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Streamlink Imports

Live Stream Recording System

What This System Does

The Live Stream Recording System lets you record live webcam shows and streams from platforms like Chaturbate, Stripchat, BongaCams, and others. You can record streams manually when you want, or set up automatic recording so the system starts capturing whenever a specific streamer goes live.

Recordings are saved as video files and can be automatically added to your video library, appearing on your site just like uploaded videos.

Warning: This feature uses third-party software called Streamlink. If Streamlink stops working with a specific platform, you'll need to wait for the Streamlink developers to release an update. ComusThumbz cannot fix issues with Streamlink itself. Check the Streamlink GitHub page for updates.

[Screenshot: streamlink-hub-overview]

How to Get Here

Navigate to Admin Panel > Live Streams > [choose one of the following]

  • Hub - Main dashboard and stream management
  • Direct Record - Quick one-time recording
  • Queue - View active and pending recordings
  • History - See completed recordings
  • Cookies - Set up authenticated access
  • Settings - Configure system options

 

Understanding the System

The Live Stream Recording System has six pages, each with a specific purpose:

Hub (Main Dashboard)

Your starting point. Shows statistics, your list of streamers you're tracking, recent activity, and quick action buttons to get to other pages.

Direct Record

For quick, one-time recordings. Paste a stream URL, choose quality settings, and start recording right away.

Queue

Shows all recording jobs that are currently running or waiting to start. You can see progress, stop recordings, or cancel jobs from here.

History

A log of all past recordings - successful and failed. Use this to review what's been recorded and track any problems.

Cookies

Some platforms require you to be logged in to access certain streams or quality levels. This page lets you configure browser cookies so the system can access authenticated streams.

Settings

Configure where recordings are saved, set default quality options, and check if the required software (Streamlink and FFmpeg) is installed correctly.

Common Tasks

How to Record a Stream Right Now (Direct Method)

Use this when you want to grab a stream that's happening right now without setting up automatic recording.

  1. Click Live Streams > Direct Record in the admin menu.
  2. Paste the full stream URL into the Stream URL field (for example: https://chaturbate.com/username).
  3. The system automatically detects the streamer name and platform - check that it got it right.
  4. Choose your Quality setting (use Best for highest quality).
  5. Choose Format (use TS for live streams - it handles interruptions better than MP4).
  6. Set a Max Duration if you want the recording to stop automatically after a certain time.
  7. Click Add to Queue to start recording in the background.
Tip: Use "Add to Queue" instead of "Start Recording" for long recordings. The queue runs in the background so you can close your browser and the recording continues.

[Screenshot: streamlink-direct-record-page]

How to Set Up Automatic Recording (Autopilot)

Autopilot mode automatically detects when a streamer goes live and starts recording without you having to do anything.

  1. Go to Live Streams > Hub.
  2. Click the Add Source button.
  3. Fill in the Basic tab:
  • Streamer Name - Enter the performer's username
  • Platform - Select their platform (Chaturbate, Stripchat, etc.)
  • Stream URL - This fills in automatically based on platform and username
  • Quality - Choose Best for highest quality
  • Output Format - Choose TS (recommended for live streams)
  • Check the Source is active box
  1. Click the Autopilot tab.
  2. Check the Enable Autopilot box.
  3. Set Schedule Mode:
  • Always - Record whenever they go live (recommended)
  • Time Range - Only record during specific hours
  • Manual Only - Disable automatic recording
  1. Set Check Interval to how often you want to check if they're live (60 seconds is good for most cases).
  2. Click Save.
Tip: For popular streamers who go live often, set a shorter check interval (30-60 seconds) to catch them quickly. For streamers who broadcast less frequently, use a longer interval (300+ seconds) to save server resources.

Now the system will automatically check if that streamer is live and start recording when they are. The recording stops when their stream ends.

How to Check Your Recording Queue

The Queue shows what's currently recording and what's waiting to start.

  1. Go to Live Streams > Queue.
  2. You'll see a list of all recording jobs with their current status:
  • Recording (pulsing red icon) - Currently capturing video
  • Pending (clock icon) - Waiting to start
  • Waiting (hourglass icon) - Checking if stream is live
  • Failed (X icon) - Something went wrong
  • Completed (checkmark) - Finished successfully
Note: When recordings are active, the Queue page automatically refreshes every 10 seconds so you can watch the progress update in real-time.

How to Stop a Recording

Sometimes you need to manually stop a recording before it finishes.

