The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To start a live stream with AWS Elemental Link, connect and configure the Link hardware, create an Elemental Link input in AWS Elemental MediaLive in the same AWS Region, then attach that input to a MediaLive channel once the device is sending video. MediaLive handles the channel and its output destination; Link is the on-premises device that carries your live video source into AWS.
Before you begin
Have access to the AWS account and Region where you plan to run the stream, a Link device visible to that account, a supported live video source, and a network connection for the device. AWS setup also requires suitable IAM permissions. If your device came through an AWS reseller, AWS says it may need to be claimed before you can use it. Check the documentation for your specific unit for hardware and network requirements.
The physical Link device is different from both the Link input device interface in the MediaLive console and the Elemental Link input resource you create for a channel. The normal workflow uses all three: configure the device, create an input that refers to it, and attach that input to a channel. See AWS Elemental Link setup and the MediaLive procedure for creating an Elemental Link input.
Choose the right Link model and workflow
| Device | Documented capability | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Link HD | Ingests HD or lower for use as a MediaLive input; AWS describes output in the same resolution in HEVC. | Your source and planned MediaLive workflow are HD or lower. |
| Link UHD | Ingests UHD or lower and can serve as a MediaLive input or a MediaConnect flow source. For MediaConnect, AWS lists AVC or HEVC output. | You need UHD-or-lower ingestion or a MediaConnect source workflow. |
These are device capabilities, not a promise that every resolution or downstream output is available in every account, Region, or event configuration. Verify the exact workflow against the AWS Elemental Link documentation before committing to a production format. MediaConnect as a source workflow is documented for Link UHD, not Link HD.
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Connect and configure the device
1. Connect the video source and network
Connect power, the IP network, and a live video source to the Link device. AWS lists 3G-SDI and HDMI physical video connections; use the connector that matches your source and unit. An HDMI cable is only appropriate for an HDMI hookup, and SDI is also supported. Confirm the device is online and visible in the intended AWS account and Region.
2. Set the device options in MediaLive
In the MediaLive console, locate the Link input device and configure it for the production feed. AWS documents a descriptive device name, a source choice of SDI, HDMI, or Auto where appropriate, and an optional maximum bitrate. Select the connector carrying the intended feed; choose automatic source behavior only if that suits the way your production sources are connected.
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If you leave maximum bitrate blank, AWS says the device determines a bitrate suited to network conditions between the device and MediaLive. If you set a limit, ensure it is appropriate for the feed and available network capacity. Consult AWS’s device configuration instructions for the current console fields and applicable unit details.
Create the Elemental Link input
- Open AWS Elemental MediaLive in the same Region as the Link device.
- Create a new input and choose the Elemental Link input type.
- Choose the input class and select the device or devices requested for that class. AWS’s procedure allows one or two devices depending on the class.
- Review and create the input. Its details include a device identifier; a thumbnail is available when the device is pushing video.
Keep the device, input, and channel in the same AWS Region. Follow the current AWS input-creation steps for the current console labels and input-class choices.
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Attach the input to a MediaLive channel and go live
Wait until the upstream operator has powered on the device, connected it to the internet, and started sending the intended video. Then attach the Elemental Link input to a MediaLive channel and configure the channel’s output for the destination and format you need. AWS recommends this timing to avoid charges associated with an idle input and a running channel.
AWS also documents a MediaLive workflow wizard that accepts Link hardware as an input and includes delivery workflows to destinations such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch. Those are possible paths, not a guarantee that a particular account, Region, or event is configured identically. For a YouTube destination, configure and verify the downstream MediaLive output and YouTube event settings for your own stream.
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Verify the picture before troubleshooting downstream
- Check the Link device status and confirm the selected source is the active HDMI or SDI feed.
- Look for the input thumbnail in MediaLive while the device is pushing video.
- Inspect device metrics and confirm that the expected source is arriving before investigating channel output or destination settings.
- Confirm that the input and channel are in the intended Region and that the channel is using the input you created.
If you need a MediaConnect flow instead
Use Link UHD for the documented MediaConnect source workflow. AWS specifies a MediaConnect flow in the same Region, a Zixi push source with AES 128 static-key encryption, and the relevant flow and IAM details. These are MediaConnect-specific requirements; they are not part of the simpler MediaLive channel-input procedure. See AWS’s Link workflow documentation for the current flow configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | What to check | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The Link device is not available in MediaLive. | Account visibility, Region, setup permissions, and whether a reseller-supplied unit needs to be claimed. | Complete device deployment and claiming if required; use the intended AWS account and Region and confirm the operator has the necessary IAM permissions. |
| The input thumbnail is missing or shows no expected picture. | Whether the device is powered, online, and actually sending video; whether the selected source matches the active HDMI or SDI connection. | Start the feed, check the physical connection and source selection, then recheck the thumbnail and device metrics. |
| The input cannot be used with the channel or flow. | Region alignment and device-model support for the workflow. | Keep the device and relevant input/channel or flow in the same Region. Use Link UHD, rather than HD, for the documented MediaConnect source workflow. |
| Charges begin before the event. | Whether an input and channel are running while the upstream source is idle. | Follow AWS’s recommended start timing: bring the device online and start sending video before attaching the input to the channel. |
| The stream reaches MediaLive but not the intended destination. | Channel state, output configuration, destination settings, and event setup. | Use the MediaLive channel and destination workflow documentation to inspect downstream configuration; a visible input confirms source arrival, not successful delivery to every destination. |
Or let it run in the cloud
AWS Elemental Link is for sending a live production source into AWS. If instead you want a pre-recorded video or playlist to keep a YouTube channel live around the clock, StreamNeo is a different option: upload your video, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. The cloud keeps it running without a computer or home connection staying on. It supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream, and includes the first day free with no card. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo streams to YouTube only; it does not send a camera feed. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free first day.
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