Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most creators in the U.S., the easiest path to pre‑recorded streaming is using StreamYard’s paid plans to schedule uploaded videos that auto‑start and auto‑end across your main social channels. If you need highly customized, local automation or complex scenes, desktop tools like OBS or Streamlabs can work, but they demand more setup and technical comfort.

Summary

• StreamYard lets you upload a video, schedule it up to a year ahead, and automatically stream it in up to 1080p on paid plans.
• You can run pre‑recorded broadcasts up to 8 hours long per stream within paid plan limits, making it suitable for most webinars and launches. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Streamlabs Talk Studio and OBS also support pre‑recorded video workflows, but they typically require more configuration and technical steps. (Streamlabs)
• For most non‑technical teams, browser‑based scheduling and guest workflows in StreamYard are simpler than desktop pipelines.

What is pre‑recorded streaming software?

Pre‑recorded streaming software lets you take a video file and broadcast it "as live" to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitch at a scheduled time. Instead of going live in real time, you upload your content, set a date and time, and the software handles the actual streaming.

This is especially useful for:

• Webinars and product demos where you want a polished recording but still use live chat.
• Launch events where you need a perfectly timed, high‑production video.
• Weekly shows where you batch‑record content and let it roll out automatically.

In practice, tools fall into two buckets:

1. Browser‑based scheduling tools – for example, StreamYard or Streamlabs Talk Studio.
2. Desktop encoders – like OBS or Streamlabs Desktop, often combined with plugins or scripts.

Most creators who care about speed, reliability, and easy collaboration land in the first bucket.

How does pre‑recorded streaming work in StreamYard?

On paid plans, StreamYard lets you upload a video file, pick your destinations, and schedule the broadcast in a few clicks. The stream will automatically start at the scheduled time, and it will end when the video finishes, without you needing to be at your computer. (StreamYard Help Center)

Key capabilities that matter in day‑to‑day use:

• Automated start and end: Once scheduled, the broadcast auto‑runs at the time you choose.
• Long events covered: You can schedule pre‑recorded streams up to 8 hours on paid plans, which is enough for most conferences, summits, and launch days. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Plan‑based upload limits: You can upload large files (with size caps based on plan), so you are not forced to over‑compress long recordings. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Quality you can reuse: Pre‑recorded broadcasts can stream up to 1080p on paid plans, which is more than enough for clear, professional‑looking shows. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Schedule far in advance: You can schedule these events up to 365 days ahead, which is helpful for launch calendars and series planning. (StreamYard Help Center)

Because StreamYard is browser‑based, you do not need to install anything or worry about your computer staying on and stable for hours. Once your upload is processed, our cloud handles the actual streaming.

A quick scenario: you record a 45‑minute workshop on Monday, upload it to StreamYard, and schedule it to go “live” on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook on Friday at 1 p.m. On Friday, you can simply join the chat and engage while the polished recording plays out automatically.

How does StreamYard compare with OBS for pre‑recorded streams?

OBS Studio is powerful desktop software that can play local media files and send them to a streaming platform. Its Media Source input supports common formats like MP4, MOV, MKV, and more. (OBS Knowledge Base)

Where OBS fits:

• You want deep control of scenes, sources, and transitions.
• You are comfortable configuring encoders, bitrates, and local capture.
• You are okay leaving a machine running at the scheduled time or using third‑party plugins for automation.

Where StreamYard is typically a better default:

• Automation and simplicity: StreamYard schedules and runs the stream entirely in the cloud; you do not need to keep OBS open or rely on scripts for timed start/stop.
• Lower hardware pressure: OBS encodes everything locally, which can be demanding for older laptops or busy gaming rigs. StreamYard mainly needs a solid upload when you are recording or going live; cloud infrastructure does the rest.
• Guest and team workflows: Inviting non‑technical guests into an OBS scene usually means extra software (Zoom, NDI, virtual cams). In StreamYard, guests join from a browser link—many users describe this as "passing the grandparent test" in terms of simplicity.

