AWS Elemental MediaLive vs AWS Elemental MediaPackage: What are the differences?

Introduction

AWS Elemental MediaLive and AWS Elemental MediaPackage are two services offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) for video content preparation and delivery. Although they both play a role in the video streaming workflow, MediaLive focuses on live video encoding and packaging, while MediaPackage specializes in video packaging and origin service for Video on Demand (VOD) delivery. Let's explore the key differences between these two services.

1. Processing focus: AWS Elemental MediaLive is primarily designed for live video processing and encoding. It supports real-time encoding of live video streams and prepares them for delivery to various devices. On the other hand, AWS Elemental MediaPackage focuses on video packaging and origin service for VOD delivery, allowing customers to package and securely deliver their VOD content to end-users.

2. Workflow integration: MediaLive integrates seamlessly with other AWS services such as AWS Elemental MediaPackage, AWS Elemental MediaConnect, and AWS Elemental MediaStore for managing the complete video workflow. It provides a holistic video processing solution for live streaming. In contrast, MediaPackage works well with AWS Elemental MediaStore and other third-party origin servers, allowing customers to have more flexibility in building their desired video delivery workflow.

3. Streaming protocols supported: MediaLive supports a wide range of streaming protocols, including Apple HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH), and Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP). It enables customers to deliver their live video streams to various devices and platforms. MediaPackage, on the other hand, supports streaming protocols such as HLS, DASH, and Smooth Streaming, making it suitable for video on demand delivery across different devices.

4. Stream redundancy and fault tolerance: MediaLive provides built-in stream redundancy mechanisms to ensure high availability and fault tolerance. It can automatically switch between primary and backup encoders to minimize the risk of stream interruptions. In contrast, MediaPackage offers multi-region redundancy options, allowing customers to replicate their content to different AWS regions for improved fault tolerance and disaster recovery.

5. Packaging capabilities: MediaLive primarily focuses on video encoding and compressing live video streams. It doesn't provide advanced packaging capabilities typically required for VOD workflows, such as DRM (Digital Rights Management) support and manifest manipulation. MediaPackage, on the other hand, offers robust packaging capabilities, including support for various DRM systems, manifest manipulation, and dynamic ad insertion. It facilitates secure content delivery and monetization options for VOD content.

6. Scaling and resource management: MediaLive automatically scales resources based on the workload and provides deep visibility into encoding performance and resource usage. It dynamically adjusts the number of encoders and the associated resources to optimize cost and performance. MediaPackage, on the other hand, simplifies resource management by providing packaging and origin services as a fully managed solution. It eliminates the need for customers to manage underlying infrastructure or worry about resource scaling.

In summary, AWS Elemental MediaLive is a service primarily focused on live video encoding and packaging, while AWS Elemental MediaPackage is geared towards VOD packaging and origin service. MediaLive supports various live streaming protocols and offers built-in stream redundancy, while MediaPackage provides advanced packaging capabilities, including DRM support and dynamic ad insertion for VOD content.