To loop one pre-recorded video in OBS, add it as a Media Source and enable Loop. For a sequence of videos, use a VLC Video source, add the files to its playlist, and enable Loop Playlist. These settings control local playback; they do not synchronize the video with YouTube’s transition to live. Start on a holding scene, confirm the feed is live, then switch to the video scene.
Choose the right OBS source
| What you want to play | OBS source | Repeat setting | Dependency |
|---|---|---|---|
| One video file, repeating | Media Source | Loop | No VLC requirement |
| Several files in sequence | VLC Video | Loop Playlist | VLC installed; match its architecture to OBS (64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC) |
OBS Media Source supports common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, FLV, TS, and WebM. Pick the playlist route when you need multiple clips or playlist behavior; otherwise, Media Source is the simpler option. OBS Project’s Media Sources guide documents both source types and their controls.
Set up a single looping video
- In OBS, create or select the scene that should show the recording.
- In Sources, select + → Media Source, name it if prompted, and select the local video file.
- Enable Loop. OBS describes this control as specifying whether the file plays again once playback has completed.
- Choose whether to enable Restart playback when source becomes active. This is separate from Loop: it restarts playback when the source is in the current scene and visible. It is useful when you want the clip to start from the beginning each time you return to that scene.
- Review Show nothing when playback ends. It hides the source after the file completes; with looping enabled, that is generally not the desired end behavior.
- Check the scene preview, including audio, before going live. If the video has no audio, make sure the scene’s other intended audio sources are present.
Set up a playlist that repeats
- Install VLC if it is not already installed. Use an installation matching OBS’s architecture; OBS specifically notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- In the intended OBS scene, select + in Sources → VLC Video.
- Add the video files to the source’s playlist in the order you want them played.
- Enable Loop Playlist, then preview the playlist and confirm that video and audio advance as expected.
If you only need one file to repeat, VLC adds an unnecessary dependency. A playlist is useful when the stream should move through multiple recordings without manual scene changes.
Start the YouTube broadcast without losing the opening
- In YouTube Studio’s live control room, create or select the broadcast and copy its stream key into OBS’s streaming settings. Treat the key like a password: anyone who has it may be able to send a feed to your channel.
- In OBS, prepare a holding scene, such as a slate, separately from the scene containing the looping video.
- Start streaming from OBS while the holding scene is active. Confirm in YouTube’s live control room that the incoming feed is healthy and the broadcast is live.
- Switch to the scene with the looping video. This keeps OBS from starting the recording before viewers can see the public broadcast.
OBS source playback and YouTube’s broadcast state are controlled separately. The official settings do not promise precise synchronization between a local file’s playback and the moment a scheduled stream becomes public. YouTube’s live stream settings also include latency, DVR, and encoder auto-start/auto-stop options; those do not change the Media Source Loop setting.
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Choose encoder settings for YouTube Live
Looping is a playback setting; resolution, frame rate, codec, and bitrate govern the outgoing stream. YouTube recommends RTMPS for RTMP-based streams. Its encoder guidance calls for constant bitrate (CBR), a two-second keyframe interval (do not exceed four seconds), video using H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1, and AAC or MP3 audio. YouTube supports up to 60 fps. The bitrate recommendations below are YouTube’s encoder-table figures for H.264, not guaranteed OBS presets; the page is undated and was checked on October 3, 2026. YouTube’s encoder settings guidance gives recommendations for additional combinations and codecs.
| Output target | YouTube-listed H.264 bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p, 30 fps | 3 Mbps minimum; 8 Mbps recommended |
| 1080p, 30 fps | 5 Mbps minimum; 14 Mbps recommended |
| 1080p, 60 fps | 6 Mbps minimum; 17 Mbps recommended |
In OBS, select a target that the computer can encode and the internet connection can upload consistently. YouTube recommends choosing a reliable quality for the available upload connection, testing with representative audio and motion, and monitoring stream health while live. A speed test can help assess upload capacity, but it does not replace a real stream test. OBS’s Quick Start Guide recommends a short test before the real broadcast, and its Auto-Configuration Wizard considers hardware resources and network conditions.
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Test and troubleshoot before leaving the stream running
System requirements alone do not guarantee reliable streaming performance. The result depends on the computer, encoder, resolution, frame rate, scene complexity, and network. Use a representative test rather than assuming a setting works because it appears in a menu. OBS’s system requirements page explains this limitation.
- The clip stops at the end: Check that Loop is enabled on the Media Source, or Loop Playlist on the VLC Video source. Restart playback when source becomes active is not the repeat control.
- The source is blank or will not play: Confirm the selected file path and format, then preview the source in OBS. For VLC Video, confirm VLC is installed and its architecture matches OBS.
- The clip starts before viewers see it: Begin streaming on a holding scene, verify the feed in YouTube’s live control room, and then switch to the media scene.
- YouTube reports poor stream health or dropped frames: Check the upload connection and encoding load. Test at a lower resolution or frame rate if needed, and use the bitrate guidance for the chosen output rather than increasing bitrate blindly.
- The stream key is rejected or the wrong feed appears: Verify that OBS has the key for the intended YouTube broadcast. If the key may have been exposed, replace it in YouTube Studio and update OBS.
- The stream appears live but has no sound: Preview the scene’s audio sources and check OBS’s audio mixer meters before streaming; confirm the YouTube preview also receives audio.
Check rights and YouTube policy before looping
A recording that you can play locally is not automatically cleared for a public livestream. Make sure you have the necessary rights to the video, music, and other material, including permission for the live use and any relevant territory or duration limits. Repeatedly broadcasting a recording does not change those rights. Review YouTube’s current copyright guidance for live streams and its monetization policies if monetization is relevant; copyright clearance and monetization eligibility are separate questions.
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