Multi-Channel Chroma Encoder and Decoder FAQ (2022 and later)
Q: How do I control the Multichannel Chroma?
A: Access the unit's IP address and use it to connect to the Web Control Panel through a web browser . you'll see a display (pictured above) of which channels are active and which are inactive on that unit; click on an online channel to log in and make changes. Once logged in and viewing the controls for a specific channel, you'll see buttons available at the top of the display where you can change to a different channel.
We also have the remote control option: Go to https://avenir.streambox.com/r... and enter the serial number of the unit (capital letters are required). Enter the password you've set (or contact support for the default password) and, once logged in, you can access the web controls of your unit via its remote connection.
Q: What are the Network requirements?
A: Like our other Chroma rackmount units, only a single IP address and since ethernet connection is required, but instead of using a single UDP port, it uses a different UDP port for each channel of the Encoder or Decoder. Our 4-channel Chromas use default ports of 1770 through 1773. Each individual stream's bitrate is determined by the resolution, framerate, and quality settings, just as with a single-channel Encoder or Decoder.
Example 1: Streaming from Multichannel Encoder to Multichannel Decoder:
A 4-channel Encoder is assigned the IP address of 10.0.0.1. Its corresponding Decoder is at 123.456.789.10
Encoder ch1: 10.0.0.1:1770 streams to Decoder ch1: 123.456.789.10:1770
Encoder ch2: 10.0.0.1:1771 streams to Decoder ch2: 123.456.789.10:1771
Encoder ch3: 10.0.0.1: 1772 streams to Decoder ch3: 123.456.789.10:1772
Encoder ch4: 10.0.0.1: 1773 streams to Decoder ch4: 123.456.789.10:1773
The streams used by the Multichannel Chromas are the same types of ACT-L5 or ACT-L3 streams used by other Streambox Products. Multichannel Encoders may stream to all different, separate Decoders, or a combination of multichannel Decoders, single channel Decoders, Streambox Cloud and Streambox Media Players.
Example 2: Streaming from Multichannel Encoder to a mix of Decoders, Streambox Cloud, and Media Players
A 4-channel Encoder is assigned the IP address of 10.0.0.1. Configure the destination port in the Encoder's networks settings.
Encoder ch1: 10.0.0.1:1770 streams to Streambox Cloud (LiveUS) : 44.227.70.150:1770
Encoder ch2: 10.0.0.1:1771 streams to Streambox Media Player: 10.0.0.5:1770
Encoder ch3: 10.0.0.1:1772 streams to Chroma Decoder 123.456.789.10:1770
Encoder ch4: 10.0.0.1:1773 streams to Streambox Cloud (LiveUSEast): 54.83.19.155:1770
Example 3: Multichannel Decoder receiving streams from multiple stream sources.
A 4-channel Decoder is assigned the IP address of 10.0.0.1. Configure the destination port in the Encoder's networks settings.
Cloud: 44.227.70.150:7880 streams to Decoder ch1: 10.0.0.1:1770
Chroma HD: 172.5.25.9:1770 streams to Decoder ch2: 10.0.0.1:1771
Chroma X: 10.3.2.1:1770 streams to Decoder ch3: 10.0.0.1:1772
Cloud (LiveUSEast): 54.83.19.155 streams to Decoder ch4: 10.0.0.1:1773
When using a Multichannel Decoder behind a firewall, it's necessary to set up the firewall's Port Forwarding (or Port Address Translation, whichever feature is preferred) to both allow and direct incoming streams to the appropriate receiving port at the Decoder's private IP address. The Encoder is set to stream to the public IP address, at the appropriately corresponding port.
Q: Are there Multichannel Encoders/Decoders for 2K, UHD, and 4K?
A: Only HD at this time. As new hardware becomes available, Streambox will investigate increasing functionality.
Q: Must I use ACT-L3 or ACT-L5?
A: Either codec is supported, but the selection applies to all channels.
Q: Can a multichannel unit run some Encoders and some Decoders at the same time? Can it stream to itself?
A: The 4ch unit may be set as all Encoders or all Decoders, as long as both features have been activated. The 8ch unit can only be all Decoders.
Q: Must I use all LDMP or UDP mode for the network?
A: Each channel can be configured individually for these settings.
Q: Can I stream the same stream to more than one Decoder using a single Encoder channel?
A: No. In order to do that, it's best to connect the same source to more than one Encoder channel. One benefit of this would be the ability to send the same source video at different quality settings or bitrates to a location with a multichannel Decoder or multiple Decoders.
Q: Are the channels synchronized?
A: Each channel has its own settings which affect latency differently, but we do have a sync feature that will synchronize the decoding of 3 channels with the 4th channel (in the 4ch model) or the decoding of 7 channels with the 8th channel (in the 8ch model).
Additionally, synchronized streams are possible when using the 3D feature of a Chroma HD (or UHD or 4K), which requires an extra license.
Q: Do they use the same metadata on all the channels?
A: Each channel has its own metadata settings.