Encoder Power and Signal Setup

Resi’s hardware encoders are designed to be powered and run continuously, often for several hours at a time. To ensure that your encoder is able to run for long periods of time, your connections to power, the internet, and video signals must all be properly and securely configured before your broadcast begins.

Power Sequence for Encoders

1. Connect Your Power Cables

The encoder’s power input is on the back of the device (IEC input for server-grade encoders, and 19V barrel connector for RAY encoders.) A server-grade encoder with a single power connection has a power switch, turn this on after the connection is made. A server-grade encoder with redundant power modules does not have a separate power switch but should be connected to two separate electrical circuits for proper redundancy. To view the power consumption of your encoder review data sheets here.

You should power your encoder through an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in order to maintain power for a short period of time in case of power loss. Some UPS units also serve as power conditioners. If your UPS does not, Resi recommends that you use one in between your UPS and your encoder.

2. Connect Your Network Cables

Network connection to your encoder should be via ethernet cable to the back of the Encoder, only a single network connection to the encoder is viable concurrently. Having a separate network for each port (server-grade encoders) or via USB and ethernet is not a viable connection. Decoders on the local LAN can access the encoder video via the main connection through the network infrastructure. If multiple connections are required to have enough bandwidth to encode through Resi, you need to use a multi-wan router to provide a single ethernet cable to the Encoder. 

3. Connect Your Video Input Cables

Connect your video and audio feed to your encoder, either directly or through a video switcher, via the SDI or HDMI connection (server-grade only) in the back of your encoder.

Video connection must be HDMI or SDI (HDMI only available for server-grade encoders). You may test your video signal prior to connecting to the encoder using a TV or SDI monitor to confirm audio and video routing to your signal set to be encoded. An SDI input is recommended as it has a locking connector. In addition, HDMI protocol requires a “handshake” between devices, and an HDMI connection may be easily removed accidentally. View more information about video signal setup here.

Aside from the E4300, Resi encoders generally do not have a video out port. This means that if you want to monitor your feed in real-time, you will need to use a video switcher or splitter from within your signal path to send a wired connection to other monitors. You can learn more by reading about our recommended third-party devices. You can also monitor your feed via the encoder event in Studio, but it will not quite be real-time.

4. Turn on the Encoder

Once your encoder is connected to the network and power, you can power on your encoder with the front power button, though attempting to encode without a video signal connected will result in no video encoded and a signal loss email sent to streaming alerts contacts.

Shut Down Sequence for Encoders

1. Stop Your Encoder in Studio.

It is important to make sure that your encoder is in the “Stopped” status before you power it down. Failing to do so may result in your broadcast being cut short.

1. Navigate to Settings > Encoders in Studio.
2. Click the Stop button next to an encoder that is in the “Started” or “Starting” status.

1. In the following confirmation window, click the Stop button.
2. Wait for your encoder to enter the “Stopped” status inStudio.

2. Press the power button.

Once your encoder has been properly stopped in Studio, you can press the power button on the back of your encoder to turn it off completely.

Check Video and Audio Signals

A simple way to determine whether a signal is reaching your encoder properly is to check the encoder details to see if an input is being detected: 

1. Remove the SDI or HDMI connection that is or will be sending the feed to your encoder (usually running from a video switcher).
2. Connect it to a TV or SDI monitor that is powered on.
3. If you see a video feed, then the broadcast is being sent to your encoder. Otherwise, check your signal path and power connections.

Some SDI monitors have the advantage of displaying the input frame rate of this video signal - this can be used to create your encoder preset.

Configure an Encoder for Video and Audio Signals

Properly configuring your audio and video signal paths is an essential prerequisite to starting any broadcast. Audio and Video sync must be configured prior to reaching your Resi hardware encoder.

Encoder Input Configuration

Resi hardware encoders can capture video in common SMPTE standards of resolution and frame rate from 486i59.94 to 1080p60 (and up to 4K30 for server-grade encoders). You can learn more about the input and output formats for encoder videos in Create a New Encoder Preset.

