# Tutorial: Configuring job settings
This page provides step-by-step guidance on how to configure a job in MediaConvert.
To configure a job, you define input files for the service to transcode, and you specify the source for each video, audio, and captions media element. That source might be a specific part of the primary input file, or it might be a separate file. Next, you specify the types of output files and packages that you want AWS Elemental MediaConvert to generate from the input. You also specify the detailed encoding settings to produce the quality and type of output that you want.
This tutorial shows how to configure jobs in MediaConvert to transcode media files into different formats.
**Topics**
+ [Optional step: Pause queues](#optional-pause-the-queue)
+ [Step 1: Specify input files](#specify-input-settings)
+ [Step 2: Create input selectors](#create-selectors)
+ [Step 3: Create output groups](#specify-output-groups)
+ [Step 4: Create outputs](#create-outputs)
+ [Step 5: Specify global job settings](#specify-global-job-settings)
## Optional step: Pause queues
If you're a new customer or you're experimenting with the MediaConvert console, you can pause your queues to avoid accidentally starting a job before you're ready. For more information about queues, see [Queues](working-with-queues.md).
To pause or reactivate an on-demand queue using the AWS Management Console
1. Open the [Queues](https://console.aws.amazon.com/mediaconvert/home/#/queues/list) page in the MediaConvert console.
1. On the **Queues** page, choose the name of the queue that you want to pause or reactivate.
1. On the queue’s page, choose the **Edit queue** button.
1. On the **Edit queue** page, for **Status**, choose **Paused** or **Active**.
1. Choose **Save queue**.
## Step 1: Specify input files
The first part of setting up a MediaConvert job is specifying the location of your input file or files.
**To specify the location of your input**
1. Open the MediaConvert console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/mediaconvert](https://console.aws.amazon.com/mediaconvert).
1. On the **Create job** page, in the **Job** pane on the left, choose **Input 1**.
1. In the **Input 1** pane, provide the URI to your video input file that is stored in Amazon S3 or on an HTTP(S) server. For Amazon S3 inputs, you can specify the URI directly or choose **Browse** to select from your Amazon S3 buckets. For HTTP(S) inputs, provide the URL to your input video file. For more information, see [HTTP input requirements](http-input-requirements.md).
**Note**
If your input audio or captions are in a separate file, don't create separate inputs for them. You specify these files later in this procedure, within your audio and captions selectors.
1. To join more than one input file into a single asset (input stitching), add another input to the job. To do so, in the **Job** pane, in the **Inputs** section, choose **Add**.
For jobs that have multiple input files, MediaConvert creates outputs by concatenating the inputs in the order that you specify them in the job. You can include up to 150 inputs in your job.
**Tip**
You can transcode portions of your inputs. For more information, see [Input settings](specifying-inputs.md).
## Step 2: Create input selectors for video, audio, and captions
Next, create input selectors to flag the video, audio, and captions elements from your input that you will use in your outputs. This labels each input element so that you can point to it when you set up your outputs. When you set up input selectors, you also provide the service with information about where to find the data and how to interpret it.
**To set up your input selectors**
1. In the **Video selector** section, specify values for the fields that are applicable to your job.
You don't need to create a video selector because MediaConvert automatically creates a video selector when you begin setting up a job. However, the service doesn't automatically detect information about the video source. You can provide this information in the **Video selector** fields. If you keep these settings in their default state, you will create a valid job. For more information about individual settings, choose the **Info** link next to each setting.
**Note**
MediaConvert doesn't support inputs with multiple video streams, such as Quad 4k. Each input can have only one video selector. Therefore, there is no **Add video selector** button on the console.
1. In the **Audio selectors** section, under **Audio selector 1**, specify information about your primary audio asset. You don't need to create an audio selector 1 because the service automatically creates the first audio selector when you set up a job.
**Note**
An *audio asset* is often dialogue, background sound, and music together in one track. Tracks often consist of multiple channels. For example, Dolby 5.1 sound has six channels per track.
1. For **Selector type**, choose the way that your audio assets are identified. Often, this is by track. If you are using an HLS input, and would like to select an alternate audio rendition, see [Alternate HLS audio rendition requirements](using-alternate-audio-renditions.md).
1. Provide the identifier (that is, track number, PID, or language code) for your primary audio asset. Your primary audio asset is likely to be track 1.
**Note**
For most use cases, you associate one input track per input selector. If your use case requires combining multiple tracks into one track, or multiple tracks into one rendition of a streaming package, combine multiple input tracks in one audio selector by typing a comma-separated list. For more information about combining tracks, see [Setting up audio tracks and audio selectors](more-about-audio-tracks-selectors.md).
