# Complete general settings
<a name="creating-a-channel-step3"></a>

The **General settings** section in the **Create channel** page lets you configure global settings and global features:
+ Global *settings* set behavior that applies to all inputs or all outputs in the channel. You can't configure the behavior differently for different inputs or outputs.
+ Global *features* set up features that are optional but that apply globally to all outputs if they are enabled.

**To complete the general settings**

1. On the **Create channel** page, choose **General settings**.

1. In the **General channel settings** section, set the global settings and optional features as needed. For information about each setting or feature, see the topics at the end of this procedure. 

1. When you have finished working with these fields, go to the [next step](creating-a-channel-step4.md).

## Avail blanking
<a name="avail-blanking"></a>

Optional feature. You can set this to blank out the output video during ad avails. For more information, see [Processing SCTE 35 messages](scte-35-message-processing.md).

## Avail configuration
<a name="scte35-handling"></a>

Optional feature. You can modify the way that MediaLive handles SCTE-35 ad avail messages, or you can keep the default behavior. For information about the default behavior and how to modify that behavior, see [Processing SCTE 35 messages](scte-35-message-processing.md).

## Blackout slate
<a name="blackout-slate"></a>

Optional feature. You can black out the output video as specified by program metadata, if that metadata is present in the input. For more information, see [Processing SCTE 35 messages](scte-35-message-processing.md).

## Feature activations
<a name="channel-gen-feature-activ"></a>

Optional features. You can enable the input prepare feature for input switching. For more information, see [Preparing inputs in AWS Elemental MediaLive](feature-prepare-input.md). 

## Global configuration
<a name="global-channel-settings"></a>

Global configuration settings. In this section, complete the first three fields as appropriate. For details about each field, choose the **Info** link next to the field. 

## Global configuration – input loss behavior
<a name="input-loss-behavior"></a>

Global configuration settings. The **Input Loss Behavior** fields control how MediaLive handles input loss. You can customize the handling. For more information, see [Handling loss of video input](feature-input-loss.md).

## Motion graphics configuration
<a name="channel-config-mgi"></a>

Optional feature. You can enable the motion graphics overlay feature. For more information, see [Working with motion graphics overlays](feature-mgi.md). 

## Nielsen configuration
<a name="nielsen-configuration"></a>

Optional feature. You can configure a MediaLive channel to convert Nielsen watermarks to ID3 metadata. For more information see [Converting Nielsen watermarks to ID3](feature-nielsen-id3.md).

## Timecode configuration
<a name="timecode-config"></a>

Global configuration settings. This section lets you specify the timecode for the output. For more information about configuring the timecode, see [Working with timecodes and timestamps](timecode.md).

## Logging
<a name="channel-logging"></a>

Optional feature. You can enable logging of activity on this individual channel. For detailed information about this feature, see [Monitoring a channel using Amazon CloudWatch Logs](monitoring-with-logs.md).

To enable logging, choose a log level other than **DISABLED**. The levels are listed from least to most verbose. 

To disable logging, choose **DISABLED**.