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Live sources (Live Inputs)

Adding live sources to VPlay is a two-step process:

  1. The source is added to the server (Assigned Lives section in vpControl)
  2. The added sources are distributed across channels (Channel live inputs)

Each source can be added to any channel and/or to several channels at the same time. Live sources are not licensed separately.

Common parameters of all input streams

All source types share the following settings:

Parameter Description
Select video adapter GPU used for decoding. Selecting a hardware decoder significantly offloads the CPU. The input, the channel, and the outputs of one channel must be on the same GPU
Allow Usage On Other Video Adapters Allow the use of other GPUs' resources when resources are insufficient
Dynamic SDR/HDR HLG Select the color space of the input stream
Remote preview Remote viewing of the source in NDI or SRT format. You specify the port
Audio Mixing Configuration of the input signal audio matrix. Supports quick switching without restarting services — the Update button applies changes on the fly
DTMF Detection of tone markers in the audio track (requires a separate license)
Teletext / OP-47 Decoding of teletext and subtitles from the stream (up to 8 tracks)
Time Shift Input signal delay from 1 minute to 12 hours (requires a separate license)
Test Visual diagnostics of the input signal. Available only while the channel is stopped

DTMF settings

  • Enable DTMF — enable detection
  • Symbol duration — symbol duration
  • Pause duration — pause between symbols
  • Search in audio channels 1–8 — select the audio track to search for markers
  • DTMF items — search mask (the value and order of symbols in a marker)

Teletext settings

  • Subtitles Source — subtitle format
  • Subtitle 1–8 Enable — enable decoding of the tracks
  • Page — teletext page number
  • Lang — language (format: eng, deu)

UDP source

Adding a UDP source

Adding:

  1. In vpControl → Assigned Lives → right-click → Add live input → UDP/IP Stream
  2. Add the IP address of the network card through the context menu
  3. Enter the IP address and port of the input stream (for example, 235.1.3.1:1234)
  4. Click Search — the list of streams available at this address is displayed
  5. Select the required streams with the checkboxes → Save

Changing the IP without deleting the source: source context menu → Edit → enter the new address → OK → Search → Save.

UDP-specific parameters:

Input UDP stream settings

  • SCTE-35 — detection of markers in the incoming IP TS stream. Supported types: SCTE splice (standard), SCTE Chapter (provider markers), SCTE Program placement opportunity (local/personalized)

NDI source

Adding an NDI source

Adding:

  1. Assigned Lives → Add live input → NewTek NDI
  2. Click Search sources → in the window that opens, enter the NDI group name (or leave it empty to search all) → Start Search
  3. NDI stream search

In the Host and Source fields, select the computer and the stream

Selecting the NDI host and source 4. Save

NDI-specific parameters:

  • SCTE-104 — detection of SCTE-104 markers in the NDI stream (similar to SCTE-35 for UDP)

SRT source

Adding an SRT source

SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) is a UDP-based protocol with automatic error correction. It works in two modes:

Mode Description
Caller VPlay initiates the connection to the receiver. Broadcasting does not start until a point-to-point connection with the Listener is established
Listener VPlay waits for an incoming request. There can be several receiving points

Adding:

  1. Assigned Lives → Add live input → SRT Input SRT source settings

  2. Enter the input stream address

  3. Select the connection type: Caller or Listener
  4. For an encrypted stream, select AES-128 or AES-256 and enter the key
  5. Right-click SRT Input → Search → Save

The settings are similar to those of the UDP source (decoder selection, DTMF, teletext).

GPU and SRT

Be sure to select a GPU decoder for the SRT source. The input, the channel, and the outputs of one channel must be configured on the same video adapter.

SDI source

Adding an SDI source

Adding:

  1. Assigned Lives → Add live input → SDI (the card is detected automatically)
  2. Select the board and the required input on it

Supported boards: Stream Labs MH4LM (ASI/SDI), DeckLink, AJA, DekTec, Softlab-NSK

SDI-specific parameters:

  • Video / Audio — input signal parameter settings
  • SCTE-104 — detection of markers in the SDI stream
  • Teletext (OP-42/47) / Closed Captions — subtitle decoding

WEB source (WebUrl)

Adding a WEB source

Reception of RTMP, HLS, RTSP, and other URL streams without constant background decoding.

Adding:

  1. Assigned Lives → Add live input → WebUrl Input
  2. In the URL field, enter the input stream address
  3. Save

The settings are similar to those of the UDP source.

HLS from Apple devices

Starting with VPlay 5.8, support was added for HLS formats specific to Apple devices. Specification: developer.apple.com/streaming

ST2110 (SMPTE ST 2110)

Adding an ST-2110 source

Reception of 4K UHD according to the SMPTE ST 2110 standard through Mellanox network cards.

Adding:

  1. Assigned Lives → Add live input → Rivermax IP (ST2110)

ST2110-specific parameters:

Panel Contents
Video GPU decoder, color space, signal parameters, receive port, TPN
Audio Audio signal parameters
Ancillary Port for VANC data
Network Network interface, source IP address
Import SDP Params Loads an SDP file — automatically fills in Video, Audio, and Ancillary

SDP file

The Import SDP Params button is key for ST2110. Obtain the SDP file from the signal source and import it — all parameters are filled in automatically.

Distribution of Live sources across broadcast channels

Two modes for working with a large number of sources

  • Constant background decoding of each source
  • Continuous monitoring of signal presence and quality
  • On signal loss, an immediate notification (red highlighting in the Channel Manager schedule)
  • The source is shown in light blue in the schedule when the signal is normal and in red on error
  • Maximum: 8 HD streams on an NVIDIA Quadro RTX A4000

WEB URL mode (resource saving)

Adding a Web URL in the channel resources panel

Sources are not added to the server through vpControl but directly from Channel Manager:

  1. Channel Manager → channel resources tree → Web URL → right-click → Add new Web Url
  2. Enter the URL → Verify → specify a name → OK
  3. Drag the source into the schedule (drag & drop)

Important: In Web URL mode, VPlay does not monitor the input stream. In case of any signal problems, the system does not notify the operator — the schedule row is not highlighted in color (unlike Live sources).

Input signal diagnostics

Visual diagnostics (Test button):

Input signal diagnostics

Available only while the channel is stopped. Opens a source preview showing the video and audio levels.

Dropped frame monitoring:

Input signal preview — fps and drops monitoring

  1. In vpControl → right-click the source → Preview
  2. In the preview window, press Ctrl+F7
  3. A dropped frame counter appears in the lower-right corner
  4. In the upper-left corner: name, format, fps, and number of audio tracks

Source color indication: - 🟢 Green — the source is connected and working normally - 🔴 Red — the signal is corrupted or missing

Distributing sources across channels

After the sources are added and tested:

  1. In vpControl, expand the resources tree of the required channel → Channel live inputs
  2. Right-click → select a source from the list of available sources
  3. Save

Channel connection settings of a source:

  • Video — scaling: Letterbox, Anamorph, Pan & Scan; teletext resolution
  • Map AV Audio — audio track mapping when there are many tracks
  • Map AV Subtitles — subtitle track mapping

GPU performance calculation

Resource allocation rule: the input, the broadcast channel, and all outputs of one channel must be on the same GPU. This avoids copying between adapters and minimizes the load on the PCIe bus and the CPU.

Maximum tested number: 8 HD input streams on an NVIDIA Quadro RTX A4000.

If you need to process more sources, contact Stream Labs specialists to calculate the configuration.