Applies to: Multicast Video. Not sure which panel you have? See Which radio or video panel do I have?

For a video to play on your channel, it first has to be on the server. The simplest way is to upload it from your browser, on the Upload page. This article shows you step by step how to upload videos, what format your files should be in, what "Optimizing" means and what to do when something goes wrong.

There are other ways to get videos onto your channel:

• FTP, for files larger than 1024 MB or for many files at once: Uploading with FTP (FileZilla) and Import.
• Download from a URL / YouTube, on packages that include it: Downloading videos from a URL and YouTube.
• Video Library with ready-made content, on packages that include it: Video Library.

Which files are accepted

What encoding the file should have

The "Optimizing" step the panel runs after uploading does not convert the video: it doesn't change resolution, bitrate or encoding. It just prepares the file so it starts quickly. That's why it matters to upload files that are already in a suitable format. We recommend:

Your channel re-encodes the picture on output, based on the Output Settings and your package's maximum bitrate (see Output quality and latency). If you upload files with a very different resolution or a variable frame rate (e.g. phone videos), the picture may not look as good as it could.

How do I convert a video to a suitable MP4?

If your video isn't MP4, or is too large, you can convert it with free software such as HandBrake (handbrake.fr):

1. Open HandBrake and drag the video in.
2. Under Preset, choose "Fast 720p30" or "Fast 1080p30".
3. On the Summary tab, make sure Format is MP4.
4. On the Video tab, choose Video Encoder "H.264 (x264)", Framerate "25" and Constant Framerate.
5. Click Start Encode and upload the file it creates.

Uploading videos step by step

1. Go to Content → Upload. Make sure you're on the File Upload tab.
2. Under Save folder, choose where the videos will go: Main folder (root) or one of your folders. The folder button with the "+" next to the list creates a new folder; type its name in the "New folder name:" window and click OK.
3. Drag your videos onto the Drag videos here area, or click it to pick them from your computer.
4. Uploading starts straight away. The Upload Queue shows each file with its status:
   • Waiting...: waiting its turn. Files upload one at a time.
   • Upload NN%: uploading from your computer.
   • Optimizing NN%: it has reached the server and is being prepared.
   • Ready!: it can go into a playlist.
   • Error: something went wrong (see the table at the end).
5. To add more files to the queue, click + Add.
6. When everything is done, you'll see "All videos ready!" and the View videos button.

Don't close the page while any file shows Waiting... or Upload NN%. Browser uploads don't resume where they stopped; if you close the page or your internet drops, you'll need to upload the file again from the start. Once a file reaches Optimizing, the rest of the work happens on the server.

To cancel everything that hasn't uploaded yet, click Cancel All and confirm.

After uploading

• Title: each video takes the file name (without .mp4) as its title. You can change it under Videos → ⋮ → Edit.
• Same file name: if you upload a file whose name already exists, the old one isn't replaced; the new one is saved under a different name. To find duplicates, see Managing videos.
• Notification: when optimizing finishes, the Notifications bell shows "Βελτιστοποίηση ολοκληρώθηκε" (Optimization complete).
• Thumbnail: created automatically from the 5th second of the video.
• Playlist: new videos are not added to a playlist automatically. Add them from Playlists (see Playlists) or from Videos → ⋮ → To playlist.

The right-hand column of the page

• FTP Connection: the details for FTP software (Host, Port, Username, Password) with short instructions. See Uploading with FTP.
• Usage: the Storage space you've used, how many Videos you have out of your package maximum and, if your package includes URL downloads, Downloads today.
• Watermark Settings: if your package includes it, you can set a logo that is automatically "burned" into every new video. When it's on, optimizing fully re-encodes the video and takes longer. See Watermark and logo blur on video files.

When the page won't let you upload

If you see a red message instead of the upload area, you've reached a package limit:

• "You have reached storage limit. Delete some": your space is full.
• "You have reached the video limit (N). Delete some or upgrade your package.": you have the maximum number of videos.

Delete videos you don't need from the Videos page (not from FTP Files) or ask for a bigger package (see Upgrading or downgrading your package).

Messages / Common problems