The Demux source can be used to combine multiple SPTS streams into a single MPTS (Multi Program Transport Streams) stream by creating the Multiplex Source on a Broadcaster. The MPTS should have a Target bitrate that is higher than the sum of all of the effective bitrates of the individual STPS streams included in the multiplex source. The process involves selecting multiple sources from the list of existing sources. Each source will become a Program in the MPTS source. You will need to name the program and can optionally specify a Program number (by default the first program number is 0). This program number will be assigned to the program in the newly created MPTS, regardless of the original program number. To avoid PID ID conflicts between the PIDs in the source SPTS and the output MPTS, it is recommended to set a Base PID ID number that is high enough. The base PID will be the first number that is used to assign to the various PIDs in the stream. When adding additional streams, make sure that the Base PID number value of the additional stream is higher than 10 than the previous one (e.g. 1000, 1011, etc.).
The following procedure describes how to add a Multiplex Source in ZEN Master. In addition, an explanation of each of the configuration parameters is given in the table below.
To add a Multiplex Source:
- In the main navigation, click Sources.
- Click + Add.
The Create New Source window is displayed.
- Click on Multiplex.
The Create New Multiplex Source window opens.
- In the Info section, in the Name field, type a logical name for the Source.
- In the Tags field, select one or more of the predefined Tags from the drop-down list.
Tags are used for access control. By selecting a Tag, you are relating this Source to that Tag. Tags are associated with certain roles (through the Users & Roles screen), and roles, in turn, are associated with users and user groups. If you would like to create a new Tag, see Creating a Tag. In the Events Configuration Profile field, select from the dropdown list the profile that you would like to apply to this Source. By default, the Default profile is applied.
Info Events Profiles consist of a series of rules that determine precisely how various types of Events are logged and what results they trigger.
- The Source's location is used to represent it in the proper position in the Map display (see Maps). By default, the location is determined automatically based on the Source's IP. If you would like to manually set the location of the Source (Optional), use the following procedure:
- Click on the Edit icon next to the Location field.
A search box is shown below the Location field. - Enter identifying info for the location (e.g. street address, zip code, coordinates).
Search results are displayed below the search box as you type. - Click on the desired location.
The selected location populates the Location field.
- Click on the Edit icon next to the Location field.
- Under Configuration, in the Ingest Cluster field, select from the drop-down list one of the available Ingest Clusters as the destination for the Source.
In the Target Broadcaster/s field, select your broadcaster preference. Either select a specific broadcaster to be used OR specify your preference for using primary vs. backup broadcasters, options are: Prefer Primary Broadcasters, Primary Broadcasters only, Backup Broadcasters only or Prefer Backup Broadcasters.
Info For managed clusters, it is not recommended to select a specific broadcaster, as the broadcaster’s availability may not remain stable.
- Under Sources, in the Target Bitrate (kbps) filed, specify the target bitrate for the multiplex stream in kbps. The target bitrate number should be at least as high as the sum of all of the effective bitrates of the individual STPS sources included in the multiplex source.
- From the Sources list, click the + button on the relevant sources to add them to the Multiplex source and specify the following settings:
- In the Program Name field, enter a name for the program. This overwrites any pre-existing Program Name previously assigned to the stream.
- In the Program field, enter a program number for the SPTS source. This overwrites any pre-existing program number previously assigned to the source.
- In the Base PID, enter a Base PID number for the STPS source. Zixi will automatically assign new PID numbers for all PIDs in the SPTS stream with consecutive numbers following the Base PID number based on this number.
- Click the + again to add another STPS source and enter the relevant details. Each Input’s Base PID should be separated by an interval greater than 10 (e.g. 1000, 1011, etc.).
- If you would like to generate email notifications whenever a PID change is detected, select the Alert on PID changes checkbox.
Select the Log SCTE-35 checkbox if you would like to log SCTE-35 markers for this stream.
Info To log SCTE-35 markers, SCTE-35 needs to be enabled both on the Ingest Cluster and in the Source configuration. SCTE-35 logging is only available for v13.1.40262+ Broadcasters.
- If Log SCTE-35 was selected, you can choose to receive alerts for SCTE-35 markers by selecting the Enable SCTE-35 alerts checkbox.
- In the Public Output field, if you would like to allow access to the stream directly through a supported player, select the Allow
- If you selected the Allow checkbox, then enter a password in the Password field to authenticate access to the stream.
If you would like to enable Content Analysis (CQA), verify that the Enable Content Analysis checkbox is selected (default).
