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Castr/Platform/Cloud production

Cloud production

Cloud live production: switch your show from a browser.

Run live production in the cloud: switch camera feeds, hosted videos, images, and web overlays in Flows, then send the program to a Castr livestream.

Cloud Production is a live video switcher that runs in the browser. Flows hold your media sources: livestreams such as Camera 1 and Camera 2, videos from your hosting library, and images such as a Be Right Back slate. Only one flow is active at a time and appears in the preview player, and a transition sends it to the production player, whose live program output streams at 1080p and 60 frames per second to two destinations: social media and an embed player. The operator switches angles in one click while the program stays live.
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Business outcomes

The workflow should create value, not more operational risk.

01Produce without a hardware switcher

Cut a multi-camera show from a browser tab. No vision mixer to buy, transport, or cable before every event.

02Keep the program clean during breaks

Switch to a sponsor slate, a be-right-back image, or a pre-recorded segment while you reset behind the scenes.

03Land straight in delivery

The program output is a Castr livestream, so your embedded player, multistreaming, and recording pick it up with nothing extra to wire.

Capabilities that matter

The cloud video production workflow, source to program.

Bring live streams, hosted videos, images, and web sources into Flows, switch and polish the program in a browser, then hand the output to delivery and recording. The Castr team sets up cloud production access on request, and the 7-day trial includes it so you can test the workflow first.

Four source types

Mix live streams, videos from your hosting library, images, and web page URLs in one production. Video files up to 1080p can be added as sources.

Flows and one-click switching

Group sources into Flows, like Camera 1, Host Cam, or Intermission, and switch between them instantly. One Flow is live at a time.

Preview before program

Build the next screen in the preview player, then push it to the production output with a transition style and duration you control.

Overlays and layout control

Layer web widgets over the stream, such as lower thirds, tickers, and alerts from services like Singular.Live or StreamElements, and scale, reposition, or hide any source.

Per-source audio

Adjust and sync audio on each live stream and video source, so the program sounds right as you switch.

Scheduled Flows

Schedule a Flow, like an ad or a slate, to play once or on a recurring interval, and choose the Flow the program returns to afterward.

Need the complete matrix? See capability availability and plan tiers in one place.

Compare plans and capabilities →

How cloud production works

Run live production in the cloud, from source Flows to program output.

Cloud production is a live video switcher in your browser. Sources are grouped into Flows, you preview and transition between them, and the finished program goes out through a Castr livestream into delivery, multistreaming, and recording, with no local production stack to maintain.

Source inputs

  • Live streams

    Any livestream in your Castr dashboard can join a Flow, fed by RTMP or SRT encoders like OBS, vMix, or Wirecast, pulled directly from an IP camera over RTSP, or published straight from a browser over WHIP.

    RTMP, SRT, and RTSP ingest are included on all plans.

  • Hosted videos

    Play pre-uploaded videos from your video hosting library inside the show, for openers, packages, and pre-recorded segments.

    Files above 1080p cannot be added as a source.

  • Images and slates

    Show static graphics such as be-right-back screens, sponsor slates, and title cards between segments.

  • Web page URLs

    Add external web sources as overlay widgets, like lower thirds, tickers, chat, and alerts from services such as StreamElements or Singular.Live.

Switching and composition

  • Flows

    Each Flow is a named container of sources that you build once and recall as a complete screen. One Flow is active at a time, so every cut is a single decision.

  • Preview and production players

    The preview player holds the Flow you are staging while the production player carries what is on air, so you can check every element before viewers see it.

  • Transitions

    Control the transition style and duration each time you cut between Flows.

  • Layout and audio control

    Scale, reposition, reorder, show, or hide each source in the frame, set the audio level on every live stream and video source independently, and nudge audio sync when a feed's sound drifts from its picture.

Program output and handoff

  • Output to a Castr livestream

    The destination is a Castr livestream, so the program lands in the embedded player on your own site through multi-CDN delivery.

  • Resolution and frame rate

    The program output supports up to 1080p at 60 fps, in landscape or portrait orientation.

    Resolution and frame rate are configured when the Castr team sets up your access.

  • Multistream and record

    The program stream multistreams to social and custom destinations and records through live-to-VOD like any other Castr stream.

  • Scheduled Flows

    Schedule a Flow for a specific time, once or on a recurring interval, and pick the Flow the program returns to when it ends, so an ad or station slate can run without anyone touching the switcher.

    Each account can currently create one schedule.

Cloud production access is set up on request with the Castr team, who confirm the source, output, and session limits for your workflow. The 7-day trial includes cloud production, with streaming sessions capped at 30 minutes.

See how the program output is delivered to viewers

Seen enough to test it? Start a 7-day trial with no credit card, or talk through your exact setup first.

Operator fit

Built for shows that need switching, not a broadcast truck.

