To stream a rain video continuously from a Windows PC, add the video as a looping Media Source in OBS, connect OBS to a YouTube livestream with its server URL and stream key, and keep the PC and internet connection running. First, confirm that YouTube live streaming is enabled for your channel; then test the picture, audio, and stream health before leaving it on.
Before you start
- YouTube live access: YouTube requires a verified channel with no live-streaming restriction in the preceding 90 days. First-time activation can take up to 24 hours. Check the current requirements in YouTube’s live streaming help.
- A local video file: Have the rain video saved on the Windows PC. OBS Media Source supports formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM.
- A stable upload connection: Your sustained upload capacity must support the selected stream bitrate, in addition to any other traffic on the connection.
- A PC that can stay awake: OBS sends the stream from your computer, so it and its network connection must remain active for the broadcast to continue.
OBS Studio is free, open-source recording and streaming software. Its Quick Start Guide recommends running the Auto-Configuration Wizard to account for your intended use, hardware, and network conditions.
Set up the rain video in OBS
- Run the Auto-Configuration Wizard. Open OBS Studio and use the wizard to configure the initial video and streaming setup. Treat its result as a starting point; test the stream and adjust settings for your connection.
- Create a scene. In the Scenes panel, add a scene for the rain broadcast.
- Add the video. In Sources, add a Media Source, choose the local rain-video file, and enable Loop. OBS defines Loop as replaying the file after playback completes. Its Media Sources documentation covers supported source types and behavior.
- Check the sound. If the video includes rain audio, watch the OBS audio meters while it plays and confirm the sound is audible. OBS enables desktop audio and microphone capture by default in its Quick Start setup; remove or disable sources you do not want, so the broadcast does not pick up unrelated system or room audio.
- Check the image. Confirm the video fills the preview as intended and that its loop starts again correctly. If you need multiple clips rather than a single repeating file, OBS’s VLC Video source can loop a playlist. VLC must be installed, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
Connect OBS to YouTube
- In YouTube Studio, open Go Live and create or select the stream.
- Copy the stream’s Stream URL (the Live server URL) and Stream key from YouTube’s live setup.
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select YouTube as the service if available, and enter the stream key. If you use a custom server option, enter YouTube’s server URL as well. Follow the current YouTube encoder setup if the Studio labels differ.
- Keep the stream key private: it tells the encoder where to send video and allows YouTube to accept the feed. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio before broadcasting again.
- Start streaming from OBS. Check the YouTube Live Control Room preview to confirm the incoming image and audio before making the broadcast public.
Choose resolution, bitrate, and keyframes
YouTube’s current encoder guidance recommends the following H.264 bitrates for these frame rates:
| Output | YouTube-recommended H.264 bitrate |
|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 8 Mbps |
These are platform recommendations, not a guarantee that your connection can sustain them. In OBS, use a bitrate your upload connection can reliably maintain; if stream health shows instability, reduce the bitrate or resolution and test again. YouTube’s live encoder settings call for constant bitrate (CBR), recommend a 2-second keyframe interval, and say not to exceed 4 seconds. Use the supported encoder settings shown in OBS and verify the result in YouTube’s stream health panel.
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Test the broadcast and leave it running
- Before a long or public broadcast, run a test for a few minutes. Set the stream to unlisted if you want to check it without making it public.
- In Live Control Room, verify the preview, stream health, picture, and rain audio. Correct missing audio, an incorrect crop, or unstable health before relying on the stream overnight.
- For a local OBS stream, adjust Windows power settings so the PC does not sleep during the planned broadcast. The exact labels vary by Windows version; use the power settings available on your system.
- Keep OBS open and the internet connection active. A power cut, lost connection, sleep state, application failure, or PC restart can interrupt a locally encoded stream. An optional UPS may help with brief power loss to the PC and network equipment, but it does not prevent internet outages or guarantee uninterrupted streaming.
- Monitor the stream during operation when possible. For a local recording as a separate backup, verify that the file is intact and continues growing rather than assuming an archive is being saved.
Will YouTube archive a 24-hour livestream?
YouTube’s encoder setup guidance says, “All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived.” That statement supports automatic archiving for streams under 12 hours; it does not promise that one continuous 24-hour stream will be preserved as a complete replay. If you need a full replay, plan a verified local recording or shorter broadcast sessions, and check current YouTube behavior rather than relying on one uninterrupted stream to produce a complete archive.
Keep OBS on your PC or move the loop to the cloud?
With OBS, the rain file stays on your Windows PC and that computer and its connection must remain available to send the stream. YouTube’s encoder setup page also lists cloud services for continuous prerecorded-video streams, including Gyre and Upstream; their fees, terms, and reliability depend on the providers and are not compared here.
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Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for keeping uploaded videos live; it does not broadcast from a camera. Upload your rain video, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. The cloud loops the video, so your Windows PC does not have to stay on. Each slot supports the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, without re-encoding or quality tiers, and includes automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo for details, or start your free first day.
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