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To stream several videos from a folder as one YouTube Live broadcast, use OBS Studio’s VLC Video source to build a playlist, then connect OBS to a stream created in YouTube Studio. OBS can play the selected files in order, shuffle them, or loop the playlist; it does not automatically watch a folder for new files. You will need a verified, eligible YouTube channel, OBS Studio, VLC installed on the PC, and a stable internet upload connection.
Before you start
- Check YouTube access: YouTube says live streaming requires a verified channel with no live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days. Its getting-started guidance also states a minimum age of 16. Confirm eligibility in YouTube Studio before scheduling a broadcast. YouTube live-streaming eligibility
- Install OBS Studio and VLC: The VLC Video source requires VLC. If you use 64-bit OBS, OBS’s documentation says to install 64-bit VLC. OBS media sources
- Prepare the files: Choose the videos you want in the broadcast and make sure you have the right to stream them. A successful upload to YouTube does not itself establish permission to use copyrighted music or video.
- Check upload capacity: Your internet connection must sustain the stream’s total bitrate. YouTube recommends leaving 20% headroom beyond that bitrate; other devices or uploads using the same connection can reduce available capacity. YouTube streaming tips
Create the YouTube Live stream
- In YouTube Studio, select Create and then Go live to open Live Control Room.
- Create an encoder stream or select one you have scheduled. Set its title, privacy (public, unlisted, or private), and schedule as needed.
- In the stream settings, locate the stream URL and stream key. Copy them for OBS. Treat the key like a password: anyone with it may be able to send video to your stream. If you think it has been exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio and update OBS.
- Choose whether to use YouTube’s auto-start and auto-stop settings. If you want to inspect the preview before viewers can see the broadcast, leave the manual Go live step in your workflow; for a scheduled encoder stream, wait for the preview in Live Control Room and click Go live when ready. YouTube live stream settings Set up a live stream with an encoder
Build a video playlist in OBS
For several videos: VLC Video source
- Open OBS Studio and select or create the scene you will use for the broadcast.
- In the Sources panel, select +, then choose VLC Video. Give the source a recognizable name.
- In the source properties, add the video files you want to stream to its playlist. Arrange them in the desired playback order.
- Choose whether to shuffle the playlist and whether to loop it. Check the OBS canvas and listen to playback so you can confirm the selected files, image, and audio are correct before connecting to YouTube.
The VLC source accepts media files added to its playlist; the documented behavior does not establish automatic folder scanning or adding files placed in that folder later. Add any additional videos to the playlist yourself. OBS media sources
For one video: Media Source
If you only need one local file, add OBS’s built-in Media Source instead. Select the file in its properties and enable Loop if you want that clip to repeat. OBS lists support for video formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, and audio formats including MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. Actual playback can still depend on the file and installed codecs. OBS media sources
Connect OBS and choose stream settings
- In OBS, open Settings and select Stream. Choose YouTube if it is available in the service list, or enter the server/stream URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. Keep the key private.
- Open Settings and select Output. Choose an encoder and configure it for a stable constant bitrate (CBR). YouTube recommends RTMPS, CBR, up to 60 fps, and a 2-second keyframe interval; do not exceed 4 seconds. For RTMP/RTMPS audio, YouTube lists AAC or MP3. Follow the codec-specific guidance in YouTube’s encoder settings rather than assuming one bitrate works for every codec, resolution, and frame rate. YouTube encoder settings and bitrates
- As H.264 examples, YouTube’s encoder table gives 1080p at 30 fps a 5 Mbps minimum and 14 Mbps recommended bitrate, and 720p at 30 fps a 3 Mbps minimum and 8 Mbps recommended bitrate. These are YouTube’s operational recommendations, not independent performance measurements or guarantees. The page does not display a publication year; it was accessed on October 3, 2026.
- For a straightforward setup, let YouTube detect resolution and frame rate, then match the selected bitrate to what your connection can sustain with headroom. Higher resolution or frame rate needs more available upload capacity; prioritize a stable stream over settings your connection cannot hold.
Test, go live, and monitor the broadcast
- Start with a representative test: play a video with motion and audio, not just a still or silent segment. Confirm the image is framed correctly and the audio is audible and in sync.
- Start streaming from OBS. In Live Control Room, wait for the preview and inspect it. For a scheduled stream using manual start, click Go live only after the preview looks right.
- During the broadcast, watch YouTube’s stream health and check picture and sound. If the connection struggles, lower the bitrate or output resolution in OBS and confirm the new settings remain within YouTube’s guidance and your upload capacity. YouTube streaming tips
- When finished, stop the stream using the Live Control Room and encoder workflow you selected. YouTube says encoder streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume the same archive outcome for a stream that lasts 12 hours or longer. YouTube encoder setup
Choose the right playback and start behavior
| Need | Use | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat one file | OBS Media Source | Plays a selected local file and offers a per-file Loop setting. |
| Play several files in a chosen order | OBS VLC Video source | Uses a playlist whose order you set; supports shuffle and playlist looping. |
| Inspect before viewers see the stream | Manual start in Live Control Room | Lets you check the preview before clicking Go live for a scheduled encoder stream. |
| Start or stop automatically | YouTube auto-start/auto-stop settings | Available as stream settings; choose them only if they fit the way you intend to operate the broadcast. |
Playlist and source behavior is documented by OBS; start controls are described in YouTube’s live stream settings and encoder setup guidance.
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Troubleshoot common problems
The VLC Video source is missing or will not play files
- Check VLC installation: VLC must be installed for OBS’s VLC Video source. Match VLC’s architecture to OBS; OBS notes that 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC.
- Check the playlist: Confirm the files were added to the VLC source, remain available at their saved locations, and are in the intended order. Adding a file to the folder alone does not add it to the source playlist.
- Check playback in OBS: Select the source and inspect the canvas. If a file fails there, resolve the local playback issue before going live.
YouTube does not show a preview
- Confirm OBS is streaming to the selected YouTube stream, and that its URL and key match the stream open in Live Control Room.
- Check that OBS has started output and that the channel is eligible for live streaming. If you reset the stream key, replace the old key in OBS.
- Wait for the encoder signal to appear in Live Control Room before using the scheduled stream’s manual Go live control.
The stream buffers or stream health is poor
- Compare OBS’s output bitrate with the stable upload capacity available to the PC. Leave YouTube’s recommended 20% upload headroom and account for other network activity.
- Reduce the bitrate or resolution if the connection cannot sustain the current output. Re-test and watch stream health before relying on the change.
- Use CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval, with the interval no longer than 4 seconds, as YouTube recommends. Check the codec-specific encoder guidance for the chosen resolution and frame rate.
Viewers cannot hear the video or see the expected picture
- Play a representative file in OBS before streaming and verify both the source and audio meters respond.
- Inspect the Live Control Room preview. Confirm OBS is using the intended scene and source, and that the file itself contains the expected audio and video.
- Check the encoded audio format against YouTube’s RTMP/RTMPS guidance (AAC or MP3) and confirm the selected output resolution and frame rate match your intent.
Copyright, privacy, and channel considerations
Only stream video and audio you are authorized to use. Copyrighted music, game footage, films, or other media may be subject to rights claims or restrictions; having a local copy does not grant streaming rights. YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility and account restrictions can also change, so confirm your channel status in Live Control Room before an important event. Use public, private, or unlisted privacy deliberately: each setting changes who can watch, not whether you have permission to use the media. YouTube eligibility
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