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To stream live video to social media with AWS Elemental Link, send a camera or production source into a Link HD or Link UHD device, connect that device to AWS Elemental MediaLive, then select a social destination in MediaLive’s workflow wizard. Link is the physical ingest device; it does not publish directly to social platforms. AWS lists Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube as workflow destinations. AWS Elemental Link overview · MediaLive workflow wizard
How the Link-to-social workflow works
The signal path is camera or production source → AWS Elemental Link → AWS Elemental MediaLive input and channel → social destination. Link carries the source video into AWS. MediaLive handles the cloud encoding and delivery workflow. In the MediaLive workflow wizard, AWS lists Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube as supported output choices; that does not mean Link itself publishes to those services.
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For a guided setup, the wizard can provision much of the upstream and downstream workflow. AWS says it works best when it creates the resources itself rather than using existing resources. You still need the appropriate social account access and any platform-specific permissions. AWS: About the workflow wizard
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Choose according to the source resolution and intended AWS workflow. AWS documents both devices as producing the same resolution in HEVC when used as a MediaLive input. AWS: HD and UHD Link devices
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- Compact but Powerful Design: ZowieBox is smaller than a phone, featuring a tally light and LCD screen for streaming status. Capture console gameplay in up to 4K with zero-lag HDMI passthrough, while the built-in video encoder converts video for IP streaming. The IP stream can also be decoded back to a 4K HDMI signal.
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| Device | Maximum documented source resolution | MediaLive input output | Other documented use |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Elemental Link HD | HD or lower | Same resolution, HEVC | Not stated by AWS for this comparison |
| AWS Elemental Link UHD | UHD or lower | Same resolution, HEVC | Can be a source for a MediaConnect flow, producing UHD or lower in AVC or HEVC |
These are the documented device capabilities; they are not a promise that every social destination accepts every resolution or codec. Check the destination’s current ingest requirements when configuring output.
Set up the device, input, and channel
- Confirm access and Region. Use an AWS account and IAM permissions for the Link input-device interface. If you obtained the device through an AWS reseller, AWS says it must be claimed. Keep the Link device, MediaLive input, and channel in the same AWS Region. AWS: Using AWS Elemental Link for a MediaLive input
- Deploy Link and connect it to the internet. Follow the instructions packaged with the hardware. When online, the device automatically connects to MediaLive in its configured AWS account and Region. AWS’s deployment documentation includes a diagnostics utility for connectivity issues. AWS: Deploying the Link hardware
- Create the MediaLive input. In the MediaLive console, select the device’s Region, create an input of type Elemental Link, and choose the device. AWS provides single-class and standard-class input choices: its procedure specifies one device for a single-class input and two devices for a standard-class input. Follow the console’s current prompts for the selected class. AWS: Create an Elemental Link input
- Feed the device video and verify it reaches AWS. Power on Link, connect it to the source and network, and check that it is sending video. MediaLive can display a content thumbnail when the device is streaming; AWS says the input captures a frame approximately every five seconds for thumbnails. AWS: Using AWS Elemental Link for a MediaLive input
- Attach the input to a channel when ready to go live. AWS recommends waiting until Link is powered on, online, and sending video before attaching the input to the channel. This helps avoid charges associated with an idle input and a running channel. AWS: Using AWS Elemental Link for a MediaLive input
- Configure the social output. Use the MediaLive workflow wizard and select Facebook, Twitch, or YouTube as the destination. The wizard can create much of the workflow’s upstream and downstream resources, but do not assume it grants access to an existing social account or handles that platform’s account requirements for you. AWS: About the workflow wizard
- Start the workflow and confirm the destination is receiving it. Start the configured MediaLive channel and check the relevant social platform’s live status. Link diagnostics and MediaLive thumbnails help verify the AWS-side signal; they do not confirm successful publishing or audience playback at the social destination.
