--- title: ZEC Adding Multiplex Streams slug: zixi-broadcaster-zec-current-version/zec-adding-multiplex-streams docTags: createdAt: 2024-12-26T19:07:38.195Z --- This enables you to combine multiple SPTS streams into a single Multiplex stream. ## To Add a Multiplex Stream: :::::WorkflowBlock :::WorkflowBlockItem In the ZEC 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.** :::hint{type="info"} **Note**: this must be identical (case sensitive) to the stream name configured in the sending Zixi Broadcaster or MediaConnect. ::: :::: :::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 [ZEC Using the Matrix](docId\:OfxetHpsUO9EIMqpWFZEa)). Default: Selected. ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Select the **Log this stream** checkbox if you would like to generate event logs for this input. ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Select the **Analyze **checkbox if you would like to enable stream analysis for the input. ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Select **Multiplex** for the input stream. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/jnhE-O8bluIkkW6w9K9PZ_zec-add-multiplex-input.png) ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Specify the **Stream Parameters** (see [Input Stream Parameters Table](docId\:LftG8XIaGIJHv4ByG5PA9)). ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem If you want to **Enable encryption**, select this checkbox (see [Input Stream Parameters Table](docId\:LftG8XIaGIJHv4ByG5PA9)). For more information, see [ZEC Encrypting an Input Stream](docId\:qerN0ZFfbaZtL_vrW4Rn-). ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem If you want to configure the **Recording** Parameters, specify them in the respective fields (see [Input Stream Parameters Table](docId\:LftG8XIaGIJHv4ByG5PA9)). ::: :::WorkflowBlockItem Click **OK**. The “Input added” message appears at the top of the screen. The Multiplex stream is added to the ZEC and now appears in the list of streams available in the ZEC inputs UI. The created mpts file is accessible in the File tab at the top of the ZEC administrative screen and can be added as a new **File** input stream in the **Add a new input button stream.** ::: ::::: ### Input Stream Parameters Table | **Parameter** | **Description** | | -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Stream parameters** | | | **Drop Inactive streams** | Select the 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*** | | | **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 based on this number. Each Input’s Base PID should be separated by an interval greater than 10. | | **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. ZEC can only encrypt the stream after it has been decrypted. * **If the stream is being encrypted by the ZEC** - 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 [ZEC Encrypting an Input Stream](docId\:qerN0ZFfbaZtL_vrW4Rn-). | | **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 [ZEC Using an External Storage](docId\:va00GDLmr_u7oiYKGkLnX) section. * **Record to S3** – the file is saved to your AWS S3 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 2022\_recording15:32:35.ts. | | **Max recorded file duration \[HH\:MM]** | Specify the maximum time allotted for recording a video stream. Default: 2 hours | | **Keep recorded files for \[HH\:MM]** | 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 2022\_recording15:32:35.ts. | | **Max recorded file duration \[HH\:MM]** | 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, ZEC 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 ZEC 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="56" position="center" alt="Advanced Mode URL Param" darkWidth="800" darkHeight="56" 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. ::: ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/0GbzmUKZS59jKJDVjoGq2_zec-multiplex-advanced-mode.png) **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 - **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. - **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) - **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.