---
title: "SimLive with Social Media (Advanced SimLive)"
url: "https://support.sardius.media/knowledge-base/simlive-for-social-media-advanced-simlive"
category: "Simulated Live"
updated: 2026-09-22
summary: "SimLive for Social Media , also known as “ Advanced SimLive ,” enables a client to create a SimLive stream that will output to social media channels such as Facebook and YouTube. Advanced SimLive is not available for all clients. If you would like to add this product to your account, please speak…"
---

# SimLive with Social Media (Advanced SimLive)

**Video**

> **Transcript:** Advanced SimLive can be set up in two different ways. The first way is by using a feed. And the second is by directly using an asset. This tutorial will walk you through setting up both of these methods. We'll start with preparing your feed for SimLive. If you don't plan to use a feed, you can skip ahead to the title card that says, “Prepare Your Asset.” Before we can prepare the feed, we'll need a category. You can use a preexisting category if you like, but let's create a category just for SimLive. We'll start by selecting Categories on the sidebar, then we'll click Add Category in the upper corner. Let's call this “Rebroadcast.” Click Create to finish. Our category is ready now. Let's go to Feeds. With feeds, it's important to note that our SimLive process will only play the most recent asset in a feed. This allows you to automate your process so you don't have to worry about what's going to play next. Again, you can use a preexisting feed for this process. We'll go ahead and create one just for our SimLive. Click Add Feed in the upper corner. Let's call this “Rebroadcast.” Click Create to finish. Next, we'll go to the Assets tab so we can create a smart playlist. Click Advanced Filter Select Category from the dropdown menu and enter rebroadcast in the Open Text Field. Click Show Results. If your library has any assets already tagged with the rebroadcast category, they will now be displayed in this smart playlist. Click on Update Feed. Before we leave, we need to make one final adjustment. Click on the Restrictions tab and look for the toggle switch for restrict assets by availability dates. By default, assets are not generated with an available date. Since we're also not adding availability dates as part of our automated process, uncheck this toggle switch, then click update feed. Our feed is now ready for SimLive, so let's get our first asset ready. We’ll start by checking for an asset already in our system. We recommend that any asset used in our Advanced SimLive be published with any of our MP4 profiles. This will ensure that your asset is optimized for social media streaming. If your asset has already been published using this profile, you will see the publishing status on the Asset’s overview page and you will see an MP4 file under the Media tab. Your asset is now ready to be scheduled for an Advanced SimLive. But if this asset will be used in the feed, you will need to take some additional steps. First, you'll need to approve your asset. If your asset is tagged correctly and is an MP4 file but not approved, the feed will skip over this asset and play the first asset in your feed that meets these requirements. Let's click Approved and then Update. Second, let's go to the asset’s metadata tab. Scroll down to the categorization area and select your Rebroadcast category. Click Update. Now your asset is ready for your feed If you want to completely automate this process by recording your live streams and setting them up for broadcast, let's take a quick look at auto archiving, Know that this auto archiving solution works for users using Sardius stream or Sardius Entrypoint. If you're using Linked Asset, you will not be able to use this process. Please contact us if you're using a linked asset for live streaming so we can assist on setting up your cloud recording workflow. Access your channel’s event calendar and locate your future live event that you want to broadcast as a SimLive. Click on the Event and select Edit Select the Archive Settings tab, Click the toggle for Create an archive of this event. Select Auto Approve. Also select Auto Publish and choose any of the MP4 profiles. Finally, scroll down to Asset Metadata and assign your Rebroadcast category to this asset. Click Save and this live event will now be automated for your future SimLive process. Before we set up our event, we recommend that you perform some channel optimizations by adding the following videos: Backup video, which is to be used during the event, should you need to make some quick adjustments. Pre-roll video, which will be used as the event is starting up and your audience is first loading the player at the beginning of the event. Post-roll video, to be used as a gentle and friendly goodbye to your viewers before they close the player. Be sure that these videos have been uploaded to your library and that they are published as MP4s. Let's add these to our channel default settings. Access your Channel’s Calendar and locate Stream on the sidebar. Click on the Settings tab and locate the heading Advanced SimLife settings. In order to activate any of these features, you will need to enter a URL for a valid MP4 stored in your account. You can obtain this URL from any asset in your library. Here. I've already found an asset cooked on the media tab and copy the MP4 URL by clicking the clipboard icon. When I go back to my channel, I can simply paste this URL in the field. Once you've added your MP4 URLs, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click update channel to save the update. This is the last leg of the setup process. So here we go. Start by creating an event. Enter your title. Next click on the More Details button. Now select the streaming tab. Click on the Override Event Defaults button in the model that appears select Simulated Live. In the next step, you will get to choose your media type: asset or feed. In step three, search for the name of the asset or feed that you want to use. After you make your selection, click Next, In step four, select your social media outputs, then click next. Take a moment to review your settings. Once you are satisfied, click Finish. Finally, you will need to click Create Event in the lower right corner of the screen. One very important note I want to give you real quick. Your scheduled event will not be synchronized with the duration of your asset. If your event is scheduled for 90 minutes, but your asset is 91 minutes, the event will cut playback off at the 90 minute mark. So if your asset has a different time than the scheduled time, you will need to make adjustments to the event time. Also, when your Advanced SimLive event is running, you will have a unique set of controls available to you. For more information on those functions, please see the tutorial on how to manage your Advanced SimLive event which is linked below on this page. Congratulations. You've completed the setup for your Advanced SimLife event. We'll see you in the next video.

