diff --git a/docs/source/options/hls_stream_descriptors.rst b/docs/source/options/hls_stream_descriptors.rst
index 384df1d1cb..6e36769861 100644
--- a/docs/source/options/hls_stream_descriptors.rst
+++ b/docs/source/options/hls_stream_descriptors.rst
@@ -3,16 +3,16 @@ HLS specific stream descriptor fields
 
 :hls_name:
 
-    Required for audio when outputting HLS. name of the output stream. This is
-    not (necessarily) the same as output. This is used as the NAME attribute for
-    EXT-X-MEDIA.
+    Used for HLS audio to set the NAME attribute for EXT-X-MEDIA.
+    Defaults to the base of the playlist name.
 
 :hls_group_id:
 
-    Required for audio when outputting HLS. The group ID for the output stream.
-    This is used as the GROUP-ID attribute for EXT-X-MEDIA.
+    Used for HLS audio to set the GROUP-ID attribute for EXT-X-MEDIA.
+    Defaults to 'audio' if not specified.
 
 :playlist_name:
 
-    Required for HLS output. Name of the playlist for the stream. Usually ends
-    with '.m3u8'.
+    Used for HLS to name the playlist for the stream. Usually ends
+    with '.m3u8'. If unspecified, defaults to something of the form
+    'stream_0.m3u8', 'stream_1.m3u8', 'stream_2.m3u8', etc.
diff --git a/packager/app/packager_main.cc b/packager/app/packager_main.cc
index af49db2215..c525a6a605 100644
--- a/packager/app/packager_main.cc
+++ b/packager/app/packager_main.cc
@@ -85,14 +85,13 @@ const char kUsage[] =
     "  - trick_play_factor (tpf): Optional value which specifies the trick\n"
     "    play, a.k.a. trick mode, stream sampling rate among key frames.\n"
     "    If specified, the output is a trick play stream.\n"
-    "  - hls_name: Required for audio when outputting HLS.\n"
-    "    name of the output stream. This is not (necessarily) the same as\n"
-    "    output. This is used as the NAME attribute for EXT-X-MEDIA.\n"
-    "  - hls_group_id: Required for audio when outputting HLS.\n"
-    "    The group ID for the output stream. This is used as the GROUP-ID\n"
-    "    attribute for EXT-X-MEDIA.\n"
-    "  - playlist_name: Required for HLS output.\n"
-    "    Name of the playlist for the stream. Usually ends with '.m3u8'.\n";
+    "  - hls_name: Used for HLS audio to set the NAME attribute for\n"
+    "    EXT-X-MEDIA. Defaults to the base of the playlist name.\n"
+    "  - hls_group_id: Used for HLS audio to set the GROUP-ID attribute for\n"
+    "    EXT-X-MEDIA. Defaults to 'audio' if not specified.\n"
+    "  - playlist_name: Used for HLS to name the playlist for the stream.\n"
+    "    Usually ends with '.m3u8'. If unspecified, defaults to something of\n"
+    "    the form 'stream_0.m3u8', 'stream_1.m3u8', 'stream_2.m3u8', etc.\n";
 
 enum ExitStatus {
   kSuccess = 0,