia (free) is available from wordpress.org - http://wordpress.org/plugins/buddypress-media/
2. It has integration with our free encoding service - https://rtcamp.com/rtmedia/addons/audio-video-encoding-service/ (user can upgrade to premium plans if they want)
3. When I said “silver” users are making up for free-users, I was referring to running a dedicated encoding server for our SASS model service.

rtMedia-FFMPEG

1. rtMedia-FFMPEG is an addon for rtMedia.
2. This will be needed only when you want videos to be converted on your machine. It could be same machine or another machine.
3. rtMedia-FFMPEG uses media-node (from https://github.com/rtCamp/media-node ) to manage encoding-job queue.
4. rtMedia-FFMPEG cannot be used without media-node, hence we request users to try media-node setup before consider buying rtMedia-FFMPEG. Some users simply buy rtMedia-FFMPEG addon and also hire us for media-node setup.

About price increase

rtMedia-FFMPEG prices were increased from USD 49 to USD 99 long time back. It doesn’t has large user base.

Our free-encoding service has large user base and it remained free. In fact, we increased free quota sometime back after which some users downgraded from “silver” plan to “free” plan but it was fine.

Finally, we always grandfather old users. For example, those who purchased rtMedia-FFMPEG when it was at USD 49, will pay 50% of USD 49 for upgrades no matter what rtMedia-FFMPEG will cost at that point. Of course, upgrading is optional and most likely may not require in case of rtMedia-FFMPEG addon.

Our addons do not have any codes that will prevent them from functions after 1-year. They are fully GPL and also available via git.rtcamp.com (our github-like site for premium projects).

[rtmike]

I certainly appreciate the feedback.

My frustration comes from the fact that most software providers have moved to a subscription model which is causing the decline of small web sites on the internet because because simply cannot afford the never ending constant software costs while software companies are raking it in. I run a fair number of free non profit and other sites for people who cannot do it for themselves so the costs add up like you would not believe.
Also, yours is a different model, which I have to commend you on because most subscription based software providers never have stable versions, of course, to keep you in that never ending subscription loop. I’m happy to see that you don’t follow these practices.

If these things do what I need, I will more than likely purchase both and keep them going and for now, I need to wait for a reply in the forums asking some questions about BP and multi-blogs and still need to better understand what you just posted about the differences.

rtMedia (free)
//2. It has integration with our free encoding service – https://rtcamp.com/rtmedia/addons/audio-video-encoding-service/ (user can upgrade to premium plans if they want)\

So, the above only works with your encoding service but if I purchase the rtmedia-FFMPEG version, then I can use my own media-node server?
Buying the premium version of the above gives me premium features of rtmedia but still uses your encoding service?

rtMedia-FFMPEG
//2. This will be needed only when you want videos to be converted on your machine. It could be same machine or another machine.\

So, in order to use my own encoding server with rtmedia, then I need to purchase this?

Sorry but yes, it is still a little confusing

[rahul286]

No problem about confusion. I guess we need to work on documentation.

So, the above only works with your encoding service but if I purchase the rtmedia-FFMPEG version, then I can use my own media-node server?

rtmedia-FFMPEG version has to be used with own media-node server. Single media-node can be used for many sites running their own copy of rtmedia-FFMPEG plugin.

Buying the premium version of the above gives me premium features of rtmedia but still uses your encoding service?

rtMedia-FFMPEG will only offer a way to convert video on your own server (using media-node).

It has nothing to do with premium features offered by rtMedia-PRO https://rtcamp.com/store/rtmedia-pro/ or other rtMeida addons like photo-tagging https://rtcamp.com/store/rtmedia-photo-tagging/ or instagram addon - https://rtcamp.com/store/rtmedia-instagram/ .

As you are running multiple sites, I will recommend you to use free encoding service for most sites. This will save cost + reduce maintenance work (you need to worry about 1 less plugin and media-node setup also gets skipped).

I understand your concerns about data-control and privacy but I assume most non-profit sites will manage public media-files only.

Regarding never-ending cost… we really do not find it fair to charge for upgrades just because on calendar 365-days are passed! We should be paid only if we are constantly adding new features and giving updates even after a year.