1. If your audio is in a separate file from your video, choose the **External file** slider switch element and provide the URI to your audio input file that is stored in Amazon S3 or on an HTTP(S) server. For Amazon S3 inputs, you can specify the URI directly or choose **Browse** to select from your Amazon S3 buckets. For HTTP(S) inputs, provide the URL to your input video file. For more information, see [HTTP input requirements](http-input-requirements.md).
1. If you have additional audio assets, such as multiple language tracks, choose **Add audio selector**. Then provide information about the next asset that is described in the preceding step of this procedure.
1. In the **Captions selectors** section, choose **Add captions selector**. This creates input captions selectors for any sets of captions that you plan to use in an output. For more information about setting up captions for your job, see [Setting up input captions](including-captions.md).
## Step 3: Create output groups
After specifying your input, you create output groups. The choices that you make when you set up output groups affect the types of assets that your job produces and which devices can play them.
You can use MediaConvert to create media assets that fall broadly into two categories:
+ **ABR streaming packages**. You can create adaptive bitrate (ABR) packages so that end viewers can download the asset gradually while they watch. Depending on how you set up your outputs, the end viewer's device can adapt to changes in the available bandwidth by downloading higher or lower-quality segments. ABR packages are also called ABR *stacks*, because they are made up of a stack of video, audio, and captions components. Each component in the stack or package is called a *rendition*.
+ **Standalone files**. You might create these files and host them in a location where end viewers download the entire file all at once and then view it. You might also create standalone files and then send them to downstream systems for packaging and distribution.
**To create an output group**
1. In the **Job** pane, in the **Output groups** section, choose **Add**.
1. Choose an output group type, and then choose **Select**.
Create one file output group for all the standalone files that you intend to create. Create one ABR streaming output group for each ABR streaming package that you intend to create. For guidance on which ABR streaming output groups to include in your job, see [Choosing your ABR streaming output groups](choosing-your-streaming-output-groups.md).
1. Optionally, for **Custom group name**, enter a name for your group. Any name that you provide here appears in the **Output groups** section of the console but does not affect your outputs.
1. For **Destination**, specify the URI for the Amazon S3 location where the transcoding service will store your output files. You can specify the URI directly or choose **Browse** to select from your Amazon S3 buckets.
**Note**
You can optionally append a basename to your destination URI. To create the file name of your final asset, the transcoding service uses this basename and any name modifier that you provide in the individual output settings.
If you don't provide a basename with your URI, the transcoding service generates a basename from the input 1 file name, minus the extension.
1. Specify the values for any additional settings that apply to the entire output group. These settings vary depending on the type of output group that you select. For more information about individual settings, choose the **Info** link next to each setting.
## Step 4: Create outputs
After you create output groups, set up your outputs in each group. The number of outputs for each output group depends on the output group type, as follows:
+ For **File** output groups, include all elements of the media asset in one output. This includes any audio or captions that you provide in a separate file.
+ For ABR streaming output groups—**CMAF**, **Apple HLS**, **DASH ISO**, and **Microsoft Smooth Streaming**—create a separate output for each media element. That is, one output per video resolution, one output per audio track, and one output per captions language.
Choose from one of the following procedures that correspond to the output group types that you created in [Step 3: Create output groups](#specify-output-groups).
### Creating outputs in ABR streaming output groups
For each ABR streaming output group that you set up in [Step 3: Create output groups](#specify-output-groups), create and set up an output for each media element that you want in the ABR streaming package.
#### Creating video ABR streaming outputs
For each video output that you include in your output group, MediaConvert creates one video rendition, or set of segmented video files. Multiple video renditions in a streaming package, of varying resolutions and video quality, allow the end viewer's device to adapt the quality of video to the available bandwidth.
**Note**
Although the job has only one video *input* selector, ABR streaming output groups often have several video *outputs* per output group.
**To create and set up video ABR streaming outputs**
1. On the **Create job** page, in the **Job** pane on the left, under **Output Groups**, below the **CMAF**, **Apple HLS**, **DASH ISO**, or **Microsoft Smooth Streaming** output group that you want add outputs to, choose **Output 1**.
When you create an output group, MediaConvert automatically populates the output group with output 1. You don't need to explicitly create the first output.
1. In the **Output settings** pane, for **Name modifier**, enter a value.
MediaConvert appends the name modifier to the file names that it creates for this output. Enter a name modifier that will make it easy to identify which files came from which output, such as `-video-hi-res`.
1. If one of the predefined groups of settings listed under **Preset** is suitable for your workflow, choose it from the list. If you use a preset, skip the next step of this procedure.
