Recording¶

Recording is an optional Makalu module per playout channel that enables you to record multiple source/input streams simultaneously in different output file formats based on profiles. It can be used, for example, for live or compliance recordings.

Encoder types¶

Makalu provides the following types of encoders for different recording output file formats:

Recording job types¶

Recordings are internally managed based on recording jobs. For each recording, a corresponding recording job is created. Makalu provides the following types of recording jobs:

Depending on the actual workflow, usually either event-based or event-independent recording is enabled. Event-independent recording refers to manually created crash, schedule, and recurring jobs.

Recording process¶

In summary, the recording process consists of the following steps:

1. A recording job is created to record a selected live source, either based on a live primary event in the rundown (by adding a recording secondary event) or independent of the rundown, based on a defined start and end time (by creating a recording job manually via the Recordings tab).

2. Depending on the selected job type, the recording starts either manually or automatically.

3. While a recording is running, a red recording icon is displayed above the channel preview and in the Recordings tab. The progress is displayed in the job list in the Recordings tab. There, the job can be stopped manually, if necessary. If an operator manually stops a live event, the corresponding recording job also stops at the same time.

4. When the recording job is completed, the recorded file is copied/uploaded from the playout/recording server to the corresponding S3 bucket (ingest storage). It can then be used like a regularly uploaded asset (which was uploaded, for example, via Makalu Asset Uploader), and the file processing starts. This is also confirmed by a notification at the top of the screen and a progress icon in the Transfer tab.

Creating a recording job via Makalu Traffic¶

To add a recording job to a show, proceed as follows:

1. Open Makalu Traffic.

2. In the sidebar on the left, select Shows.

   All available shows of the currently selected channel are listed in the middle.

3. Select the show to be edited and click Open on the right side of the corresponding row.

   The show details are displayed.

4. On the right side in the Library, select the Secondaries tab and below the type Recordings.

   All available recording secondary events are displayed below.

5. Depending on the encoder type to be used, add the corresponding recording secondary event to the show by dragging it from the library to the show information area.

   

   The recording secondary event is added to the show.

6. Edit the properties of the added recording secondary event as follows:

   1. Select the Secondaries tab in the show information area.

      All added secondary events are listed below.

   2. Hover your mouse over the recording secondary event to be edited and click Open on the right side of the corresponding row.

      The properties of the selected recording secondary event are displayed on the right side.

   3. Edit the properties of the added recording secondary event as required.

   4. To confirm your changes, click Save.

   The properties of the recording secondary event are saved.

The show is saved. Whenever you add the show to the rundown, a recording job is automatically created with the properties you selected. You can control it via Makalu Automation in the Recordings area.

Creating a recording job via Makalu Automation¶

Creating an event-based recording job¶

To create an event-based recording job, proceed as follows:

1. Open Makalu Automation.

2. On the right side, select the Media tab.

   All available media items are listed in the media list at the bottom of the Media tab.

3. In the media list, select Secondary Events > Recordings.

   All available recording secondary events are listed to the right.

4. Select a recording secondary event from the media list and drag it onto the live primary event in the rundown to be recorded.

   Notice

   By default, recording secondary events can only be added to live primary events in the rundown.

   

   The recording secondary event is added to the live primary event in the rundown. It is recognizable by the Recording secondary event icon in the Secondaries column. An additional row for the secondary event and its details expands below. A corresponding recording job is created and added to the job list in the Recordings tab, which is also confirmed by a notification at the top of the screen.

   Notice

   A job duration is only displayed in the job list if the corresponding live primary event also has a planned duration. If it does not have a planned duration (if the open end flag is enabled), the recording job also does not have a planned duration.

   

   Tip

   To display detailed information about a recording job, click the Options icon on the right side of the corresponding row in the job list and select Job info. To jump to and highlight the corresponding live primary event in the rundown, select Link to Event.

5. (Optional) Edit the properties of the added recording secondary event as follows:

   1. If the row with the secondary event details is not displayed below the live primary event in the rundown, click the Recording secondary event icon in the Secondaries column of the corresponding rundown item.

      Details about the secondary event expand below.

      

   2. Click the Options icon on the right side of the secondary event row and select Edit Secondary.

      

   3. In the Edit secondary event menu, edit the properties as required.

      Notice

      For detailed information about the available recording secondary event properties, see the section Recording properties.

   4. Confirm your changes by clicking Apply.

   The properties of the recording secondary event are saved. By default (if the properties Start Offset and End Offset are set to 0), the recording job starts automatically when the corresponding live primary event actually starts and stops when it ends (either automatically at the scheduled time or when it is stopped manually by an operator).

Creating a crash recording job¶

To create a crash recording job, proceed as follows:

1. Open Makalu Automation.

2. On the right side, select the Recordings tab.

   The recording job list and controls are displayed.

   

3. At the top right, click Create.

   The Create recording jobs menu opens.

