Channels
A channel is a complete video path: where the signal comes from, how it is processed, and where it goes. Use this page to create, edit, and manage channels without guessing at the editor.
For the first channel on a new machine, start with Create the First Channel.
Before You Change a Live Channel
Saving a channel that is in use stops it and reloads the new configuration. Finish any recording first, or plan a brief interruption.
Create a Channel From a Template
The channel wizard is the recommended starting point. Templates include a working pipeline so you do not have to assemble plugins from scratch.
- Open Configuration → Channels.
- Choose Create a New Channel.
- Pick a starter that matches the job (recording, streaming, download, or playback).
- Set the channel name.
- Change only the settings that must match your site (see the table below).
- Save.
Change source addresses, device IDs, and names first. Heavy pipeline edits are the usual cause of a channel that will not start.
Template catalog
| Template | Category | What it does | Change after creating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Capture Recorder | Recording | Captures DeckLink video and audio to an MKV file that supports time-slip | Port Number, Mode |
| SRT Live Recorder | Recording | Receives an SRT stream and saves it as MKV | Source URI |
| RIST Live Recorder | Recording | Receives a RIST stream and saves it as MKV | IP Address, Port Number |
| SRT Stream from Decklink | Streaming | Encodes DeckLink video and sends it as SRT | Sink URI |
| RIST Stream from Decklink | Streaming | Encodes DeckLink video and sends it as RIST | IP Address or Domain Name, Port Number |
| RTMP Stream from Decklink | Streaming | Encodes DeckLink video and sends it to an RTMP server | RTMP URL / Location (this template uses 2 audio channels) |
| HLS Download | Download | Pulls a remote HLS stream into the library | HLS Master Playlist URL |
| Video Playback | Playback | Plays a library file out a DeckLink card | Port Number, Mode |
If an encode template’s quality or CPU load is wrong, change Bitrate (Kbps) on the encoder. Leave the other encoder fields at the template defaults unless you have a reason to change them.
SRT URI formats
The URI field differs slightly between receive and send:
| Role | Caller (you connect out) | Listener (others connect in) |
|---|---|---|
| SRT Live Recorder (source) | host:9000 | :9000 |
| SRT Stream from Decklink (sink) | host:9000 | :9000?mode=listener |
Use a listener only when a remote must call this machine. Expose that UDP port with care. See First Boot.
What is not a capture source
VidRedi can receive live video from DeckLink, SRT, and RIST, and it can download HLS.
- RTMP is an outgoing destination (a sink), not a recording source.
- RTSP is not available as a source.
Channel Details
These settings apply to the whole channel, not a single plugin.
- Name — Shown on the Dashboard and used by naming templates.
- Recording Name Template — Optional per-channel naming pattern. If you leave it blank, the system-wide template is used. See Package Naming Templates.
- Disable thumbnail generation — Turn this on for streaming channels. Thumbnails are useful on capture channels and are extra work on streams.
- Disable channel — The channel does not run and does not appear on the Dashboard.
Pipeline Sections
The editor groups plugins into five sections. Most templates already fill these in.
| Section | Role |
|---|---|
| Helpers | Extra behavior that is not part of the video path, such as runaway recording protection |
| Source | Where video and audio come from (DeckLink, file, SRT, RIST, or HLS download) |
| Encoder | Compresses video or audio when the channel must encode (for example, DeckLink capture) |
| Muxer | Combines streams into a container (Matroska, MPEG-TS, FLV, and similar) |
| Sink | The destination (file, DeckLink output, SRT, RIST, RTMP) |
A recording channel that already receives a compressed stream (SRT or RIST) often has no encoder. It remuxes the incoming stream into a file.
A playback channel typically has a file source and a DeckLink sink, with no encoder.
Helpers
The included helper is Runaway Recording Protection. Times are in minutes. The Live Capture Recorder template sets Duration Warning to 180 and Max Duration to 240.
- Duration Warning — Sends a notification before the limit. The notification includes Continue recording, which disables protection for that recording only. Set the warning to
0to skip the notice. - Max Duration — Stops the recording when this length is reached.
System-wide disk thresholds are separate. See Configuration.
Audio Routing
Channels can carry up to 16 audio channels. Some sources do not provide that many, or do not follow the expected layout.
When both the source and the destination expose an audio channel count, the editor shows a mix matrix. Each output channel can take signal from one or more input channels. Dashboard audio meters follow this mix, not the raw source layout.
If audio is missing or wrong, reduce the channel count to match the source, then check the mix matrix.
Manage Existing Channels
On Configuration → Channels:
- Open a channel to edit it.
- Duplicate to copy the configuration into a new channel, then change the name and unique settings (device, port, URL).
- Delete to remove a channel you no longer need.
- Drag channels to change Dashboard order (requires permission to reorder).
Disabled channels stay in this list so you can turn them back on later.
Permissions
Who can change channels depends on role. Viewers can watch. Operators can run transport. The editor role can also create and change channel configuration. Administrators can do everything. See Users and Roles.