Understand video processing in Flightcast

Video processing prepares an uploaded file for playback and distribution. It is a separate stage from uploading the file and confirming that an episode should publish.

What happens after upload

Once the upload finishes, Flightcast prepares the media needed by the selected destinations. Depending on the source and workflow, this can include:

• An audio version for RSS and audio delivery.
• A prepared video version for supported video destinations.
• HLS streaming versions for compatible video playback.
• A transcript used by transcript-based editing and AI features.

Audio, video and transcript work can finish at different times. HLS can contain multiple playback qualities suited to the source; every upload does not necessarily produce the same list of resolutions.

Flightcast prepares platform-appropriate media. Do not assume Spotify and YouTube always receive the untouched original file, or that every historical publishing path transforms the file in the same way.

Know which stage you are seeing

1. Uploading: the file is still transferring. Wait for active uploads to finish before manually saving or publishing the media change.
2. Processing: Flightcast is preparing the required media. Check which destination is ready and which still needs work.
3. Review and confirmation: you choose the content, destinations and schedule to publish. Processing an unconfirmed draft does not publish it automatically.
4. Destination delivery: after a confirmed request, each platform applies its own processing and publication behavior.

Some workflows can queue a publication while preparation continues. Others block the action when required media is missing or has failed. Follow the readiness message displayed for your episode rather than assuming “publish while processing” is always available.

Plan the release

Upload early and leave time to resolve processing or destination errors before the planned release. Duration depends on the media, queued work, retries and destination. There is no fixed minutes-per-gigabyte rule or guaranteed order in which YouTube, Spotify and podcast apps become available.

Check each destination around release time. If processing or publication appears stuck, note the file, episode, destination and exact message, then ask support to check it. Avoid unpublishing, canceling the schedule or repeatedly uploading the same episode as a general recovery step.