To stream a local video playlist through OBS to YouTube Live, install VLC that matches your OBS version, add a VLC Video source to a scene, configure its playlist and playback behavior, then connect OBS to YouTube with the server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio. Test the audio and output before broadcasting.
What OBS’s VLC Video source does
OBS’s VLC Video source plays multiple media items as a playlist inside an OBS scene. It is separate from the built-in Media Source: OBS Project describes VLC Video as using “the VLC libraries for extended media support over the built-in Media Source.” The built-in Media Source is intended for an individual media file; VLC Video is the relevant choice when you need a playlist.
This setup broadcasts local media through OBS to YouTube. The playlist is your content source in the scene; the YouTube stream URL and key are credentials that connect OBS’s encoded output to YouTube. They are different things.
Install VLC and prepare OBS
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Install VLC before adding the source. OBS uses VLC libraries, and VLC Video will not appear among the available sources unless VLC is installed. Match the software architecture: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. OBS lists VLC Video support on Windows, macOS, and Linux when the VLC prerequisite is met. See the OBS Project Media Sources guide.
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Open OBS and create or select the scene that will contain the playlist. A scene is the composition sent to the stream; the VLC playlist will be one of its sources.
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In the Sources dock, click the + button, select VLC Video, and confirm the new source. In its properties, add the local media files to the playlist. Keep the files accessible on the computer running OBS.
Set playlist behavior
In the VLC Video source properties, choose how the playlist should behave. OBS’s documented defaults are:
| Option | Documented default | When to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Loop Playlist | On | Leave on to restart the playlist after its final item. Turn off if it should end instead. |
| Shuffle Playlist | Off | Turn on to randomize item order; leave off for a fixed sequence. |
| Visibility Behaviour | Stop while not visible; restart when visible | Review this if playback should continue when you switch scenes or hide the source. OBS also documents pause and continue behavior options. |
| Network caching | 400 ms | Adjust only when diagnosing buffering with network media. OBS does not provide a general tuning recipe on the cited page. |
| Audio Track | 1 | Select the intended track if the media has multiple audio tracks. |
| Subtitles | Off | Enable subtitles and select a track if you need them. |
These controls are documented in the OBS Project Media Sources guide. For a straightforward playlist, first decide whether it should loop, whether order matters, and whether playback should stop when the source is hidden.
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Position and size the playlist in the scene
Select the VLC Video source and adjust it in the preview. Sources higher in the Sources list render over sources below them, so move the playlist above a background if it is obscured, or below an overlay if the overlay should remain visible. Drag the preview bounding box to resize. For precise placement, use Edit Transform; to crop, use Alt-drag on Windows or Option-drag on macOS. See the OBS Project Sources Guide.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
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In YouTube Studio, go to Create → Go Live, then open the Stream tab in Live Control Room. First-time users create a stream; returning users may be able to reuse prior settings. YouTube’s encoder instructions are at Set up your encoder for live streaming.
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Copy the stream URL and stream key shown in Live Control Room. In OBS, open the stream settings and enter them in the server/service and stream-key fields. OBS explains its connection settings in its streaming overview. Treat the key like a password: do not show or share it publicly.
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Start streaming from OBS. For a scheduled stream, wait until the incoming preview appears in Live Control Room, then choose Go live there. Starting the encoder and making the broadcast live in YouTube are separate actions.
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If live streaming has not previously been enabled for the channel, YouTube says activation can take up to 24 hours. Enable it in advance rather than waiting until the planned broadcast.
YouTube’s interface may change, so confirm the current labels in Live Control Room if they differ from these documented steps.
Check audio and test before broadcasting
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Play the playlist and watch the OBS Audio Mixer meters. Confirm that the intended audio source is active and that its meter responds.
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Review OBS output settings for the stream you intend to send. The correct settings depend on your connection and the material; this workflow does not require a capture card or other physical streaming hardware.
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Make a short test recording or test stream before your first live broadcast. Listen back and check that the video, playlist order, scene framing, and audio are correct. OBS recommends testing so problems can be found before a first live stream; see its Quick Start Guide.
Troubleshoot common problems
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VLC Video is missing from Sources: install VLC, then restart or reopen OBS. Check that VLC and OBS have matching architecture; 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC.
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The playlist does not repeat or plays in an unexpected order: check Loop Playlist and Shuffle Playlist in the source properties.
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Playback stops or changes when you switch scenes: review Visibility Behaviour and whether the source is visible in the active scene.
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The video is covered or framed incorrectly: inspect source order in the Sources dock, then adjust the preview bounding box or use Edit Transform.
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You cannot hear the playlist: check the OBS Audio Mixer while it plays and verify the VLC source’s selected audio track. Track 1 is the documented default; other audio routing or monitoring issues may need separate diagnosis.
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OBS connects but the YouTube broadcast does not start: verify the stream URL and key against Live Control Room. For a scheduled stream, wait for the preview and click Go live in YouTube.
Copyright and YouTube channel rules
Only stream media you have the rights or permission to broadcast. A file playing successfully in OBS does not establish that it is cleared for YouTube. Copyright claims, restrictions, or takedowns can affect a live broadcast and channel. YouTube’s rules and enforcement can change; review the current YouTube Community Guidelines and copyright information for your content before streaming. Reusing or looping material does not by itself establish eligibility for monetization; check YouTube’s current monetization policies if revenue is part of your plan.
Or let it run in the cloud
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