--- title: Adding Multiplex Streams slug: zixi-broadcaster-v18/adding-multiplex-streams docTags: createdAt: 2024-12-25T19:47:02.487Z --- 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: ::::WorkflowBlock :::WorkflowBlockItem In the Zixi Broadcaster Navigation menu, click the **Inputs** tab. ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem In the Menu bar, click **New Input**. The **Add a new input stream **window is displayed. ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Enter the unique **Stream ID**. **Note**: this must be identical (case sensitive) to the stream name configured in the ZEC ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Select the maximum concurrent connections to this stream from the Max. Outputs drop-down list. Default: Unlimited. ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Select the **Show in Matrix** check box to display this stream in the Matrix (see [Using the Matrix](https://zixidocumentation.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/117/pages/4887944270/Using+the+Matrix)). Default: Selected. ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Select **Multiplex** for the input stream. ![New Multiplex Input](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/amUtKWPrNQCS-26DKyGuI-zYoCLNfeO1BNLUtUltr93-20250301-172833.png) ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Select the **Drop Inactive Streams** checkbox if you do not want to include in the MPTS streams that are inactive. ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem 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. ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem 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. (Note that the lowest number allowed is 33.) ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem 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.). ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Specify additional **Stream Parameters** (see [Input Stream Parameter table](docId\:yO4cFJfr4BRd-x7ZLhxSq) ). ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem 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). ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem 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). ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem If you want to **Enable multicast on pull outputs**, select this checkbox (see Input Stream Parameter table). ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem 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](docId:5SH-sqkz1lgkMgZJsQRzQ) . ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem If you want to configure the **Recording Parameters**, specify them in the respective fields (see Input Stream Parameter table). ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem 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** | | --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ***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](docId:9yv8fX2X-pDvY2qIbLuz3) )  | | **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](docId:5SH-sqkz1lgkMgZJsQRzQ)** .** | | **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](docId\:F8-wYP-ShqjcMsbeHkpQA)  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. | ## Advanced Mode The fields discussed below are optional and available only in **Advanced Mode**. To enter Advanced Mode add the URL parameter `?advanced=1` to the Zixi Broadcaster URL in your browser and press Enter/Return to reload the page: ::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/amUtKWPrNQCS-26DKyGuI-5OBE4QsRN0icABdoD4ciK-20250421-173825.png" size="70" width="800" height="55" position="center" alt="Advanced Mode URL Param" darkWidth="800" darkHeight="55" showCaption="false"} :::hint{type="info"} Note the Advanced Mode settings are generally intended for advanced users and special cases. If you do not understand the settings, you should probably accept the default values. ::: ![Multiplex Stream input menu](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/QIn0ImoEjKH12JD7UUMUg_multiplex.png "Multiplex Stream input menu") - Latency Offset \[ms] - Support SCTE-35 injection - SCTE-35 PID - Inject Metadata - Remove old SCTE-35 packets - Keep stream CBR