Channel Types - Amazon IVS
STANDARD ChannelsADVANCED-HD ChannelsADVANCED-SD ChannelsBASIC Channels

Channel Types

There are four channel types: STANDARD, ADVANCED_SD, ADVANCED_HD, and BASIC. When you create a channel, the default type is STANDARD.

Depending on the channel type, video may be transcoded or transmuxed:

  • Video on STANDARD and ADVANCED channels is transcoded: multiple qualities are generated from the original input, to automatically give viewers the best experience for their devices and network conditions. Transcoding allows higher playback quality across a range of download speeds.

  • Video on BASIC channels is transmuxed: Amazon IVS delivers the original input to viewers.

All transcoded channels have transcode presets, which determine which renditions are produced. Think of these as ABR ladders. They allow you to trade off available download bandwidth and video quality, to optimize the viewing experience.

  • STANDARD channels have one, default transcode preset.

  • ADVANCED channels have two, selectable transcode presets:

    • Constrained bandwidth delivery uses a lower bitrate than STANDARD for each quality level. Use it if you have low download bandwidth and/or simple video content (e.g., talking heads).

    • Higher bandwidth delivery uses a higher bitrate for each quality level. Use it if you have high download bandwidth and/or complex video content (e.g., flashes and quick scene changes). This is the default.

STANDARD Channels

STANDARD channels are transcoded. The highest video resolution produced is full HD, 1080p. This is the default channel type.

  • Transcode presets: There is one, default transcode-preset ladder.

  • Audio: For renditions 360p and below, audio is transcoded. For other renditions: original audio is passed through.

Input Resolution and Maximum Bitrate Ladder Details

1080p60 at 8.5 Mbps

  1. Source passthrough

  2. 720p60 at 3.4 Mbps

  3. 480p30 at 1.4 Mbps

  4. 360p30 at 0.63 Mbps

  5. 160p30 at 0.23 Mbps

1080p30 at 8.5 Mbps

  1. Source passthrough

  2. 720p30 at 2.4 Mbps

  3. 480p30 at 1.4 Mbps

  4. 360p30 at 0.63 Mbps

  5. 160p30 at 0.23 Mbps

Less than 1080p60 and greater than 720p60, at 8.5 Mbps

  1. Source passthrough

  2. 720p60 at 3.4 Mbps

  3. 480p30 at 1.4 Mbps

  4. 360p30 at 0.63 Mbps

  5. 160p30 at 0.23 Mbps

Less than 1080p30 and greater than 720p30, at 8.5 Mbps

  1. Source passthrough

  2. 720p30 at 2.4 Mbps

  3. 480p30 at 1.4 Mbps

  4. 360p30 at 0.63 Mbps

  5. 160p30 at 0.23 Mbps

720p60 at 8.5 Mbps

  1. 720p60 at 3.4 Mbps

  2. 480p30 at 1.4 Mbps

  3. 360p30 at 0.63 Mbps

  4. 160p30 at 0.23 Mbps

720p30 at 8.5 Mbps

  1. 720p30 at 2.4 Mbps

  2. 480p30 at 1.4 Mbps

  3. 360p30 at 0.63 Mbps

  4. 160p30 at 0.23 Mbps

Less than 720p30/60 and greater than or equal to 480p30/60, at 8.5 Mbps

  1. 480p30 at 1.4 Mbps

  2. 360p30 at 0.63 Mbps

  3. 160p30 at 0.23 Mbps

ADVANCED-HD Channels

ADVANCED-HD channels are transcoded. The highest video resolution produced is HD, 720p.

  • Transcode presets: There are two, selectable transcode-preset ladders.

  • Audio: For renditions 360p and below, audio is transcoded. For other renditions, original audio is passed through.

Input Resolution and Maximum Bitrate Ladder Details

720p60 up to 1080p60, at 8.5 Mbps

Transcode preset: higher bandwidth delivery (default):

  1. 720p60 at 3 Mbps

  2. 480p30 at 1.3 Mbps

  3. 360p30 at 0.7 Mbps

  4. 160p30 at 0.27 Mbps

  5. Audio-only at 0.08 Mbps

Transcode preset: constrained bandwidth delivery:

  1. 720p60 at 2.2 Mbps

  2. 480p30 at 0.8 Mbps

  3. 360p30 at 0.4 Mbps

  4. 160p30 at 0.22 Mbps

  5. Audio-only at 0.08 Mbps

720p30 up to 1080p30, at 8.5 Mbps

Transcode preset: higher bandwidth delivery (default):

  1. 720p30 at 2.3 Mbps

  2. 480p30 at 1.3 Mbps

  3. 360p30 at 0.7 Mbps

  4. 160p30 at 0.27 Mbps

  5. Audio-only at 0.08 Mbps

Transcode preset: constrained bandwidth delivery:

  1. 720p30 at 1.9 Mbps

  2. 480p30 at 0.8 Mbps

  3. 360p30 at 0.4 Mbps

  4. 160p30 at 0.22 Mbps

  5. Audio-only at 0.08 Mbps

Less than 720p30/60 and greater than 480p30/60, at 8.5 Mbps

Transcode preset: higher bandwidth delivery (default):

  1. Source transcoded at 2.3 Mbps

  2. 480p30 at 1.3 Mbps

  3. 360p30 at 0.7 Mbps

  4. 160p30 at 0.27 Mbps

  5. Audio-only at 0.08 Mbps

Transcode preset: constrained bandwidth delivery:

  1. Source transcoded at 1.9 Mbps

  2. 480p30 at 0.8 Mbps

  3. 360p30 at 0.4 Mbps

  4. 160p30 at 0.22 Mbps

  5. Audio-only at 0.08 Mbps

480p30/60 at 8.5 Mbps

Transcode preset: higher bandwidth delivery (default):

  1. 480p30 at 1.3 Mbps

  2. 360p30 at 0.7 Mbps

  3. 160p30 at 0.27 Mbps

  4. Audio-only at 0.08 Mbps

Transcode preset: constrained bandwidth delivery:

  1. 480p30 at 0.8 Mbps

  2. 360p30 at 0.4 Mbps

  3. 160p30 at 0.22 Mbps

  4. Audio-only at 0.08 Mbps

ADVANCED-SD Channels

ADVANCED-SD channels are transcoded. Available renditions are capped at input quality, with no up-conversion.

  • Transcode presets: There are two, selectable transcode-preset ladders.

  • Audio: Audio is transcoded.

Input Resolution and Maximum Bitrate Ladder Details

480p30/60 up to 1080p30/60, at 8.5 Mbps

Transcode preset: higher bandwidth delivery (default):

  1. 480p30 at 1.3 Mbps

  2. 360p30 at 0.7 Mbps

  3. 160p30 at 0.27 Mbps

  4. Audio-only at 0.08 Mbps

Transcode preset: constrained bandwidth delivery:

  1. 480p30 at 0.8 Mbps

  2. 360p30 at 0.4 Mbps

  3. 160p30 at 0.22 Mbps

  4. Audio-only at 0.08 Mbps

BASIC Channels

BASIC channels are transmuxed. A single rendition is produced.

  • Transcode presets: NA

  • Audio: Audio is transcoded.

Input Resolution and Maximum Bitrate Ladder Details

Greater than 480p30/60 and less than or equal to 1080p30/60, at 3.5 Mbps

Source encoding parameters (no ladder)

480p30/60 at 1.5 Mbps

Source encoding parameters (no ladder)