AWS Elemental Link Device Family

Link HD for 1080 HD video and Link UHD for 4K HDR video

AWS Elemental Link encoding devices connect a live video source, like a camera or video production equipment, to AWS Elemental MediaLive. Two different Link devices are available depending on your use case: Link HD for high-definition (HD) video and Link UHD for ultra-high definition (UHD) video. Link devices offer a configuration-free, cost-efficient way to securely and reliably transfer video to MediaLive for delivery to viewers. To use a device, you simply connect it to power, Ethernet, and a video source. Then you control and monitor your devices from anywhere you have access to the AWS Management Console. AWS Elemental Link improves the quality and reliability of your live video streams while reducing the cost and complexity of equipment that you need to operate on-premises.

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

Link devices are designed to maximize the quality of HD or UHD video sent to the cloud and account for the unpredictable nature of network conditions. The devices use an advanced video compression system that continuously adjusts to available bandwidth in order to deliver the best possible video under all network conditions.

Delight viewers with HDR video

Delight your audience with brilliant picture quality using Link UHD, which supports up to 10 bit color depth for your video. Using Link UHD you can create high dynamic range (HDR) channels in MediaLive with HDR 10 and HLG video output.

Details

  • Devices
  • 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 UHD

    Output: 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)

  • Compare Link HD with Link UHD
  •   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 in
    13.97 cm x 3.81 cm x 14.29 cm
    5.50 in x 1.50 in x 5.625 in
    Price (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 depth
    Single video up to 2160p at 60 fps
    10-bit color depth
    Audio 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

Link devices encode video with high quality per bit using the HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) codec, which is up to 50% more efficient than the AVC (Advanced Video Coding) codec.

Reliable video transport

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.

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

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.

How it works

Resources

Videos

AWS Elemental Link demonstration (2:43)
Order, unbox, and start streaming with Link (16:29)
From re:Invent, learn how PBS uses Link devices to stream to viewers like you (28:11)
Link HD connects Glo instructors to their students (0:29)
Link HD powers Sherpa Digital’s virtual events (1:18)

Blog posts

Developer Resources

Live Streaming on AWS

Get started quickly with live streaming and delivering content using a solution that now supports Link.

Get detailed specifications on Link HD hardware including dimensions, power, and functionality.


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.

While the ordering console for Link is only available in the US East (N. Virginia) and US West (Oregon) regions, devices can be associated with any of the regions where AWS Elemental MediaLive is supported in order to ingest video. During the order process, you select the region you want a device to be associated with and enter a shipping address.

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

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

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ioio.tv

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.

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LOGIC

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.

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Distributors

Order AWS Elemental Link devices using the AWS Management Console, or purchase from one of our distributors.

AppSquadz

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

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CMT Technologies

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

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DIGIBASE

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

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Digistor

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

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Gencom

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

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Jigsaw24

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

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LOGIC

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

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Magnum

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.

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Sycomp

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

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Totsu Sangyo Co., Ltd.

Totsu Sangyo Co., Ltd. is a regional distributor of Link devices for customers in Japan.

Learn more »

FAQs

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.

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?

AWS Elemental MediaLive is a cloud-based live video encoding service that offers fast, reliable, and easy-to-use delivery of high-quality live video streams. MediaLive streamlines live video operations by automating the configuration and management of ingest and encoding components for highly reliable delivery. The service provides broadcast-quality features, configurable capability, and supports industry standard formats and technologies. With the broadcast-grade encoding capabilities of MediaLive, the scale and elasticity of AWS, and the easy setup and management of AWS Elemental Link, you can efficiently deliver live streams to your audiences.

What are some example use cases for Link?

Link devices are great for live event venues, because they reduce the upfront cost of equipment that might only be used periodically. For instance, a place of worship can use Link to live stream services on its website, or an arena can use it to broadcast concerts or sporting events. Link is also ideal for organizations that need to centrally manage a large fleet of devices; for example, by installing Link devices in auditoriums, a university or enterprise can centrally manage broadcast-grade streaming of events across an entire campus. Finally, Link’s portability and low cost gives news reporters an easy way to go “on the air” from just about anywhere they need to. All Link devices support high-quality video outputs through an advanced video compression system that continuously adjusts to available bandwidth in order to deliver the best possible video under all network conditions. With Link UHD, use cases that call for extremely high video quality, such as high-profile live events, can take advantage of Link’s ease of management, efficiency, and portability while delivering video outputs up to 2160p at 60fps.
Yes, you can monitor live video from Link devices in real time within the MediaLive console. Link generates video thumbnails every few seconds and supports state alert changes through the AWS Management Console and API. This helps you move quickly to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve technical issues.

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.

Link devices encode video using the HEVC codec, which is up to 50% more efficient than the AVC codec.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Purchase Link devices using the AWS Management Console or from one of our distributors.