For looping a local video in OBS, MP4 and MKV both work. Add the file as a Media Source and turn on Loop; looping is controlled by the source setting, not the container. Choose MKV instead when recording in OBS and prioritizing recovery after an interruption, then remux to MP4 if you need a broadly compatible file for editing or upload. YouTube Live’s outgoing encoder settings are a separate decision from the format of the file playing in OBS.
MP4 or MKV: which should you use?
| What you are doing | Practical choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Looping one local file in an OBS scene | MP4 or MKV | OBS Media Source supports both. Enable its Loop property. |
| Looping a list of files | OBS VLC Video | It supports playlists and has Loop Playlist enabled by default. VLC must be installed. |
| Recording in OBS for later editing or upload | Record in MKV, then remux to MP4 if needed | MKV is more resilient if recording is interrupted; YouTube recommends MP4 for uploaded videos. |
| Sending a looping scene to YouTube Live | Choose the local file format independently of live output settings | The file is played locally; the outgoing encoder’s codec, bitrate, frame rate, keyframe interval and audio settings govern live ingestion. |
OBS’s Media Sources guide lists both .mp4 and .mkv as supported video-file formats. Its Loop property is off by default and specifies whether playback starts again after the file ends. The container does not enable looping by itself.
Loop one video in OBS
- In OBS, select the scene where the video should play.
- In the Sources dock, select + → Media Source. Create a new source or select an existing one.
- In the Media Source properties, choose the local video file.
- Enable Loop, then select OK.
- Start playback and check that the file reaches its end and starts again. Test the actual file and scene before relying on a long-running stream; support for a container does not guarantee every codec, file or machine setup behaves identically.
Other Media Source properties affect scene behavior, not whether the file is MP4 or MKV. Restart playback when source becomes active is on by default. Show nothing when playback ends is also on by default. Close file when inactive is off by default; enabling it unloads a hidden file to free memory, but playback may take a moment to resume when the source becomes visible again. These defaults and controls are documented in the OBS Media Sources guide.
Loop a playlist instead of a single file
- Install VLC if it is not already installed. OBS’s guide says 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- In the Sources dock, select + → VLC Video.
- Add the files to the source’s playlist and check their order.
- Leave Loop Playlist enabled if the sequence should restart after its last item. OBS documents this option as on by default.
- Preview the playlist and confirm that playback moves through the files and returns to the beginning.
The VLC Video source may not appear until VLC is installed. For the exact supported properties, see OBS’s Media Sources guide.
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Recording in OBS is a different format decision
When OBS is making a recording, MKV is often the safer starting container. OBS’s Audio/Video Formats Guide describes MKV as compatible with every audio/video encoder supported in OBS Studio and more resilient to interruptions: an unfinished recording may remain playable and recoverable after a power loss or other abrupt stop. The trade-off is that some editing applications support MKV less well.
Ordinary MP4 and MOV are widely supported by editing software and commonly used for internet video, but they require finalization. If writing is interrupted, the file may not be recoverable. OBS recommends MKV for recording for this reason in its Standard Recording Output Guide.
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Remux a completed recording to MP4
- In OBS, select File → Remux Recordings.
- Choose the MKV recording and start the remux.
- Use the resulting MP4 when your editing workflow or upload destination needs that container.
OBS can also remux automatically after recording stops: enable Automatically remux to mp4 in the recording settings. Remuxing changes the container workflow; it is not the same decision as choosing a format for a Media Source loop. OBS documents these options in its recording guide.
OBS also documents Hybrid MP4 and Hybrid MOV. Hybrid MP4 was introduced in OBS 30.2 and Hybrid MOV in OBS 32.0, according to the OBS Hybrid MP4 & Hybrid MOV Formats guide dated 2024-06-06. These formats combine fragmented-file recovery with a finalization step intended to retain compatibility with software that accepts regular MP4 or MOV. Hybrid MOV is the option in that pair that supports ProRes. Check which formats your installed OBS version offers before relying on them.
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YouTube upload and YouTube Live use different settings
Uploading a finished video
YouTube’s recommended upload encoding settings specify MP4 as the recommended upload container and list H.264 video and AAC-LC or Opus audio options. YouTube also advises matching the uploaded frame rate to the recorded frame rate and provides suggested bitrates by resolution. These are recommendations for an uploaded video file; they do not mean OBS cannot play an MKV locally.
Streaming a looping scene live
The file container in OBS is not the format YouTube receives. YouTube’s live encoder settings cover the outgoing stream: they list H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 video codecs, support up to 60 fps, and call for CBR bitrate encoding. For keyframes, YouTube recommends an interval of two seconds and says not to exceed four seconds. For RTMP/RTMPS audio, the page lists AAC or MP3. Bitrate recommendations vary by codec, resolution and frame rate, so use YouTube’s current table for the chosen output rather than applying upload-file bitrate suggestions to a live stream.
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Test with representative motion and audio, then monitor stream health. YouTube’s encoder setup guide says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; that guidance concerns YouTube’s live archive, not the local loop setting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common problems and fixes
- The video plays once and stops: Select the Media Source and enable Loop. For a playlist, use VLC Video and check Loop Playlist.
- VLC Video is missing from the source menu: Install VLC. If OBS is 64-bit, use 64-bit VLC, as specified by OBS.
- A source is blank when it is hidden or shown again: Check Show nothing when playback ends and Close file when inactive. The latter unloads the file while the source is inactive and can add a reload delay.
- An MKV recording will not import into an editor: Remux it through File → Remux Recordings and use the resulting MP4 if that application supports it better.
- YouTube reports a live-stream issue even though OBS plays the file: Check the outgoing encoder’s codec, CBR bitrate, frame rate, keyframe interval and audio configuration against YouTube’s live settings. Successful local playback does not establish that the live output meets ingestion requirements.
Or let it run in the cloud
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