# Step 4: Create a Channel with Optional Recording
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An Amazon IVS channel stores configuration information related to your live stream. You first create a channel and then contribute video to it using the channel’s stream key to start your live stream.

As part of channel creation, the following items are assigned:
+ An *ingest server* identifies a specific Amazon IVS component that receives the stream, along with an ingestion protocol (RTMPS or RTMP).
+ Amazon IVS assigns a *stream key* when you create a channel and uses it to authorize streaming. ***Treat the stream key like a secret, since it allows anyone to stream to the channel***.
+ A *playback URL* identifies the endpoint to start playback for a specific channel. This endpoint can be used globally. It automatically selects the best location from the Amazon IVS global content delivery network for a viewer to stream the video. (Note that Amazon IVS does not support custom domains for playback. *Do not proxy the playback URL with your own domain; that does not work and will cause issues.*)

 You can create a channel — with or without recording — through the Amazon IVS console or the AWS CLI. Channel creation and recording are discussed below.