If you are a technical streamer who enjoys tinkering and wants maximum scene control, OBS is a solid choice. Many creators, though, find that the time they save by letting StreamYard handle scheduling and cloud streaming is worth far more than the subscription cost.

How does StreamYard compare with Streamlabs for pre‑recorded streaming?

Streamlabs has two relevant pieces for this topic: Streamlabs Desktop (installed software) and Streamlabs Talk Studio (browser‑based). Talk Studio can play uploaded pre‑recorded videos during scheduled broadcasts, so you do not have to broadcast in real time. (Streamlabs)

On the Talk Studio Standard plan, for example, upload scope typically looks like a 150 MB intro and 1 hour of pre‑recorded streams. (Streamlabs) That can be enough for shorter shows but may feel tight if you run longer webinars or summits.

How StreamYard differs for most teams:

• Longer single‑event coverage: With pre‑recorded streams up to 8 hours, StreamYard leaves more headroom for long‑form content and multi‑segment events on paid plans. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Broader workflow value: The same StreamYard studio you use for pre‑recorded scheduling also covers live panels, multi‑aspect streams (landscape plus portrait in one session), and 4K multi‑track local recording for later editing.
• Team‑friendly economics: Our pricing is per workspace, not per seat, which can be more cost‑effective for teams who would otherwise pay per user.

Streamlabs Desktop, like OBS, is more appealing if you want a heavily customized, PC‑based layout and you are comfortable managing local performance and updates. For pre‑recorded scheduling alone, the browser‑based approach in StreamYard keeps the cognitive load much lower.

How do pre‑recorded streams fit with live and simulive workflows?

Most creators do not live only in one mode. They mix:

• Fully pre‑recorded broadcasts that just need a reliable “as live” slot.
• Fully live shows where moments and audience interaction matter most.
• Simulive sessions, where a pre‑recorded core segment runs while the host joins live before or after—or interacts in the chat throughout.

StreamYard is built for this blended approach:

• You can record in the studio with multiple guests, branded overlays, and clean local multi‑track recordings suitable for editing later.
• You can then upload that edited file and schedule it as a pre‑recorded stream.
• On the day, you join from the same brand‑consistent studio if you want to run a live intro or Q&A around the pre‑recorded event.

Tools like OBS can also do simulive, but typically by running a Media Source in a scene and manually starting the stream or using a plugin to automate timing. For many teams, that adds more moving parts than they want to manage.

When does it make sense to use desktop software instead?

There are cases where desktop tools are the right call:

• You need niche encoders or formats unsupported by browser tools.
• You are building a very complex scene graph: multiple game captures, reactive overlays, niche plugins.
• You want to deeply integrate your streaming setup with local hardware (MIDI controllers, capture cards, custom macros) and are comfortable maintaining it.

In those situations, OBS or Streamlabs Desktop give you granular control over every pixel. The trade‑off is that you assume responsibility for encoding, upload bandwidth, and automation.

For most businesses, creators, churches, and educators in the U.S., the mainstream needs look different: they want a stream that just works, looks on‑brand, is easy for guests, and fits into their schedule. That is the problem pre‑recorded streaming in StreamYard is designed to solve.

What we recommend

• Default choice: Use StreamYard paid plans for pre‑recorded streaming when you want simple upload‑and‑schedule workflows, up to 8‑hour events, and cloud‑run automation.
• When you need deeper control: Choose OBS or Streamlabs Desktop if you specifically want intricate scene logic and are happy investing more setup and maintenance time.
• Hybrid workflow: Record and collaborate in StreamYard, edit as needed, then use StreamYard again to schedule a pre‑recorded “as live” broadcast across your primary destinations.
• Team and client work: If you work with non‑technical guests or stakeholders, lean toward StreamYard to keep onboarding easy and reduce live‑event risk.