The Flash FLVPlayback component, not “that” great (as I earlier said…)
May 3rd, 2007 by 
Jaap Kooiker
Using the FLVPlayback component and streaming is great….if your using flash media server. But I wanted to test it with the open-source flash server red5, and that is a problem.
In order to use the FLVPlayback component with Flash Communication Server or Flash Media Server, you will need to update your server-side application script.
Apparently such a script is needed to create a SIML XML file wich contains the server location, application name, instance name and video files. Sometimes (like mine) you don’t have the opportunity to place such a file on the target server.
I have read many posts here and there where people were asking themselves what they we’re doing wrong, because the flash help exactly describes how to setup the component. Well, your not doing much wrong, it just fails to tell people the quote above.
So if your not using flash media server don’t use the FLVPlayback component, instead use the video class (also shipped with flash) and pack this with your own player class. This way you can create your own NetConnection, NetStream and controls. The only downside is that it is far more work to create a simple FLV player.
Jaap Kooiker
Posted in Actionscript 2.0, Did you know?, Flash 8, Flash Video | 
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:02 am
If you’re talking about the Flash 8 Video component, it never was that great, very heavy and always awkward to use… build your own, it’s worth it in the long run.
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:37 am
I totally agree with you Martin. At my work we’ve build our own. But I wanted to see what the capabilities are for this component. Turns out I’ll keep using our own.
Thanx for the comment…
May 14th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
SMIL, not SIML is not a required source by the FLVPlayback component for streaming via FMS. Read the documentation before making such statements.
If you specify an HTTP URL, the FLV file plays as a progressive download. If you specify a URL that is an RTMP URL, the FLV file streams from Flash Media Server or FVSS. A URL to an XML file could also be a streaming FLV file from Flash Media Server or FVSS.
SMIL has been around since Flash 8.
- MaTT
May 15th, 2007 at 7:17 am
Still, the component doesn’t work right away when using red5 as media server…
November 27th, 2008 at 12:21 am
Do you know any good tutorial to create FLV player with out using FLVPlayback component ?