AWS Elemental MediaLive and AWS Elemental MediaConnect Service Comparison Guide

Service Definitions

AWS Elemental MediaLive is a broadcast-grade live video processing service that enables you to create high-quality video streams for delivery to broadcast televisions and internet-connected devices. It can be deployed both in the cloud and on-premises (via MediaLive Anywhere).

AWS Elemental MediaConnect is a reliable, secure transport service for live video that enables you to ingest and distribute live video between applications or services with high quality and minimal latency.

Key Differences

1. Primary Purpose

   • AWS Elemental MediaLive: Video processing, encoding, and transcoding
   • AWS Elemental MediaConnect: Secure and reliable video transport

2. Processing Capabilities

   • AWS Elemental MediaLive: Full video processing (encoding, packaging, graphics insertion)
   • AWS Elemental MediaConnect: Transport only (maintains original quality)

3. Deployment Options

   • AWS Elemental MediaLive: Cloud and on-premises (via MediaLive Anywhere)
   • AWS Elemental MediaConnect: Cloud-based service

Deployment Options

AWS Elemental MediaLive

• Standard cloud-based deployment
• Full access to all MediaLive features
• Suitable for most streaming workflows

AWS Elemental MediaLive Anywhere

• Runs on on-premises hardware in your data center
• Supports standard MediaLive inputs
• Enables local processing of SDI and other on-premises inputs
• Ideal for hybrid cloud architectures

Protocol and Input Comparison

Service	Protocol	Latency	Quality	Network Requirements	Common Use Case
AWS Elemental MediaLive (Cloud)	RTP Push	Low	High	Stable, dedicated	Broadcast contribution
	RTMP Push	Low	Good	Standard internet	Live streaming events
	RTMP Pull	Medium	Good	Standard internet	Social media ingestion
	HLS Pull	High	Variable	HTTP or HTTPS Server	Web content ingestion
	SRT Caller	Low	High	Variable internet	Remote production
	AWS CDI	Very Low	Highest	AWS Internal	Professional cloud production
	MP4	N/A	Original	HTTP or HTTPS Server / Amazon S3	VOD integration
	TS	N/A	High	Amazon S3	Professional content delivery
	Elemental Link	Low	High	Standard internet	Remote contribution
	MediaConnect	Low	Original	AWS Network	Cloud Distribution
AWS Elemental MediaLive Anywhere	Standard MediaLive Inputs	Same as Cloud	Same as Cloud	Local Network	On-premises processing
	SDI	Lowest	Highest	Direct connection	Local SDI sources
AWS Elemental MediaConnect	ZIXI push	Ultra-low	Original	Internet optimized	Global content distribution
	RTP	low	Original	Variable internet	Inter-facility transport
	RTP-FEC	low	Original	Variable internet	Inter-facility transport with FEC
	SRT Listener	Ultra-low	Original	Variable internet	Receiving content from external encoders
	SRT Caller	Ultra-low	Original	Variable internet	Pulling content from external sources
	RIST	Ultra-low	Original	Variable internet	Pulling content from external sources
	Elemental Link	Low	Original	Standard internet	Remote production

When to Use Which Service

Choose AWS Elemental MediaLive When:

• You need to encode or transcode live video
• You require multiple output formats
• You want to add graphics or captions
• You need adaptive bitrate streaming
• You're processing on-premises sources (MediaLive Anywhere)

Choose AWS Elemental MediaConnect When:

• You need reliable video transport
• You want to distribute live feeds globally
• You require ultra-low latency
• You need to maintain original quality
• You're sharing feeds between AWS accounts

Integration Scenarios

Common Workflow Examples:

1. End-to-End Cloud Processing

   • Source → AWS Elemental MediaLive (processing) → Distribution
   • Source → AWS Elemental MediaConnect (transport) → AWS Elemental MediaLive (processing) → Distribution

2. Hybrid On-Premises/Cloud

   • Local Source → AWS Elemental MediaLive Anywhere (local processing) → Cloud Distribution

3. Global Distribution

   • Source → AWS Elemental MediaConnect (transport) → Multiple Regions → AWS Elemental MediaLive (regional processing)

Cost Considerations

• AWS Elemental MediaLive: Charged per channel-hour
• AWS Elemental MediaConnect: Charged per output-hour and data transfer
• AWS Elemental MediaLive Anywhere: Additional considerations for on-premises hardware

Latency Reference

• Ultra-low: < 1 second
• Very Low: 1-2 seconds
• Low: 2-4 seconds
• Medium: 4-8 seconds
• High: 8+ seconds

Conclusion

The choice between AWS Elemental MediaLive and AWS Elemental MediaConnect depends on your specific needs:

• Use AWS Elemental MediaLive for video processing and encoding requirements
• Use AWS Elemental MediaConnect for reliable video transport
• Consider AWS Elemental MediaLive Anywhere for on-premises processing needs
• Both services can be used together for comprehensive workflows

For optimal results, evaluate your specific requirements for:

• Processing needs
• Quality requirements
• Latency tolerance
• Network conditions
• Deployment location preferences

Reference URLs:

AWS Elemental MediaLive:

• Service Overview: (https://aws.amazon.com/medialive/)
• Documentation: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/medialive/
• Input Types: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/medialive/latest/ug/inputs.html
• MediaLive Anywhere: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/medialive/latest/ug/medialive-anywhere.html

AWS Elemental MediaConnect:

• Service Overview: https://aws.amazon.com/mediaconnect/
• Documentation: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/mediaconnect/
• Protocols: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/mediaconnect/latest/ug/protocols.html

Additional Resources

• AWS Media Services: https://aws.amazon.com/media-services/
• Media Solutions: https://aws.amazon.com/solutions/media/
• AWS Media Blog: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/media/

This guide serves as a decision-making tool for implementing the right combination of AWS Elemental services and input protocols for your specific video workflow needs.