  1. Go to Live Streams > Queue.
  2. Find the recording you want to stop (it will show as "Recording" status).
  3. Click the Stop button in the Actions column.
  4. The recording stops immediately and the file is saved.

How to View Recording History

  1. Go to Live Streams > History.
  2. You'll see a table of all past recordings with:
  • Streamer name
  • Platform
  • Status (Completed, Failed, Partial, Cancelled)
  • Duration
  • File size
  • Date recorded
  1. Use the filter tabs at the top to show only specific types (Completed, Failed, etc.).

Some platforms require you to be logged in to access premium streams or certain quality levels. You can provide your browser cookies so the system can record as if you're logged in.

  1. First, log in to the streaming platform using your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.).
  2. Go to Live Streams > Cookies in the admin panel.
  3. Click Add Profile.
  4. Fill in the form:
  • Profile Name - Give it a descriptive name like "My Chaturbate Account"
  • Browser Type - Select which browser you're logged in with
  • Cookie File Path - Leave blank unless you exported cookies to a file
  • Platforms Supported - Type the platforms this login works for (e.g., "chaturbate")
  • Notes - Any notes to remind yourself what this is for
  1. Click Add Profile.
  2. When setting up a source in the Hub, go to the Recording tab and select this cookie profile from the dropdown.
Warning: The browser you select must be installed on the same server where ComusThumbz is running. The system reads cookies directly from the browser's storage.

How to Configure System Settings

  1. Go to Live Streams > Settings.
  2. The page is divided into several sections:

Binary Paths - Where to find the required software. Leave these blank to use automatic detection unless you have a specific installation location.

Storage - Where recordings are saved:

  • Download Folder - Final location for completed recordings (default: uploads/ftpuploads)
  • Temp Download Folder - Temporary location while recording (default: uploads/streamlinktemp)
  • Output Filename Template - How to name saved files (uses variables like {streamer} and {time})

 

Recording Defaults - Default settings for new recordings:

  • Default Quality - Quality preset (Best recommended)
  • Default Format - Output format (TS recommended)
  • Max Duration - Maximum recording length in seconds (3600 = 1 hour, 0 = unlimited)
  • Concurrent Recordings - How many streams can record at the same time (3 recommended)

 

Stream Settings - Advanced options for how recordings work (usually don't need to change these)

Options:

  • Auto-process recordings - Turn this on to automatically add recordings to your video library
  • Remux to MP4 - Convert TS files to MP4 format after recording
  • Enable verbose logging - Turn on detailed logs for troubleshooting

 

  1. Click Save Settings at the bottom when done.

Queue Page Filters

Use the tabs at the top of the Queue page to filter by status:

  • All - Show everything
  • Recording - Only active recordings
  • Pending - Only waiting jobs
  • Failed - Only failed attempts
  • Completed - Only finished recordings

 

History Page Filters

Use the tabs at the top of the History page to filter by outcome:

  • All - Show everything
  • Completed - Successfully finished recordings
  • Failed - Recordings that failed
  • Partial - Recordings that were interrupted
  • Cancelled - Manually cancelled recordings

 

Clearing Old Records

On the History page, you can delete old records to keep the list manageable:

  1. Use the dropdown next to "Clear old records" to choose how old (30 days, 60 days, or 90 days).
  2. Click the button to delete all records older than that timeframe.
  3. Confirm when prompted.
Warning: This only deletes the history records, not the actual video files. The recorded files remain in your download folder.

Understanding Quality Options

When recording, you can choose from several quality presets:

Quality What It Does
Best Automatically selects the highest quality available from the stream (recommended)
1080p Records in 1080p if available, falls back to lower quality if not
720p Records in 720p if available
480p Records in 480p (smaller files, lower quality)
360p Records in 360p (smallest files, lowest video quality)
Worst Records the lowest quality available (very small files)
Audio Only Records only the audio track, no video
Tip: Start with "Best" quality. If recordings are too large or causing issues, step down to 720p or 480p.

Understanding File Formats

You can save recordings in different video formats:

Format When to Use It
TS (Transport Stream) Recommended for live streams. Handles network interruptions well. The file won't be corrupted if the stream cuts out suddenly.
MP4 Good for finished videos. NOT recommended for live recording because the file can become unplayable if the stream is interrupted.
MKV Alternative container format. Similar to MP4 but more flexible.
FLV Flash video format. Rarely needed unless you have a specific use for it.
Tip: Always use TS format for live stream recording. You can convert to MP4 later if needed (enable the "Remux to MP4" option in Settings to do this automatically).

