Adding Multiplex Streams

This enables you to combine multiple SPTS streams into a single Multiplex stream. The MPTS should have a Target bitrate that is higher than the sum of all of the effective bitrates of the individual STPS inputs included in the multiplex stream. The process involves selecting multiple streams from the list of existing streams. Each input stream will become a Program in the MPTS stream. 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.).

To Add a Multiplex Stream:

  1. In the Zixi Broadcaster 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 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 Multiplex for the input stream.

    Multiplexinput.png

  7. Select the Drop Inactive Streams checkbox if you do not want to include in the MPTS streams that are inactive.

  8. In the Target bitrate (kbps) filed, specify the 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 inputs included in the multiplex stream.

  9. Under Inputs, click the + button and specify the following settings:

    1. Click the Stream field to select the STPS stream.

    2. The selected stream will become a program in the MPTS stream. In the Program Name, enter a name for this program. This overwrites any pre-existing Program Name previously assigned to the stream.

    3. In the Program Number field, enter a Program Number for the SPTS stream. This overwrites any pre-existing Program Number previously assigned to the stream.

    4. In the Base PID, enter a Base PID number for the STPS stream. 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.

  10. Click the + again to add another STPS stream and enter the relevant details. Each Input’s Base PID should be separated by an interval greater than 10 (e.g. 1000, 1011, etc.).

  11. Specify additional Stream Parameters (see Input Stream Parameter table).

  12. If you want to specify Billing Codes to identify and differentiate traffic on a Zixi Broadcaster for billing purposes, select this checkbox (see Input Stream Parameter table).

  13. If you want to Enable time shift, select this checkbox (see Input Stream Parameter table). The stream will be recorded and broadcasted after the specified delay. The time shift feature is typically used to broadcast a live event across time zones (due to the time differences between locations).

  14. If you want to Enable multicast on pull outputs, select this checkbox (see Input Stream Parameter table).

  15. You can encrypt the stream as it enters Zixi Broadcaster. To encrypt the stream, select the Enable encryption checkbox and fill in the parameters as describes in the Input Stream Parameter Table below. For more information, see Encrypting an Input Stream in Zixi Broadcaster.

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

  17. Click OK. The “Input added” message appears on the top of the screen. The Multiplex Stream is added to the Zixi Broadcaster and now appears in the list of streams available in Zixi Broadcaster inputs UI. The created MPTS file is accessible in the File tab at the top of the Zixi Broadcaster administrative screen and can be added as a new File input stream in the Add a new input stream window.

 

Input Stream Parameters Table

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

Stream Parameters

The general stream settings.

Drop Inactive Streams

Select checkbox if you do not want to include in the MPTS streams that are inactive.

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.

Stream

Select a stream ID from the drop-down list.

Program Name

Enter a Program Name for the SPTS stream. This overwrites any pre-existing Program Name previously assigned to the stream.

Program Number

Enter a Program Number for the SPTS stream. This overwrites any pre-existing Program Number previously assigned to the stream.

Base PID

Enter a Base PID number for the STPS stream. 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. Each Input’s Base PID should be separated by an interval greater than 10.

Note: After the new PID numbers are assigned, they should be saved for future use with the Zixi API.

Billing Codes

Billing codes are used to identify and differentiate traffic on a Zixi Broadcaster 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 Code

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.

Billing password

Enter the password that corresponds to this billing code.

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]

Specify the time of the delayed transmission of this stream. Maximum: 24 hours.

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

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 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 Storage section.

  • 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 [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 2017_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, 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.