4 Easy Steps to Record YouTube Live Stream [Recommended]
- Karen Nelson
- May 31, 2022
Download Screen Recorder For FREE！
YouTube Live, the world’s biggest live streaming platform, has attracted so many people from across the globe and of different ages to interact with each other in real-time.
As a viewer, you can stream an event, learn from an online class, attend a workshop, or participate in a virtual concert. But not all of the YouTube Live sessions happen at exactly the time when you are available because obviously, you don’t glue your eyes to the screen. Worse, YouTube Live streaming content might disappear or can be deleted by its creator.
Therefore, the ultimate solution is to record a YouTube Live stream, which ensures you do not miss out on any highlighted moments.
In this post, you will learn how to capture or record live streaming videos from platforms such as YouTube. Also, you can leverage a professional YouTube Live stream recorder like VideoSolo Screen Recorder that comes with a task scheduler for recording a session that might happen at 3 AM in your time zone. All that said, let’s review the option.
Best YouTube Live Recorder to Record YouTube Live Stream – VideoSolo
With all the different streaming video capture tools available, VideoSolo Screen Recorder will be our top recommendation for recording YouTube Live videos for both Windows and Mac. If you’ve never used a screen recorder before, the intuitive user interface of VideoSolo will definitely provide a smooth using experience with its great features.
| Key Features | Details | |
VideoSolo Screen Recorder | High-Quality Video | up to 60 fps with hardware acceleration |
| High-Quality Audio | system & microphone sound | |
| Drawn or Text Annotations and Callouts | in whatever color you like | |
| Multiple Output Formats | WMV, MP4, MOV, F4V, TS, AVI, GIF | |
| Clear Screenshots | before, during, after the recording | |
| Scheduled Tasks | for the one that hasn’t started | |
| One Specific Window | to avoid being covered up by other windows | |
| Video Trimming Function | once you’ve done the recording |
Besides recording live streaming videos, you can also utilize it to record your screen activities, record system sound and microphone sound, and therefore create a demo tutorial with your own watermark fast and easily. All videos recorded will never be covered with an ugly watermark.
How to Record YouTube Live Videos? (Past Live Streams & Real-time Live Streams)
Knowing so many features of VideoSolo Screen Recorder, I will walk you through every step to how to record a YouTube Live Video. Install and launch this software, and let’s get it started.
STEP 1. Click "Video Recorder" to Capture YouTube Live Stream
If you want to record the video and audio of a YouTube live stream simultaneously, you should choose “Video Recorder“. To record only audio from the YouTube live stream, just click “Audio Recorder“. You may also learn more details through this article How to Record Audio from the Internet (Include Streaming Music and Radio).
Tips:
If the YouTube Live videos you recorded are mainly gaming live streams, VideoSolo is also built-in with a Game Recorder to empower you to get a high-quality result. Better still, VideoSolo supports recording in 60 FPS to help you get lag-free video.
STEP 2. Select the Recording Area and System Sound
As you proceed to Video Recorder, you may choose to record the full screen, or customize the recording area by selecting a region/window or some fixed dimensions.
After adjusting the recording area, remember to toggle on “System Sound” to set a proper system volume. To avoid unnecessary noise, it is suggested to turn off the microphone unless you may want to narrate while recording a Live stream.
STEP 3. Adjust Output and Hardware Acceleration Settings
Now, go to “Preferences” by clicking the gear icon on the interface. On the pop-up window, click on the Output tab. Here you can change the location of your output files. Also, you can alter the video output format, video quality, frame rate, audio format and audio quality. The supported output formats include MP4, MOV, WMV, MP3, AAC, etc.
If your computer runs with good performance, you may select 60 FPS for exporting but at the cost of creating a large file since a YouTube live stream can take 2 hours or more. To solve this, try utilizing video compressors to reduce video file size.
However, if your computer is normal, you may select a suitable format or codec method to balance picture quality and video file size. Many people opt for the MP4 format in that it shows good compatibility, maintains fine details, and delivers a smaller file. Therefore, we recommend the following exporting settings.
| Device | Type | Format | Codec | Quality | Frame rate |
| Windows & Mac | Video | MP4 | H.264 | High | 24fps (Recommend),30fps, 60fps |
| Audio | MP3 | H.264 | High | / |
Either way, to take full advantage of the program, don’t forget to enable Hardware Acceleration from the Others tab. This will make the recording task done efficiently.
