AWS Elemental Link Device Family
Link HD for 1080 HD video and Link UHD for 4K HDR video
Benefits
Fast and easy setup
AWS Elemental Link devices are shipped fully configured for your AWS Account. Simply connect the device to power, an IP network, and an SDI or HDMI video source. Once connected, your Link device starts sending thumbnail images and is available as a source for MediaLive in the AWS Management Console, ready for live streaming.
Manage and monitor devices remotely
With AWS Elemental Link, you control the entire live event workflow using the AWS Management Console. Because you can manage and monitor multiple devices anywhere in the world from a central point of control, you don’t need to send technical operators to event sites in order to set up and configure your live streams.
Cost efficient
At a price of $995 USD per HD device or $4,995 USD per UHD device (excluding customs clearance, duty, tax, and shipping), Link provides a broadcast-grade way to connect your on-premises live video source to MediaLive at a fraction of the cost of traditional approaches. With easy set-up and remote management, Link is efficient to own and operate.
Small and portable
Link devices are small and portable, with minimal power and cooling requirements. Silent, fanless operation and nominal heat generation make the devices practical to use in low-noise environments like studios or conference rooms. Link travels wherever you need to connect live video to the cloud.
High video quality
Delight viewers with HDR video
Details
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Devices
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Compare Link HD with Link UHD
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Devices
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AWS Elemental Link HD
Output: Single video up to 1080p at 60 fps to AWS Elemental MediaLive
Input: Power source, IP network, and either a single 3G-SDI or HDMI video source
Dimensions (W x H x D): 10.80 cm x 3.81 cm x 12.70 cm (4.25 in x 1.50 in x 5.00 in)
AWS Elemental Link UHDOutput: Single video up to 2160p at 60 fps to AWS Elemental MediaLive
Input: Power source, IP network, and either a single 12G-SDI or HDMI video source
Dimensions (W x H x D): 13.97 cm x 3.81 cm x 14.29 cm (5.50 in x 1.50 in x 5.625 in)
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Compare Link HD with Link UHD
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AWS Elemental Link HD AWS Elemental Link UHD Dimension (W x H x D) 10.80 cm x 3.81 cm x 12.70 cm
4.25 in x 1.50 in x 5.00 in13.97 cm x 3.81 cm x 14.29 cm
5.50 in x 1.50 in x 5.625 inPrice (excluding customs clearance, duty, tax, and shipping) $995 USD $4,995 USD Inputs Power source, IP network, and either a single 3G-SDI or HDMI video source Power source, IP network, and either a single 12G-SDI or HDMI 2.0 video source Video Output (to AWS Elemental MediaLive) Single video up to 1080p at 60 fps
8-bit color depthSingle video up to 2160p at 60 fps
10-bit color depthAudio Channels 8 channels 16 channels Power < 10 Watts < 24 Watts Rack Density 3x 1RU 3x 1RU HD Yes Yes HDR No Yes
Features
High-quality video
Reliable video transport
Built-in security
Video encoded with Link devices is encrypted using AES-128 and rotating keys from AWS Key Management Service (AWS KMS). AWS IoT Core handles device authentication and end-to-end security for connecting to AWS Elemental MediaLive.
Adapt automatically to network issues
How it works

Resources
Videos
Blog posts
Developer Resources
Live Streaming on AWS
Get started quickly with live streaming and delivering content using a solution that now supports Link.
Link HD Hardware Spec Sheet
Get detailed specifications on Link HD hardware including dimensions, power, and functionality.
Link UHD Hardware Spec Sheet
Get detailed specifications on Link UHD hardware including dimensions, power, and functionality.
Pricing
AWS Elemental Link costs $995 USD per HD device and $4,995 USD per UHD device (excluding customs clearance, duty, tax, and shipping). In addition, MediaLive input pricing of either Single-pipeline or Standard Channel applies to your live video.
Solution providers
Choose from a variety of AWS Elemental Link solution providers that offer software services and live video production expertise tailored for your unique use case.

Corrivium works with the world’s leading brands to deliver cutting-edge, live streaming experiences for high-profile events.

ioio.tv is a next generation platform for enterprise video creation and collaboration whose iO Connect platform empowers users to create their own TV channels and livestreams faster and easier than ever before.

From consulting to design, LOGIC helps customers make professional live streaming solutions including their PORTAL.live.link service that offers an operator-friendly frontend for non-technicians to control a live event via AWS Elemental Link and the PORTAL.live workflow.
Distributors
Order AWS Elemental Link devices using the AWS Management Console, or purchase from one of our distributors.

AppSquadz is a distributor of Link devices and provides encoding, transcoding, distribution, and AWS services solutions for customers in India.

CMT Technologies is a regional distributor of Link devices for customers in the MENA region.

DIGIBASE is a regional distributor of Link devices for customers in South Korea.

Digistor is a distributor of Link devices and provides end-to-end media encoding and distribution solutions for customers in Australia.

Gencom is a distributor of Link devices in New Zealand and provides end-to-end solutions for broadcast-grade media production and delivery.

