---
title: Adding RTMP Streams
slug: zixi-broadcaster-zec-current-version/adding-rtmp-streams
docTags:
createdAt: 2024-12-25T19:47:10.760Z
---
This enables you to create a Push or Pull RTMP input stream.
## To Add an RTMP Stream:
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In the Zixi Broadcaster Navigation menu, click the **Inputs** tab.
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In the Menu bar, click **New Input **and select **RMTP** as the type. The **Add a new input stream** window is displayed.
Note that if you switch the RMTP type from **Push** to **Pull**, the options will change:
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Enter the unique Stream I.D.
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Note this *must* be identical (case sensitive) to the stream name configured in ZEC.
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Select the maximum concurrent connections to this stream from the **Max. Outputs **drop-down list. Default: Unlimited.
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Select the **Show in Matrix** check box to display this stream in the Matrix (see [Using the Matrix](docId\:bP6MO9f2QbxmU6gURKoG4)). Default: Selected.
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Select the **Log this stream** checkbox if you would like to generate event logs for this input.
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Select the **Analyze **checkbox if you would like to enable stream analysis for the input.
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Specify the **Stream Parameters** (see [Input Stream Parameters Table](docId\:md053CcSWUB55mj886zlv)).
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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 Parameters Table](docId\:md053CcSWUB55mj886zlv) below).
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If you want to **Enable time shift**, select this checkbox (see [Input Stream Parameters Table](docId\:md053CcSWUB55mj886zlv)).
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If you want to **Enable multicast on pull outputs**, select this checkbox (see [Input Stream Parameters Table](docId\:md053CcSWUB55mj886zlv)).
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If you want to **Enable encryption**, select this checkbox (see [Input Stream Parameters Table](docId\:md053CcSWUB55mj886zlv)). For more information, see [Encrypting an Input Stream in Zixi Broadcaster](docId\:V3RYrBN08r4CojWl-wVoQ).
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If you want to configure the **Recording Parameters**, specify them in the respective fields (see [Input Stream Parameters Table](docId\:md053CcSWUB55mj886zlv)).
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Click **OK**.
The “Input added” message appears at the top of the screen. The RTMP Stream is added to the Zixi Broadcaster and now appears in the list of streams available in the Zixi Broadcaster inputs UI.
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### Input Stream Parameters Table
| **Parameter** | **Description** |
| ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ***Stream Parameters*** | |
| **Type** | Select the desired type for the RTMP stream:
* Push – the stream is pushed to the Zixi Broadcaster (not initiated by the Zixi Broadcaster). No additional connection parameters need to be filled. If the stream name matches, the stream will be input.
* Pull – Zixi Broadcaster will initiate the stream by accessing it through the following parameters: |
| ***Push Parameters*** | **** |
| **Bind to IP** | Select from the drop-down list the local IP address to be used for this Input, OR select *Any *to enable any IP to be used. |
| **Disconnect if inactive** | Select this checkbox to disconnect if the stream is not active for 30 seconds. |
| **MPEG-TS Multiplexing Bitrate \[kbps]** | If the stream's bitrate fluctuates, you can pad the stream with null packets to create a steady bitrate. Specify the padding level in kbps. |
| **Smoothing Latency \[ms]** | The Smoothing feature uses a buffer to time packets according to the stream's clock. This is useful when there are bursts in the rate at which the stream arrives. The smoothing feature creates a queue in the buffer, allowing smoother entry into the Broadcaster. The Smoothing parameter defines the size of the buffer in Milliseconds. A larger buffer enables smoother entry; however, it may influence the latency rate. |
| ***Pull Parameters*** | **** |
| **URL** | Type the Stream URL from which the Zixi Broadcaster will access. Use the following URL format: rtmp\://host:\[port]/app/stream.
