How to upload video to Listenbox
By Listenbox
Published · Updated
How do I turn a video file into a podcast episode?
Upload an MP4 or MOV source file to a video-source podcast with a video plan. Listenbox prepares podcast audio, adaptive HLS, and the MP4 enclosure for your video RSS feed; you do not need to package HLS files yourself. Use video upload when you have the original recording. For recordings already on YouTube, use YouTube import. Uploads stay private drafts until you review and publish them.
Before you upload
You need a video-source podcast and an active video plan. When creating a new podcast, open Podcasts, select Create new podcast, and choose Video as the source type. An audio-source podcast accepts audio files only.
Your video plan determines the highest resolution Listenbox retains. Check video allowances on the pricing page before uploading if your team does not have video delivery enabled.
1. Open a new episode
Sign in to the Listenbox dashboard, open your video podcast, and select Episodes. Select New episode to start a private draft.
2. Add the episode details
Enter the title and description listeners should see in podcast apps. Listenbox saves each field when you leave it. If the title is empty when you choose a video, Listenbox uses the source file name without its extension as the draft title; review it before publishing.
You can also add an optional square JPEG or PNG episode image. Episode details and source media can be added independently.
3. Choose the source video
Under Video source, select Choose video file or drop the source video onto the field. Keep the page open while Listenbox shows Preparing file and Uploading source.
Preparation happens in your browser before the upload begins. For a large source file, this stage can take time even before network upload progress appears.
4. Wait for processing
After the source upload finishes, Listenbox begins processing the episode. The page shows the current processing step and progress. During this stage, Listenbox validates the source and builds the hosted video outputs, including the adaptive HLS package and video RSS MP4.
The publication action remains unavailable until the page reports Media ready for publication. Processing time depends on the source duration, resolution, and current system load.
If an upload is interrupted, reopen the Resume upload page and reselect the same original file. Listenbox checks that the file matches the interrupted upload before continuing. If upload or processing fails, read the message under Video source, correct the source or plan issue it identifies, and choose the file again.
5. Review and publish
When the media is ready, review the final title and description in Publication review. Complete any review required by a connected destination, then select Publish episode.
Publishing makes the episode available in the podcast's video feed. If you have not created a feed yet, follow Set up and share your podcast feed. Listenbox keeps the generated HLS package managed as one adaptive delivery asset, so you do not need to maintain variant playlists or media segments.
Apple Podcasts HLS delivery
Uploading the source video is the media-preparation step. Connecting HLS video delivery for Apple Podcasts is a separate account setup step controlled through Apple Podcasts Connect and supported hosting providers. Your title, description, and other podcast metadata remain managed in Listenbox and the main RSS feed.
Follow Apple’s current How to publish video on Apple Podcasts instructions when video delivery becomes available for your show. For help with the Listenbox connection, contact hello@listenbox.app.