ASX files

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Advanced stream redirecting
File extension : .asx
MIME type : video / x-ms-asf
Developed by: Microsoft



Advanced Stream Redirecting (ASX) and Windows Media Audio Redirecting are designed to flexibly combine and play WMV or WMA files in Windows Media Player . Similar to SMIL , playlists can be generated with these files or advertisements can be embedded in the playback. ASX / WAX files are text-based collections of customized XML tags that each access certain functions of Windows Media Player. Often these files are also referred to as Windows Media Metafiles.

Microsoft now recommends using the .WVX file extension instead of .ASX.

One possible use of the ASX format, derived from XML, is the generation of files that refer to video and audio content. ASX files contain the address of the content to be played and can be sent as an attachment to e-mails or saved on the hard drive. Even more complex functions can be implemented similarly to SMIL:

  • Specification of alternative URLs that are called up if an address cannot be reached
  • Definition of a playlist from several clips for a presentation
  • Inserting advertising elements, banners or logos in a presentation
  • Play a short preview before the main presentation
  • Adding descriptive meta information to the content

ASX version 1

ASX files were introduced by Microsoft for the same reason as RealNetworks' RAM files: In the past, many browsers had problems recognizing different file types and protocols. In order to prevent the risk of content not being able to be downloaded, ASX files were used to reference content on the servers. ASX Version 1 provides exactly this functionality.

ASX version 2

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ASX version 3

ASX Version 3 as part of Windows Media Tools 4.0 has been extended by the following features:

  • Playlists
  • Overwriting the metadata of a referenced ASF file: The information on title, author, copyright, etc. Ä. of the ASF file can be "overwritten" by the corresponding information in the ASX file.
  • Advertising: Clickable advertising banners can be displayed in the media player at certain times.
  • Event Syntax: Methods for switching between a live broadcast and media files defined in a playlist. Sent script commands can be received during the live broadcast and seamlessly display media files in the live stream.

Example 1: playlist

Here is a simple ASX file in which the basic syntax can be seen. In Windows Media Player 2 files are retrieved one after the other from a streaming server. 

<asx version="3.0">
  <title>Test-Liste</title>
  <entry>
    <title>Lied</title>
    <author>Artist</author>
    <ref href="http://85.14.216.232:9000"/>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>NAME OF SONG</title>
    <author>NAME OF ARTIST</author>
    <ref href="THE URL OF THE MUSIC FILE"/>
  </entry>
</asx>

Example 2: Server or Protocol Rollover

ASX files can also be used to respond to connection or server problems. If an address in a <ref> element cannot be displayed, the player automatically tries to switch to one or more alternative URLs. Reasons for such connection problems are typically firewalls that block the streaming protocols MMS or RTSP . In u. G. For example, the first file would not be found and playback of the second URL would be blocked by a firewall. Hence, the third URL would be rendered over HTTP. 

<asx>
  <entry>
    <ref href="/media/notexistent.wmv"/>
    <ref href="mms://www.streaming-media.info/media/wm9_bb.wmv"/>
    <ref href="http://www.streaming-media.info/media/wm9_bb.wmv"/>
  </entry>
</asx>

Example 3: Overwrite metadata

In addition, metadata such as author, title, copyright, etc. can be stored in the ASX file. v. m. To be defined. These data apply either to the entire playlist or to a single <ENTRY> in the ASX file. In Windows Media Player this data is displayed in the footer or in the file properties. 

<asx version="3.0">
  <title>„Sample presentation“</title>
  <author>„Tobias Kuenkel“</author>
  <copyright>„(c)2003 Tobias Kuenkel“</copyright>
  <entry>
    <title>„Sample clip no 1“</title>
    <author>„Peter Meier“</author>
    <copyright>„(c)2000 PM“</copyright>
    <ref href="mms://server.de/pfad/datei1.wmv"/>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>„Sample clip no 2“</title>
    <author>„Hans Mueller“</author>
    <copyright>„(c)2000 HM“</copyright>
    <ref href="mms://server.de/pfad/datei2.wmv"/>
  </entry>
</asx>

Example 4: Advertisement

This simple example shows how an advertisement is displayed every 20 seconds in a live stream. 

<asx version="3.0">
  <title>„Sample presentation“</title>
  <author>„Tobias Kuenkel“</author>
  <copyright>„(c)2003 Tobias Kuenkel“</copyright>
  <repeat>
    <entry>
      <title>„researchchannel live (LAN)“</title>
      <author>„researchchannel“</author>
      <copyright>„© 2000 researchchannel“</copyright>
      <ref href="mms://media-wm.cac.washington.edu/uwtv live (LAN)"/>
      <duration value="0:20" />
    </entry>
    <entry>
      <title>„Advertisement“</title>
      <author>„Hans Mueller“</author>
      <copyright>„(c)2000 HM“</copyright>
      <ref href="http://www.server.de/pfad/wm_ad.wmv"/>
    </entry>
  </repeat>
</asx>

Download ASX video streams

There are various software solutions for downloading ASX video streams and making them available offline . These record the video stream and then make it available in a video file. This makes it possible, among other things, to first download a video stream if the bandwidth is low and then watch it later without jerking.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ z. B. the WM Recorder see www.wmrecorder.com or SDP MultiMedia see sdp.ppona.com .