**SimLive for Social Media**, also known as “**Advanced SimLive**,” enables a client to create a SimLive stream that will output to social media channels such as Facebook and YouTube. 

> **Note:** Advanced SimLive is not available for all clients. If you would like to add this product to your account, please speak with your account manager.

### **Prepare Your File**

For Advanced SimLive, **you will need to transcode your Asset using our "MP4" or "MP4 (enhanced)** media profiles. This will create a unique MP4 for your asset that is optimized for social media platforms.

You can do this after an event is over by transcoding the asset

![](https://support.sardius.media/kb-media/4f955525d89019a8.png?width=400)

Or you can set the asset to auto-transcode as you are creating the event, before the event goes live. 

![](https://support.sardius.media/kb-media/d54abb01b5e4d9f9.png)

> **Note:** The MP4 (enhanced) profile works quickly to optimize your asset for social media platforms, but it can take some time. For example, an hour-long file can take 20-40 minutes before it will be transcoded. Please plan accordingly.

### **Add Backup, Pre-Roll, and Post-Roll Videos**

For an optimized Advanced SimLive experience, we recommend using Backup, Pre-Roll, and Post-Roll videos. We recommend having at least a backup video and pre-roll video in your account. 

In order to use these videos:

1. they must be transcoded as an MP4 in your account (not Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) and
2. assigned to your channel at least 5 minutes before your event is scheduled to begin

An explanation for each of the three videos is as follows:

1. **Backup**
   1. **Intention**: This backup video can be triggered by you when the Advanced SimLive event is live. While this video is playing, you will be able to perform some administrative and troubleshooting tasks AND keep your event live at the same time.
   2. **Recommendation**: Create a video (at least 5 minutes long) with your organization's logo and the text "Please stand by" -- much like a TV Station's technical difficulties bumper.

2. **Pre-Roll**
   1. **Intention**: Prior to your event's actual start time, it can take our system up to 2 minutes to initialize your Advanced SimLive. During that time, we will begin playing your scheduled content. By using a Pre-Roll video, you can ensure that your scheduled content will start on time, and not early. 
   2. **Recommendation**: Create a video (at least 2 minutes long) with your organization's logo and the text "We will begin shortly" or "Welcome! We'll be starting soon."

3. **Play Whole Pre-Roll Video**
   1. **Intention**: Using the whole pre-roll video will give your audience an clear indication as to how long before your scheduled content actually begins.
   2. **Recommendation**: Enable this feature and use a video (exactly 5 minutes long) with a 5-minute countdown timer.

4. **Post-Roll**
   1. **Intention**: Once your scheduled content ends, we will broadcast a solid black video in the Player. Using a post-roll video will give your audience a gentle indication that your scheduled content has come to an end and they can close the player.
   2. **Recommendation**: Create a short video thanking your audience for watching, or create an advertisement for an upcoming event you would like your audience to attend.

**_To add any of these Videos_**

1. Access your channel's stream configuration and select the Settings tab. 
2. Paste the URL for any of the videos you wish to employ.

![](https://support.sardius.media/kb-media/0601ce437048ca0c.png)

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Update Channel" to save these settings.

