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To loop several radio-show files in a YouTube livestream, add them to an OBS Studio VLC Video Source, turn on Loop Playlist, and send the OBS feed to YouTube using the stream key and server URL from YouTube Studio. This repeats the playlist after its final show; it does not, by itself, guarantee an unattended stream will survive a computer, power, or internet failure.
What you need before you start
- OBS Studio and VLC installed on the computer running OBS. OBS’s VLC Video Source depends on VLC; if VLC is not installed, that source may not appear.
- The radio-show recordings in the order you want them to play. Check that each file plays locally before adding it to OBS.
- A verified YouTube channel with live streaming available. YouTube says a channel must have no live-stream restriction in the previous 90 days; first-time live-stream activation can take up to 24 hours, so enable it ahead of your planned broadcast. See YouTube’s live-streaming setup guidance and encoder setup instructions.
- Reliable upload bandwidth for the video quality you choose, and the rights to stream every recording and composition in the shows.
OBS lists common video formats such as MP4, MOV, MKV, and WebM, and audio formats such as MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. That list is not a guarantee that every codec and file combination will work. Test your actual files in VLC and OBS. For OBS’s source options, see its Media Sources guide.
Build and loop the show playlist in OBS
- Install VLC, then open OBS. Create a new scene for the radio stream, or select the scene where the shows should play.
- Add the playlist source. In the Sources box, select + and choose VLC Video Source. Name the source, then confirm.
- Add the files in order. In the source properties, add each show file to the playlist. Arrange the entries in the intended playback sequence. Leave shuffle off for a fixed order; turn it on only if you want randomized playback.
- Enable looping. Make sure Loop Playlist is selected. OBS documents this option as on by default; it restarts playback after the playlist runs out of media. Confirm it is enabled rather than relying on the default.
- Check the scene and audio. Start playback in OBS and verify that the video or artwork appears as intended and that the audio meter responds. Listen to the start and transitions between files. If your shows are audio-only, add a suitable static image or visual element to the scene if you want one on screen.
For a single recording rather than a folder of shows, OBS’s ordinary Media Source has its own Loop option. It repeats that one file; use VLC Video Source for a multi-file playlist. OBS explains both source types in its Media Sources documentation.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Create a live stream or select one you have already set up, then locate its stream key and server URL. YouTube’s encoder instructions explain how to create or select the stream.
- Keep the stream key private. Treat it like a password: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to your stream. Do not publish it or include it in screenshots.
- Enter the connection details in OBS. Open Settings > Stream, choose YouTube as the service, and enter the stream key. If you need to enter a server manually, use the server URL shown in Live Control Room. OBS’s Sources Guide covers adding sources to a scene; YouTube’s encoder guide covers the YouTube side of the connection.
- Set encoder output to suit your connection. YouTube’s general guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS transport, H.264, H.265, or AV1 video, and AAC or MP3 audio. It recommends constant bitrate (CBR) and a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. Choose a resolution and bitrate your upload connection can sustain; these platform recommendations do not establish what a particular computer or network can handle. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions. YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted transport.
- Start the encoder and inspect the preview. Start streaming from OBS, then check the Live Control Room preview and stream health before making the broadcast public. Follow YouTube’s guidance to test in advance and monitor audio and video during the stream: YouTube live-streaming tips.
Test the full loop and monitor the broadcast
Before sharing the stream, let the playlist reach its final item and confirm that it returns to the beginning. Test with the same kind of audio and movement you expect in the actual broadcast, check that the Live Control Room receives the feed, and watch for audio or video problems. YouTube recommends checking upload capacity and choosing a quality that works reliably on the available connection in its live-streaming tips and encoder settings guidance.
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OBS documents playlist looping, but that does not promise uninterrupted unattended operation for a day or longer. A local setup still depends on the computer, power, OBS, the files, and the internet connection staying available. Test the configuration and monitor it; do not treat playlist looping as automatic failure recovery.
Check music and recording rights before you go live
Having a copy of a radio show does not necessarily give you permission to rebroadcast it. Before streaming, verify that you have the necessary rights for each recording and composition, including any relevant rights held by artists, record labels, publishers, and other royalty participants. YouTube’s livestream terms put responsibility for those rights and applicable licensing, registration, or notification requirements on the provider. A loop setting does not change that obligation.
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YouTube also requires live streams to follow its Community Guidelines and limits streaming to verified channels without an active live-stream restriction. See Get started with live streaming. Rights and eligibility depend on your channel, content, and circumstances; check them before scheduling a public broadcast.
Troubleshooting common problems
- VLC Video Source is missing: Install VLC, restart OBS, and check the Sources menu again. The VLC source requires VLC.
- A file will not play or has no sound: Open it locally in VLC first, then test it in the OBS source. A listed file extension does not guarantee support for every codec or combination. Confirm the source is visible in the active scene and that OBS’s audio meter moves during playback.
- The playlist stops at the last show: Open the VLC Video Source properties and verify Loop Playlist is enabled. Make sure the intended files are all in that source’s playlist.
- Shows play in the wrong order: Reorder the playlist entries and turn shuffle off if the sequence must stay fixed.
- YouTube receives no feed: Check that OBS is streaming, YouTube is configured with the correct stream key and server URL from Live Control Room, and your connection is available. If you replaced or reset the key, update OBS with the current one.
- The preview is unstable or quality is poor: Check upload bandwidth and stream health, then choose a lower quality or bitrate that your connection can sustain. YouTube recommends testing the encoder and monitoring the audio and video rather than assuming a given setting will work on every setup.
- The stream ends when you leave or the computer fails: OBS is running locally, so the broadcast depends on that computer, its power, and its network connection. The documented playlist loop does not provide recovery from those failures.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want the radio playlist to keep running without leaving a home computer on, StreamNeo is a cloud service for looping uploaded videos as a YouTube livestream. Upload the shows, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; each slot streams your files as uploaded at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. It plays uploaded videos rather than broadcasting from a camera. Start your free day on StreamNeo.
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