Live streaming
FAQ.

Upstream is cloud streaming software. It can play uploaded videos and audio as a live stream, run a scheduled program, or mix cameras, guests and screen shares in Live Studio. The finished stream goes to the destinations you connect, such as YouTube, Twitch or Kick.

You manage the content and settings in your browser. Upstream handles the server that plays and sends the stream. Choose a looping channel, a scheduled recorded event or a live show depending on what you want viewers to watch.

• About Upstream

1. Create an Upstream account and choose the platform you want to send the stream to.
2. Connect YouTube, Twitch or Kick with their sign-in flow, or enter the destination URL and stream key for a manual connection.
3. Upload a video and add it to your playlist. Choose whether it plays once or keeps looping.
4. Check the title, visibility, output quality and any schedule. Save your changes.
5. Start the stream, then open the actual destination page to check picture and sound.

For a first test, use private or unlisted visibility where the platform offers it. Upload time depends on your file size and internet connection. If YouTube live access is not enabled yet, complete that step before expecting the stream to start.

• YouTube Connect setup with screenshots

For uploaded videos and audio, no. Once the files are uploaded and the stream is running, Upstream plays them from its servers. You can close the browser and turn off your computer. A saved schedule can also start a stream while you are offline.

A webcam, screen share or OBS feed still depends on the device producing it. Keep that device on and connected while you are appearing live. Prepare a background playlist if you want something ready to play when the live segment ends.

You do not need OBS to stream uploaded videos or use the browser studio. OBS is useful when you want to capture gameplay, use a desktop scene setup or connect hardware on your own computer.

With OBS on its own, that computer produces the stream for the whole broadcast. With an uploaded Upstream playlist, the cloud produces it. You can also combine them: send OBS to the RTMP input in Upstream Live Studio, then use Upstream for the output destinations and the surrounding playlist.

• Connect an external encoder to Live Studio

A stream key tells a platform which channel or broadcast should receive your video. It works with the destination server URL. Treat it like a password: someone with the key may be able to send video to your channel.

YouTube Connect and Twitch Connect handle the connection through sign-in, so you do not need to copy a key for those connections. Manual destinations, such as Kick or a custom RTMP server, need the URL and key provided by that service. If a key is reset on the destination, update it in Upstream too.

Check live access in YouTube Studio first. YouTube requires a verified channel, no live streaming restrictions in the past 90 days and a minimum streaming age of 16. First-time activation can take up to 24 hours.

Use the Google account that owns or manages the correct channel when connecting it to Upstream. If you have several channels under one login, check the selected channel carefully. An Upstream plan does not override YouTube account restrictions.

• YouTube live streaming requirements
• Enable live streaming with an encoder
• Fix first-time YouTube live access

Yes. Upstream plays your uploaded file into a live broadcast. Viewers watch it at the same time, and the destination can provide live chat even though the video was recorded earlier.

Choose Play Once and End for a recorded event, or loop a playlist for a longer channel. Describe the program accurately so viewers know what they are watching. You still need the rights to the video, music and other material, and the destination's rules still apply.

• Pre-recorded live streaming

Upload your content, queue it in the order you want and choose Loop Continuously. Connect a destination that suits a long-running broadcast, then start the stream. Upstream repeats the playlist after the last item.

A channel that runs all month needs a paid plan with unlimited streaming hours. The free plan provides 24 hours each month for testing or shorter broadcasts. Check the destination's duration and recording limits before building an always-on channel.

• 24/7 live streaming

Yes. Open the stream editor, update the queue and save your changes. You can add content, change the order and remove items without stopping the broadcast to rebuild it.

Check the currently playing item before changing it. Skipping a video changes what viewers see immediately. If you are preparing a new program, preview its order and audio before publishing the change to a public stream.

• Playback controls

Yes. Use separate video and audio playlists when the picture and music should have their own order and timing. For example, loop a set of background videos while a longer music playlist plays independently.

Check the video's own audio volume so it does not compete with your music. A secondary audio channel can add an atmospheric loop, such as rain or room sound, over the main audio. Use files you own or have permission to broadcast on each destination.

• Separate audio and video playlists

Dequeuing a file removes it from that playlist. It does not, by itself, permanently remove the uploaded file from storage. This lets you reuse content in a different program without uploading it again.

To free storage, remove the file from your stored media as a separate action. Before deleting an original, check whether another playlist or stream uses it, and keep your own copy of any content you want to retain.

Yes. Save a preset from the stream editor. Playlists and Stream Designer settings can be saved and loaded separately, so you can reuse the same program with a different visual design or reuse a design with fresh content.

When loading a preset, choose which parts to import and check the result before publishing. Review the queue, schedule and overlays rather than assuming they fit the new event.

• Save and load presets

In the stream editor, choose a schedule type, set the start time and save. Check the selected date and time zone, then leave the stream ready for that time. You do not need to keep the browser open for uploaded content.

With YouTube Connect, Upstream manages the YouTube event. A manual YouTube connection needs a matching receiving event in YouTube Studio with Auto-start enabled. Run a short scheduled test before an important event.