Understanding Autopilot Schedules

When you enable Autopilot on a source, you can choose when it's allowed to record:

Schedule Mode What It Does
Always (24/7) Check for the stream anytime, day or night. Start recording immediately when it goes live. Recommended for most cases.
Time Range Only check and record during specific hours. Use this if you only want recordings during certain times (like 8 PM to midnight).
Manual Only Don't check automatically. You can still use "Record Now" manually from the Hub page, but Autopilot won't trigger recordings on its own.

The Check Interval setting controls how often the system checks if the stream is live. A shorter interval (30-60 seconds) catches streams faster but uses more server resources. A longer interval (300+ seconds) uses fewer resources but might miss the beginning of a stream.

Tips for New Users

Tip:
  • Start with Direct Record to test the system before setting up Autopilot sources. Make sure recordings work correctly.
  • Use TS format for all live stream recordings. It's the most reliable format for capturing live content.
  • Enable auto-processing in Settings if you want recordings to automatically appear on your site. Disable it if you want to review recordings before publishing them.
  • Set up cookie authentication if you have premium accounts on streaming platforms - you'll get access to higher quality streams.
  • Don't record too many streams at once - stick to the concurrent recording limit (default is 3) or your server may slow down.
  • Check the Queue regularly when starting out to make sure recordings are completing successfully.
  • Monitor file sizes - hours of HD video can fill up your server quickly. Consider setting max duration limits.

Troubleshooting

I set up a source but it's not recording automatically

What you see: Your Autopilot source is active but recordings never start, even when the streamer is live.

How to fix it:

  1. Make sure the source has Autopilot enabled - check the robot icon appears next to the source on the Hub page.
  2. Verify the source is marked as Active (not grayed out).
  3. Click the Check Status button on the source to manually test if the system can detect the stream.
  4. Make sure the schedule is set correctly - if using Time Range, check that the current time is within the active hours.
  5. Check that the cron job is running - ask your server administrator or hosting support.

 

Recordings keep failing

What you see: Jobs appear in the Queue but quickly change to "Failed" status with an error message.

How to fix it:

  1. Read the error message in the Queue for clues about what went wrong.
  2. Go to Settings and check the System Status section - make sure Streamlink and FFmpeg both show as "Ready".
  3. If either shows as "Not Found", you'll need to install that software. See the installation instructions at the bottom of the Settings page.
  4. Check the stream URL is correct by pasting it into a web browser - can you watch the stream?
  5. Some platforms require authentication - try setting up a cookie profile if the stream requires a login.
  6. Try recording a different stream to see if the issue is specific to one streamer or affects all recordings.

 

The stream is live but shows as "Offline"

What you see: You know the streamer is broadcasting but the system says the stream is offline when you check status.

How to fix it:

  1. Verify the stream URL is exactly correct - even a small typo prevents detection.
  2. Check if the platform requires login to view the stream - set up cookie authentication if needed.
  3. The stream might be age-restricted or region-locked - cookies from a logged-in account may be needed.
  4. The platform may have changed their streaming technology - check the Streamlink GitHub for updates.
  5. Wait a minute and try again - sometimes there's a delay between when a stream starts and when it's detectable.

 

Recordings appear empty or very short

What you see: The recording completes but the file is tiny (a few KB) or the duration is only a few seconds.

How to fix it:

  1. The stream probably went offline shortly after you started recording.
  2. Check the streamer's schedule - they may have ended their broadcast early.
  3. Enable cookie authentication if the stream requires login - you might be getting an error page instead of the stream.
  4. Try recording with "Best" quality instead of a specific quality like 1080p - the quality you selected might not be available.

 

Recordings are huge and filling up my server

What you see: Each recording creates multi-gigabyte files and your server storage is running out.

How to fix it:

  1. Set Max Duration limits on your sources (in the Recording tab when editing a source) - limit recordings to 1 hour (3600 seconds) or 2 hours (7200 seconds).
  2. Use a lower quality setting like 720p or 480p instead of "Best" - this creates smaller files.
  3. Enable the Remux to MP4 option in Settings - MP4 files are usually smaller than TS files.
  4. Set up a cleanup routine to delete old recordings you don't need anymore.
  5. Consider upgrading your server storage if you're recording many streams regularly.

 

The system says required software is not installed

What you see: The Settings page shows "Streamlink: Not Found" or "FFmpeg: Not Found" in red.

How to fix it:

Warning: Installing server software requires command-line access to your server. If you're on shared hosting, contact your hosting provider - they may need to install these for you, or you may need to upgrade to a VPS or dedicated server.