1. Specify your video settings as follows:
1. In the **Output settings** section, specify values for any remaining general settings. Depending on the output group type, these settings might include transport stream settings or other container settings. For more information about individual settings, choose the **Info** link next to each setting.
1. In the **Stream settings** section, specify values for video encoding. The video settings are selected by default, so you don't need to explicitly choose this group of settings.
There is only one input video selector per job, so you don't need to explicitly choose it when you set up your video outputs.
For more information about individual settings, choose the **Info** links on the console.
1. If your output includes a group of audio settings by default, delete it as follows:
1. In the **Stream settings** section, choose **Audio 1**.
1. Choose **Remove audio**.
1. If you want multiple video renditions in your ABR streaming package, repeat the preceding steps of this procedure. This will create an additional video output for each one.
#### Creating audio ABR streaming outputs
For each audio output that you include in your output group, MediaConvert creates one audio rendition, or set of segmented video files. The most common reason to include multiple audio renditions is to provide multiple language options. If you provide only one language, you probably need only one audio output.
**Note**
For AAC streaming outputs, the initial segment is longer in duration than the others. This is because, with AAC, the initial segment must contain silent AAC pre-roll samples before the audible part of the segment. MediaConvert accounts for these extra samples in the timestamps, so the audio plays back correctly.
**To create and set up audio ABR streaming outputs**
1. If you're working in a CMAF output group, skip this step. The first audio output is created for you.
Create an output for your first audio track. Usually an audio track corresponds to one language.
1. In the **Job** pane, choose the output group that you're working in.
1. In the **Outputs** pane, choose **Add output**.
1. Choose the output that you just created.
1. If your output includes a group of video settings by default, choose **Remove video** to delete it. This k the **Audio 1** group of settings displayed.
1. In the **Output settings** pane, for **Name modifier**, enter a value.
MediaConvert appends the name modifier to the file names that it creates for this output. Enter a name modifier that will make it easy to identify which files came from which output, such as `-audio-english`.
1. If one of the predefined groups of settings listed under **Preset** is suitable for your workflow, choose it from the list. If you use a preset, skip the next step of this procedure.
1. Specify your audio settings as follows:
1. In the **Output settings** section, specify values for any remaining general settings. For more information about individual settings, choose the **Info** link next to each setting.
1. Under **Stream settings**, for **Audio source**, choose one of the audio selectors that you created in [Step 2: Create input selectors for video, audio, and captions](#create-selectors).
1. In the **Stream settings** section, specify values for audio encoding. For more information about individual settings, choose the **Info** link next to each setting.
1. If you have additional audio assets to include in the ABR streaming package, create an output for each of them as follows:
1. In the **Job** pane, choose the output group that you're working in.
1. In the **Outputs** pane, choose **Add output**.
1. Choose the output that you just created.
1. If your output includes a group of video settings by default, choose **Remove video** to delete it. This keeps the **Audio 1** group of settings displayed.
1. Set up the output as described in steps 2 through 4 of this procedure.
#### Creating captions for ABR streaming outputs
Setting up captions can be complex. For detailed information, see [Setting up input captions](including-captions.md). For basic instructions, complete the following procedure.
**To create and set up captions for ABR streaming outputs**
1. Create an output for your first set of captions. Usually a set of captions corresponds to one language.
1. In the **Job** pane, choose the output group that you're working in.
1. In the **Outputs** pane, choose **Add output**.
1. Choose the output that you just created.
1. If your output includes groups of video and audio settings by default, choose **Remove video** and **Remove audio** to delete them.
1. Choose **Add captions** to display a set of captions settings.
1. In the **Output settings** pane, for **Name modifier**, enter a value.
MediaConvert appends the name modifier to the file names that it creates for this output. Enter a name modifier that will make it easy to identify which files came from which output, such as `-captions-english`.
1. Specify your captions settings as follows:
1. In the **Output settings** section, specify values for any remaining general settings. For more information about individual settings, choose the **Info** link next to each setting.
1. Under **Stream settings**, for **Captions source**, choose one of the captions selectors that you created in [Step 2: Create input selectors for video, audio, and captions](#create-selectors).
1. In the **Stream settings** section, specify values for the remaining captions settings.
#### Creating additional manifests
By default, MediaConvert generates a single multivariant playlist for each of your CMAF, DASH ISO, Apple HLS, and Microsoft Smooth Streamingoutput groups. This default manifest references all the outputs in the output group.
Optionally, you can create additional multivariant playlists that reference only a subset of the outputs in your output group. For example, you might want to create a manifest that doesn't include HDR outputs, for viewers who don't have a subscription that includes HDR.
