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Amazon s3 video hosting help.

by Newbieee
12 replies
Hi guys,

Is it me or its just so hard to understand. lol.
Im a normal non-tech guy.


And i dont understand how does Amazon s3 works, and how to set up or even start with them.

I contacted their support and they ask me to ask my developer, or they could help if i were looking for a partner ship with them or soemthing liek that.

On the website, nothing to explain how to host it there.

And their calculator to estimate the monthly cost... i dont understand what to input at each field. lol.

Need some help from ppl who have used amazon s3/cloudfront to host their videos.

Many Thanks!
#amazon #hosting #video
  • Profile picture of the author NatesMarketing
    Amazon S3 is basically a file host.

    Pricing is as follows -
    - Storage (This is to store files...it is not dealing with bandwidth)
    -- Up to 1TB is $.095 per GB on Standard Storage
    -- Up to 1TB is $.076 per GB on Reduced Redundancy Storage

    Basically...the difference between the two is that with SS they have your files hosted in multiple location...so if one of their locations spontaneously combusts...they have your files at another location. Whereas with RRS, they only have your files at one place...and if that place spontaneously combusts...you'll lose your files.

    SS Guarantees like 99.9999999999% your files will always exist
    RRS Guarantees like 99.99% your files will always exist

    Then you have Data Transfer (This is the bandwidth)...basically up to 1GB a month is free. Then up to 10TB a month is $0.12 per GB.

    I don't really worry about the "Request Pricing"...it's basically pennies.

    So...it's very cheap.
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  • Profile picture of the author OrangeBull
    I recommend Libsyn over S3 if you are going to get A LOT of bandwidth usage.

    S3 and cloudfront are good for low bandwidth, but if you are going to have a million views of a 100 MB file, Libsyn would be better than S3 price wise, although you have a fairly substantial monthly fee with Libsyn even if you don't use a lot of bandwidth.

    There are several products that make s3 easier to use for video. Do a search and you will find them.
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    • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
      Okay im still clueless to be honest.

      WHen it comes to this kind of things, im "stupid" haha!

      So pls pardon me.

      But this is what i know.

      I have 5gb of videos.
      And if i have around 50 members to start off with from all over the world.

      How much will s3 cost me?

      Because i see Vimeo is charging $9.90 per month.

      Anyone knows?
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      • Profile picture of the author NatesMarketing
        It will depend how much is viewed.

        Storage on SS will be $0.47 a month
        Storage on RRS will be $0.38 a month

        Bandwidth for 50 users @ 5GB per user = $30/month
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        • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
          Originally Posted by NatesMarketing View Post

          It will depend how much is viewed.

          Storage on SS will be $0.47 a month
          Storage on RRS will be $0.38 a month

          Bandwidth for 50 users @ 5GB per user = $30/month
          lets just say each one of them theoretically watched it once.

          So for 50 users, i would be paying $1500 ??!! [that seems VERY expansive]
          haha how come many people say s3 is cheap. ? :confused:


          Edited: oh sry, im like falling aslp, i think i read wrongly, altogether for 50 users i would be paying $30 right? haha my bad
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          • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
            But Nate,

            Its still quite ex right?

            If they view it twice, i would be paying $60/month..

            Vimeo charges $9.90 per month, or $199 per year for Pro version.

            In that case s3 doesnt seem that cheap as compared to what people seem to be saying. ?
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            • Profile picture of the author NatesMarketing
              Yeah, $30 for 50 people to view 5GB of video one time.

              Unless it's stored in their cache...they would download it twice if they viewed it twice. So that would bump it to $60/mo. You are correct.

              As for Vimeo, I have not used it, but if it offers you everything you need and only costs $10/mo -> that may be the better option.

              People like S3 because they have TOTAL control over how their videos are played. They can pick the players, customizations, locations, etc. Tho, it looks like Vimeo has a lot of options as well.

              So yeah, it may be best to save yourself $20/mo and go with Vimeo.
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      • Profile picture of the author WillR
        Originally Posted by Newbieee View Post

        I have 5gb of videos.
        And if i have around 50 members to start off with from all over the world.
        5GB is a lot of downloads per user. If you try to offer them on your server you will be screwed.

        I would actually be more concerned about your potential members. I really can't see many people wanting to download 5GB worth of videos. Are they just training videos? That's a hell of a lot of videos.
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        • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
          Originally Posted by WillR View Post

          5GB is a lot of downloads per user. If you try to offer them on your server you will be screwed.

          I would actually be more concerned about your potential members. I really can't see many people wanting to download 5GB worth of videos. Are they just training videos? That's a hell of a lot of videos.
          hahaha hi WillR, you are right, if i host them on my own, i will be screwed, thats what my hosting company said, i have to get a private server or something.

          Anyway the 5Gb is a gauge for me to calculate and estimate how much i need to pay.
          Because its a membership site with training videos.

          I will be giving content over at least 3 terms and maybe even more.
          Thus the 5gb video estimation. =)
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    Cool ok.

    Well 5GB is still a LOT of video.

    But that aside, make sure you allow your members to download the videos. That's one tip I can give you. That way they are only accessing the file once. If you instead make people stream the video inside your members area, they will be downloading the video each time and causing you unnecessary bandwidth. Not allowing people to download your video doesn't prevent people from sharing them as some people might tell you. If people want to share your stuff they will. Just make sure you have your url inside the video so if they do, it's free advertising for you.

    Anyway, I have been using Amazon S3 for the last 3 years and have been running numerous membership sites. I've never had an issue with them and I have never found the cost to be outrageous. I think they are great value for money.

    If you are going to be offering 5GB of downloads then maybe it's your access or membership fee that needs to be revised accordingly so the Amazon fee won't be such an issue.
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  • Profile picture of the author seobro
    I spent hours today setting up amazon aws. It is hard to use. Well, it certainly is not so easy. What is with amazon any way. Wish they were more helpful, but there you go.

    Oh yes, go with vimeo. I have use vimeo for years. Like it is super.
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    • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
      Originally Posted by WillR View Post

      But that aside, make sure you allow your members to download the videos. That's one tip I can give you. That way they are only accessing the file once. If you instead make people stream the video inside your members area, they will be downloading the video each time and causing you unnecessary bandwidth. Not allowing people to download your video doesn't prevent people from sharing them as some people might tell you. If people want to share your stuff they will. Just make sure you have your url inside the video so if they do, it's free advertising for you.
      Thanks for the tip man.
      I was indeed thinking of that concern of piracy.
      But yes S3 does allow you to make ur videos downloadable right?

      Originally Posted by WillR View Post

      If you are going to be offering 5GB of downloads then maybe it's your access or membership fee that needs to be revised accordingly so the Amazon fee won't be such an issue.
      Yup definitely, thats why im trying to get a rough calculation of how much it would cost me.

      Originally Posted by seobro View Post

      I spent hours today setting up amazon aws. It is hard to use. Well, it certainly is not so easy. What is with amazon any way. Wish they were more helpful, but there you go.

      Oh yes, go with vimeo. I have use vimeo for years. Like it is super.
      This i can agree.

      I find it so hard to understand what it is, how it works, and how much to pay.
      And also how to start using it.
      Like i said, im dumb when it comes to this kind of things.
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