Your server administrator or hosting support needs to install:

  • Streamlink - The stream recording software
  • FFmpeg - Video processing software

 

Installation instructions are provided at the bottom of the Settings page. Point your administrator to those instructions.

After installation, go back to Settings and refresh the page. The status should change to "Ready" with a green color.

I want to delete a source but can't find the delete button

What you see: You want to remove a streamer from your sources list but don't see a delete option.

How to fix it:

  1. Go to the Hub page.
  2. Find the source you want to delete.
  3. Click the Edit button (pencil icon) next to that source.
  4. The edit modal opens - scroll to the bottom.
  5. Click the red Delete button at the bottom of the form.
  6. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

 

Warning: Deleting a source doesn't delete past recordings from that source - it only removes the source profile and stops future automatic recordings.

What you see: You set up a cookie profile and selected it on a source, but recordings still fail with authentication errors.

How to fix it:

  1. Make sure you're logged in to the streaming platform in the browser you selected (Chrome, Firefox, etc.).
  2. The browser must be installed on the server, not on your personal computer - the system reads cookies from the server's browser installation.
  3. Try deleting and recreating the cookie profile.
  4. Some platforms expire sessions quickly - you may need to log in to the platform again on the server.
  5. As an alternative, export your cookies to a file using a browser extension, upload that file to the server, and use "Cookie File" as the browser type with the path to your uploaded file.

 

What Happens to Recorded Videos

When a recording completes, what happens next depends on your settings:

If Auto-Processing is Enabled (Default)

  1. The recording is moved from the temp folder to your download folder (usually uploads/ftp_uploads).
  2. The video processing system picks it up automatically.
  3. The system creates thumbnails, generates previews, and processes the video for web playback.
  4. Any metadata you set up on the source (default category, default model) is assigned to the video.
  5. The video appears on your site automatically in the video list.

If Auto-Processing is Disabled

  1. The recording is moved to your download folder.
  2. It stays there waiting for manual import.
  3. You need to go to the video management area and manually import videos from the FTP upload queue.
  4. This gives you a chance to review recordings before they appear on your site.

You can change this behavior in Settings with the Auto-process recordings option.

Page When to Use It
Video Management View and manage videos that were created from recordings after auto-processing
FTP Upload Queue Manually import recordings if auto-processing is disabled
Cron Manager Check that the Streamlink processor cron job is enabled and running
Model Management Create model profiles to assign to recordings automatically
Category Management Set up categories to organize your recorded content

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I record streams from any platform?
A: It depends on whether Streamlink supports that platform. The system works with Chaturbate, Stripchat, BongaCams, Cam4, MyFreeCams, CamSoda, Twitch, YouTube Live, Kick, and many others. Check the Streamlink documentation for a full list.

Q: Are recordings stored on my server or in the cloud?
A: All recordings are stored on your server in the folders you configure in Settings. They don't go to any cloud service unless you manually move them there.

Q: How much storage do I need?
A: It varies by quality and duration. As a rough guide, one hour of 1080p video is approximately 3-5 GB. One hour of 720p is approximately 1-2 GB. Plan your storage accordingly.

Q: Can I edit recordings before they appear on my site?
A: Yes - disable the Auto-process recordings option in Settings. Recordings will be saved to your download folder but won't automatically appear on your site. You can then manually import them after reviewing.

Q: Will this work on shared hosting?
A: Probably not. Shared hosting typically disables the PHP functions required for this feature and doesn't allow installation of the required software. You'll need a VPS or dedicated server.

Q: How do I get notified when recordings complete?
A: The system doesn't send notifications automatically. You can check the Queue page to monitor active recordings, or check the History page to see what completed recently.

Q: Can I record multiple streams at the same time?
A: Yes, up to the limit set in Settings > Concurrent Recordings (default is 3). Don't set this too high or you'll overload your server.

Q: What happens if my server restarts during a recording?
A: Active recordings will stop. The partial recording may be saved depending on the format (TS format handles this better than MP4). Autopilot sources will resume checking when the server comes back online.

Q: Can I schedule recordings for specific times?
A: Not exactly - the system doesn't record at specific times. It records when streamers go live. You can use the Time Range schedule mode to only record during certain hours, but the stream must actually be live during those hours.

Q: Is this legal?
A: That depends on your local laws and the terms of service of the platforms you're recording from. Some platforms prohibit recording. ComusThumbz provides the tools but you are responsible for using them legally and ethically. Consult a lawyer if you're unsure.

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