Serv 4K encoders are extremely flexible codecs capable of encoding up to 4KP60 in H.264 or H.265 with many resolutions in between. Serv 4K supports native interlaced encoding 1080i50/59 in both H.264 (beta) and HEVC (H.265) and 1080p120 over HDMI inputs.
Video Settings
Video Source
- Video Input- (Default: Auto) Select the source of the video input (SDI, HDMI, or Auto). Auto will attempt to select the active video source. If two video sources are present, the first connected video source will be activated.
Codec - Serv 4K supports either H.264 or HEVC (H.265) codecs (Default: H.264).
- H.264 Compression is more compatible with legacy and distribution workflows and is currently required for RTMP and WHIP streaming. Some 3rd party solutions might require H.264 for ingest.
- HEVC (H.265) compression allows for the same quality as H. 264 but half the bitrate. This is useful for low-bitrate bonding, video distribution links, and next-generation streaming protocols.
Resolution - Sets the encoding resolution (Default Auto).
- Auto: Maintains the input’s native resolution
- Common: Select from a common set of resolutions for encoding (recommended)
Frame Rate Selection- Sets the encoding framerate (Default Auto).
- Auto: Maintains the frame rate from input (recommended)
- Fraction: Sets a fraction of the input frame rate, ie. 1/2 of a 60fps would be 30fps
- Common: Select from a common set of frame rates for encoding.
- Exact: Manually enter a custom frame rate in the Framerate Exact field when Exact is selected
Bitrate Selection - Select your stream’s target bitrate from a list of bitrate figures, or manually enter a custom bitrate. Lower bitrates require less bandwidth and may allow for a more stable stream while higher bitrates offer better video quality, but require more network bandwidth (Default Auto).
- Auto - Automatically adjusts the bitrate quality to achieve the desired resolution without indicating a specific bitrate value.
- List - Lists Bitrate in pre-defined increments in kilobytes per second
- Custom - Allows a custom bitrate in kilobytes per second
NOTE: For recording, we recommend setting the bitrate at 45Mbps or less.
Bit Depth- The Bit Depth setting determines how many bits are used for each color component in a video stream (Default 8-bit).
- 8-bit color depth is sufficient for most live-streaming applications,
- 10-bit color depth is required for HDR workflows or other instances where higher color resolution is desired. It may be important to increase the bitrate when using 10-bit color
Chroma Subsampling- Chroma Subsampling is a compression method that reduces the color information and file size in a signal in favor of luminance data and decreased bandwidth (Default 4:2:0).
- 4:2:0 is acceptable for most broadcast applications and is typically used.
- 4:2:2 may be required where higher color fidelity is required. It is important to increase bitrate when using 4:2:2
Advanced Settings
Color Override - Color Override allows the manual selection of color range and colorimetry settings (Default: Disabled)
- Range: Select a preset output range
- Default - Adheres to the source input
- Legal - Outputs to standard broadcast-safe values
- Full - Expands to the entire color range for enhanced detail
- Colorimetry: Overrides the color space standard used by the encoder to interpret color values
- Auto, Rec.601, Rec.709, Rec.2020, Rec.2020-PQ, P3D65-PQ, Rec.2020-HLG
KFI Mode- Determines how often the whole picture is transmitted (Default: Key Frame Interval - 2).
- Key Frame Interval (seconds) and set the Key Frame Interval below.
- Group of Pictures(frames) and set the GOP Length (Frames) below.
Minimum QP and Maximum QP - Specifies the range of Quantization Parameter (QP) settings that the encoder can use during compression, where the minimum value allows for the highest possible quality with less compression, and the maximum value enables greater compression at the expense of video quality (Default 10/51).
Audio Settings
Multi-Track - Enables or disables the multi-track audio configuration (default: disabled). See the section below for multi-track setup.
- Serv 4K supports up to 8 audio tracks, each configurable as Mono, Stereo, 5.1, or 7.1.
- Serv 4K can detect 16 audio channels from SDI and 8 channels from HDMI, and it allows remapping of these channels.
Single Track Mode Settings (Multi-Track Disabled)
- Audio Input - Select which audio source to use.
- Embedded - up to the first 8 channels in mono, stereo, 5.1, or 7.1 configuration, HDMI or SDI digital audio input.
- Analog - Mono or Stereo
- USB - Mono or Stereo
- Input Gain - Allows adjustment of input gain for analog or embedded modes. Applies to all input channels in the track.
- Analog Out - Adjusts the Analog output (3.5mm) gain.
- Channel Mode - Sets track encoding to mono, stereo, 5.1, or 7.1
- Bitrate (Kbps) - Select from a list of bitrate figures, or manually enter a custom bitrate.
Advanced Settings
- Asynchronous Audio - Enable this option if embedded audio is asynchronous (out of sync with video). This setting corrects issues with certain embedding devices.
- Ignore SDI Phase - Ignores SDI clock phase sync information. Helpful for situations where the timing between audio and video might not be precise.
- Encode Audio - Enable/Disable audio encoding.
- Audio Codec - Allows selection of Audio Codec between AAC, OPUS (BETA), and MPEG II (BETA).
NOTE: WHIP, WHEP, and similar integrations always use the OPUS codec, regardless of other codec selections. MPEG II and OPUS codecs (outside of WebRTC-based workflows) are considered in Beta. Please test your configuration for compatibility.
