Live streaming has become an increasingly popular way to engage with audiences in real time. While live broadcasts have their own charm, there are instances where pre-recorded videos can be more suitable. Whether you want to ensure a flawless presentation or accommodate different time zones, live-streaming pre-recorded videos offers flexibility and convenience. This article will explore how to live stream with pre-recorded videos.

Gyre

Gyre is a powerful live streaming software that enables you to seamlessly integrate pre-recorded videos into your live broadcasts. With its user-friendly interface and advanced features, Gyre simplifies the process of live streaming with pre-recorded videos.

Gyre offers a unique feature that allows you to create an uninterrupted stream by leveraging playlists. Once you have uploaded your pre-recorded videos to your personal Gyre server, you can easily organize them into a playlist. This playlist functions as a loop, ensuring that the videos play continuously in the specified order. To set up an endless stream with Gyre, follow these steps:

• Upload the video to the personal Gyre server.
• Create the playlist.
• Begin the broadcast.
• Gyre resumes the playlist from the beginning when it end.

Wirecast

Wirecast is a professional live video streaming production software offering various features to enhance your live streams. It allows you to incorporate pre-recorded videos seamlessly into your broadcasts. With Wirecast, you can easily switch between live camera feeds and pre-recorded videos and add transitions, overlays, and other visual effects to create an engaging and dynamic live stream.

• Click on the “+” icon.
• Select “shots” and then choose “new playlist shot.”
• You can add multiple video files to create a playlist. Double-clicking on any video allows you to shuffle the sequence of your playlist, trim videos, pause and play, and manage audio settings.
• By default, a video in Wirecast will start playing as soon as it goes live and will continue until it finishes. You can change these settings by accessing the “source properties” in the top left-hand corner of your screen. Here, you can modify live settings such as play/pause options, looping, and selecting specific video parts to play.

vMix

vMix is a comprehensive live video production software that mixes and switches between multiple video sources, including pre-recorded videos, cameras, and computer screens. It offers advanced features such as live video effects, overlays, and virtual sets. With vMix, you can create professional-looking live streams with pre-recorded videos integrated seamlessly into your broadcasts.

• Click on “Add Input” in the bottom left corner.
• Select “Video” at the top left corner of the screen that appears.
• Choose the video you want to use from your local storage.
• The video will be ready by default but will not start playing until you click the “Play” button below. If you switch from the preview to the live area, the video will automatically begin playing. vMix also remembers the position of the video by default.
• To modify these settings, go to the video source in the bottom left and click the “Cogs” icon to access the settings. Here, you can configure whether the video starts playing immediately when going live and if vMix should remember the position in the video.

Xsplit

Xsplit is another powerful software tool for live streaming that supports the integration of pre-recorded videos. Its user-friendly interface allows you to manage multiple video sources, including pre-recorded files, webcams, and other media. Xsplit provides a range of customization options, such as scene transitions and overlays, to enhance the overall quality of your live stream.

• Click on “Add Source.”
• Select “General widgets” and then choose “Video playlist.”
• Click the “Add” button at the bottom and select the video file(s) you want to include.
• Ensure you have the “video playlist” plugin installed.
• Right-click on the video source under “Scenes” or the video in the preview area to open the video options. Here, you can play/pause the video, navigate through the timeline, and set loop options.

Restream Studio

Restream Studio is a browser-based live streaming platform that allows you to combine pre-recorded videos with live content from various sources, including webcams and screen shares. It offers a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy to upload and play pre-recorded videos during your live stream. Restream Studio also provides chat integration, allowing you to interact with your audience in real time.

• Log into your Restream account.
• Click on “Enter Live Studio.”
• Click on the “+” sign in the lower middle portion of your screen.
• Select “Add to the stream.”
• Choose “Local video” and browse for the file containing your video.
• The video will appear on the left-hand side of your screen. You can play it live by toggling the button. You can adjust the layout using the options next to the “+” sign below your live broadcast window.

Conclusion

Choosing the right software is essential for a seamless and engaging broadcast when it comes to live streaming with pre-recorded videos. The software options mentioned above offer diverse features to effectively integrate pre-recorded videos into your live streams. Consider your specific needs, level of expertise, and desired features to select the most suitable software for your live-streaming endeavors. Embrace the power of these tools, and create captivating live streams that leave a lasting impression on your audience.