STEP 4. Start Recording YouTube Live Stream
Once you’ve adjusted the output settings, click on the red “REC” button to begin recording a YouTube live stream. Of course, during the recording process, you will be able to capture the full screen of the YouTube live stream video if you select to hide the floating bar. Also, VideoSolo gives the option to add annotations, add shapes and arrows when capturing your screen. Directly click the Edit icon to open the drawing panels.
Tips: How to Recover the Recording When It Accidentally Stops?
Don’t be worried if you accidentally exit the recording process. VideoSolo Screen Recorder will automatically save a temporary backup when recording. The next time when you launch the program, it will detect the backup and remind you whether to keep the recording.
If there is no such reminder, you may go to “Preference” > “Output” > “Location of temporary file” to see whether there are these two files: ScreenCapture.h264 and the Speaker.wav (if you have recorded an audio). When the files stay still, you can contact our support team to help you recover this recording.
How to Record Live Stream Video that Hasn’t Started Yet
A YouTube Live stream may happen across different time zones. If you don’t want to sit by the computer to wait until it ends, the task scheduler designed in VideoSolo can be especially convenient. Basically, it is a powerful automatic video recording feature that enables every user to flexibly record videos they want.
Normally, YouTube will show the beginning time of a live stream. Therefore, you can click “Task Schedule” (which is shown as a Clock icon) to set in advance. But this function is only launched in the Windows version.
Here’s how to use this function to record YouTube live streams automatically.
Step 1. Enter into the main interface of VideoSolo Screen Recorder and you can find “Task Schedule” on the bottom column.
Step 2. On the pop-up window, press on “Add new task” to add your live streaming recording task.
Step 3. Set its start time and stop time. Please note that you should adjust the recording settings before you create the task.
Step 4. After that, click “OK” to save your operation. To make your task available, and ensure it will be recorded successfully, remember not to keep your computer in sleep or lock mode. For a detailed guide on using this function, you may read this article: How to Use Task Scheduler of VideoSolo Screen Recorder (Windows).
When time is up, the program will automatically start recording, making it also convenient to record live radio or sports shows.
Can You Record a Live Stream on Android Phones or iPhones?
Very similar to recording a live streaming video on a computer, you can also record a YouTube Live stream on Android or iPhone. Commonly, Android smartphones running Android 11 and up or iPhone with iOS or later feature a built-in screen recording tool that enables you to record screen activity and even a YouTube Live stream.
It is worth mentioning that VideoSolo Screen Recorder has newly introduced the function of recording videos on mobile phones. Supports recording both on Android and iPhone. Check the following steps to record your phone screen.
How to Capture YouTube Live Stream on iPhone
To open the built-in screen recorder, you can swipe down from the top of your screen and find the screen record icon from the control center. Tap the Record button and wait for the countdown to begin. When you stop the recording, the screen recording can be found in your phone’s Photos app.
And to record your iPhone via VideoSolo Screen Recorder, you should select Phone Recorder on the VideoSolo interface first.
then all you need to do is connect your iPhone to the computer.
Tap on the “Screen Mirroring” icon and choose AirPlay Mirroring/Screen Mirroring in Control Center. Then select VideoSolo Screen Recorder and wait for the connection.
Tips:
Make sure your device and the PC are connecting to the same Wi-Fi network.
After the connection is succeeded, click the “Record” button to start recording.
Tips:
The recording file will be automatically saved to the local computer, in case there’s a crashing splash screen or you exit the software accidentally. You can preview it in History later.
How to Capture YouTube Stream Video on Android
If you use an Android phone to watch YouTube Live Stream, you can also capture your screen easily. If your Android smartphones running Android 11 and up, you can record the Live stream directly with the built-in screen recording tool on your phone. If your Android runs other versions, VideoSolo Screen Recorder can be a good choice for you. With this amazing function, you can capture YouTube Live streams with a ton of features like screen capture, screen video recorder, video editor, etc. The recording steps are similar to the iPhone’s.
