Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIf you mean Cesbo Astra, its reviewed documentation does not describe a workflow for uploading prerecorded videos and arranging them into a timed playout schedule. Astra’s documented channel playlists are for accessing enabled streams, not scheduling video files. The product name is ambiguous, so confirm that you mean Cesbo Astra—and check your release—before following product-specific instructions.
First, confirm which Astra you mean
“Astra” can refer to different products. This answer covers Cesbo Astra, the Linux-server streaming and broadcast product documented at astra.cesbo.com. Cesbo describes an Astra stream as a channel or media flow that receives content from sources, processes it, and delivers it to clients. Its documented inputs include live and network feeds such as HLS, HTTP MPEG-TS, UDP/RTP, SRT, RTSP, and broadcast reception.
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If your software is from another vendor, or you need instructions for a particular Astra release, identify the vendor and version first. Do not assume that a workflow for a similarly named product applies to Cesbo Astra.
What Astra’s documented playlist does—and does not do
Astra’s HTTP Play feature can expose enabled channels over HLS or HTTP MPEG-TS and generate an M3U8 or XSPF playlist. In the reviewed documentation, that playlist organizes access to channels; it is not a timetable for uploaded prerecorded videos.
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The documentation also describes HLS segmentation for continuous streams. It says transcoding and caching require additional software; segmentation should not be mistaken for a video-file scheduler.
What the legacy file-input documentation establishes
Cesbo’s Astra 4.4.182 documentation describes an MPEG-TS file input using a file://path address and a loop option. This is a legacy reference: it does not establish that the configuration is supported in current Astra releases, and looping one file is not the same as scheduling multiple videos at specific times.
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Before relying on that behavior, check your exact Astra version and configuration against the documentation for that release. The legacy note does not provide a basis for a current, general-purpose multi-file schedule or for assuming that other video formats are accepted.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →If you need scheduled prerecorded playout
Castr documents a separate TV Playout product for scheduling prerecorded material. This is a Castr workflow, not an Astra feature. Its article, dated July 13, 2026, describes this sequence:
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- Open TV Playout and create a playout.
- Choose Schedule or Loop, then set the frame rate and resolution.
- Upload content through Files, or use Live-to-VOD content.
- Add VOD or livestream elements to the timetable.
- Choose the date and destination, then click Set Schedule.
Castr says timetable items cannot have gaps; a deliberate Break element fills a gap, with a minimum duration of two minutes. Its plan table lists varying limits for matters such as files per playout, file size, per-file duration, loop availability, and loop length. Check Castr’s current plan details before choosing it, because these limits can change.
Castr’s separate prerecorded-stream option
Castr also documents a distinct Pre-Recorded Stream workflow in an article dated July 8, 2026: create the stream, upload or select saved recordings, reorder the playlist, choose Loop or Date & Time scheduling, connect a destination, and start the stream. The article says this feature supports MP4 and that file-count and size limits depend on the subscription. It is another Castr feature, not evidence of equivalent Cesbo Astra functionality.
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What to check before choosing a workflow
- Product and version: verify the vendor and exact release; Cesbo Astra and Castr have different documented capabilities.
- Scheduling behavior: decide whether you need sequential scheduling for specific dates and times, continuous looping, or both.
- Media requirements: confirm supported formats, upload size, maximum duration, frame rate, and resolution for the particular service and plan.
- Schedule contents: establish whether the workflow must mix prerecorded video with live sources and whether gaps need to be filled deliberately.
- Delivery: confirm the destination and whether you require features such as EPG support.
- Content rights: use only video you have permission to stream. A scheduling tool does not grant rights to music, video, or other copyrighted material.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep prerecorded video live on a YouTube channel, StreamNeo is a separate cloud option—not an Astra scheduling feature. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so no computer or home connection has to stay on. It streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month.
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