---
title: Playing Input Streams with Players
slug: zixi-broadcaster-zec-current-version/playing-input-streams-with-players
docTags: 
createdAt: 2024-12-25T23:11:28.608Z
---

You can preview the input streams through the following video players:

- VLC Player
- WebRTC

You can also preview audio streams through the Shoutcast player if you have a [Shoutcast](https://www.shoutcast.com/) plan.

:::hint{type="info"}
In order to preview an input stream, you must first configure its output. See the [Broadcaster Outputs](docId\:eiJThxB24iddjRAev-97v) section for more details.
:::

### To Play Input Streams with a VLC Player:

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In the Zixi Broadcaster **Inputs** page, click the desired input stream that you want to play with VLC.
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Click the ⚙️ icon on the right end of the selected row and then **Play with VLC**. The **Link Description** window with the directory path for the desired file is displayed.
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Click **Run VLC. **The selected file is downloaded to the computer.
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Double-click on the newly downloaded file. This configured file runs using the VLC player and appears on a new output line on the **Output** screen, wherein it can be monitored. Alternatively, copy the path and send it to the user so it can be entered in the Network URL of the VLC player.
:::
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### To Play Input Streams with Shoutcast:

::::WorkflowBlock
:::WorkflowBlockItem
In the Zixi Broadcaster **Inputs** page, click the desired input stream that you want to play with VLC.
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Click the ⚙️ icon on the right end of the selected row and then **Play with Shoutcast**. The **Link Description** window with the directory path for the desired file is displayed.
:::
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### To Play Input Streams with WebRTC:

WebRTC enables playing a video file on a native browser without the need for plug-ins or extensions. In order to enable transcoding of non-WebRTC-compliant streams, you need to first create the relevant Transcoding Profiles. You need to create separate video and audio profiles for use with Single Version and Multiple Version transcoding methods. You will then be able to apply those profiles to your streams as needed. For more information on how to set up the transcoding profiles, see the ***How to Monitor Streams Using WebRTC ***guide.

::::WorkflowBlock
:::WorkflowBlockItem
In the Zixi Broadcaster **Inputs** page, click the desired input stream that you want to play with VLC.
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Click the ⚙️ icon on the right end of the selected row and then **Play WebRTC**. The **Link Description** window with the directory path for the desired file is displayed.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/D-RUL6UVgi5DgnDgId4zN_image.png" size="62" width="635" height="214" position="center" alt="Open WebRTC Player link" darkWidth="635" darkHeight="214" showCaption="false"}
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Copy the link or click the **Open WebRTC player** link to view the stream.
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