# Set up and enable MultiViewer

MultiViewer displays a custom mix of video sources including channels on the HDMI output port in a convenient grid for confidence monitoring with minimal impact to the system's processors. MultiViewer features differ by Pearl-2:

- **Pearl-2** - six video sources. Grid options include: 1x2 video sources, 2x2 video sources, 2x3 video sources

Save processing power so you can do more with your Pearl-2 system while previewing multiple video sources on the HDMI output port. With MultiViewer, the video output displays at a lowered frame rate to economize CPU usage. Using MultiViewer does not lower the frame rate of channel recordings and live streams.

No audio signal present at the output port, but audio meters do display for channels and video sources that have embedded audio signals.

Use the Admin panel to choose which video sources appear in the pre-configured MultiViewer grids and to set the video output port resolution. You can enable MultiViewer for the output port using the Admin panel, the Pearl-2 screen, and using local console.

Deleted network sources or channels may appear in MultiViewer.

**Set up and enable MultiViewer using the Admin panel**

- Log in to the Admin panel as **admin**.

-  From the Output ports menu, click the output port (**HDMI 1** or **HDMI 2** for Pearl-2). The video output port configuration page opens.

- In the **Source ** field, select **MultiViewer**.

- In each cell of the grid, select a channel, video source, or system information.

- **System Information** > **Channels** : provides you with information on **Channel** status or **Audio Inputs** status.

- **Show information about upcoming and ongoing CMS events** (optional) - Select the check box and MultiViewer displays the name of upcoming or ongoing events, time remaining before upcoming events, and the time remaining of an ongoing event.

- **Text size** (optional) - Increase or decrease to change the size of the display text in MultiViewer.

- In the **Output Resolution **field, select the resolution for the video output port and then click **Apply**.

| **Value** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| Destination default | This is the default value. Each display has a preferred resolution, and when you choose this setting, the video output port will use the display's default resolution. |
| All devices: 1024×768, 1280×720, 1280×960, 1360×768, 1400×1050, 1920×1080  Pearl-2 only: 3840×2160 | Choose a specific resolution for the output port. |

**Enable MultiViewer using the touch screen on Pearl-2**

- From the device's touch screen, tap the **gear** icon to open the System settings screen. If the control icons aren't showing, tap anywhere on the touch screen.

-  Tap the arrow icon in the lower-right corner of the screen to go to the second Settings page.

- Tap Output port(s) and select a video output port.

- From the Output port's screen, select **MultiViewer** and tap **Apply**.

> product: pearl-2 · topic: other · source: pearl-2-userguide.md · updated: Oct 13, 2026