How to Stream Pre-recorded Video as Live

Pre-recorded live streaming lets you broadcast uploaded videos as live events, complete with the live notification, live chat, and viewer experience of a real-time stream. You don't need to be at your computer when it airs.

It's used for webinars, product launches, training series, 24/7 channels, global time zone coverage, and content creators who want to batch-record and schedule weeks of content in advance.

How Pre-recorded Live Streaming Works

1. You upload an MP4 video to Livepush
2. You schedule a date and time for the stream to start
3. At the scheduled time, Livepush plays the video and broadcasts it via RTMP to your connected platforms (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, etc.)
4. Viewers see a live stream with a viewer count, live badge, and live chat

No OBS required. No computer left running. Livepush handles it entirely in the cloud.

Step-by-Step: Stream Pre-recorded Video as Live

Step 1: Prepare Your Video File

Encode your video as:

• Format: MP4
• Video codec: H.264
• Audio codec: AAC
• Resolution: 1920×1080 (1080p)
• Bitrate: 4,000–8,000 Kbps CBR
• Frame rate: 30 FPS

If you're exporting from editing software, look for an H.264 MP4 export preset. Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut all have suitable presets.

Step 2: Upload to Livepush

1. Log in to Livepush and go to the Pre-recorded Live dashboard
2. Click Upload Video
3. Select your MP4 file. Uploads typically take 1–5 minutes depending on file size and your connection

Step 3: Connect Your Streaming Destinations

In the Livepush dashboard:

1. Click Add Destination
2. Connect YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, or add a custom RTMP server
3. Repeat for each platform you want to stream to

Step 4: Schedule the Stream

1. Click New Pre-recorded Event
2. Select your uploaded video
3. Set the Start Date & Time (in your local timezone)
4. Give the stream a title and description. This appears as the live stream title on each platform
5. Click Schedule

Livepush will automatically start the stream at the scheduled time and broadcast it to all connected destinations.

Step 5: Monitor the Stream

During the broadcast, check the Livepush dashboard to see:

• Stream status (live / scheduled)
• Destination health (green = OK)
• Viewer counts from connected platforms

You can end the stream early from the dashboard, or it will stop automatically when the video finishes.

Streaming Multiple Videos in Sequence

Livepush supports playlist streaming: you can queue multiple videos to play back-to-back as a single continuous live stream. This is the foundation for 24/7 channels.

1. Upload multiple MP4 files
2. Create a playlist in the Livepush dashboard
3. Set the playlist to loop or play in order
4. Schedule it as a pre-recorded live event

The stream continues seamlessly between videos, appearing as a single uninterrupted live broadcast to viewers.

Pre-recorded Live vs OBS Virtual Camera

An alternative approach is using OBS with a media source (VLC or Media Source plugin) to play a video file and stream it via OBS. This works, but:

• Your computer must be running for the entire duration
• OBS uses CPU/GPU resources for encoding
• Network issues on your end can drop the stream

With Livepush's pre-recorded live, the video is already uploaded. The stream runs in the cloud regardless of what happens to your internet or computer.

Use Cases

Training and onboarding: Record a training series once, then schedule it for new employees or customers at any time.

Global time zones: Record your webinar or product demo once and schedule it to air at peak viewing times in each region.

Evergreen content: Schedule your best-performing content to re-air periodically, reaching new subscribers.

24/7 channels: Run a looping channel that never goes offline. See our 24/7 streaming guide for full setup.