- Samplerate Mode - Allows selection of Sample Rate: 32000, 44100, 48000 kHz (Default: Auto)
- Input Delay - Adds audio delay to align video. Useful for aligning audio with video.
Multi-Track Mode Settings (Multi-Track Enabled)
Multitrack mode is an incredibly flexible mode that allows any audio input to be assigned to any audio track (up to 8) in any audio encoding.
- Audio Presets - Select a preset to automatically assign the appropriate channels for stereo use and populate up to 8 audio tracks in sequence. For example, the "2 Tracks" preset assigns two stereo tracks using inputs 1-4 as follows: Left 1, Right 2, Left 3, Right 4
- Add Track - Adds a default audio track for configuration.
- Volume Control - Allows control of embedded inputs 1-16. Allows Mono/SUM capability
- Slider - Controls db input gain and mute of embedded audio source.
- Mono/Sum combines input pairs and replaces both inputs with combined mix of their channels. Volume adjustments are pre Mono/SUM.
Advanced Settings
- Asynchronous Audio - Enable this option if embedded audio is asynchronous (out of sync with video). This setting corrects issues with certain embedding devices.
- Ignore SDI Phase - Ignores SDI Phase sync information. Helpful for situations where the timing between audio and video might not be precise
Configuring Tracks
- Mute Track (Default: Unmuted) - Mutes the configured audio track while continuing to encode blank audio
- Audio Codec - This option allows you to select an Audio Codec between AAC, OPUS (BETA), and MPEG II (BETA).
- Track Channel Mode - Sets track encoding to mono, stereo, 5.1, or 7.1
- Sample Rate Mode (Default: Auto) - Allows selection of Sample Rate: 32000, 44100, 48000bps
- Input Delay - adds audio delay for the purposes of aligning video. Useful for aligning audio with video
- Channel Selector - Allows channel remapping onto the track depending on the Track Channel Mode selection.
- HDMI input presents 8 channels to remap
- SDI input presents 16 channels to remap
Metadata Settings
Serv 4K's Metadata Settings allow you to embed Timecode and Closed Captioning data from your camera onto your video footage.
- Timecode (Default Disabled)- Select where the timecode metadata is extracted from.
- Disabled
- SDI/HDMI Timecode
- Stream Timecode
- System Timecode
- Closed Captions - Enables / Disables 608/708 Closed Captioning
Generator Settings
On Screen Display allows moving overlay with Timecode or Date / Time
- Video Generator (default disabled)
- Disabled - Never turn on generator
- Enabled - Always turn on generator
- Failover - When video is not present, switch to generator
- Generator Pattern (default last active frame)
- Last Active Frame - Freezes the final frame from the last active video source
- Color Bars - Standard SMPTE test pattern
- Custom Image - User-uploaded static image as background
- Black Screen - Solid black output
- White Screen - Solid white output
- Generator Delay - Time in milliseconds to wait after video loss before applying specified mode. Before this timeout, the last frame will be encoded and streamed regardless of the selected mode.
OSD Settings
On-Screen Display allows moving the overlay with Timecode or Date / Time
- OSD Mode (default disabled)
- Disabled
- SDI/HDMI Timecode
- Stream Timecode
- System Timecode
- System Time
- System Date/Time
Location - Define the location of the OSD with a preset location or manual location.
Overlay Settings
The Overlay settings allow you to place graphics and other media over your live stream. You can create several different overlays.
- Overlay
- Enable - Enables overlay as active
- Disable - Removes overlays
Create an Overlay
1. To create an overlay, click the + Add Overlay tab.
2. From the Overlay editing screen, tap Image on the top right corner to select an image as your overlay, or use the tools to create an overlay.
3. To preview how your Overlay will appear on the live stream, click Preview stream. To return to a transparent background, click Transparent.
4. Elements used to create an overlay are listed on the right. To modify an element, click any of the elements listed to open the editing panel. Click Save when you're done to return to the web UI.
5. From the Overlay settings, click Enabled, then select the overlay you want displayed on your live stream. Click Save when you're done. NOTE: Overlays will not appear unless you click Enabled.
The Overlay is now visible on your live stream
Color Management
Serv 4K's Color Management menu lets you manage and apply different looks to incoming video signals using 3D LUT and CDL files saved to your Serv 4K from your computer. You can also link Serv 4K to your LiveGrade account using the web UI.
- Mode -Select eitherCDL + 3D LUTor LiveGrade for your color management mode.
- CDL Mode -Enable or disablea CDL preset. Enabling CDL mode allows Serv 4K to apply the preset to your preview.
- CDL Split -Enable the preview window to display a split screen; one side showing the CDL preset applied to the preview, and the other side without.
- CDL File -Select a CDL file to apply to the video preview. CDL files must first be uploaded to Serv 4K from your computer by clicking Select file, thenUpload CDL. To delete a file, click Delete CDL.
- 3D LUT Mode -Enable or Disablea 3D LUT preset. Enabling 3D LUT mode allows Serv 4K to apply the preset to your preview.
- 3D LUT Split -Enable the preview window to display a split screen; one side shows the 3D LUT preset applied to the preview, and the other does not.
- 3D LUT File -Select a 3D LUT file to apply to the video preview. 3D LUT files must first be uploaded to Serv 4K from your computer by clicking Select file, thenUpload 3D LUT. To delete a file, click Delete 3D LUT.