The strongest fit is a team producing multi-camera events, services, or client shows that needs clean switching, slates, and overlays without renting hardware or staffing a control room. If your show depends on frame-accurate replay or built-in video-call guest rooms, talk to the video team about fit first.

Review your workflow with Castr

Strong qualification signals

  • Multi-camera sports, conferences, and performances
  • Sponsor slates and break screens between segments
  • Pre-recorded segments inside a live show
  • Direct handoff to delivery, multistream, and live-to-VOD

Switching to Castr

Move production into the cloud without betting a live show.

You do not have to cut over blind. Run Castr in parallel with your current provider while you test, and let our video team confirm the fit before anything switches.

01

Run in parallel

Send your existing camera feeds to Castr as livestreams and cut a test production in the browser while your current switcher still runs the real show. Nothing changes for your audience.

02

Map the workflow

Our video team reviews your show format, the sources and overlays you plan to switch, and your delivery and recording needs, then arranges cloud production access that covers your session length and outputs.

03

Cut over with support

Produce your first show in the cloud when the test run holds up, with 24/7 human support on hand while you switch.

Plan your migration with a video expert

Questions before you choose

Evaluate the workflow with confidence.

Feature and plan availability changes by tier. Use the full matrix for comparison, or let our team validate a complex setup.

What is cloud production?

Cloud production means running a live video switcher in the cloud instead of on local hardware. In Castr, you combine live streams, videos, images, and web sources into Flows, switch between them in a browser, and send the finished program to a Castr livestream for delivery.

Does cloud production replace my encoder?

No. Each camera still needs an encoder or app sending it to Castr as a live stream. What moves to the cloud is everything after contribution: switching, overlays, audio, and preview. The finished program goes out as a single Castr livestream.

Do I need a hardware switcher or vision mixer?

No. Switching, transitions, layout, and per-source audio run in a browser-based control surface, so you can produce a multi-camera show without buying or transporting a hardware vision mixer.

How is cloud production different from OBS or vMix?

OBS and vMix run on a machine at one location, so someone has to sit at that machine to mix the show. Cloud production runs in a browser, so the operator can switch from anywhere while cameras contribute from the venue, and encoders like OBS can still feed the individual sources. The program output supports up to 1080p at 60 fps, configured when the Castr team sets up access for your workflow.

What sources can I switch between?

Each Flow can hold live streams from your Castr dashboard, videos from your hosting library, images such as slates and sponsor graphics, and web page URLs for overlay widgets. Video files above 1080p cannot be added as a source.

How does remote production (REMI) work with Castr?

Cameras and encoders stay at the venue and contribute to Castr livestreams over RTMP, SRT, or RTSP, so IP cameras can connect directly. The operator switches the program from a browser, wherever they are. Keeping field sources on site while the switching happens centrally is the remote-integration (REMI) model, and it is exactly what cloud production is built for.

Can remote contributors join the same production?

Yes, as live sources. Each contributor streams to their own Castr livestream, from an encoder over RTMP or SRT or straight from a browser over WHIP, and you add those streams to Flows and switch between them. Contributors connect as streams rather than through a video-call guest room.

Can the program be recorded?

Yes. The program output is a Castr livestream, so cloud recording captures up to 72 hours per broadcast on every plan. Publish the recording to your video library as on-demand content or download the file within the three-day retention window.

What resolution does the program output support?

The program output supports up to 1080p at 60 fps, in landscape or portrait orientation. Resolution and frame rate are configured when the Castr team sets up cloud production access, so tell them what your event needs and they will match the output to your workflow.

What does the operator need to run the switcher?

A computer with a modern browser and a stable internet connection. The control surface is web based, so there is nothing to install. Castr does not publish a browser support matrix, so run a short rehearsal in the browser you plan to use before the event.

Is cloud production included in my plan?

The Castr team enables cloud production for your account on request, which is why the pricing page has no line for it. The easiest way to start is the 7-day trial, which includes cloud production with streaming sessions capped at 30 minutes. When you are ready to run real shows, tell the video team how long your sessions run and the output you need, and they will set up access to match.

What can I test during the trial?

The trial includes cloud production, so you can build Flows from real cameras, videos, images, and overlays, rehearse switching and transitions, and check the program output end to end. Trial streaming sessions are capped at 30 minutes each, which is enough for a full rehearsal but not a complete event, so ask the video team to set up an uninterrupted full-length test run.

Can Castr help us validate our current workflow?

Yes. Castr’s video team will walk through your current setup, from sources and destinations to audience scale, security, and monetization, and confirm the fit before you migrate.

Move from evaluation to a produced program

Map Castr to the workflow your team runs today.

Discuss your show with a video expert: the format, the sources and overlays you plan to switch, the session length and output resolution you need, and how the program gets delivered and recorded.