Jigsaw24 is a regional distributor of Link devices for customers in the UK.

LOGIC is a distributor of Link devices for customers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other EU countries.

Magnum is a Mexican company dedicated to integrating solutions for TV, radio, streaming, cloud, AI & media, as well as the production and transmission of content for live events.

Sycomp is a regional distributor of Link devices for customers in North America.

Totsu Sangyo Co., Ltd. is a regional distributor of Link devices for customers in Japan.
FAQs
What are the differences between the two types of AWS Elemental Link devices?
There are two types of AWS Elemental Link devices, each providing different video outputs to AWS Elemental MediaLive. AWS Elemental Link HD devices send video to AWS Elemental MediaLive as high definition (HD) outputs up to 1080p at 60 frames per second (fps), with 8-bit color depth. In comparison, UHD devices can transfer video to MediaLive in ultra-high definition (UHD) 4K resolution up to 2160p at 60 fps, with high dynamic range (HDR) and 10-bit color depth. Each type of Link device requires a specific source input to support these outputs: Link HD devices use a 3G-SDI or HDMI video source, and Link UHD devices use a 12G-SDI or HDMI 2.0 video source. The devices also support different numbers of audio channels: Link HD devices support up to 8 audio channels, while Link UHD devices support up to 16 audio channels.
How do I set up AWS Elemental Link on-premises?
Link devices take a single video input as a source and send a single video output to AWS Elemental MediaLive. Set up requires three connections to begin streaming video to MediaLive: a power source, an IP network, and an SDI or HDMI video source. Link HD also supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) so you can use as few as two cables. On most networks (ones that use DHCP), no further configuration is needed. Link devices come preconfigured for your AWS Account; once connected, the device begins transferring video thumbnails, can be stopped and started, and is available to use in MediaLive. Link can go from out-of-the-box to live streaming in less than one minute.
You can find the Link HD and Link UHD Quick Start Guides and other documentation on the Link device resources page.
What is AWS Elemental MediaLive?
What are some example use cases for Link?
Does Link support remote monitoring for my live streams?
Can I install Link in a rack-mount configuration?
Link fits into facilities of practically any size and can be installed in any standard equipment rack. The device fits three across on a standard 19 in. rack shelf. Link devices are easy to transport and take up just a fraction of the space and power of a standard 1U server, making them ideal for flypacks and other types of remote production installations.
What video codec does Link use?
Link devices encode video using the HEVC codec, which is up to 50% more efficient than the AVC codec.
What protocol does Link use to send video to MediaLive?
Link devices transport video with high resiliency using the delivery protocol Zixi, which combines content-aware and network-adaptive forward error correction with error recovery, while minimizing latency.
Will Link devices work with an internet connection that has relatively low bandwidth?
Yes, Link devices work on networks with low bandwidth. Link devices use the HEVC codec to get high quality per bit along with a network-aware adaptive bitrate algorithm, adjusting in real time to changes in network conditions by varying the bitrate of the encoded video. While the exact bandwidth needed for a high-quality video stream depends on a number of factors including resolution, frame rate, and video complexity, we recommend having at least 5 Mbps for 1080p at 60 FPS video. For Link UHD, 10 bit video requires more network bandwidth and we recommend having at least 25 Mbps for 4K (2160p) at 60 FPS video. If your network has less than bandwidth available, we recommend reducing the frame-rate and/or resolution to get the highest quality video.
What happens when bandwidth changes during my live event?
Link devices use a network-aware adaptive bitrate algorithm, adjusting in real time to changes in network conditions by varying the bitrate of the encoded video. This closed-loop feedback system minimizes packet loss to keep video smooth when network issues occur.
Can I set up redundant Links with failover?
For use cases that require redundancy, two Link devices can feed a MediaLive standard channel, improving the resiliency of the workflow over a single-pipeline channel. For automatic failover, we recommend using AWS Elemental MediaPackage.
Can I use my Link device with more than one MediaLive channel?
Yes, you can use a single Link device as an input for multiple channels in MediaLive. For example, you could have one channel streaming video to viewers while a second channel creates a high-quality archive of your content.
Can Link send multiple channels of audio?
Yes, Link HD can send up to 8 and Link UHD up to 16 embedded audio channels to MediaLive. If your live stream has multi-language programming or surround-sound audio, Link can also support these workflows.
Can I move my Link to another AWS account?
Yes, you can transfer your Link device from one AWS account to another. If you have multiple AWS accounts or work with third parties that have their own accounts, this makes it easy to transfer device control to the account where video will be sent to MediaLive.
Can I move my Link from one AWS region to another?
Yes, you can transfer your Link device from one AWS region to another, as long as it’s a region that supports MediaLive. If you use Link for remote events that take place in different geographic locations, transferring the Link device to the closest AWS region for an event can improve the connectivity and latency of the live video feed.
Order AWS Elemental Link
Purchase Link devices using the AWS Management Console or from one of our distributors.