Network checks and troubleshooting
Use the Link network diagnostics utility to isolate device-to-AWS connectivity issues. The checks cover the configured IP address, gateway response, DNS resolution, HTTPS reachability to AWS, time synchronization over NTP port 123, and the ability to send video packets to AWS over port 2088. These are device diagnostics, not a guarantee that MediaLive or a social platform is successfully publishing. AWS: Deploying the Link hardware
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- 【Browser-Based Setup in Minutes】 Set up in minutes through any browser — no software, drivers or OS compatibility issues. DHCP is enabled by default to prevent IP address conflicts on your network. Note: basic networking knowledge (IP address, RTSP/RTMP configuration) is recommended for advanced streaming setups.
- 【Compact Design with Flexible Deployment】Palm-sized form factor (approx. 90×54×29mm) fits easily behind monitors, on shelves, or in equipment racks. Low power consumption ensures reliable 24/7 operation for live events, remote monitoring, and digital signage.
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| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| Link does not appear to connect to AWS | Run the device diagnostics; check the configured IP, gateway, DNS, HTTPS access to AWS, NTP time sync, and video-packet transmission over port 2088. |
| The MediaLive input has no visible video | Confirm Link is powered on, has an internet connection, and is receiving the source video. Check whether MediaLive shows a content thumbnail; AWS documents a capture approximately every five seconds while streaming. |
| The channel or input cannot be associated as expected | Verify the device, input, and channel are in the same AWS Region, and confirm that the input class and number of devices match the chosen configuration. |
| AWS shows video, but the social destination is not live | Check the MediaLive channel and output configuration, destination selection, and the social account’s access and platform-specific requirements. Device diagnostics alone cannot establish that publishing is working. |
Costs and operating considerations
MediaLive workflows can incur charges for idle inputs and running channels, so AWS recommends connecting Link and confirming incoming video before attaching the input to a channel. Check current AWS pricing for the Region and resources you plan to run; the documentation cited here does not establish a total cost for a particular configuration. The workflow wizard may create resources for you, so review what it provisions and what remains active when the stream is stopped.
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Or let it run in the cloud
For a different use case—keeping a prerecorded YouTube channel live around the clock—StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It is not a camera-ingest replacement for the AWS Elemental Link workflow above.
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- ⭐【Multi-protocol and Multi-platform Compatibility】- Fully compatible with streaming protocols such as HTTP, RTSP, RTMP(S), SRT, HLS(M3U8), MP4, Multicast(UDP, RTP, PTL), ONVIF, FLV, WebRTC, TRTC, ICECAST, it can simultaneously output 4 video streams with different protocols and push them to live streaming platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and Vimeo with one click. Simultaneous live streaming across multiple platforms can be achieved without additional equipment.
- ⭐【Highly Customizable Settings to Meet Individual Needs】- It supports adding static text, scrolling captions, brand logos, and timestamps. Users can freely adjust core parameters such as video resolution, frame rate, and bitrate, and also perform personalized editing functions such as video cropping, rotation, flipping, and mirroring. It supports dual input of HDMI embedded audio and line-in audio, with adjustable sound quality, making your live stream content more distinctive and allowing you to create a unique brand live stream style.
- ⭐【Stable and Efficient Transmission, Easy Operation】- Employing HDMI to Ethernet core connection technology, it ensures stable and reliable network transmission with low latency and no lag, adapting to various network environments. Equipped with an intuitive user interface and detailed instruction manual, no professional technical background is required; setup can be completed quickly after connecting the device. It is also compatible with multiple terminals such as computers and mobile phones for management, and the video stream status can be viewed in real time via a URL.
- ⭐【Lifetime Free Warranty and Technical Supports】- All URayCoder video codecs come with a lifetime free warranty and technical supports, supporting secondary development and feature customization to meet enterprise-level personalized needs. Meanwhile, we providing many kinds of customization services such as shell pattern printing, logo addition, hardware and function development, ensuring reliable quality and worry-free after-sales service.
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- Nothing has to stay on at home; the stream continues from the cloud.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

