How do I Merge Recordings?

If your connection drops during a live broadcast, the recording is split: one recording ends when the connection drops, and another starts when you reconnect. Merging joins the parts into one video with one Catchup entry.

Three Ways to Merge

Way	When it happens
Automatically	Straight after the later part finishes processing, when auto-merge is on
From a suggestion	When Catchup spots parts that look like one broadcast, and you confirm
By hand	When you select recordings and merge them

Merge Automatically

Switch on Auto-merge Split Recordings on the Live Stream screen. A recording is then joined to the one before it when:

• the earlier recording ended within the minutes set in Rejoin if the next recording starts within (60 by default)
• both have the same title, location and description
• both were recorded after auto-merge was switched on

See Auto-merge Split Recordings.

Merge from a Suggestion

When recordings look like parts of one broadcast, but won't be merged automatically, Catchup shows a suggestion:

3 recordings look like parts of one broadcast. The title · the total length · the longest gap between parts

Catchup suggests consecutive recordings with the same title, location and description, where each started within your auto-merge minutes of the last one ending.

1. Click Review & Merge.
2. Check the parts in Merge Recordings, then click Merge. See Check and Start the Merge.

If the recordings aren't one broadcast, close the suggestion.

Merge by Hand

1. In Catchup, click Select. It appears when a page has at least two recordings.
2. Click the recordings to join. Each is numbered in the order it was recorded, earliest first, whatever order you click them in. Your selection is kept if you move between pages.
3. Click Merge into one video.
4. Check the parts and start the merge. See Check and Start the Merge.

Check and Start the Merge

Merge Recordings shows:

• Name for the merged video: filled in with the first part's title. Change it if you like. It's shown in Catchup and the Media Library.
• The parts, in order: with each part's air time and length.
  • Click the close icon to leave a recording out of the merge. A merge needs at least two parts.
  • Click the delete icon to delete a recording altogether.
• Combined duration: the total length.

Click Merge. Cecula Stream confirms Merging started - this may take a few minutes.

⚠️ The parts are deleted when the merge finishes

Only the combined video remains. The parts' Catchup entries and their videos in the Media Library are deleted, including any video you added to Catchup from your library.

While a Merge Runs

Catchup shows A recording merge is in progress - this can take a few minutes. The page will update automatically.

The parts are joined into one new video, which is processed like an upload. Your channel processes one video at a time, so a merge can take longer if other videos are processing.

A merge needs storage for the joined video, which is about the size of all the parts together, as well as for processing it.

After the Merge

• One Catchup entry: it has the name you chose, and runs from the start of the first part to the end of the last.
• The parts are gone: their entries and videos are deleted.
• The merged video is in your library. You can use it like any other video.

If a Merge Can't Start

Message	What to do
"…" isn't fully processed yet, so it can't be merged.	Wait until every part has finished processing
The master copies for "…" were deleted to free up space, so it can't be merged. Re-encode it first, then try again.	Re-encode that recording in the Media Library, then merge
One or more of the selected recordings already has a merge in progress.	Wait for that merge to finish
One or more of the selected recordings is still in use by a scheduled broadcast or rotation playlist. Remove that usage first, then try merging again.	Remove the recording from the schedule or playlist, then merge
One or more selected recordings could not be found.	Reload Catchup and select the recordings again

If a Merge Doesn't Complete

Catchup shows A recording merge didn't complete, with the reason, and The original recordings were left untouched, so you can select them and merge again.

Fix the cause, for example by freeing up storage, then merge again. Close the notice when you've read it.