Product Overview of Mux
Mux is a comprehensive video streaming and performance monitoring platform designed for developers and publishers of online video. Founded in 2015 by experts in online video, Mux aims to empower publishers of all sizes to deliver high-quality video viewer experiences.
Core Functionality
- Video Streaming: Mux is distinguished by its ability to provide the fastest video publishing possible without the need for transcoding delays. Videos are encoded in real-time as the first viewers watch them, making content available in just a few seconds after upload.
- Direct Uploads: Mux simplifies workflows by allowing direct uploads to the platform through authenticated upload URLs, eliminating the need for intermediary storage steps. It can also pull video assets from any web-addressable location.
Key Features
- Support for Multiple Formats and Protocols: Mux accepts a wide range of input video files, including hundreds of codecs and modern video formats. It supports live streaming using RTMP and SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) protocols, which enhance the reliability of live streams over imperfect networks.
- Adaptive Bitrate Ladder: Mux’s encoding processes work together to deliver an optimized adaptive bitrate ladder, automating the fine-tuning of resolution and bitrate combinations to ensure optimal playback.
- Security and Access Control: The platform uses signed JSON Web Tokens (JWT) to describe access restrictions, preventing leeching and hotlinking of video content. Playback policies allow for controlling the security level of each asset, with options for public or signed playback IDs.
Live Streaming and Syndication
- Live Streaming: Mux supports persistent live streams, allowing users to go live multiple times with a reusable stream key. It integrates with most broadcast software and hardware, as well as open-source software for mobile applications.
- Simulcast Targets: Users can forward live streams to social networks or other platforms through Simulcast Targets, also known as live syndication or RTMP passthrough.
Player and Analytics
- Mux Player: Designed for playing assets hosted on Mux Video, the Mux Player offers features like timeline hover previews, automatic poster image pulling, and optimal HLS.js settings for on-demand and live streams. It is integrated with Mux Data for performance and quality metrics.
- Mux Data: This analytics tool provides deep insights into video performance, including Viewer Experience Scores, detailed metrics, and a real-time streaming dashboard. It allows for fine-grained breakdowns of regional viewership and enhanced actionability of the data.
Integration and Management
- Headless CMS Integration: Mux can integrate seamlessly with headless CMS workflows, allowing for the upload and management of video assets directly through the CMS.
- Webhooks and Multi-Account Management: The platform uses webhooks to notify applications of asynchronous events, ensuring security with request signatures. It also offers fully segregated configuration, administration, and access for multiple Mux accounts.
Additional Features
- MP4 Support: Mux now supports MP4 files for basic quality assets, enabling offline playback, content analysis, short-form playback, and other use cases. This feature can be enabled for both new and existing assets.
- Global Scale and Performance: Mux is designed to handle video streams at any scale, whether serving a few dozen or millions of streams, ensuring global performance and reliability.
In summary, Mux is a robust platform that combines rapid video publishing, advanced live streaming capabilities, robust security features, and comprehensive analytics to help developers and publishers deliver high-quality video experiences to their audiences.