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Castr

How to Set a Castr YouTube Stream to Restart Automatically

Castr has different controls for encoder start and stop, input failover, and looping prerecorded video. Here’s how to choose and configure the right one.

By VGSources Team 4 min read
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There is no single Castr switch that automatically restarts every ended YouTube live event. Choose the control that matches what you mean: YouTube’s Auto-start and Auto-stop let an encoder start and stop a broadcast; Castr’s Backup can take over when a primary input fails; and Castr’s Infinite Loop keeps prerecorded video streaming 24/7.

Choose the right kind of restart

What you want Use What it does
Have an encoder start and stop a YouTube broadcast YouTube Auto-start and Auto-stop Allows the encoder to start or stop streaming; it is not a setting for restarting an ended event automatically. YouTube Help
Keep a broadcast going if its primary input fails Castr Backup Switches to an encoder-level backup input or plays a backup VOD when the live input drops. Castr Help Center
Repeat prerecorded video continuously Castr Infinite Loop Starts the uploaded video immediately and streams it 24/7. Castr Help Center

Set YouTube to start and stop with your encoder

  1. In YouTube Studio, open the stream in the Live Control Room and go to its stream settings. Find Auto-start and Auto-stop and turn them on. YouTube says these settings let you start or stop streaming from your encoder. Labels and placement can change, so check the current stream settings if the controls look different. YouTube Help: Manage live stream settings
  2. In Castr, connect the YouTube destination using the account/API connection or the YouTube server and stream key. If you connect with a stream key, Castr notes you may need to edit stream description details in YouTube’s dashboard. Castr Help Center
  3. Start and stop the encoder to control the broadcast. Auto-start and Auto-stop do not make a broadcast repeat on a timer or restart after an event has ended; they allow the encoder to initiate and stop the stream.

Enable Castr Backup for a dropped input

Use Backup when the problem is a failed primary encoder or feed, rather than a broadcast that has ended normally. Castr describes this as keeping the stream running if the primary encoder fails. Castr Help Center

  1. Disable the stream, then open Castr’s Backup tab. Castr says backup controls cannot be toggled while the stream is live or when it has a Linked source.
  2. Enable Backup and select a mode:
    • Encoder Level: Point a second encoder at Castr’s backup ingest URL so it can provide a backup input.
    • File Level: Provide a backup VOD for Castr to play if the live input drops.
  3. Recheck your connection details before going live. Enabling Backup changes the stream keys, so update any encoder configuration that uses a changed key.

Loop prerecorded video or schedule a start

Run a continuous prerecorded stream

Choose Castr’s Infinite Loop mode when your goal is to repeat uploaded video. Castr says the video goes live immediately when this mode is enabled and streams 24/7. It is a prerecorded-video workflow, not a way to restart a camera or encoder-driven broadcast. Castr Help Center

Start prerecorded video at a chosen time

Use Schedule Date Time for a scheduled start rather than continuous repetition. The scheduler uses your device’s time zone, so verify that setting when choosing the start time. Castr Help Center

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Repeat separate encoder broadcasts

If you run separate broadcasts and the encoder source goes offline between them, Castr recommends switching destinations off while the source is offline and turning them back on when the source is live. This is a manual destination workflow to help avoid connection problems when returning to the same platforms; it is not documented as automatic event restart. Castr Help Center

Test before going public

  1. Turn destinations off while checking the source in Castr’s preview.
  2. Test the YouTube destination as an Unlisted or Private stream.
  3. Monitor Analytics > Input Health in YouTube while testing.

These checks help distinguish a source or connection issue from a YouTube stream-setting issue. Castr recommends this preview and test workflow. Castr Help Center

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Troubleshoot connection and restart problems

  • YouTube destination will not connect: Delete the destination in Castr and add it again, following Castr’s troubleshooting guidance. Castr Help Center
  • The stream key fails: Generate a new key in YouTube Live Control Room and update the Castr connection.
  • Backup is unavailable to edit: Stop the stream first; Castr says the controls cannot be toggled while live or with a Linked source.
  • The backup encoder does not take over: Confirm the second encoder is pointed at Castr’s backup ingest URL and check whether enabling Backup changed the key configuration.
  • The stream starts at an unexpected time: Check the device time zone used by Castr’s Schedule Date Time option.
  • Do not expose the stream key or server URL: Treat both as private connection credentials.
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