# Support for live and file sources
<a name="inputs-live-vs-file"></a>

A source might be a live source or a file (VOD) source:
+ A streaming source is continually being published.
+ A VOD source is made available on the endpoint and then does not change.

The following table specifies whether each MediaLive input type supports live streams or VOD assets.


| MediaLive input type | Live stream supported? | VOD asset supported? | 
| --- | --- | --- | 
| CDI | Yes | No | 
| HLS from an HTTP or HTTPS server, or from MediaStore | YesMediaLive considers an HLS input to be a *live stream* if the **Buffer segments** field has a value from 3 to 10, inclusive. (To display this field in the **Channel** page, in **General input settings** for **Network input settings**, choose **Network input**. For HLS input settings, choose **Hls input**. The **Buffer segments **field appears.) | YesMediaLive considers the input to be a *VOD asset* if the **Buffer segments** field has a value of 11 or more, or is undefined (empty).  | 
| HLS from Amazon S3 | Yes, as defined in the previous row We don't recommend Amazon S3 as a source for a live stream. | Yes, as defined in the previous row | 
| Link | Yes | No | 
| MediaConnect | Yes | No | 
| MediaConnect Router | Yes | No | 
| MP4 | No | Yes, with .mp4 file extension only | 
| RTMP Pull | Yes | Yes | 
| RTMP Push | Yes | No | 
| RTP | Yes | No | 
| SMPTE 2110  | Yes | No | 
| SRT Caller | Yes | No | 
| SRT Listener | Yes | No | 
| Transport Stream (TS) file | No | Yes, with .ts and .m2ts file extensions only |