If by “Astra” you mean Cesbo Astra, the reviewed official documentation does not describe a way to schedule uploaded prerecorded videos. It documents channel streams, their inputs and outputs, and HTTP Play playlists of enabled channels—not a timetable for video files. The instructions differ by product, so confirm that you mean Cesbo Astra and identify your release before applying any configuration.
First, identify which Astra you mean
“Astra” can refer to different products. This article uses the name for Cesbo Astra, the Linux-server streaming and broadcast product documented at astra.cesbo.com. If you mean another Astra product, these notes may not apply.
Cesbo describes a stream as “an individual channel or media flow that receives content from various sources, processes it, and delivers it to clients.” Its stream configuration covers source inputs and outputs; the reviewed documentation does not describe a scheduler for uploaded videos.
What Cesbo Astra’s documented playlists do
Astra’s HTTP Play feature exposes enabled channels to clients using HLS or HTTP MPEG-TS. It can generate M3U8 or XSPF channel playlists, which organize access to channels. The documentation does not identify those playlists as schedules of prerecorded files.
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The Astra guide also describes HLS segmentation for continuous streams and notes that transcoding and caching require additional software. Neither function, as documented, supplies a timed multi-video playout schedule.
What the legacy file-input note does—and does not—establish
Official documentation for Astra 4.4.182 includes an MPEG-TS file input using a file://path address and a loop option. Treat this as a version-specific legacy reference: it does not establish support in current releases, and looping one MPEG-TS file is not the same as scheduling multiple videos at set times.
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Before relying on that behavior, confirm your Astra version, the input format, and compatibility with your installation. The cited documentation does not provide a current general-purpose workflow for scheduling prerecorded files.
If you need a scheduled prerecorded playout
Castr TV Playout is a separate product with a documented scheduling workflow. Do not follow its steps expecting them to configure Cesbo Astra.
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- In Castr, open TV Playout and create a playout.
- Choose Schedule or Loop, then set the frame rate and resolution.
- Upload files through Files, or use available Live-to-VOD content.
- Add VOD or livestream elements to the timetable. The Castr article says timetable items cannot have gaps; add a Break element to fill a gap, with a minimum duration of two minutes.
- Choose the date and destination, then click Set Schedule to activate the playout.
Castr’s July 13, 2026 article says both prerecorded files and live content can be added to a playlist. Its plan table lists limits that vary by plan, including file count, file size, per-file duration, loop availability, and loop length. Check Castr’s current documentation and plan details before choosing it, since these limits can change.
Castr’s separate Pre-Recorded Stream feature
Castr also documents a different workflow called Pre-Recorded Stream: create a stream, upload or select saved recordings, reorder the playlist, choose Loop or Date & Time scheduling, connect a destination, and start the stream. Castr’s July 8, 2026 article says this feature supports MP4 and that file-size and file-count limits depend on subscription. This is Castr functionality, not evidence of an equivalent Cesbo Astra feature.
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What to confirm before choosing a workflow
- The exact product vendor and Astra release you have.
- Whether your media is MPEG-TS or another format.
- Whether you need a continuous loop or a date-and-time timetable.
- Whether you need to combine prerecorded videos with live sources or deliberate breaks.
- Which output destination, resolution, frame rate, file limits, and scheduling controls your chosen service supports.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is specifically to keep a YouTube channel live with uploaded videos, StreamNeo is a separate cloud option, not an Astra feature. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not need to stay on.
- One flat price per slot for any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps; videos stream as made, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required (one free day per account).
- Monthly: $9.99 per month.
StreamNeo is for uploaded videos streamed to YouTube; it does not go live from a camera. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start your free first day.
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