**Note**
For CMAF output groups, if you keep the default enabled value for **Write HLS manifest** and **Write DASH manifest**, MediaConvert creates additional manifests in both of those formats. If you disable either of those settings, MediaConvert doesn't create additional manifests in that format.
**To create an additional manifest**
1. On the **Create job** page, in the **Job** pane on the left, choose the output group that you want to create the additional manifest for.
1. In the **Additional manifests** section on the right, choose **Add manifest**.
1. For **Manifest name modifier**, enter the text that you want to be at the end of the manifest file name, before the extension. This setting is required, because it gives each manifest a different file name.
1. For **Select outputs**, choose the outputs that you want the manifest to refer to.
1. Repeat these steps to create up to 10 additional manifests. Each additional manifest must have a different value for **Manifest name modifier**.
### Creating and setting up outputs in File output groups
With File output groups, each asset that the service creates corresponds to one output, rather than one output group. Each asset contains all video, audio, and captions elements. Therefore, it's simplest to set up by first creating the output, and then setting up all the output selectors.
#### Create file outputs
If you created a file output group in [Step 3: Create output groups](#specify-output-groups), create and set up an output in the file output group for each standalone file that you intend to create.
**To create an output in a file output group**
1. When you create an output group, MediaConvert automatically populates the output group with output 1, so you don't need to explicitly create it. If you are creating only one standalone file, skip the rest of this procedure.
1. If you want to create more than one standalone file, create additional outputs as follows:
1. On the **Create job** page, in the **Job** pane on the left, under **Output Groups**, choose **File group**.
1. In the **Outputs** pane, choose **Add output**.
#### Set up output selectors in file outputs
Next, for each file output that you just created, set up output selectors.
**To set up output selectors in a file output**
1. On the **Create job** page, in the **Job** pane on the left, under **Output Groups**, under **File group**, choose **Output 1**.
1. In the **Output settings** pane, for **Name modifier**, enter a value.
MediaConvert appends the name modifier to the file names that it creates for this output. Enter a name modifier that identifies which files came from which output, such as `-standalone-hi-res`.
1. If one of the predefined groups of settings listed under **Preset** is suitable for your workflow, choose it from the list. If you use a preset, skip step 4 of this procedure.
Output presets can contain up to one set each of video, audio, and captions settings. Therefore, if your standalone output file contains more than one audio or captions asset, you can't use a preset. If you can't use presets in your output, but you want to use the preset settings as a starting point, choose the preset, then choose **No preset** from the **Preset** dropdown list. This prepopulates your output with the same settings that are in the preset.
1. Specify your output settings as follows:
1. In the **Output settings** section, specify values for any remaining general settings. These settings vary depending on the container that you choose. For more information about individual settings, choose the **Info** link next to each setting.
1. In the **Stream settings** section, specify values for video encoding. For more information about individual settings, choose the **Info** link next to each setting.
**Note**
The video settings tab is selected by default, so you don't need to explicitly choose this group of settings. There is only one input video selector per job, so you don't need to explicitly choose it when you set up your video outputs.
1. Choose **Audio 1** to display the group of encoding settings for the first audio asset. **Audio 1** is located on the left side of the **Stream settings** pane, below **Video**.
1. Under **Stream settings**, for **Audio source**, choose one of the audio selectors that you created in [Step 2: Create input selectors for video, audio, and captions](#create-selectors).
1. In the **Stream settings** section, specify values for audio encoding. For more information about individual settings, choose the **Info** link next to each setting.
1. To include captions in the output, choose **Add captions**. This displays a group of captions settings. For more information about setting up captions, see [Setting up input captions](including-captions.md).
## Step 5: Specify global job settings
Global job settings apply to every output that the job creates.
If your job incorporates audio or captions provided in a separate file from your input, or if you use the graphic overlay (image inserter) feature, it is especially important to get these settings right.
There are three distinct groups of timecode settings. Global job timecode configuration is one of those three. For more information about the different sets of timecode settings and how MediaConvert manages timecodes, see [Setting up timecodes](setting-up-timecode.md).
**To specify global job settings**
1. In the **Job** pane, in the **Job settings** section, choose **AWS integration**.
1. For **IAM role**, choose an IAM role that has permissions to access the Amazon S3 buckets that hold your input and output files. The IAM role must have a trusted relationship with MediaConvert. For information about creating this role, see [Setting up IAM permissions](iam-role.md).
1. Optionally, specify job-wide timecode settings in the **Timecode configuration** pane.
1. Specify values for the other job settings and enable global processors. For more information about individual settings, choose the **Info** link next to each setting.