Video must be configured in YUV or YCbCr color space which is a broadcast standard and is almost always the case with SDI. HDMI however may be configured to RGB color space which Resi hardware encoders do not accept. Converting HDMI colorspace with a Decimator is an option if HDMI is the only available input to your encoder. You can also convert HDMI to SDI as an easy way to properly convert the color space. 

Software switchers outputting over HDMI may not be able to output a YUV or YCbCr colorspace but instead, output RGB depending on your software switcher-specific hardware. Outputting via SDI output card or converting to SDI may be required with your specific video setup. You can read our list of Recommended Video Cross Converters.

Video Signal for Server-Grade Encoders

Server-grade encoders can receive video and audio through HDMI or SDI. All server-grade encoders are set up to default to SDI input, but the input preferences can be changed in the encoder details page by someone with permission in Studio. To do this:

1. Navigate to Settings > Encoders in Studio.
2. Click on the name of the encoder you would like to view details for.
3. Click the Edit button in the top right corner.
4. Under Input Source, select HDMI.
5. Click the Save button.

If you do not have the necessary permissions, reach out to your Studio administrator. Audio must be embedded on the selected input, HDMI or SDI, as only one input option can be used at a time. Switching input options requires a reboot of the hardware encoder.

Video Signal for RAY Encoders

RAY encoders only accept video through the SDI input. The HDMI port is an output for a display and cannot be used to encode. It is also recommended that you keep the emulator plug connected to the HDMI port when it is not in use or unless otherwise told to do so by support. Audio must be embedded on this SDI connection. You can learn more by reading about our recommended Audio Embedders.

Video Switchers

For a broadcast that utilizes multiple cameras, you will most likely need a video switcher. Hardware switchers are the best choice when using Resi hardware encoders since they provide consistent audio routing and video signal frame rates. 

Some hardware switchers require a firmware upgrade to work properly with Resi hardware. E.g. A Roland V1-HD requires an upgrade to 2.03 and BlackMagic Design ATEM 4K should be upgraded past version 7.2. 

Audio Embedding

Hardware encoders that receive video and audio through the SDI input (HDMI is possible for server-grade encoders) must have the audio embedded into this video signal whether it is SDI or HDMI. You can embed your audio signal into your SDI or HDMI video path using an audio embedder or a hardware or software video switcher. HDMI accepts 8 channels of embedded audio while SDI accepts 16 channels.

Audio Levels

It is worth noting that audio signal levels cannot be modified through the encoder. Audio levels are typically configured through your recording equipment. Although audio signal limits will vary depending on a number of factors, Resi recommends that the target transmitting limit should be between -5 to -10 DbFS for an optimal streaming experience. This typically translates to +13 to +8 DbU on your controller. However, it is important to note these levels will depend on a number of factors, such as the recording environment, the controller and software being used, etc. If you would like to learn more about the practices employed by Resi clients, watch our video on broadcast audio.

Audio and Video Sync

If you are using a hardware encoder and your stream is out of sync on an encoder event, that means the signal is out of sync coming into the encoder, Audio and video sync must be made prior to the signal reaching the encoder. If audio appears ahead of the video, it should be delayed from the source audio console. If the video appears ahead of audio with no audio delay added, additional hardware may be required to delay the video feed.

Monitoring

Hardware Encoders are headless units and only rely on these three connections to properly encode: power, network, and video. In order to monitor your video or audio, an auxiliary monitor may be used in your signal path with a passthrough output to your Encoder. A video feed direct from your video switcher or video router is best, so a more ideal option would be to have a connection directly from your video router to your hardware Encoder with a separate monitor receiving the same source video.

Shutting down your Encoder

You may power down your Encoder after use for temporary locations, just be sure that your Encoder shows a stopped status in Control before power or network equipment is turned off. If your Encoder is started when it loses power, any running Encoder Events and Web Events may remain in a “stuck” state and may require manual interaction to stop a Web Event. Encoder Events which are running while the Encoder is stopped are not able to be corrected and appear as a continuous event.