Live Studio: Combine LIVE and pre-recorded content
Live Studio: Mix Live Video, Pre-Recorded Content, and Remote Guests
Live Studio is a browser-based live video production tool built into Upstream. It lets you overlay live video, remote guests, and screen shares on top of your scheduled or 24/7 pre-recorded streams. No software to download.
You can run a pre-recorded loop and jump in live for Q&A, host a podcast with guests calling in from elsewhere, or stream a product demo with your webcam mixed with some prerecorded videos. You control everything from the browser in real time.
Three ways to get video into Live Studio
Connect external streaming software (OBS, Streamlabs, vMix)
Use this if you want to manage scenes, overlays, or gameplay feeds from your desktop.
- In Upstream, open your Stream Edit page, go to the Live Studio tab, and turn on RTMP Input. This gives you a Stream URL and Stream Key to paste into your streaming software like OBS, Streamlabs, vMix...
- For OBS, go to Settings → Stream. Set Service to Custom, paste the Upstream Stream URL into Server, and enter your Stream Key.
- Click OK, then hit Start Streaming in OBS. Your feed will show up in the Live Studio preview.
- Save and Publish
Go live from your webcam
Skip the encoder setup and stream straight from your browser - via webcam or screenshare.
- In the Live Studio tab, pick Browser as your input source.
- Let the browser access your mic and camera.
- Choose your camera and mic from the dropdowns.
- Click on Join Stage to show your camera on Stage
- For screen sharing click on Present or Invite --> Share Screen to show slides, web pages, or app windows.
- Save and Publish
Bring in remote guests or share your screen
Host talk shows, webinars, or collaborative broadcasts from the dashboard.
- Invite guests: Invite up to 10 people. They join through their browser, no account needed, from desktop or mobile. The interface works like Zoom or Google Meet.
Picking your layout
Once your live studio feed is active, choose how it sits in the stream using the controls below the preview:
Table
Layout | When to use it |
|---|---|
Full screen | Breaking news, live-only segments, or switching entirely to a live Q&A. Covers the pre-recorded video completely. |
Small overlay | Reaction or commentary streams. Your live camera sits in a corner while the pre-recorded video keeps playing behind it. Click repeatedly to cycle through all four corners. |
Split screen | Product comparisons, dual broadcasts, or side-by-side interviews. |
Bottom bar | Horizontal tickers, news bulletins, or banner frames. |
Drag and resize | Full manual control. Click and drag to position and scale the live window anywhere on the canvas. |
Audio and video controls
- Mute audio — Mutes or unmutes the audio from your OBS feed or browser mic. Video stays up.
- Hide video — Hides the live camera feed temporarily while keeping audio or the background playlist running.
- Reset video position — Snaps the live window back to center at default size.
- Hide Stream Designer — Temporarily hides your active overlays so you can position the live window without visual clutter getting in the way.
Working with the Stream Designer
Live Studio works alongside the Stream Designer, a drag-and-drop overlay editor.
- Customize backgrounds, add branded borders, or use custom fonts.
- Drop in widgets like StreamElements alerts, live chat feeds, or embedded web content.
- Update overlays on the fly without interrupting your 24/7 stream.
- Live Studio Appears as a separate layer in the Stream Designer so you can adjust what sits on top of what.
FAQ
Do my guests need to install anything or create an account?
No. They click a link and join through their browser. No account, no download, works on phone or computer.
Does Live Studio stop my 24/7 pre-recorded playlist?
No. The playlist keeps running in the background. You can drop in and out of live segments, talk over the playlist, or switch back to automatic play without the stream going down.
What happens if my OBS connection drops?
Upstream has redundancy backups built in. If your internet hiccups or OBS disconnects, the stream falls back to your scheduled pre-recorded content automatically until you reconnect.
Updated on: 14/07/2026
Thank you!