Info It is generally recommended to enable Content Analysis unless it is causing technical problems. If Content Analysis is disabled, the system won't detect errors in the video and audio content of the stream and won't generate warnings for such events. Even when Content Analysis is disabled the system will still detect TR101 errors in the stream.
If you would like to monitor CEA-608/CEA-708 closed captions, select the Monitor CEA-608/CEA-708 checkbox.
Info Monitoring CEA-608/CEA-708 Closed Captions requires using a version 14.4 or newer Broadcaster.
If you would like to disable auto-pull, select the Disable Auto-Pull checkbox.
Info Disabling Auto-Pull will lock Channels using this Source to the Source’s Ingest Cluster and Targets to the Source’s current active Broadcaster. This setting only applies to Pass-Through Channels.
- If Auto-Pull is enabled, in the Auto-Pull Latency [ms] field, specify the desired latency for auto-pull actions. (Default: 1000 ms)
In the WebRTC Playback section, select the desired playback method.
Info WebRTC enables you to monitor the stream via web browsers and mobile applications with real-time communication (RTC). WebRTC needs to be activated independently for each Source in ZEN Master (by default it is disabled).
Select one of the following options:
- Disabled - users will not be able to view this Source using WebRTC (default).
- Pass-Through - passes the stream through to WebRTC without transcoding. This option can only be used if the input stream is already in a WebRTC compliant format (video - H.264 codec with Baseline or Main profile and no B frames, Audio - Opus codec).
Auto - ZEN Master automatically transcodes the stream using the optimal profile for each specific user. In this option Zixi Broadcaster will decode the video, transforming it into RAW frames, which will be passed to the WebRTC library, where it will be re-encoded for each individual user.
Info Best quality. However, if monitored by multiple users this can consume extensive resources.
1080p/720p/480p/360p - ZEN Master transcodes the stream to a WebRTC Compliant profile with the specified resolution. The transcoding is done by Zixi Broadcaster's transcoder.
Info This method requires a Zixi Broadcaster with X264 or Nvidia for transcoding. This method allows many users to monitor the stream without encoding separately for each individual user, which saves CPU capacity. Since there is only one stream version, it is recommended to encode to a low resolution and low bitrate so that the stream will be viewable by all users monitoring the stream.
- In the Initial State section, select the Disabled checkbox if you would like to disable this Source upon initial configuration.
Select the Muted checkbox if you would like to disable error/recovery notifications for this Source upon initial configuration.
Info You can Enable/Unmute the Source at any time.
If you would like to adjust the advanced settings, click Advanced.
The Advanced settings fields are displayed:
- If you would like to track usage for this Source, enter your Billing Code details. See Billing Codes.
- In the Auto Pull MTU field, specify the maximum transmission unit (largest data packet that a network-connected device will accept) in bytes for the Auto Pull.
- To apply Input NIC selection to the network device, select the Apply Input NIC selection to network device checkbox.
- To set the detection of frozen video, in the Frozen Video Minimal Duration field, specify the default minimal duration in seconds of frozen video after which the Broadcaster will trigger a Frozen video alert. Default: 10 seconds. This setting is supported for Broadcaster version 16.3 and higher.
- To set the detection of blank video, in the Blank Video Minimal Duration field, specify the default minimal duration in seconds of blank video after which the Broadcaster will trigger a Blank video alert. Default: 10 seconds. This setting is supported for Broadcaster version 16.3 and higher.
- Click Save.
