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To loop a prerecorded store promotion on YouTube Live, put the video in an encoder such as OBS Studio and enable its loop setting; YouTube Studio manages the broadcast, not the playback loop. Create or schedule the live stream in YouTube Studio, connect OBS with the stream URL and key, check the preview and stream health, then go live.
What you need to set up
- A YouTube channel that can use live streaming and access to YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room.
- The promotion video stored locally on the computer running OBS. OBS documents support for MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM media files. OBS Media Sources
- An internet connection with upload capacity that can sustain your selected video bitrate.
- Permission to use the promotion’s visuals and audio in a public broadcast, including any music or other third-party material.
You can use software such as OBS to loop a local file. YouTube also accepts feeds from hardware encoders, but special hardware is not established as necessary for this basic workflow. YouTube’s encoder setup guidance
Create or schedule the YouTube broadcast
- In YouTube Studio, select Create > Go Live.
- In Live Control Room, use the Manage tab to schedule a broadcast if you want it listed as upcoming in advance. Viewers may be able to opt into notifications for a scheduled stream. To create or start one immediately, use the Stream workflow.
- Set the title and description, audience, and privacy. Choose public, private or unlisted deliberately: unlisted is useful for a rehearsal, while the final setting should match your intended audience.
- Review any monetization or rights controls that apply to your channel and promotion. These controls do not establish that you own or have permission to use the content.
- Decide whether to enable DVR, which lets viewers pause and rewind, and whether auto-start or auto-stop should let encoder actions start or stop the broadcast. Available controls can vary by channel and current Studio interface.
Scheduling creates the broadcast listing; it does not make the video play by itself. You still need to connect the encoder and start sending the feed. YouTube Live encoder setup YouTube Live Control Room controls
Set OBS to repeat the promotion
- Open OBS and create or select a scene for the promotion.
- In the scene’s Sources panel, add a Media Source, select the local video file and enable Loop. OBS documents that looping restarts the file after playback completes; it is off by default. OBS Media Sources
- Check that the video fills the canvas as intended. If the source does not fit, adjust its transform or canvas/output resolution rather than assuming YouTube will correct the framing.
- Check the audio mixer while the file plays. Confirm the promotion’s sound is reaching the stream, is not muted, and does not clip. Listen through the end and restart point to catch abrupt or silent transitions.
- If you need a playlist rather than one repeating file, OBS’s VLC Video source supports playlists and a Loop Playlist option. It requires VLC to be installed. OBS Media Sources
Connect OBS to YouTube with the stream key
- In the Live Control Room for the broadcast, find and copy the stream URL and stream key.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Select the YouTube service preset if available, or enter the stream URL and key using the encoder’s custom server fields.
- Keep the stream key private. Treat it like a password: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to your broadcast. If you think it has been exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube’s live-stream settings and update OBS.
- Save the settings and start streaming from OBS. For a scheduled broadcast, wait for the incoming feed and preview in Live Control Room before clicking Go live.
YouTube describes the encoder as the software or hardware that sends the live feed; Studio supplies the stream connection details. YouTube encoder setup YouTube Live Control Room
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#1 Best Overall
Elebase USB to USB C Adapter for iPhone 18 Pro Max,USBC Car Charger Adapter
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
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Choose output settings your connection can sustain
Use YouTube’s current encoder settings table for the codec, resolution and frame rate you intend to send. Its guidance recommends RTMPS, constant bitrate (CBR), a keyframe interval of two seconds (not more than four seconds), and AAC or MP3 audio. YouTube transcodes the incoming feed for different playback formats, so choose a stable source quality rather than trying to send more than your upload connection can maintain. YouTube live encoder settings
| H.264 format | Minimum video bitrate | Recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s published bitrate figures for the listed H.264 formats, not a guarantee that a particular network will sustain them. Other resolutions, frame rates and codecs have different guidance; check the table for your exact output. If the connection cannot reliably sustain the recommended rate, reduce the output bitrate or resolution and test again.
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Anker USB-C Hub, 5-in-1 USB Hub for Laptops, 4K HDMI Multiport Adapter
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Test, go live and end the stream cleanly
- For a rehearsal, use an unlisted broadcast and verify the entire loop: framing, playback restart, audio, preview and stream health.
- For a scheduled event, start the encoder at least 15 minutes beforehand, as YouTube recommends. Use the preview and health indicators to catch connection or configuration problems before making the broadcast public. YouTube livestream tips
- When the preview is correct, click Go live in Live Control Room if the scheduled broadcast requires it. Keep OBS running and monitor the feed while the promotion plays.
- At the end, click End Stream in Live Control Room and stop the encoder. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume that rule applies to broadcasts lasting 12 hours or longer. YouTube encoder setup
Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The video plays once and stops | The Media Source loop option is not enabled, or the source is not the one playing. | Open the source properties, enable Loop, then test through the end of the file. |
| YouTube shows no incoming feed | OBS is not streaming, or the stream URL/key is incorrect or belongs to a different broadcast. | Check OBS’s stream settings against the current Live Control Room details and confirm OBS has started streaming. |
| The preview appears, but the scheduled event is not live | The encoder feed has started, but the broadcast still needs the Live Control Room’s go-live action. | Check the scheduled stream’s preview, then select Go live when ready. |
| Stream health warns of instability or viewers see interruptions | The upload connection may not sustain the selected bitrate, or the encoder settings may not match YouTube’s guidance. | Use CBR, a two-second keyframe interval, RTMPS and a bitrate suited to your format and stable upload capacity. Test at a lower output setting if needed. |
| Picture is cropped, stretched or too small | The OBS canvas and media dimensions do not match the intended layout. | Adjust the source transform and output resolution, then check the Live Control Room preview before going public. |
| Video is visible but audio is missing or distorted | The source may be muted, audio may not be routed to the stream, or levels may be unsuitable. | Check OBS’s audio mixer and listen to a test feed, including the loop transition. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a prerecorded YouTube stream to keep running without leaving a computer and OBS on at home, StreamNeo is a cloud service for looping uploaded videos on YouTube. Upload the recording, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It can recover automatically if YouTube drops the stream. Your upload streams as made, up to 4K at 60 fps, at one flat price per slot rather than quality-based tiers. The first day is free with no card.
Every slot includes one always-on stream, 10 GB of storage per slot pooled across active slots, looping and playlists, automatic recovery and StreamNeo team support. Billing options are a day, week, month, six months or year; cancel any time. UPI and cards are available in India, and card checkout is available worldwide. For five or more slots, contact support. See StreamNeo for details.
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Anker USB C Hub, 7in1 Multi-Port USB Adapter, 4K@60Hz USBC to HDMI Splitter
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The monthly option is $9.99 per month. Start the first-day-free trial with no card at StreamNeo registration.
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Anker USB C Hub, 5-in-1 USBC to HDMI Splitter with 4K Display
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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UGREEN USB to USB C Adapter Combo 4-Pack, 10Gbps USB C Converter Space Gray
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- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
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- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
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