• Scheduling setup and checklist
• Live stream scheduling

Yes. Recurring schedules let you repeat a program without starting each broadcast yourself. Set the days, start time and ending behavior for the program you want to repeat.

Check that your playlist and destination are ready for every occurrence. A recurring start time does not create new content for you. If the program changes, update the queue and any title, thumbnail or overlays before the next broadcast.

• Live stream scheduling

Yes. Choose Play Once and End when you want the selected playlist to run once and then stop. This suits a recorded webinar, concert or episode with a defined ending.

For a looping program with a fixed broadcast window, use Loop Continuously and a scheduled end time or duration. Those are different behaviors: one follows the playlist length, the other follows the clock.

YouTube says it can automatically archive streams shorter than 12 hours. If a broadcast exceeds 12 hours, it may not be captured at all. A long-running live channel and a reliable replay therefore need separate planning.

If a replay matters, schedule sessions below that threshold and keep a separate recording. Upstream's scheduling controls include an option to end just under 12 hours. Check the finished recording after a test broadcast.

• YouTube live archive rules
• Live streaming limits by platform

Yes. Stream recordings are included in Upstream. Use the recording controls for the segment you want to keep, then check the recordings in your account.

Plan the recording duration and available storage before an important show. Upstream recording and a platform's automatic replay are separate systems, so verify both if you need both. Do not assume an entire 24/7 channel becomes one unlimited recording.

Upstream has connections for platforms including YouTube, Twitch, Kick, Facebook, Rumble and Mixcloud. You can also add a custom RTMP destination using the server URL and stream key supplied by the receiving service.

Some services require live access or a particular account type before they provide an encoder connection. Buying an Upstream plan does not unlock that access. Check supported platforms and their setup pages for the destination you want to use.

• Supported streaming platforms

One Upstream stream can send the same program to up to 10 destinations at once. Multistreaming is included on the free plan too. You upload or produce one program, and Upstream sends it to the connected outputs.

A destination is where a program goes. A stream slot is an independently running program. Sending one playlist to YouTube and Twitch is multistreaming. Running two different playlists at the same time needs two stream slots.

• Multistreaming setup
• Multistreaming

Yes, with enough concurrent stream slots. Create a separate stream for each independently running program, then connect it to the channel or destinations that should receive it.

Multiple streams can use the same YouTube channel, but YouTube has its own concurrent-stream limits as well as Upstream's plan limits. Check the current platform limits before planning a large set of channels. Repeating the same content across many broadcasts also needs care with the destination's content and monetization rules.

• Upstream for Enterprise

Choose settings your Upstream plan and every receiving platform support. The free plan outputs up to 1080p at 30 fps. Paid quality options include 60 fps and 4K, but a destination may accept less.

Higher bitrate is not always better. If one output exceeds a destination's accepted range, that destination can stutter or reject the feed. For a multistream, use settings compatible with all outputs. Start with the recommendations shown in Upstream and check the platform settings reference for the exact service.

• Live streaming limits by platform

The technical connection and the platform's rules are separate. Check duration limits, account eligibility and any partner agreement before sending a continuous or simultaneous broadcast.

For example, Twitch permits simulcasting subject to its guidelines and any exclusivity agreement. Its published terms set conditions for the Twitch viewing experience and combined on-stream activity such as chat. Review those rules when designing a shared program or chat overlay.

• Twitch simulcasting guidelines
• Twitch current terms
• Platform duration and output limits

Yes. Open Live Studio and use your browser camera or an external RTMP feed. You can place that live input over the playlist, use a split layout or make the live segment fill the screen.

The uploaded playlist can continue in the background. Set up and preview your camera, microphone and layout first, then save and publish the change when you are ready for viewers to see it.

• Mix live and pre-recorded content
• Live Studio

Send the guest an invite link from Live Studio. They open it in their browser, allow camera and microphone access and wait until you bring them onto the stage. They do not need to install an app or create an Upstream account.

Ask guests to join early for a sound check. Headphones help prevent echo, and a wired connection can make a live interview more stable. Preview the layout before publishing the guests to the broadcast.

• Live Studio

Yes. Stream Designer lets you arrange text, images, video, shapes, websites and widgets as layers over the program. Use it for logos, lower thirds, current-song information or an alert widget.

Keep important text inside the visible frame and test it on a phone-sized preview. Website widgets must allow embedding. An overlay working in a browser tab does not guarantee that its website permits an embedded version.

• Stream Designer layers and embeds
• Live stream overlays

Use inserts for short pieces that sit between playlist items, such as a channel ident, sponsor clip or audio jingle. You can apply an insert across the playlist or assign one to a specific item.

A media insert is part of your program. A YouTube ad cuepoint is a request for the platform to serve an ad. They serve different purposes and are configured separately.

• Stings, jingles and inserts

1. Check the stream status and any error shown in Upstream. Confirm a free account still has streaming hours, or that the plan has an available stream slot.
2. Confirm there is content in the queue, or that your live input is connected.
3. Check the destination account, server URL and stream key. Reconnect an expired account connection or update a reset key.
4. For a scheduled stream, check the date, time zone and saved start time.
5. For manual YouTube setup, check that the receiving event is ready and Auto-start is enabled.