Step 1. Run VideoSolo Screen Recorder and go to Phone Recorder.
Step 2. Select Android for the device type. Then Tap on the “Detect” icon to search devices through the Wi-Fi network.
Tips:
make sure your device and the PC are connecting to the same Wi-Fi network. And you can also choose to connect through a PIN Code or QR Code, which can be more precise.
Step 3. After the connection is succeeded, click the “Record” button to start recording.
Tips:
You can also set up the device resolution, recording content, and output resolution before the recording. What’s more, you can use the snapshot function to capture your screen.
Is It Possible to Download YouTube Live Stream?
Yes. Given the fact that YouTube will automatically generate stream archive videos, it is easy to download live streaming videos on YouTube once you find and get the specific video link.
Download YouTube Live Stream Video via Inovideo
A wonderful choice for downloading YouTube Live Stream is using Inovideo, which is a reliable and high-quality video downloader for Windows and Mac. The operation steps are user-friendly, you just simply copy and paste the YouTube Live stream link that you want to download, and then Inovideo will do the rest for you. With Inovideo, you can even download online videos/audios from over 1,000 sites to MP3, and MP4 formats, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SoundCloud, Vlive, and so forth.
Download YouTube Live Stream Video with the Online tool
If you are not inclined to search and install an extra video downloader, definitely try out VideoSolo Online Video Downloader. This useful online tool is compatible with different devices including your Windows PC, Mac, Android phones, and iPhone. Also, with the action of copying and pasting the YouTube Live stream link that you find on the Live channel, the online video downloader will analyze the link and generate several download options respectively.
FAQs About YouTube Live Stream
Despite learning how to record YouTube Live stream on your computer, we’ve also collected some frequently asked questions to clear your doubts. Also, there are some tips for screen recording YouTube Live videos to help you gain better control.
Can I record a Youtube live stream on Windows without download?
Well, we do have the method to capture YouTube Live Stream Video via the build-in screen recorder on Windows. If you own a PC running Windows 11 operating system, things will be getting more easier with a built-in option called the Xbox Game Bar. This built-in screen capture tool can help you record your screen activity.
To use the Xbox Game Bar, you should go to the Settings and enable the features.
Step 1. Press Windows + G to launch Xbox Game Bar. And navigate to the Settings, then select General to enable the features.
Step 2. Click “Start Recording” to record your streaming video. Or you can press Win + Alt + R to start capturing your screen.
Step 3. While finishing the recording, click the “Stop Recording”.
When the recordings are done, the video will be automatically saved as MP4 files on your computer.
Tips:
You can only record the YouTube stream video in window mode by using the Xbox Game Bar. If you want to record a high-quality, full-screen video, VideoSolo Screen Recorder will be a better choice.
Will YouTube automatically save the live stream videos?
Yes. In fact, YouTube has an archive feature that gives you the chance to find and review the Live streaming that you’ve missed. Here’s how the archive feature works. If the live stream is less than 12 hours, YouTube can automatically archive the file. And video resolutions that are higher than 1080p (such as 1440p and 4K) can be easily saved once you enable the YouTube Archive setting.
Still, the best and guaranteed method to preserve the YouTube Live video is to stream and record at the same time so that you can have a local archive as a backup.
How long can a live stream on YouTube last for?
Generally, there is no duration limit for streaming a Live to YouTube. The only limitation is for the live stream recording on YouTube itself. When you do a live stream, a single public archive will be generated for up to 12 hours.
Can I have a private YouTube Live stream?
Yes. YouTube has three different options for live streaming – Public, Private, and Unlisted. YouTube’s private videos will not appear in any of the search results or video recommendations, and the private live streaming allows you to share your video with 50 different people at once.
Final Words
VideoSolo Screen Recorder helps you easily record a YouTube live stream no matter it is a past Live stream or one that hasn’t started yet. Now, you can recording live streams, or record zoom meetings at any time. Also, feel free to enjoy the recorded video on any device even without the Internet.
