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First steps

This guide helps new users get started with the 3Q platform. It explains the basic steps required to set up an account, prepare projects, invite team members, upload on-demand content, start livestreaming, and embed media on external websites or applications.

The recommended onboarding workflow is:

  1. Register and access your account

  2. Set up projects

  3. Create categories and types

  4. Invite colleagues and assign permissions

  5. Upload content and stream live

  6. Embed and share your content


Registering an Account

To start using 3Q, you need access to a registered account.

Depending on your organization, the account may already be created by an administrator or provided during onboarding. After registration, users can log in to the platform and access the modules, projects, and features that are enabled for their account.

After signing in for the first time, check the following:

  • Your user profile is available

  • Your account is active (subscription)

  • The required modules are enabled

  • You have access to the projects you need

  • Your role includes the required permissions

Some features are controlled by account configuration and user rights. If a feature is not visible, it may need to be enabled or booked in Module Management or assigned through User Management.


Setting Up Projects

Projects are the main workspaces in 3Q. They define where content is uploaded, managed, streamed, recorded, or published.

Before uploading or streaming content, create or configure the projects you need for your workflow.

Common project types include:

  • On-Demand Projects Used for uploaded video and audio files that are processed, managed, and published as media assets.

  • Livestream Projects Used for live events, recurring streams, and live playback workflows.

When setting up a project, define the basic project settings, review access rights, and configure the metadata and publishing options required for your use case.

A common setup is to create separate projects or content pools for different departments, customers, brands, or workflows.

Example project structures:

  • Public Videos

  • Internal Training

  • Webinars

  • Townhalls

  • Product Videos

  • Event Livestreams

  • Podcast Episodes


Creating Categories and Types (optional)

Categories and types help structure metadata for on-demand content.

They are defined globally for the account and can then be used across projects and content pools. Per project or content pool, users can define whether all global categories and types should be available or whether only selected ones should be used.

This makes it easier to keep metadata consistent while still allowing project-specific workflows.

Categories

Categories are used to group content by topic, department, format, or editorial area.

Examples:

  • Tutorials

  • Product Videos

  • Town-Halls

  • Movies

  • Talkshows

  • Music Videos

Types

Types are used to define the content format or content purpose.

Examples:

  • Movie

  • Preview

  • Recording

  • Trailer

  • Webinar

  • Interview

Categories and types can later be assigned to on-demand assets and used for search, filtering, playlist automation, and frontend integrations.


Inviting Colleagues and Assigning Rights

After the account and projects are prepared, invite colleagues who should work with the platform.

User access is managed through User Management. Depending on their role, users can be allowed to upload content, edit metadata, manage players, create playlists, configure modules, or administer account settings.

When inviting colleagues, consider which responsibilities each user should have.

Typical roles include:

  • Account administrators

  • Project managers

  • Editors

  • Upload users

  • Livestream operators

  • Technical integration users

  • Read-only or review users

Assign permissions carefully so that each user has access to the features and projects they need, but not more than required.

If modules are enabled on the account level, users may still need explicit permissions before they can access or use them.


Uploading On-Demand Content

Once projects and permissions are ready, users can start uploading on-demand content.

On-demand content is managed inside an on-demand project or content pool. Uploaded files are processed by 3Q and then become available as media assets.

After uploading a file, users can manage the asset in the project’s asset management area.

Typical tasks include:

  • Reviewing the uploaded file

  • Editing title, description and other metadata

  • Assigning categories, types, and tags

  • Setting the release status (optiona)

  • Defining availability windows

  • Adding cover images

  • Managing audio tracks

  • Adding subtitles

  • Creating chapters

  • Preparing the asset for embedding or publishing

The asset detail view provides access to playback, metadata, cover images, audio tracks, subtitles, chapters, file attachments, and playout and sharing options.


Streaming Live

Livestream projects are used to receive and publish live signals.

To start livestreaming, create or open a livestream project and review the ingest settings. The ingest information is used by the encoder or production system to send the live signal to 3Q.

A typical livestream workflow includes:

  1. Open the livestream project.

  2. Copy the ingest endpoint and stream name.

  3. Configure the encoder or production system.

  4. Send a test signal.

  5. Check the signal status in the livestream control center.

  6. Start the live event.

  7. Monitor playback and stream status.

Depending on the account configuration, additional livestream features may be available, such as Timeshift, Live Clipping, Livestream Distribution, or Livestream Recorder.

Live Clipping can be used when Timeshift is enabled and allows users to create clips from an active or previous livestream and export them to an on-demand project.

Livestream Recorder can be used to record livestream projects and store the recordings separately in a selected on-demand project or content pool.


Embedding and Sharing Content

After content has been uploaded, processed, or streamed, it can be embedded or shared.

Embedding is handled through the Playout and Sharing area. Depending on the content type and configuration, users can generate integration codes or links for websites, portals, applications, or external systems.

Common embed options include:

  • JavaScript embed code

  • iFrame embed code

  • Direct player URL

  • oEmbed link

  • Streaming URLs for custom players

For most website and application integrations, the 3Q Player Web SDK is recommended because it supports player configuration, subtitles, audio tracks, chapters, analytics, adaptive streaming, and other platform features.

When embedding content, select the appropriate playout configuration. The playout defines how the content is presented to viewers and which player settings are applied.

Playlists can also be embedded and used for structured playback experiences, such as video collections, video carousels, or vertical reel-style players.


For a new account, the following setup order is recommended:

  1. Register or activate the account.

  2. Enable the required modules in Module Management.

  3. Create the required projects and content pools.

  4. Define global categories and types.

  5. Configure project-specific metadata availability.

  6. Invite colleagues through User Management.

  7. Assign project and module permissions.

  8. Upload first on-demand test content.

  9. Create or configure a livestream project.

  10. Test upload, processing, playback, and livestream ingest.

  11. Configure players and playouts.

  12. Embed the first video, livestream, or playlist.

This workflow ensures that the account structure, permissions, metadata, and publishing setup are ready before production content is added.


Typical First Use Cases

The first setup can support different workflows, for example:

  • Uploading and publishing on-demand videos

  • Creating a public video library

  • Managing internal training content

  • Streaming a live event

  • Recording livestreams for later on-demand use

  • Creating playlists and video carousels

  • Embedding videos on a website

  • Integrating 3Q with external systems through notifications or APIs


Notes

Available features may depend on account configuration, enabled modules, and user permissions.

If a module, project, or action is not visible, check whether the module is enabled and whether the user has the required rights.

For production workflows, it is recommended to test uploads, livestream ingest, player configuration, and embeds before publishing content publicly.

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