> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL. > For a complete documentation index, see https://mediakind.ferndocs.com/beam/live-encoder/configure/encoding/blackout-encoding/llms.txt. > For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://mediakind.ferndocs.com/_mcp/server. # Configure blackout ## Configure an automated blackout Live Encoder can blackout a program on SCTE-35 trigger and replace the video with a still image. SCTE-35 metadata can be: * either in-band * or out-of-band Before you start: ensure you have configured the SCTE-35 metadata in the input stream. To create a scheduled blackout, follow these steps: ### Configure the metadata encoding * From the Encoding tab, go to the Metadata encoding section. * For each SCTE-35 metadata, click in the Actions column then set the Codec to Conditioning. * Click Ok to validate. ### Configure the blackout encoding * Go to the Blackout configuration section. * Click Add then configure a blackout configuration by selecting and setting the adequate blackout parameters. * Click Ok to validate. ### Configure the video encoding * Go to the Video encoding section. * For each video stream, select the associated Stream Conditioning and Blackout configuration. * Click Ok to validate. ### Configure the audio encoding * Go to the Audio encoding section. * For each audio stream, select the associated Blackout configuration. * Click Ok to validate. ### Configure the subtitle encoding * Go to the Subtitle encoding section. * For each subtitle stream, select the associated Blackout configuration. * Click Ok to validate. ### Check that blackout is present in the output Open the **Output** tab to ensure that blackout is present in the output. Example of output with blackout configured ### Activate blackout. You can [Manually activate or deactivate a blackout](#manually-activate-or-deactivate-a-blackout). ## Configure a manual blackout To configure a manual blackout, follow these steps: ### Activate ESAM From the **General** tab, set the **ESAM server network interface** to activate ESAM. ### Create an SCTE-35 out-of-band input stream Go to the **Input** > **Sources** > **Out-of-band streams** section to create an SCTE-35 out-of-band input stream. ### Configure the metadata encoding * From the Encoding tab, go to the Metadata encoding section. * Next to your SCTE-35 metadata, click the edit button, in the Actions column then set the Codec to Conditioning. * Click OK to validate. ### Configure the blackout encoding * Go to the Blackout configuration section. * Click Add then configure a blackout configuration by selecting and setting the adequate blackout parameters. * Click OK to validate. ### Configure the video encoding * Go to the Video encoding section. * For each video stream, click to select the associated Stream Conditioning and Blackout settings. Example of configuration for Stream Conditioning and Blackout parameters * Click OK to validate. ### Check that blackout is present in the output Open the **Output** tab to ensure that blackout is present in the output. Example of output with blackout configured ### Save Return to the list of services, or edit any parameters then save. ### Check statistics * From the list of services, click to view statistics. * Ensure that blackout configurations display as expected in the Monitoring section of the Statistics page. ### Activate blackout You can [Manually activate or deactivate a blackout](#manually-activate-or-deactivate-a-blackout). ## Configure a scheduled blackout Creating a scheduled blackout is a 4-step process: * Create a scheduled blackout configuration. * Apply a blackout configuration to video encodings. * Apply a blackout configuration to audio encodings. * Check blackout configurations. ### Create a scheduled blackout configuration Live Encoder can blackout a program and replace the video with a still image. You must first create the blackout configuration, then configure to apply to video encodings. Before you start, ensure that: * A Metadata input stream must exist. * Metadata processing is set to Conditioning in Metadata encoding parameters. Audio plays during blackout, unless you configure the blackout to mute audio. * Display services. * Click to edit the service. * Click the Encoding tab to display encoding options. * Scroll to Blackout configuration and click +Add to display parameters. The Blackout configuration options display. You can create multiple blackout configurations for a single service. * Configure the parameters, then click Ok to save. Blackout configurations display in the list (see image below). If no **SCTE-35 Input** options display in the list, then [reconfigure inputs](/beam/live-encoder/configure/encoding/metadata-encoding). * Use the save options to save configurations. * Apply the blackout configuration to a video and/or audio encoding. ### Apply a blackout configuration to video encodings You can apply a blackout configuration per video encoding. Before you start: ensure that you created at least one blackout configuration. Blackout is **not supported in Pass-through**. * Display services. * Click to edit the service. * Open the Encoding tab, then click to edit the video stream. * Select the blackout option. All previously created blackout configurations display. * Check that the applied Blackout option displays for video encodings. * Apply the blackout configuration to audio streams. * Add encodings to output. * Use the save options to save configurations. * Ensure that Blackout configurations are configured and applied as expected. ### Apply a blackout configuration to audio encodings You can apply a blackout configuration per audio encoding. before you start, ensure that you have created at least one blackout configuration. Blackout is **not supported in Pass-through**. * Display services. * Click to edit the service. * Open the Encoding tab, then click to edit the audio stream, or Add a stream. * Click Blackout to display the list of previously created blackout configurations, then select a blackout configuration to apply. * Click OK to save. * Check that audio encodings display in the list with the blackout tag displayed. * Add encodings to output. ### Check blackout configurations Blackout configurations are first created, then applied to video and/or audio encodings. The encodings are then configured in an output stream. Check the overviews to ensure that blackouts are configured and applied. * Display services. * Click to edit the service. * Open the Encoding tab and ensure that any expected blackout configurations display in the list. * Check video and audio encodings to ensure that blackout configurations are applied as expected. * Open the Output tab to ensure expected video and audio encodings display in the list. * Return to the list of services, or edit any parameters and then save. * From the list of services, click to view statistics. * Ensure that blackout configurations display as expected in the Statistics page. ### Activate blackout You can [Manually activate or deactivate a blackout](#manually-activate-or-deactivate-a-blackout). ## Manually activate or deactivate a blackout Once you have configured a [manual](#configure-a-manual-blackout) or an [automated blackout](#configure-an-automated-blackout) and started a service, you can manually activate or deactivate it. Manual blackout activation/deactivation is only available if **Trigger** parameter is set to **spliceOutSpliceIn**. * Display statistics on Outputs. * Click the Activate Blackout button. A message informs you that the command has been sent. * Click OK. The current video is blacked out until the specified Timeout (if configured); or by clicking the Deactivate Blackout button.