--- title: Adding Pass-Through Channels slug: zen-master/adding-pass-through-channels docTags: createdAt: 2024-12-27T17:59:04.854Z --- Pass-Through channels do not involve any actual processing to the stream. A Pass-Through Channel with a single Source simply sends the Source to an output. A Pass-Through Channel with multiple Sources creates redundancy by defining parallel streams from multiple Sources as a single entity. This ensures that if one Source becomes inactive the stream will be automatically transmitted from the parallel Source. To learn more about redundancy in ZEN Master see [Redundancy in ZEN Master](docId\:k9mukecY4pzgeowUJDrHH) . The following procedure describes how to add a Pass-Through Channel in ZEN Master. In addition, an explanation of each of the configuration parameters is given in the table below. **To add a Pass-Through channel:** :::::WorkflowBlock :::WorkflowBlockItem In the main navigation, click** Channels**. ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Click **+ Add**. The **Create New Channel** selection menu is displayed. ![Create New Channel selection menu](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/9qvMY-FsApjKFyZ_GIVGQ_image.png) ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Click on **Pass-Through**. The **Create Pass-Through Channel** window is displayed. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yloo8L9Y5DmjuuW_iCtAX-1NJiOOGtA2jCiGrNcs4H5-20250727-132122.png) ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem In the **Info** section, in the** Name** field, enter a logical name for the Channel. ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem 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 an Tag, you are relating this Channel 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](docId\:YpM9tw81ap6nq8sTKv4Rd). ::: ::::WorkflowBlockItem In the **Events Configuration Profile** field, select from the dropdown list the profile that you would like to apply to this Channel. By default, the *Default* profile is applied. :::hint{type="info"} *Events Profiles* consist of a series of rules that determine precisely how various types of Events are logged and what results they trigger. ::: :::: ::::WorkflowBlockItem In the **Configuration** section, in the **Processing Cluster** field, select from the drop-down list one of the Channel Processing clusters that has been configured in ZEN Master. The selected cluster will be used to process this Channel. :::hint{type="info"} - If the Source does not exist in the cluster, then the cluster will pull the Source automatically. ::: :::: ::::WorkflowBlockItem 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: *Primary Broadcasters only, Backup Broadcasters only* or *Any*. :::hint{type="info"} For managed clusters, it is not recommended to select a specific broadcaster, as the broadcaster's availability may not remain stable. ::: :::: :::WorkflowBlockItem If you want to configure an alternative path for disaster recovery, in the **Alternative Channel (Disaster Recovery)** field, select the Channel that will be used as the alternative path. For more details, see [Disaster Recovery (Alternative Path)](docId\:poo4ZS1-ZjRa1snDylqE0). ::: ::::WorkflowBlockItem In the** Sources** section, add one or more Sources to the Channel and designate whether it should be used as a backup source for redundancy. 1. Find the Source that you would like to add either by scrolling through the list of available Sources or by entering a search word into the **Filter** If the Source that you would like to add is not yet configured in ZEN Master, see [Sources](docId\:WrXQ4NJAqG_e7h-u3v0de)**.** 2. Add a Source by clicking the button next to the Source. The Source is moved to the top of the list, above the **Filter** 3. To designate the Source as a backup, select the **Backup** 4. Repeat the above procedure for each Source that you would like to add to the Channel. :::hint{type="info"} - If you would like to remove a selected Source, click on the **-** button next to the Source. - All Access Tags that are assigned to the selected Sources are added by default to the Channel. ::: :::: :::WorkflowBlockItem In the **Initial State** section, select the **Disabled** checkbox if you would like to disable this Channel upon initial configuration. ::: ::::WorkflowBlockItem Select the **Muted** checkbox if you would like to disable error/recovery notifications for this Channel upon initial configuration. :::hint{type="info"} You can Enable/Unmute the Channel at any time. ::: :::: :::WorkflowBlockItem If you would like to customize, click **Advanced**). The **Advanced** settings are displayed. ![Advanced settings](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/_8J-7bUX3W86LDVsjIjcx_image.png) ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Click **Save**. ::: ::::: **Pass-Through Channel Configuration Parameters Table** | **Parameter** | **Description** | | --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | ***Info*** | | | Name | Specify a name for the Transcoded Channel 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 Channel 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](docId\:YpM9tw81ap6nq8sTKv4Rd). | | Events Configuration Profile | Select from the dropdown list the profile that you would like to apply to this Channel. 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. | | ***Configuration*** | | | Processing Cluster | Select from the drop-down list one of the Channel Processing clusters that has been configured in ZEN Master. The selected cluster will be used to process this Channel.
Note: If the Source does not exist in the cluster, then the cluster will pull the Source automatically. | | Target Broadcaster/s | 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*.
Note: For managed clusters, it is not recommended to select a specific broadcaster, as the broadcaster’s availability may not remain stable. | | Alternative Channel (Disaster Recovery) | Enables reverting an entire path after the Source (i.e., Channel/Broadcaster to the Target) to go through an alternative path, which is usually hosted on an alternative cloud/region. The redirection to the alternative path is manual. So, in case of a fault, if there is no time to troubleshoot a problem, this mechanism allows the user to select the feed that has an issue, click a button and revert the stream to go through a pre-configured alternative path.
For example, if you have a Channel and a Broadcaster on GCP and a secondary Channel and Broadcaster on Azure. If something goes wrong with the GCP path, you can click the Go to Alternative button and failover everything to Azure. | | Sources | Select from the drop-down list the desired Source. | | ***Initial State*** | | | Disabled | Select this checkbox if you would like to disable this Channel upon initial configuration. | | Muted | Select this checkbox if you would like to disable error/recovery notifications for this Channel upon initial configuration. | | ***Advanced*** | | | External ID | The ID that is used when integrating ZEN Master with an external ESNI/ESAM server. For more detail, contact your Zixi representative. |