> **Note:** These settings must be set at least five minutes before your Advanced SimLive event begins. Once you have passed this five-minute mark, and if your event has begun, you will not be able to add/change a new backup, pre-roll, and post-roll video for your Advanced SimLive.

### **Prepare Your Asset**

#### **SimLive only works with an Asset that is in an MP4 format.**

- **If you have not yet transcoded your asset with an MP4 format,** chances are you will need to re-transcode the file. You can learn how to do that **[](https://sardius.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/60000805535-publishing-an-asset)[here](https://support.sardius.media/knowledge-base/publishing-an-asset)[](https://sardius.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/60000805535-publishing-an-asset)**.

**SimLive Assets must also be approved for playback. To do this,**

1. Navigate to the "Asset" area of your Sardius Control Panel.

2. Select that Asset that you wish to use.

3. In the Asset's Overview tab, locate the toggle switch for “Approved” at the bottom left.

4. Click on the toggle to approve the asset.

5. Click “Update” to complete the process.

![](https://support.sardius.media/kb-media/d1e5149bce1edafb.png)

If you wish to attach an Asset to a Feed that you created,

1. Click on the Metadata tab.

2. Scroll down to the Categorization menu.

3. Click on the Categories dropdown and select the Category that your feed is pulling from.

4. Click “Update” to apply the changes.

![](https://support.sardius.media/kb-media/7237698df813f531.png?width=400)

If recording a live service to re-stream later, you can add the Metadata and Auto-Approve the file from the Calendar event. You can learn how to do that **[here.](https://support.sardius.media/knowledge-base/create-an-asset-using-autoarchive)**

### **Set up an Advanced SimLive event**

To create an Advanced SimLive Event, you must **create a new calendar event,** given you have already set up your channel for streaming. If you have not yet created default stream settings for your account, start here, "**[Setup and Change Default Stream Settings](https://support.sardius.media/knowledge-base/setup-and-change-default-stream-settings)**"

And if you have not yet set up a calendar event before, please review the tutorial called “[**Adding a Calendar Event**](https://support.sardius.media/knowledge-base/adding-a-calendar-event).”

> **Note:** The following way is only used for clients streaming with the Sardius Stream protocol. For clients that have not enabled Default Stream Settings, please follow the walkthrough [**here**](https://support.sardius.media/knowledge-base/setup-and-change-default-stream-settings).

1. Locate the event you just created. **Click on your event and click the Edit button.** This will take you to the stream stepper overview that shows your default settings.

![](https://support.sardius.media/kb-media/c867673e25d7d60a.png)

2. Go to the streaming tab and click on **Edit default settings**

![](https://support.sardius.media/kb-media/f5f9e2e2eb4f4d96.png)

3. Click **Edit** on your Source

![](https://support.sardius.media/kb-media/e5d144cd81bc735a.png)

4. A modal will appear. Select Simulated Live from the list and click Next to choose from Asset or Feed

![](https://support.sardius.media/kb-media/ce45dbb4878050c8.png?width=300)

After selecting your Asset or Feed that will be used for your Advanced SimLive event, you will have the option to select your social media outlets.![](https://support.sardius.media/kb-media/2579a1948d3238bb.png)

> **Note:** If you would like to schedule your stream to appear a few days in advance on your Social Media outputs, please review this article: [Schedule Your Event in Advance on Facebook and YouTube](https://support.sardius.media/knowledge-base/schedule-your-event-in-advance-on-facebook-and-youtube).

After determining where you would like your stream to be seen, take a moment to review your settings. Once you are satisfied, click “Finish” on the modal. Then click “Save” in the top right corner of the screen. 

![](https://support.sardius.media/kb-media/08bd6095e46a244b.png) 

Your Advanced SimLive Event is set up and ready to stream to your channel, as well as your social media accounts.

> **Tip:** If the duration of your Asset is shorter or longer than the scheduled SimLive event, the event’s duration will not be automatically adjusted to match the Asset’s actual duration. You will have to manually update this for each event.

### **Live Event Controls**

During the Advanced SimLive event, you will have access to several controls to make the most of the experience for your viewers. These controls are available from your channel's calendar in the Live Event Manager, and will give you the option to change from your primary to backup, pre-roll, or post-roll video. 

You can learn more about these controls by reviewing this article: [**Managing your Advanced SimLive Event**](https://support.sardius.media/knowledge-base/managing-your-advanced-simlive-event).