Stream Information and Metrics

VLC provides tools for viewing statistical information about a live stream. This includes both metadata and codec information within the source video itself, such as frames-per-second or audio codec specification, as well as details of the live stream fidelity, such as current video bitrate or the number of dropped frames.

Video Codec Information

Video codec information is created at the source and is not introduced or affected by the Zixi transport protocol. This information can help ensure the source content adheres to the desired video and audio specification.

To view video codec information:

• In VLC's Main Menu, Click Tools menu and select CODEC Information.
  A window appears displaying a dropdown for each elementary stream and additional data by type:

Custom Metadata

Zixi will pass through any metadata found in the source, including custom metadata that was injected into the source stream wrapper.

To view custom metadata:

• In VLC's Main Menu, Click Tools menu and select Media Information.
  A window appears displaying current media information. 
• Click the Metadata tab. 

Video and Zixi Streaming Statistics

VLC’s Statistics information provides live data on end-to-end stream fidelity as well as the QoS between your VLC player and the Zixi broadcaster from which VLC is pulling the stream.

Under the ‘Tools’ menu, select ‘Statistics’.  There you will be presented with a live update panel displaying the following information when a stream is active:

-          Audio

                                Decoded (blocks)

                                Played (buffers)

                                Lost (buffers)

-          Video

                                Decoded (blocks)

                                Played (frames)

                                Lost (frames)

-          Input / Read

                                Media Data Size (KiB)

                                Input bitrate (kb/s)

                                Demuxed data size (KiB)

                                Content bitrate (kb/s)

                                Discarded (corrupted)

                                Dropped (discontinued)

-          Output/Written/Sent

                                Sent (packets)

                                Sent (KiB)

                                Upstream rate (kb/s)

To play a Zixi-enabled stream:

1. Open VLC Player

2. On the Main Menu, click Media. 
   Sub-menu options are displayed. 

3. Click Open Network Stream.
4. In the URL field, enter a Zixi stream URL, which includes the Zixi Broadcaster details and channel name, provided by your administrator (e.g. 

   zixi://demo.zixi.com/clocks)

5. Click Play.