Live sources and stream targets¶

Each incoming live stream or feed received by Makalu is referred to as a live source. Makalu distinguishes between the following types of live sources:

• compressed signals (for example, live sources received via SRT, which are highlighted in the Makalu UI with a red thumbnail)
• uncompressed signals (for example, SDI live sources in on-premise environments, which are highlighted in the Makalu UI with a green thumbnail)

Live sources are used by multiple Makalu apps, for example, to preview incoming streams or to schedule them in a rundown. Each playout output signal can also be routed internally and used again as a live source ("backchannel"). Every live source is defined by a set of configuration properties (metadata), like, for example, the used protocol, the URL used to receive the stream or (if required) stream credentials. These configuration properties can, for example, be used to set up an external device or software that provides an incoming source stream to Makalu.

The target for each outgoing live stream is referred to as a stream target. Like a live source each stream target is defined by a set of configuration properties (metadata), like, for example, the used protocol, the target URL or (if required) stream credentials. Stream targets can be used by multiple Makalu apps, for example, to schedule them in a rundown, defining which parts of the scheduled program should be streamed to downstream service providers or video platforms.

To manage, preview, monitor and route incoming and outgoing live streams, Makalu includes the Stream Control app.

Accessing Makalu Stream Control¶

To access Makalu Stream Control, proceed as follows:

1. Open the Makalu Hub as described in section Accessing the Makalu Hub.

2. In the app list in the left column, in section Streams select Makalu Streams.

The Stream Control UI is opened in the Streams tab of the main Makalu UI.

Manage live sources¶

Using the live sources overview¶

To access the live sources overview, in the navigation sidebar on the left select Live Sources > Overview.

The live sources overview is displayed.

In the Live Sources area all currently available live sources are listed with basic information (for example, name, protocol, connection status, uptime, live bitrate, and alerts). You can customize the columns to be displayed and manually trigger a list update, by using the corresponding buttons above the list.

To display only specific live sources, use the Filter area above the list. There you can, for example, search live sources by name, by status flags (connected, verified, etc.) or by protocol (RTMP, SRT, etc.).

The number of available live sources is limited. Depending on the infrastructure and the Makalu subscription, this number may vary. The total number of live sources available and current utilization is displayed at the bottom left under Live Source Limit:

Creating a live source¶

To create a live source, proceed as follows:

1. In the navigation sidebar on the left select Live Sources > Overview.

2. In the upper right, click Create Live Source.

   The Create A Live Source dialog is displayed.

3. Enter a name for the live source and select the protocol to be used.

   

   Notice

   The name of the live source must be unique.

4. (Optional) Depending on the selected protocol, additional configuration properties may be displayed. Set the values as required.

   Notice

   If you select, for example, protocol RTMP the additional property On connect Authenticate is available. If you enable it the URL of the created live source (which must be used to provide the source stream to Makalu) will include username and password for authentication.

5. Click Confirm.

The live source is created and added to the live sources list. It is also available in Makalu Traffic as primary event and can be added to shows. In Makalu Automation it is available under Media > Live, can be previewed and added to the rundown.

Previewing a live source¶

To preview a live source, proceed as follows:

1. In the navigation sidebar on the left select Live Sources > Overview.

2. In the live sources list click the name of the live source to be previewed.

   A preview player and detailed information about the live source are displayed at the top of the page.

3. In the preview player click the Play icon.

   The preview starts.

   

4. Use the player controls, for example, to trigger pause, play or full screen view.

Editing a live source¶

To edit a live source, proceed as follows:

1. In the navigation sidebar on the left select Live Sources > Overview.

2. In the live sources list click the name of the live source to be edited.

   A preview player and detailed information about the live source are displayed at the top of the page.

3. Edit the name of the live source.

4. Click Save.

The changed live source configuration is saved.

Deleting a live source¶

To delete a live source, proceed as follows:

1. In the navigation sidebar on the left select Live Sources > Overview.

2. In the live sources list in the Action column activate the checkbox of the live source to be deleted.

3. Click the Delete selected live source icon above the live sources list.

4. Confirm the displayed dialog by clicking Confirm.

The live source is deleted and removed from the live source list.

Manage stream targets¶

Using the stream targets overview¶

To access the stream target overview, in the navigation sidebar on the left select Stream Targets > Overview.

The stream target overview is displayed.

In the Stream Targets area all currently available stream targets and jobs are listed with basic information (for example, name, type, source, and status). You can customize the columns to be displayed and manually trigger a list update, by using the corresponding buttons above the list.

To display only specific stream targets, use the Filter area above the list. There you can, for example, search stream targets by name, by type (YouTube, Generic, etc.) or active status.

You can display and edit the details of each stream target, by clicking the corresponding stream target name.

The number of available stream targets is limited. Depending on the infrastructure and the Makalu subscription, this number may vary. The total number of stream targets available and current utilization is displayed under Stream Targets > Static Routing at the bottom left under Stream Target Limit:

Creating a static routing stream target¶

A static routing stream target enables you to permanently stream any live source to any valid target, without having to schedule it in a rundown.

To create a static routing stream target, proceed as follows:

1. In the navigation sidebar on the left select Stream Targets > Static Routing.

2. In the upper right, click Add.

   The Create A Stream Target dialog is displayed.

3. Select the protocol to be used.

   Depending on the selected protocol, different configuration properties are displayed.

   

4. Set all configuration properties as required.

5. Click Confirm.

   The static routing stream target is created and added to the stream targets list with status inactive (red).

   

6. Select the live source to be used via the Source dropdown menu.

   If the source stream is valid and running, preview playback starts automatically.

7. Right next to Source click the Save source stream icon.

The source of the static routing stream target is saved. If source and target are valid and the stream is running the status changes to active (green).

Editing a static routing stream target¶

To edit a static routing stream target, proceed as follows:

1. In the navigation sidebar on the left select Stream Targets > Static Routing.

2. Look for the target to be edited and in the bottom left of the corresponding tile click the View and edit configuration data icon.

   

   The target settings are displayed.

   

3. Change the settings as required.

4. Confirm your changes, by clicking Update.

The changed static routing stream target settings are saved.

Deleting a stream target¶

To delete a stream target, proceed as follows:

1. In the navigation sidebar on the left select Stream Targets > Overview.

2. In the stream targets list in the Action column activate the checkbox of the stream target to be deleted.

3. Click the Delete selected stream target icon above the live sources list.

4. Confirm the displayed dialog by clicking Confirm.

The stream target is deleted and removed from the stream targets list.

Synchronizing stream targets between Wowza and Makalu¶

Under certain conditions (for example, because of special customer requirements regarding the stream format or certain stream properties) it may not be possible to create a stream target via the default mechanism provided by Makalu Stream Control. In this case the corresponding stream target must be created manually via the Wowza Manager UI. Afterwards it can be synchronized with Makalu via Stream Control and can then be used like a "regular" stream target.

To synchronize stream targets, proceed as follows:

1. In the navigation sidebar on the left select Stream Targets > Static Routing.

2. In the upper right, click Sync.

   All stream targets that were created via the Wowza Manager UI and can be synchronized are listed.

3. Select one or more stream targets to be synchronized.

   

4. Click Confirm.

The selected stream targets are synchronized with Makalu and can afterwards be used like "regular" stream targets.