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If you have an ASI card that is compatible with Zixi[1], the ASI card will convert the ASI-MPTS stream to an IP/MPTS stream and transmit it to the Zixi BroadcasterZEC. By adding an ASI input stream, you can configure Zixi Broadcaster ZEC to listen to the specified ASI card from which the stream will be transmitted. Note that before the stream is inputted into Zixi BroadcasterZEC, the raw video has already been encoded and embedded into a transport stream wrapper. So, the ASI card in the Zixi Broadcaster ZEC inputs that transport stream signal and hands it over to the Zixi Broadcaster ZEC which natively understands transport stream.  This means that the ASI card in the Zixi Broadcaster ZEC is not doing any processing or changing the video, it is just taking it off of coax cable and providing to the system.

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To Add an ASI Stream:

  1. In the Zixi Broadcaster ZEC Navigation menu, click the Inputs tab.

  2. In the Menu bar, click New Input. The Add a new input stream window is displayed.

  3. Enter the unique Stream ID. Note: this must be identical (case sensitive) to the stream name configured in ZEC.

  4. Select the maximum concurrent connections to this stream from the Max. Outputs drop-down list. Default: Unlimited.

  5. Select the Show in Matrix check box to display this stream in the Matrix (see Using the Matrix). Default: Selected.

  6. Select ASI for the input stream.

    image (1).pngImage Removedimage.pngImage Added

  7. Specify the Stream Parameters (see Input Stream Parameters Table).

  8. If you want to Enable time shift, select this checkbox (see Input Stream Parameters Table).

  9. If you want to Transmit as multicast, select this checkbox (see Input Stream Parameters Table).

  10. If you want to Enable encryption, select this checkbox (see Input Stream Parameters Table). For more information, see Encrypting an Input Stream in Zixi Broadcaster.

  11. If you want to configure the Recording Parameters,specify them in the respective fields (see Input Stream Parameters Table).

  12. Click OK.
    The “Input added” message appears on the top of the screen. The ASI Stream is added to the Zixi Broadcaster and now appears in the list of streams available in the Zixi Broadcaster inputs UI.

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Parameter

Description

Stream Parameters

Card

select the available ASI card from the drop-down list. Only the physical ASI cards which have been installed on the machine will appear in the drop-down list.

Max bitrate

Specify the maximum expected bitrate for memory allocation. Recommended: 2X the actual bitrate, which will prevent buffer overruns (especially with VBR streams). Default: 8000.

Note – Overflows will typically occur when the Max Bitrate isn’t sufficient.

Read buffer

Specify the input read buffer to fill, before passing data to the application. Larger buffer size should be specified for higher bitrates; Smaller buffer size will be more responsive and smoother in lower bitrate streams.

Adjust by local time

Smoothing latency

The Smoothing feature uses a buffer to time packets according to the stream’s clock. This is useful when there are bursts in the rate in which the stream arrives. The smoothing features creates a queue in the buffer, allowing smoother entry into the Broadcaster. The Smoothing parameter defines the size of the buffer in Milliseconds. A larger buffer enables smoother entry, however, it may influence the latency rate.

Enable time shift

Select this checkbox to record the stream content and broadcast it after a specified delay. To deploy an input stream that uses the current stream’s time shift, you need to configure a “Delayed” input stream. (See Adding Delayed Streams).

Maximum delay [hh:mm:ss] (for Time Shift enabled)

Specify the maximum time delay of this input.

Enable multicast on pull outputs

Select this checkbox to enable the transmission of this stream’s outputs as multicast. A Zixi receiver that will pull the stream will receive it in multicast. By default, Zixi Broadcaster is configured to allow transparent fallback to unicast if it is out of the LAN. Requires enabling Multicast Pull in the Settings.

Multicast Only (for Multicast enabled)

Select the check box to force only Multicast outputs.

Enable Encryption

Select this checkbox to encrypt the Input stream. For more information, see Encrypting an Input Stream in Zixi Broadcaster

Encryption type (for Encryption enabled)

Specify the type of Encryption (AES 128/192/256).

Encryption key (for Encryption enabled)

Click Generate to generate an encryption key. The generated encryption key must be sent to the end-user to decipher the received encoded stream.

Recording parameters

Select this checkbox to customize the recording parameters.

Destination Type

Select the radio button for the desired storage type and then fill in the relevant parameters.

  • Record to disk – the recording is saved on the local disk. It is possible to record to an external destination by replacing the default storage location with a symbolic link. To learn more, see Using an External Storagesection.

  • Record to S3 – the file is saved to your AWS S3 Bucket. The mechanism uses AWS multipart upload. Amazon advises to define a lifetime rule for objects on destination bucket.

Record to Disk Parameters

File Name Template

Specify the file name pattern that Zixi will use to generate when saving the recorded content. A separate file will be generated for each recording up to the time specified in the Max recorded file duration parameter (see above). After this duration a new file will be generated.

The file name pattern can include any string and up to five variables listed below. Only the %T=HH.MM.SS creation time is mandatory. You can change the order of these variables and add text as long as you maintain the legitimate structure of the file in Linux and Windows:

·         %S=stream id – optional.

·         %Y=year – optional

·         %M=month – optional

·         %D=day – optional

·         %T=HH.MM.SS creation time – mandatory

·         %U=YYYYmmddTHHMMSSZ UTC timestamp – optional

For example, the following pattern %Y_recording%T.ts will generate the following file name 2017_recording15:32:35.ts.

Max recorded file duration [HH:MM]

Specify the maximum time allotted for recording a video stream. Default: 2 hours

Keep recorded files for [HH:MM]

Specify the maximum time for storing the recording. Default: 0 hours

Custom Path

Optionally specify a storage location for the recorded files that is relative to the root folder. This location bypasses the location specified as the root folder in the Settings > General screen.

Record to S3 Parameters

File Name Template

Specify the file name pattern that Zixi will use to generate when saving the recorded content. A separate file will be generated for each recording up to the time specified in the Max recorded file duration parameter (see above). After this duration a new file will be generated.

The file name pattern can include any string and up to five variables listed below. Only the %T=HH.MM.SS creation time is mandatory. You can change the order of these variables and add text as long as you maintain the legitimate structure of the file in Linux and Windows:

·         %S=stream id – optional.

·         %Y=year – optional

·         %M=month – optional

·         %D=day – optional

·         %T=HH.MM.SS creation time – mandatory

·         %U=YYYYmmddTHHMMSSZ UTC timestamp – optional

For example, the following pattern %Y_recording%T.ts will generate the following file name 2017_recording15:32:35.ts.

Max recorded file duration HH:MM]

Specify the maximum time allotted for recording a video stream. Default: 2 hours

URL

Specify the URL of the S3 bucket.

Ignore TLS certificate errors

TLS certificate for S3 bucket might be detected as faulty if bucket name contains dot[s].When this option is selected, Zixi Broadcaster will ignore the TLS certificate errors and transmit the stream to its destination.

Access Key

The access key that is used for accessing the S3 bucket.

Secret Key

The secret key that is used for accessing the S3 bucket.

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[1] The following ASI cards have been tested and found to be compatible with Zixi on both Linux CentOS and Windows systems: DTA-2144B (4 ports) or DTA-2145 (2 ports). Additional types of ASI cards may also be compatible.