If OBS shows a black screen between local demo clips, start with each Media Source’s end, visibility, and reload behavior. A clip can hide itself when playback ends, and a hidden source may take a moment to appear again if OBS unloads it. Check those settings, choose a playback structure that fits the show, and rehearse the complete sequence before going live.
Find out where the black screen appears
Watch the OBS preview or program output during a rehearsal. If the gap is already visible there, investigate the source, scene, and transition behavior below. If OBS shows the intended picture but the black appears only in YouTube playback, the cited OBS guidance does not establish a YouTube-specific cause; compare the local OBS output with the viewer playback before changing your scene setup.
OBS interface labels and defaults can vary by installed version. The OBS Media Sources documentation, dated January 11, 2022, lists the settings below; check the labels in your version if they differ. OBS Media Sources documentation
Check Media Source settings in order
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Decide what should happen at the end of each clip
Open the clip’s Media Source properties and review Show nothing when playback ends. OBS lists this as on by default; when enabled, it hides the source after the file finishes. If no other visible item is underneath, the scene can become empty or black. Decide what the audience should see next: a holding image, the next clip, a presenter camera, or a transition. Make sure that item is visible and not covered by another source.
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Check visibility and restart behavior
Review Restart playback when source becomes active. OBS documents that this restarts the file once the source is in the current scene and visible; the documented default is on. Confirm the source’s eye/visibility state and choose behavior based on the show: restart the clip when entering the scene, or leave it positioned to continue from its current point. OBS’s overview explains that the eye icon controls visibility and that source order determines which item can cover another.
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Test with “Close file when inactive” off
Close file when inactive unloads a file when its source is hidden or not on the current scene to free memory. OBS warns that when the source becomes visible again, it may take a short time to reload and appear. If black intervals happen after returning to a scene, test the same sequence with this option off and compare the output in a private or otherwise controlled rehearsal.
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Check scene contents and layering
In the scene where the gap occurs, verify that the intended next source is present, visible, and not obscured by another source above it. If the clip hides at its end, a background or holding image below it can prevent an empty scene. Use the OBS eye icon to check visibility and inspect the source order.
Choose a playback setup for the demo sequence
| Setup | Best fit | Behavior to verify | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separate Media Sources, potentially arranged in scenes | Each demo needs its own overlays, layout, or operator-controlled transition. | Restart on activation, show-nothing-at-end, close-file-when-inactive, and source visibility. | More operator control, but more sources and scene setup. |
| VLC Video playlist | A straightforward ordered list of local clips. | Playlist order, loop and shuffle settings, visibility behavior, VLC installation, and matching architecture. | Centralizes the playlist, with less per-clip scene and layout control. |
OBS’s VLC Video source can hold a playlist and provides loop, shuffle, and visibility controls. VLC must be installed for VLC Video to appear; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. A Media Source is the direct option for an individual local file. Choose based on the layouts and operator control you need, then test the actual clips in your scene collection. OBS Media Sources documentation
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Use transitions to separate clips cleanly
OBS includes Cut and Fade transitions and supports other transition types. Studio Mode lets you prepare a scene before transitioning it to the live scene. Choose a transition and duration that suit the demo sequence, then watch the actual output to ensure the transition does not reveal a loading gap or an empty scene. OBS Studio Overview Guide
Investigate rapid hide-and-show automation carefully
If a script or operator immediately hides and shows a source right as a clip ends, test with a deliberate pause before reactivating it. A report filed on July 29, 2024 described a media source failing to restart reliably after immediate hide/show at playback end in OBS 30.2.0 on Windows 11; the reporter said waiting at least one second avoided that reproduction. This is a narrow, version-specific issue report, not a universal timing rule or proof of the cause in other OBS releases. OBS issue #11040
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Rehearse the complete YouTube Live sequence
- Run the exact clip order, scenes, and transitions you plan to use.
- Watch OBS’s output at every clip boundary, including the end of the final clip and any return to an earlier scene.
- When a gap appears, note whether OBS itself shows black or whether the picture is correct in OBS and the gap appears only in YouTube playback.
- Change one relevant setting at a time, then repeat the same sequence so you can tell whether the change affected the symptom.
OBS recommends testing scenes, settings, and stream smoothness before a first live stream. OBS Studio Overview Guide
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