# Record a real-time stream with the Wowza Video REST API

Learn how to record your Real-Time Streaming at Scale (RTS@S) stream. You have
to set the recording options when you create the real-time stream; you
can't change them after a stream is created.

## Before you start

You should have access to the following items:

- A RTS@S
license. Contact us for
more information. To enable and purchase capacity for Real-Time
Streaming at Scale for your account and access the `/real_time`
operations, schedule a
call.


## 1. Create a real-time stream

Create a real-time stream by sending a
`POST`request to the
`/real_time` endpoint. By
default, `record`
is `false`.  To record a
real-time stream:

- Set `record` to
`true`.
This will create an MP4 that you can
download later and also process the stream through the VOD encoder,
which creates a VOD stream that you can use later to restream the
best quality stream your viewers connection can support.
If you only want an MP4 download, also
set `disable_vod_encoder` to `true`.
It is `false` by
default, and you'll get both an MP4 and a VOD stream. VOD streams
can take a bit of processing time as multiple renditions are
created. If you only need the MP4, you can save processing time by
skipping VOD stream creation.
- Change any values unique to your broadcast, using the API reference
documentation as a resource. See
the Endpoint Reference button
below for a full list of options.


#### Sample request

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X POST \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
-d '{
   "real_time_stream": {
     "name": "MyRealTimeStream",
     "record": true,
     "disable_vod_encoder": true
   } 
}' "${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/real_time"
```

#### Sample response

The response includes:

- An ID that you can use to perform other actions on the stream, like
getting the details or deleting it. This is also used to configure
the viewer page.



```
{
  "real_time_stream": {
    "id": "2adffc17",
    "name": "MyRealTimeStream",
    "stream_name": "8d304b93f1684320a54f2798666eeca7",
    "token": "97e52731bc21ef66e4c05a8ee1e28b64bf5f9db728573d94e690277cea9215bc",
    "subscribe_token": "50e161bfa42fbd581a0dfe5f632596b86c2c577a56bd439b38f8c904aabad04d",
    "rtmp_url": "rtmp://[primary_server]:[host_port]/[sub-domain]/[stream_name]?[token]",
    "enable_secure_viewer": true,
    "state": "active",
    "recording": true,
    "disable_vod_encoder": true,
    "created_at": "2021-06-30T18:02:20.00Z",
    "updated_at": "2021-06-30T20:03:16.00Z",
    "region": "phoenix"
  }
}
```

This example creates a real-time stream that will record the stream and
create only an MP4, **not** a VOD stream.

## 2. Finish configuring your real-time stream

Step 1, which you just worked through, is a modification to step 1 in
this article: [Deliver real-time streams with the Wowza Video REST API](/docs/wowza-video/guides/video-source/encoder-camera/deliver-real-time-streams). Use the linked
article to complete set up for your real-time stream, starting at step
2.