AWS Elemental Link Features

AWS Elemental Link encoding devices connect a live video source, like a camera or video production equipment, to the cloud. Two different Link devices are available depending on your use case: Link HD for high-definition (HD) video with MediaLive, and Link UHD for ultra-high definition (UHD) video with MediaLive or MediaConnect.

  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
Video output to AWS Elemental MediaConnect No Single video up to 2160p at 60 fps
10-bit color depth, using AVC or HEVC
Audio channels 8 channels 16 channels
Dolby audio No Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus pass through
Power < 10 Watts < 24 Watts
Rack density 3x 1RU 3x 1RU
HD Yes Yes
HDR No Yes

Key features

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.

Fast and easy setup

AWS Elemental Link devices are shipped fully configured for your AWS Account. Simply connect the device to power, 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. Link UHD devices can also be configured to send video to a MediaConnect flow for transport, processing, and sharing - even to other on premises locations.
Lower video latency, maintain contribution video quality, and choose how to process and distribute your video using AWS Elemental MediaConnect with Link UHD. With Link UHD and MediaConnect, video can be replicated and transported to destinations inside and outside of AWS, so you can build custom live video workflows and share video with your partners and customers.

High-quality video

Link devices encode video with high quality per bit using the HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) codec. Link UHD encodes video using either HEVC or AVC (Advanced Video Coding) up to 2160p resolution at 60 fps, with support for 10-bit color depth and high dynamic range (HDR) channels with HLG and HDR 10.

Manage and monitor devices remotely

With AWS Elemental Link, you control the device using the AWS Management Console or API. 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 locations in order to set up and configure your live streams.

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. Link UHD devices can also send video directly to a MediaConnect flow to transport, process, and share live video - even to other on premises locations.

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.

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.