This topic describes the differences between using the API and the ApsaraVideo Live console to manage the production studio service.

You can use the API to build the production studio service or directly use production studios in the ApsaraVideo Live console based on your business requirements. Scenarios:
  • If a company wants to live stream a cross-site meeting, the company can use production studios in the ApsaraVideo Live console without extra development.
  • If a company wants to build a SaaS production studio platform for its customers, the company can use the API to build the platform in a more flexible manner.
The following table describes the differences between using the API and the ApsaraVideo Live console.
Feature category Feature Specification ApsaraVideo Live console API
Input content Video sources Number ≤ 6 ≤ 6
Live streams Supports live streams that are accelerated by Alibaba Cloud CDN nodes. Supports live streams across the network.
On-demand videos Supports videos from the media library of ApsaraVideo VOD. Supports on-demand videos across the network.
Resolution 360p, 480p, 720p, and 1080p 360p, 480p, 720p, and 1080p
Stream pulling protocols Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) HTTP and RTMP
Video formats 3GP, ASF, AVI, DAT, DV, FLV, F4V, GIF, M3U8, M4V, MJ2, MJEPG, MKV, MOV, MP4, MPEG, OGG, RM, RMVB, SWF, TS, VOB, WMV, WEBM, and AC3 3GP, ASF, AVI, DAT, DV, FLV, F4V, GIF, M3U8, M4V, MJ2, MJEPG, MKV, MOV, MP4, MPEG, OGG, RM, RMVB, SWF, TS, VOB, WMV, WEBM, and AC3
Encoding formats MP3, AAC, HE-AAC, WAV, H.264, VP8, and VP9 MP3, AAC, HE-AAC, WAV, H.264, VP8, and VP9
Text Number of text boxes ≤ 4 ≤ 4
Fonts KaiTi KaiTi
Layouts Horizontal Horizontal
Colors RGB RGB
Characters ≤ 1,024 ≤ 1,024
Images Number ≤ 4 ≤ 4
Resolution 360p, 480p, and 720p 360p, 480p, and 720p
Image formats PNG, JPG, APNG, and GIF PNG, JPG, APNG, and GIF
Output content PVW and PGM output Channels 6 6
PVW 1 1
PGM 1 1
Third-party output Number 1 1
Stream pushing protocols RTMP RTMP
Encoding formats H.264 and AAC H.264 and AAC
Resolution 360p, 480p, and 720p 360p, 480p, and 720p
Third-party latency 0-300s 0-300s
Third-party URL Custom URLs are not supported. Supports third-party stream pushing URLs.
Standby playback Standby videos Supports custom videos whose resolution is 1080p or lower. Supports custom videos whose resolution is 1080p or lower.
Switching to standby videos Allows you to switch to standby videos, switch back to live streams, and clear third-party videos. Allows you to switch to standby videos, switch back to live streams, and clear third-party videos.
Media processing Video layouts Number of screens in a layout ≤ 4 ≤ 4
Layout styles Supports multiple styles such as single screen, picture-in-picture, left-right split-screen, three screens, and four screens. Supports custom layout styles.
Number of layouts ≤ 12 Unlimited
Playback control The pausing and seeking operations are not supported. Supports pausing and seeking operations on on-demand videos.
Audio mixing Number of audio tracks ≤ 6 ≤ 6
Volume adjustment Supported. Supported.
PGM audition Supported. Allows you to implement this feature based on your business requirements.
On-premises audition Supported. Allows you to implement this feature based on your business requirements.
Audio gain 0-2.0 0-10.0
Audio channel control Not supported. Supported.
Audio follow video (AFV) Supported. Supported.
Speech recognition Voice subtitles Not supported. Supported.
Live stream transcoding Third-party transcoding 360p, 480p, and 720p 360p, 480p, 720p, and 1080p
Cloud-based recording Recording formats M3U8, MP4, and FLV M3U8, MP4, and FLV
Third-party recording Supports recording of third-party live streams that are accelerated by Alibaba Cloud CDN nodes. Supports recording of third-party live streams that are accelerated by Alibaba Cloud CDN nodes.
Synchronization mode Synchronization areas Channels, PGM, and PVW Channels, PGM, and PVW
Latency during playback Switching latency ≤ 700 ms ≤ 700 ms (RTS integrated)
Note
  • The channels for previewing programs are the channels that are used to add input sources to a production studio. The number of channels equals the number of input sources.
  • The latency of a production studio depends on the latency of processing tasks and live streaming latency. The latency of processing tasks ranges from 800 ms to 6800 ms. For more information about how to reduce live streaming latency, see How to reduce live streaming latency.