ZEC Adding Multiplex Streams

This enables you to combine multiple SPTS streams into a single Multiplex stream.

To Add a Multiplex Stream:

  1. In the 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 the sending Zixi Broadcaster or MediaConnect.

  4. Select the maximum concurrent connections to this stream from the Max. Outputs drop-down list. Default: Unlimited.
  5. Select the Show in Matrix checkbox to display this stream in the Matrix (see ZEC Using the Matrix). Default: Selected.
  6. Select Multiplex for the input stream.



  7. Specify the Stream Parameters (see Input Streams Parameters Table).
  8. If you want to specify Billing Codes to identify and differentiate traffic on a ZEC for billing purposes, select this checkbox (see Input Stream Parameter Table below).
  9. If you want to Enable multicast on pull outputs, select this checkbox (see Input Stream Parameter table).
  10. If you want to Enable encryption, select this checkbox (see Input Stream Parameters Table). For more information, see ZEC Encrypting an Input Stream.
  11. If you want to configure the Recording Parameters, specify them in the respective fields (see Input Stream Parameter table).
  12. Click OK.
    The “Input added” message appears on the top of the screen. The Multiplex stream is added to the ZEC and now appears in the list of streams available in ZEC inputs UI. The created mpts file is accessible in the File tab at the top of the ZEC administrative screen and can be added as a new File input stream in the Add a new input button stream

Input Stream Parameters Table

ParameterDescription
Stream parameters
Target bitrate [kbps]Specify the target bitrate for the multiplex stream. The target bitrate number should be at least as high as the sum of all of the effective bitrates of the individual STPS inputs included in the multiplex stream.
Inputs

Click  to add a stream.

StreamSelect a stream ID from the drop-down list.
Program NameEnter a Program Name for the SPTS stream. This overwrites any pre-existing Program Name previously assigned to the stream.
Program NumberEnter a Base PID number for the STPS stream. Zixi will automatically assign new PID numbers for all PIDs based on this number. Each Input’s Base PID should be separated by an interval greater than 10.
Base PIDEnter a Base PID number for the STPS stream. Zixi will automatically assign new PID numbers for all PIDs based on this number. Each Input’s Base PID should be separated by an interval greater than 10.
Billing Codes

Billing codes are used to identify and differentiate traffic on a ZEC for billing purposes. When a billing code is added to a Source or Target, Zixi can track the traffic on that Broadcaster input or output separately from other inputs and outputs on the same Broadcaster. Billing codes are created by Zixi personnel on the Zixi Customer Portal for a particular organization.

Billing CodeEnter the billing code that corresponds to this stream. The relevant billing can be obtained from the organization that received the billing code from Zixi.
Billing passwordEnter the password that corresponds to this billing code.

Enable multicast on pull outputs

Select this checkbox to enable the transmission of this stream’s outputs as multicast. A ZEC that will pull the stream will receive it in multicast. By default ZEC 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)

Selecting this checkbox will force the transmission of this stream only in multicast.

Enable encryption

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

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 Storage section.
  • Record to S3 – the file is saved to your AWS S3 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 2022_recording15:32:35.ts.

Max recorded file duration [hours]

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

Keep recorded files for [hours]

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 2022_recording15:32:35.ts.

Max recorded file duration [hours]

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, ZEC 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.