Most teams already have the content - demos, webinars, tutorials, interviews - but no consistent way to use it. Instead of letting that footage sit in your storage, streaming it “as live” gives it a second life. You reach a fresh audience, drive real-time engagement, and make your brand feel active without recording anything new.
And it’s not just for convenience, live playback triggers better retention, chat participation, and platform visibility. And when you control the video quality upfront, you avoid the risks that come with actual live events - bad internet, broken audio, or someone forgetting to hit record.
There are a few ways to pull this off - each with its own strengths, depending on how often you stream, how much you want to automate, and how tightly streaming fits into your product or ops stack.
Depending on your setup and what you care about, there are a few ways to run a pre-recorded stream as live.
If you need to stream a pre-recorded video quickly - maybe a product launch, a one-time campaign, or an internal broadcast - using OBS Studio with FastPix is the simplest way to go live without actually going live.
You get the flexibility of OBS (overlays, scenes, transitions) and the reliability of FastPix’s live streaming infrastructure. OBS acts as your encoder. FastPix provides the stream key and global delivery. No programming required (you’re using only the FastPix dashboard) - just copy the RTMPS or SRT server URL and go.
When this makes sense
• Quick drops for launches or webinars
• Solo creators and marketers doing internal or public streams
• Teams testing workflows before committing to full automation
How it works:
Use the FastPix dashboard to create a new live stream. You'll get:
Install OBS Studio. Go to Settings → Stream, and choose your protocol:
This is the cleanest way to stream pre-recorded videos “as live” without relying on local machines or OBS. FastPix’s Cloud Playout lets you take any uploaded video and schedule it to play out like a linear TV channel - with overlays, bumpers, ad cues, and full simulcast distribution.
You don’t need to manage infrastructure or encoding software. Everything from asset management to real-time stream generation runs in the cloud.
When to use this
You’ve got a large library of videos - tutorials, interviews, webinars, product demos - and you want to make better use of them. With FastPix Cloud Playout, you can turn that archive into a 24/7 live channel or schedule time-based broadcasts that run without manual effort.
Use this when you need to:
How it works: (See the video: How FastPix Cloud Playout works)
Upload your pre-recorded content directly from your device or via URL. Add metadata tags to organize your assets and prep them for programming.
Create a playlist or assemble a single program using an Electronic Program Guide (EPG). Add bumpers, overlays, and slates where needed. You can also insert live segments if required.
Create a looping or scheduled channel. Define start time, fallback slates, and ad insertion markers (e.g., SCTE-35) if monetizing. Choose playback behavior: loop, stop after play, or run on a timed schedule.
You can insert pre-rolls, mid-roll ad cue points, or sponsor bumpers. Support for watermarking, lower-thirds, and timed overlays is available per program.
FastPix generates a live HLS feed with adaptive bitrate. You can:
Use the FastPix dashboard to view real-time health (bitrate, viewers, error states). Trigger failover slates automatically if an asset fails. Pause or stop mid-stream if needed.
Pros
Cons
If you’re building a product or internal tool that needs to stream pre-recorded videos as live - and you want complete control over how, when, and where it happens - this is the route that gives you the most flexibility.
FastPix offers a full suite of Live Streaming APIs that let you programmatically generate RTMP/SRT ingest URLs, manage stream lifecycles, trigger scheduled playout, and push to multiple destinations.
In fact, our Cloud Playout system is built on the same APIs. You can use those building blocks to create your own version - tightly integrated into your product or workflow, fully automated, and custom to your use case.
When to use this
Pros: Fully automated, scalable, developer friendly, repeatable workflows.
Cons: Requires engineering effort, setup complexity.
What works in practice
If you’re a solo creator or only running a handful of streams, OBS is fine. Just don’t expect to scale. For anything bigger, or if reliability matters, use cloud playout. If you’re running streaming as part of your own product or platform, go API-first.
OBS Studio is a free, open-source software used for live streaming and video recording. It lets you broadcast high-quality content on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook. Its customizable features and performance optimizations make it a go-to choice for professionals and casual users alike.
Testing is crucial to ensure your stream runs smoothly.
To ensure a smooth streaming experience, it's important to optimize your OBS settings:
Settings > Output settings:
Settings > Video settings:
To ensure a seamless and engaging experience when streaming pre-recorded videos, adhere to these best practices with technical insights:
Conduct comprehensive testing
Optimize video quality
Strategically schedule streams
Leverage post-stream engagement
Use advanced video settings
By implementing these practices, you can ensure that your pre-recorded streams maintain technical excellence, engage your audience effectively, and leave a lasting impression.
Simulated live streams combine the polish of pre-recorded content with the interactivity of live events, making them a versatile solution for various industries. Here are tailored examples highlighting their potential:
Simulated live streams provide the flexibility to curate polished content while maintaining the interactive elements that make live broadcasts engaging, making them a powerful tool for industries prioritizing both quality and viewer engagement.
Streaming pre-recorded videos as live events offers the perfect balance between polished content and audience engagement. Experiment with various formats and schedules to discover what resonates best with your viewers, and use feedback to refine your approach.
FastPix's Live Streaming API simplifies this process, allowing you to broadcast high-quality video to your audience seamlessly. With support for RTMP and SRT inputs, adaptive bitrate streaming, and automatic recording for on-demand playback, FastPix ensures a professional and engaging streaming experience.
Streaming a pre-recorded video as live involves broadcasting previously recorded content in real-time, giving viewers the impression of a live event. This approach combines the polished quality of edited videos with the engagement benefits of live streaming.
Streaming pre-recorded videos allows for meticulous editing, ensuring high-quality content. It also helps avoid potential technical issues during live broadcasts and accommodates time zone differences, enabling you to reach a global audience at optimal times.
Yes, many streaming platforms offer scheduling features that allow you to set a specific date and time for your pre-recorded video to broadcast live, enabling you to plan content releases strategically.
Whether or not to disclose that a live stream is pre-recorded depends on your choice. Being transparent can help build trust with your audience, but some creators prefer to keep it undisclosed to preserve the feeling of a live event.
Yes, FastPix provides real-time analytics, allowing you to track viewer engagement, drop-off rates, and other key metrics during your live stream.
Yes, pre-recorded videos can be streamed as live webinars, allowing you to deliver polished content while engaging with the audience in real-time through chat or Q&A sessions.
Popular platforms like YouTube, Facebook Live, and Vimeo allow you to stream pre-recorded videos as live events. Each platform has different features for scheduling and engaging with your audience.