If it still will not start, send support the stream name, the exact error and the time it happened. Do not include your stream key in a public screenshot.

Open the stream's destination controls and check that the affected output is enabled. Then compare its connection, key and output settings with that platform's requirements.

Also open the destination's own control room. It may be waiting for a manual start, have ended an event, reached a duration limit or issued a content restriction. A working YouTube output does not prove the Twitch or Facebook settings are correct. Capture the destination error before changing settings.

First compare the Upstream preview with the destination player. If the problem is only on one destination, check its bitrate and resolution requirements and its reported stream health. If it is in the source too, preview the original file or check the camera/OBS connection.

For a live input, unstable upload speed can interrupt the source before it reaches the cloud. For uploaded content, your laptop's connection is no longer producing the broadcast. Test one known-good file and conservative output settings to narrow the cause, then send support the result.

Check whether the original file has sound, then check the video channel volume, audio playlist volume and any muted live input. In Live Studio, confirm the correct microphone is selected and browser microphone permission is allowed.

For echo, close or mute destination player tabs on the host and guest devices, and use headphones. The same microphone or program audio playing through two active sources can also double the sound. Test one source at a time before adding the others back.

Preview the original file and the Upstream output first. If they are in sync and the problem appears on YouTube, check the latency setting in YouTube Live Control Room.

Upstream's troubleshooting guide recommends trying Normal latency. Changing that setting requires stopping the affected broadcast, so plan the test rather than making the change during an important show. If the source itself is out of sync, changing YouTube latency will not repair it.

• YouTube audio sync troubleshooting

Refresh redraws the stream canvas elements. It can help when an overlay, browser widget or text element does not update as expected.

Hard Reload restarts the stream server and can cause a brief connection interruption. Use it for a more persistent abnormality after checking the source and settings. These controls are in More Actions in the editor. If a problem keeps returning, contact support with the symptoms and timestamps instead of repeatedly reloading.

• Refresh and Hard Reload explained

The free plan includes 24 hours of streaming each month, one stream running at a time, output up to 1080p at 30 fps and 100 GB of storage. That stream can reach up to 10 destinations.

Every feature is included, with no Upstream watermark and no credit card required. The monthly allowance makes it useful for testing the full workflow or running shorter shows. A continuous 24/7 channel needs a paid plan.

• Free plan details

Your allowance renews with the account's monthly usage period. Check the remaining hours and reset date shown in your account rather than assuming every account resets on the first day of the month.

When the allowance is exhausted, the free stream stops. You can wait for the next allowance or choose a paid plan to continue. There is no automatic charge from using up free hours.

Paid plans depend on how many independently running streams you need and the output quality you choose. A single stream sent to several destinations is still one program; two different programs running together need two stream slots.

Paid plans include unlimited streaming hours. Compare the current monthly and annual options, frame rates and storage on the pricing page. For a larger rollout or specific operational requirements, talk to us about Enterprise.

• Pricing

Open Manage Subscription from your account to review the current plan and the available changes. Check the price and billing summary before confirming an upgrade.

You can cancel from the subscription management page too. Review the displayed end date and keep a copy of any content or recordings you need before reducing or ending capacity. If the billing page does not show the change you expect, contact support before placing a second order.

Monetization depends on your channel, your content and YouTube's policies. Using Upstream, looping a playlist or adding overlays does not guarantee eligibility. YouTube's monetization rules apply to live streams and assess original, authentic content as well as reused or highly repetitive material.

If your channel is eligible, Upstream's YouTube Connect settings can request ad breaks. YouTube decides whether ads are served. Turn on the relevant monetization settings in YouTube Studio and check the policies before building a program around ad revenue.

• YouTube channel monetization policies

Yes. Invite them through Team Access and choose a permission level. View Only can inspect the account's streams and content. Moderators can work on existing streams and upload files. Managers can also create and delete streams and manage more of the content.

Team members use their own login. Their access does not include your billing or Team Access settings. Choose the least permission they need and remove the invitation or access when they no longer work on the program.

• Team roles and permissions

Use Forgot Password with the email address on your Upstream account. If you originally signed in with Google, you can use that flow to set a password for the same account.

Two-factor authentication is available in Account Settings. Enable it with your authenticator app and follow the setup instructions. Each person should secure their own login; inviting someone to a team does not automatically enable two-factor authentication for them.

Use material you own or have permission to broadcast on every destination you select. A license for one platform or one type of use may not cover another live broadcast.

YouTube scans live streams for third-party content. Even licensed material can be interrupted if the rights holder has not allowlisted your channel through Content ID. Confirm the license scope and any required allowlisting with the rights holder before the event. Upstream cannot override a platform's copyright enforcement.

• YouTube copyright rules for live streams

Read the privacy policy for information about account data and how to contact us about it. If your organization has procurement or data handling requirements, discuss them with the team before committing to a rollout.

Account deletion is available in Account Settings. Cancel an active paid subscription through Manage Subscription first. Deletion is permanent, so download any content and recordings you need and review the confirmation carefully. For a billing change alone, use Manage Subscription. Contact support if you need help choosing the right action.