Multiviewer Source Configuration Parameters Table
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Info | |
| Name | Specify a name for the Multiplex Source in ZEN Master |
| Tags | Select one or more of the predefined Tags from the drop-down list. Tags are used for access control. By selecting an Tag, you are relating this Source to that Tag. Tags are associated with certain roles (through the Users & Roles screen), and roles, in turn, are associated with users and user groups. If you would like to create a new Tag, see Creating a Tag. |
| Events Configuration Profile | Select from the dropdown list the profile that you would like to apply to this Source. By default, the Default profile is applied. Note: Events Profiles consist of a series of rules that determine precisely how various types of Events are logged and what results they trigger. |
| Location (Optional) | The Source’s location is used to represent it in the proper position in the Map display (see Maps). By default, the location is determined automatically based on the Source’s IP. Enter identifying info for the location (e.g. street address, zip code, coordinates) and select the desired location from the suggestions that are shown. |
| Configuration | |
| Ingest Cluster | Select from the drop-down list one of the available Ingest Clusters as the destination for the Source. |
| Target Broadcaster/s | Select your Broadcaster preferences. Either select a specific Broadcaster to be used OR specify your preference for using primary vs. backup Broadcasters. Options are: Prefer Primary Broadcasters, Primary Broadcasters only, Backup Broadcasters only or Prefer Backup Broadcasters. Note: For managed clusters, it is not recommended to select a specific Broadcaster, as the Broadcaster’s availability may not remain stable. |
| Sources | |
| Target Bitrate[kbps] | Specify the target bitrate for the multiplex stream in kbps. The target bitrate number should be at least as high as the sum of all of the effective bitrates of the individual STPS sources included in the multiplex source. |
| Sources | Click the + button on the relevant sources to add them to the Multiplex source. |
| Program Name | Enter a name for the program. This overwrites any pre-existing Program Name previously assigned to the stream. |
| Program | Enter a program number for the SPTS source. This overwrites any pre-existing program number previously assigned to the source. |
| Base PID | Enter a Base PID number for the STPS source. Zixi will automatically assign new PID numbers for all PIDs in the SPTS stream with consecutive numbers following the Base PID number based on this number. |
Alert on PID changes | If you would like to generate email notifications whenever a PID change is detected, select this checkbox. |
| Log SCTE-35 | Select this checkbox if you would like to log SCTE-35 markers for this stream. Note: To log SCTE-35 markers, SCTE-35 needs to be enabled both on the Ingest Cluster and in the Source configuration. Note: SCTE-35 logging is only available for v13.1.40262+ Broadcasters |
| Enable SCTE-35 alerts (for Log SCTE-35) | If you would like to receive alerts for SCTE-35 markers, select this checkbox. |
| Public Output | If you would like to allow access to the stream directly through a supported player, select the Allow checkbox. |
| Enable Content Analysis | If you would like to enable Content Analysis (CQA), verify that this checkbox is selected (default). Note: It is generally recommended to enable Content Analysis unless it is causing technical problems. If Content Analysis is disabled, the system won’t detect errors in the video and audio content of the stream and won’t generate warnings for such events. Even when Content Analysis is disabled the system will still detect TR101 errors in the stream. |
| Monitor CEA-608/CEA-708 Closed Captions | If you would like to monitor CEA-608/CEA-708 closed captions, select this checkbox. Note: Monitoring CEA-608/CEA-708 Closed Captions requires using a version 14.4 or newer Broadcaster. |
| Disable Auto-Pull | If you would like to disable auto-pull, select this checkbox. Note: Disabling Auto-Pull will lock Channels using this Source to the Source’s Ingest Cluster and Targets to the Source’s current active Broadcaster. This setting only applies to Pass-Through Channels. |
| WebRTC Playback | Select the desired playback method. Note: WebRTC enables you to monitor the stream via web browsers and mobile applications with real-time communication (RTC). WebRTC needs to be activated independently for each Source in ZEN Master (by default it is disabled). Select one of the following options:
Note: Best quality. However, if monitored by multiple users this can consume extensive resources.
Note: This method requires a Zixi Broadcaster with X264 or Nvidia for transcoding. This method allows many users to monitor the stream without encoding separately for each individual user, which saves CPU capacity. Since there is only one stream resolution, it is recommended to encode to a low resolution and low bitrate so that the stream will be viewable by all users monitoring the stream. |
| Initial State | |
| Disabled | Select this checkbox if you would like to disable this Source upon initial configuration. |
| Muted | Select this checkbox if you would like to disable error/recovery notifications for this Source upon initial configuration. |
| Advanced | |
| Billing Codes | If you would like to track usage for this Source, enter your Billing Code details, see Billing Codes. (Supported for Broadcasters v14.8+) |
| Billing Password | Enter the password that corresponds to this billing code. |
| Auto-Pull Billing Code | If you would like to track usage for this Source when using Auto-Pull connections, enter the billing code that corresponds to this stream. The relevant billing can be obtained from the organization that received the billing code from Zixi. |
| Auto-Pull Billing Password | Enter the password that corresponds to this auto-pull billing code. |
| Auto Pull MTU | Specify the maximum transmission unit (largest data packet that a network-connected device will accept) in bytes for the Auto Pull. |
| Apply Input NIC selection to network device | Select this checkbox to apply Input NIC selection to the network device. |
| Frozen Video Minimal Duration | Specify the default minimal duration in seconds of frozen video after which the Broadcaster will trigger a Frozen video alert. Default: 10 seconds. This setting is supported for Broadcaster version 16.3 and higher. For existing sources, you may need to restart the source. |
| Blank Video Minimal Duration | Specify the default minimal duration in seconds of blank video after which the Broadcaster will trigger a Blank video alert. Default: 10 seconds. This setting is supported for Broadcaster version 16.3 and higher. For existing sources, you may need to restart the source. |
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