# Begin recording a stream after a transcoder has started

Learn how to use the REST API to record a live stream or transcoder
after the transcoder has started in the Wowza Video™ service and how to
programmatically download recordings.

This allows you to record only part of the stream. A common use case for
this workflow is when you have a welcome slate before video content
begins and you only want to record the video content.

Info
If you're a Wowza Video subscriber, recordings created using
the `recording` parameter will not be available on the **Asset
Management** page. If you want to manage your recording through asset
management, set the save_asset parameter to
`true` when creating a live stream. This will generate both a VOD
stream and a recording.

## Before you start

You should complete the following tasks:

- Create a **live stream** or a **transcoder**. You'll need the
resulting `live_stream_id` or `transcoder_id` to record a broadcast.
View our [connect a
source](/docs/wowza-video/guides/video-source/encoder-camera/connect-an-ip-camera)
topics to learn how to create a live stream or transcoder for RTMP,
RTSP, IP camera, SRT encoder, UDP encoder, WebRTC, and Wowza
Streaming Engine.


You should be familiar with the following concepts:

- Available workflows for recording streams.
We recommend you configure your stream to record as soon as the
transcoder begins.


You should choose between the following two workflows:

- Decide between the **live stream** or **transcoder** workflow.
See Decide between a live stream or transcoder workflow for more information about these workflows.


details
summary
Live stream workflow
## Live Stream Workflow

### 1. Start the live stream

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/live_streams/[live_stream_id]/start"
```

### 2. Start recording

Info
When you initiate an API request to start recording, there is a
delay of approximately 10 seconds before the first recorded video
frames pass through the transcoder in Wowza Video. If you are
watching the source live, you will need to allow a minimum of 10
seconds between the API request and live events that need to be
captured in the stream recording.

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/transcoders/[live_stream_id]/start_recording"
```

The response indicates that video capture for recording has started. If
you query for details of the live stream, the `recording` parameter
remains set to `false`, even though the stream is being recorded.


```
{
  "transcoder": {
    "recording": {
      "state": "started"
    }
  }
}
```

### 3. Stop recording

You can stop the recording at any point before the live stream has ended
or you can stop the live stream, which will end the recording.

Info
We recommend leaving the live stream running for 10 to 15
seconds after the end of the event. This ensures that the recording
doesn't cut off prematurely.

**Stop the recording**:

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/transcoders/[live_stream_id]/stop_recording"
```

**Stop the live stream**:

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/live_streams/[live_stream_id]/stop"
```

### 4. Get the recording

Wowza Video begins converting the recording to MP4 format when the
transcoder stops, not necessarily when the recording stops. If the
transcoder continues running after recording stops, you will need to
wait until the transcoder stops to retrieve the recording.

**Get all recordings for a specific transcoder**:

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X GET \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/transcoders/[live_stream_id]/recordings"
```

**Get all recordings for your account**:

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X GET \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/recordings"
```

### Related requests

- GET/recordings/ID/state — View the state of the recording.
- GET/recordings/ID — View the details of the recording.
- DELETE/recordings/ID — Delete a recording.


details
summary
Transcoder workflow
## Transcoder Workflow

### 1. Start the transcoder

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/transcoders/[transcoder_id]/start"
```

### 2. Start recording

Info
When you initiate an API request to start recording, there is a
delay of approximately 10 seconds before the first recorded video
frames pass through the transcoder in Wowza Video. If you are
watching the source live, you will need to allow a minimum of 10
seconds between the API request and live events that need to be
captured in the stream recording.

**Start recording**:

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/transcoders/[transcoder_id]/start_recording"
```

The response indicates that video capture for recording has started. If
you query for details of the live stream or transcoder, the `recording`
parameter remains set to `false`, even though the stream is being
recorded.


```
{
  "transcoder": {
    "recording": {
      "state": "started"
    }
  }
}
```

### 3. Stop recording

You can stop the recording at any point before the live stream has ended
or you can stop the live stream, which will end the recording.

Info
We recommend leaving the live stream running for 10 to 15
seconds after the end of the event. This ensures that the recording
doesn't cut off prematurely.

**Stop the recording**:

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/transcoders/[transcoder_id]/stop_recording"
```

**Stop the transcoder**:

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/live_streams/[transcoder_id]/stop"
```

### 4. Get the recording

Wowza Video begins converting the recording to MP4 format when the
transcoder stops, not necessarily when the recording stops. If the
transcoder continues running after recording stops, you will need to
wait until the transcoder stops to retrieve the recording.

**Get all recordings for a specific transcoder**:

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X GET \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/transcoders/[transcoder_id]/recordings"
```

**Get all recordings for your account**:

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X GET \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/recordings"
```

### Related requests

- GET/recordings/ID/state — View the state of the recording.
- GET/recordings/ID — View the details of the recording.
- DELETE/recordings/ID — Delete a recording.