You can define RTMPS clients with the proven security of a secure socket layer (SSL), by using the rtmps\:// url |
| **Stream Name** | Type the unique name for the stream that has been defined in the RTMP server. |
| **User Name** | Specify the user name to authenticate on the remote RTMP server |
| **Password** | Specify the password that is used for authorization on the remote RTMP server. |
| **Bind to IP** | Select from the drop-down list the local IP address to be used for this Input, OR select *Any *to enable any IP to be used. |
| **Ignore TLS certificate errors** | Select this option when connecting to a trusted server that does not have a valid certificate. When this option is selected, Zixi Broadcaster will ignore the TLS certificate errors. |
| **Disconnect if inactive** | Disconnects the connection if inactive. |
| **MPEG-TS Multiplexing Bitrate \[kbps]** | If the stream's bitrate fluctuates, you can pad the stream with null packets to create a steady bitrate. Specify the padding level in kbps. |
| **Smoothing Latency \[ms]** | The Smoothing feature uses a buffer to time packets according to the stream's clock. This is useful when there are bursts in the rate at which the stream arrives. The smoothing feature creates a queue in the buffer, allowing smoother entry into the Broadcaster. The Smoothing parameter defines the size of the buffer in Milliseconds. A larger buffer enables smoother entry; however, it may influence the latency rate. |
| **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\:Zp5QL-5KthHdpHMRhDDhE). |
| **Maximum delay \[hh\:mm\:ss]** **(for Time Shift enabled)** | Specify the maximum time delay of this input. |
| **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 (for Multicast enabled)** | Select the check box to force only Multicast outputs. |
| **Enable encryption** | Select this checkbox to encrypt the Input stream. The stream encryption prevents any further processing, such as analysis, transcoding, etc.
The encryption works in the following way:
* **If the stream has been encrypted at the source** - The stream will remain encrypted regardless of the output type. Zixi Broadcaster can only encrypt the stream after it has been decrypted.
* **If the stream is being encrypted by the Zixi Broadcaster** - it will be encrypted only if the output is a Zixi Pull or Zixi Push output. All other outputs will send out an unencrypted stream.
For more information, see [Encrypting an Input Stream in Zixi Broadcaster](docId\:V3RYrBN08r4CojWl-wVoQ). |
| **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 the [Using an External Storage](docId\:z2Amp6-FJ7crCKkfQrThQ) section.
* **Record to S3** – the file is saved to your AWS S3 Bucket. The mechanism uses AWS multipart upload. Amazon advises defining a lifetime rule for objects in the 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:
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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.
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### General
- **Latency Offset \[ms] **- Specify the additional buffering time in milliseconds. Increasing this value can improve stream stability in unstable network conditions, but will increase end-to-end delay. Default: 0 ms
- **Support SCTE-35 injection** - Select this checkbox if you would like the stream to support SCTE-35 insertion.
- **SCTE-35 PID** - Enter a PID number for SCTE-35 injection. You can enter a value manually or use the Up/Down arrows that appear when clicking the field. (or leave as **Auto** to match existing SCTE-35 PID)
- **Inject Metadata** - allows Zixi create a PID that carries information about what hops a feed has travelled through on the way to its destination, it includes things like CC errors and IAT at each hop. The information is useful for debugging issues with streams.
- **Remove old SCTE-35 packets** - If SCTE-35 injection is supported, select this checkbox to clear out existing packets.
- **Timeout for CBR** - Time in MS to wait for a NULL packet to inject SCTE-35 into.
### Stream Parameters
- **Max Bitrate \[kbps]** - Specify the maximum expected bitrate for memory allocation. Recommended: 2X the actual bitrate, which will prevent buffer overruns (especially with VBR streams). Default: 8000. Note – Overflows will typically occur when the Max Bitrate isn’t sufficient.
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*The Max Bitrate parameter in a Zixi Push Output is not enforced as a hard limit. It is used as a guideline for transport, buffering, and pacing, but Zixi does not actively throttle or drop packets to keep the stream below this value. As a result, the actual bitrate may exceed the configured Max Bitrate, especially with variable bitrate content or bitrate bursts.*
*To enforce a strict bitrate limit, this must be controlled at the encoder level or via external network traffic shaping/QoS mechanisms.*
We recommend that you set the Max Bitate to twice the actual (average) bitrate. See [High Max Bitrate Configuration](docId\:IJrN4V8zGysjoKXEVCkHx).
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- **Compression** - Enables bandwidth optimization by replacing NULL packets with signaling information embedded in packet headers.
This reduces the overall bitrate without affecting content integrity. Since not all receivers support this compression method, it is optional. The system can receive compressed streams, but will only transmit compressed data when this option is explicitly enabled.
- **Fast Connect** - Enables faster session establishment by reducing the time required to initiate the RIST connection. This is useful in environments where rapid recovery or quick stream startup is required. Support for this feature may vary depending on the receiving endpoint.
### Enable Multicast on pull outputs
- **Custom multicast address** - Select this checkbox to manually define a specific multicast IP address and port for the output stream, overriding the system's global Multicast Pool settings.
- **Multicast IP** - Enter the Multicast IP address.
- **Port** - Specify the port to listen on. This port must be open on all firewalls between the Zixi Broadcaster and other devices it is communicating with.