4. Select the Crash tab and set the properties of the recording job as follows:

   1. Enter a Title and select the Source to be recorded.

   2. (Optional) Enter a Filename and change the Destination and the Profile to be used for the recording.

      Notice

      If you leave the Filename empty, the Title is also used as the filename.

   3. (Optional) If you want to reuse the recording job and create multiple recordings, select Type Multi Shot. To create a single recording, select the default option Type Single Shot.

5. Click Apply.

   

6. Close the Create recording jobs menu by clicking Cancel.

The recording job is created and added to the job list in the Recordings tab. It is announced to and prepared by the recording unit. You can either start or cancel it manually. For more information, see the section Controlling a recording job.

Creating a scheduled recording job¶

To create a scheduled recording job, proceed as follows:

1. Repeat steps one to four as described in section Creating a crash recording job, but instead of the Crash tab, select the Schedule tab in the Create recording jobs menu.

2. Select a Start date and time for the recording that does not overlap with other recording jobs already scheduled.

3. Select an End date and time for the recording that does not overlap with other recording jobs already scheduled.

4. (Optional) If you want to enter a duration instead of a specific start and end time, enable the toggle switch to the right of the end time and enter the duration in the corresponding field.

5. (Optional) Alternatively, you can create a scheduled recording job without specifying an end time by selecting Open end.

   Notice

   When Open end is enabled and the scheduled recording job starts, the recording either continues until you stop it manually or until the system's maximum recording duration is reached. This duration is configurable and set to 6 hours by default.

   

6. Click Apply.

   Notice

   A collision detection then checks whether there are any overlaps with other recording jobs that have already been scheduled. If an overlap is detected, a warning message is displayed, and the new recording job cannot be created. In this case, select a different recording period without any overlaps and then click Apply again. Note that there must be at least a 1-minute pause between two recording jobs.

7. Close the Create recording jobs menu by clicking Cancel.

The recording job is created and added to the job list in the Recordings tab. It starts automatically based on the selected start date and time. Depending on your selected end settings, the recording stops either automatically based on the selected end date and time or manually, for example, when you enable Open end and an operator stops the recording.

Creating a recurring recording job¶

To create a recurring recording job, proceed as follows:

1. Repeat steps one to four as described in section Creating a crash recording job, but instead of the Crash tab, select the Recurring tab in the Create recording jobs menu.

2. Set the validity period of the recording job by selecting a Start date and time as well as an End date and time.

3. Use the Recurring options to specify on which days of the week the recording job should be executed:

   1. To create a recording job that is executed every day, select Daily.

   2. To create a recording job that is executed only on specific weekdays, select one or more days of the week.

   

4. Select a Job start time and a Job end time for the recording that does not overlap with other recording jobs already scheduled.

5. Click Add.

   Based on your settings, all corresponding recording jobs are added to the preview list on the right side.

   

   Tip

   You can edit the preview list and delete individual recording jobs. To do this, select the jobs to be deleted in the preview list and click Delete.

   Notice

   A collision detection then checks whether there are any overlaps with other recording jobs that have already been scheduled. If an overlap is detected, a warning message is displayed, and the new recording job(s) cannot be created. In this case, select the overlapping jobs in the preview list and remove them by clicking Delete.

6. (Optional) Repeat steps 3 to 5 to add recording jobs with different time settings to the preview list.

7. Click Apply.

8. Close the Create recording jobs menu by clicking Cancel.

The recording jobs are created and added to the job list in the Recordings tab. Each job starts automatically based on the selected start date and time. Depending on your selected end settings, the recording stops either automatically based on the selected end date and time or manually, for example, if an operator stops the recording.

Controlling a recording job¶

In the Recordings area, the list of available recording jobs is displayed. You can control a recording job via the icons in the Action column of the job list.

The following actions are available:

Icon	Action
	Prepare recording job Notice: This announces the job to the corresponding recording unit, which then prepares the recording.
	Cancel a prepared recording job Notice: A cancelled recording job can be prepared again.
	Start recording job
	Stop recording job

Deleting a recording job¶

You can delete a recording job either via the Recordings tab or, in case of an event-based job, via the rundown.

To delete a Crash, Schedule, or Recurring recording job via the Recordings tab, proceed as follows:

1. In the Recordings tab, select the recording job to be deleted from the job list.

2. Click the Options icon on the right side of the corresponding row and select Delete.

3. Confirm the displayed dialog by clicking Yes.

The recording job is deleted.

To remove a recording secondary event from a clip and delete the corresponding event-based recording job, proceed as follows:

1. In the rundown, click the Recording secondary event icon in the Secondaries column of the clip from which you want to remove a recording secondary event.

   Details about the secondary event expand below.

2. Click the Options icon on the right side of the expanded row and select Delete secondary.

3. In the confirmation dialog, click Yes.

The recording secondary event is removed from the clip, and the corresponding recording job is deleted.

Previewing a recorded file¶

To preview a recorded file, search and select the file in the Media tab, and proceed as described in section Previewing a media asset.