Creating a channel from a template

You can create a channel by using a custom template or by using one of the built-in templates that MediaLive provides.

Using built-in templates

MediaLive includes built-in templates that you can access on the console. Each template includes data for output groups and outputs, and most importantly, data for encoding video to meet specific use cases (as specified in the template description).

When you use a built-in template, all sections of the Create channel page are populated with data except for the inputs and output destinations sections.

Even though the templates are built-in, you can choose to edit the existing fields and complete the empty fields.

Using custom templates

You or another person in your organization may have created custom templates. A custom template might contain nearly all the data that is required to create a complete channel, or it might contain only portions of the data. To create a custom template, see Creating a custom template.

Typically, templates are created in order to be shared among different users.

If your organization uses templates, you must obtain the templates you will use from the person who created the templates. You must store them in a folder on the computer where you are working on the MediaLive console. This folder is the "custom template location." You perform this task in your computer's filesystem, outside of MediaLive.

When you use a custom template, MediaLive populates all sections of the Create channel page with data from the template, except for the input data. Even if the template includes input data, that data will not be pulled into the Create channel page.

You can edit the existing fields and complete the empty fields as needed.

Creating a channel from a template

To create a channel from a template (console)

1. If you plan to use a custom template, make sure you have set up to use them. See Using custom templates.

2. Open the MediaLive console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/medialive/.

3. In the navigation pane, choose Channels. On the Channels page, choose Create channel.

4. On the Create channel page, in the Channel and input details section, in the Channel template section, do one of the following:

   • To use a built-in template: For Template, from the Channel templates section of the drop-down list, choose a template. (The Existing channels section does not list templates.)

   • To use a custom template: Choose Select custom template. Navigate to the "custom template" folder and choose the template. For information on the custom template location, see Using custom templates.

5. Complete the fields, such as the input fields, that must always be completed. You can also edit other fields as needed. For more information, see Creating a channel from scratch.

Creating a custom template

You create a custom template by exporting the data from an existing (and therefore validated) channel. MediaLive exports the data to a JSON file that you can use on the console .

To create a custom template (console)

1. Open the MediaLive console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/medialive/.

2. In the navigation pane, choose Channels. On the Channels page, choose the channel name (not the radio button).

3. In Channel actions, choose Download custom template. Follow the prompts to save the channel as a template. The template is a JSON file with the same name as the channel.

4. (Optional) Open the file in a suitable editor and make changes. For example, you can change field values, add fields, and remove fields. Be careful to maintain valid JSON.

   You don’t need to remove the input attachments. When you use this template in a new channel, MediaLive imports all the data except for the input attachments.

5. Make the custom template available to the users who will need them. Each user must store the template in a folder that is accessible from the computer where the user will work on the MediaLive console. This task is performed outside of MediaLive.

Users can use the template file on the MediaLive console.