# Configuring inputs
<a name="smpte-2038-setup-input"></a>

If you want MediaLive to use the data in a SMPTE 2038 stream, you must configure the input to read the SMPTE 2038.

1. On the **Create channel** page, find the **Input attachment** for the relevant input.

1. In **General input settings**, set **SMPTE-2038 Data Preference** to one of the following:
   + **Prefer** – For a specific item of data, MediaLive first looks for the data in a SMPTE 2038 PID. If the data is not found in the SMPTE 2038 stream or if there is no SMPTE 2038 stream, MediaLive looks for the data in other locations in the stream.
   + **Ignore** (default) – MediaLive never looks for a SMPTE 2038 stream. Even if a specific item of data is not available in other places in the stream, MediaLive doesn't look for a SMPTE 2038 stream. For example, you might set the timecode source to Embedded (in the **General Configuration** section for the channel). With **Ignore**, if the timecode source isn't in the video stream, MediaLive won't look for it in a SMPTE 2038 stream.

   Note that with Elemental Link input, any KLV metadata is always in a SMPTE 2038, never in a different PID. Therefore, if you have been told that the source includes KLV metadata, always choose **Prefer**.