The Media eXchange Layer (MXL): Streamlining Multi-Vendor Live Video
Metadata
- Publisher
- SMPTE
- Doc Type
- Journal Article
- Content Type
- Original Research
- Abbreviated Title
- SMPTE Motion Imaging Jour.
- Volume
- 135, No. 2, pp. 14–22
- Abstract
- The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Dynamic Media Facility (DMF) provides a layered model for software-defined production infrastructures running on commonly available IT infrastructure. The DMF seeks to enable customizable, dynamic workflows with cost-effective scalability and enhanced operational efficiency, security, and reliability to address the challenges of the evolving media business landscape. A key element of the DMF is the Media eXchange Layer (MXL), an open-source SDK for high-performance, live media interchange among containerized software media functions. MXL provides a vendor-neutral, interoperable platform with clear observability. MXL employs the lowest-latency asynchronous data transfer methods to minimize delays in the live signal chain. Shared memory is used for same-host functions, and remote direct memory access (RDMA) networking is used for cross-host communication. The Linux Foundation hosts the MXL Project in collaboration with the EBU and the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA). The MXL SDK code is available on a public GitHub repository.
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-01
- DOI
10.5594/JMI.2026/JORP7004- ISSN
- Print:
1545-0279| Electronic:2160-2492 - Link
- https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/JORP7004
- Author(s)
- Vincent TrussartThomas EdwardsWillem VermostPeter Brightwell
- Keyword(s)
- Software, Live Production, Shared Memory, Asynchronous, RDMA, Containerization, Data Centers
- Copyright
- © 2026 SMPTE
Bibliographic Reference(s)
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- SMPTE ST 2059-1:2021 [Active]
- SMPTE ST 2110-21:2017 [Superseded]
- SMPTE ST 2110-40 [Active]
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Vincent Trussart, Thomas Edwards, Willem Vermost, and Peter Brightwell; The Media eXchange Layer (MXL): Streamlining Multi-Vendor Live Video, MIJ 2026, Volume 135, Number 2 (pp. 14 to 22); SMPTE, 2026. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/JORP7004
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Vincent Trussart, Thomas Edwards, Willem Vermost, and Peter Brightwell; The Media eXchange Layer (MXL): Streamlining Multi-Vendor Live Video, MIJ 2026, Volume 135, Number 2 (pp. 14 to 22); SMPTE, 2026. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/JORP7004
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Vincent Trussart, Thomas Edwards, Willem Vermost, and Peter Brightwell; The Media eXchange Layer (MXL): Streamlining Multi-Vendor Live Video, MIJ 2026, Volume 135, Number 2 (pp. 14 to 22); SMPTE, 2026. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/JORP7004
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<span class="citation">Vincent Trussart, Thomas Edwards, Willem Vermost, and Peter Brightwell; <cite>The Media eXchange Layer (MXL): Streamlining Multi-Vendor Live Video</cite>, MIJ 2026, Volume 135, Number 2 (pp. 14 to 22); SMPTE, 2026. Available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/JORP7004" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/JORP7004</a></span>
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Vincent Trussart, Thomas Edwards, Willem Vermost, and Peter Brightwell; The Media eXchange Layer (MXL): Streamlining Multi-Vendor Live Video, MIJ 2026, Volume 135, Number 2 (pp. 14 to 22); SMPTE, 2026
doi: 10.5594/JMI.2026/JORP7004
url: https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/JORP7004
doi: 10.5594/JMI.2026/JORP7004
url: https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2026/JORP7004
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<li> Vincent Trussart, Thomas Edwards, Willem Vermost, and Peter Brightwell; <cite id="bib-10-5594-jmi-2026-jorp7004">The Media eXchange Layer (MXL): Streamlining Multi-Vendor Live Video</cite>, MIJ 2026, Volume 135, Number 2 (pp. 14 to 22); SMPTE, 2026 <span class="doi">10.5594/JMI.2026/JORP7004</span> </li>