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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To loop a prerecorded Stardew Valley archive on a YouTube livestream, add it as an OBS Studio Media Source, enable Loop, then send OBS to YouTube Live using the server URL and stream key from Live Control Room. For a playlist of recordings, use OBS’s VLC Video source instead. You can run this setup yourself on a computer, or use a cloud service if you do not want a computer running at home.
Before you start: check channel access and prepare the archive
- Your YouTube channel must be verified and must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days. YouTube identifies an encoder as a typical option for gameplay streams. See YouTube’s live-streaming guidance.
- Have a local video file ready. For multiple recordings, decide whether you want them played in a fixed order or shuffled.
- Check the recording’s audio and video, including any music or other third-party material. A stream key, an eligible channel, and a working encoder do not establish that you have permission to rebroadcast everything in the file.
Choose the OBS source that fits your archive
One recording: Media Source
In OBS, add a Media Source, select the video file, and enable Loop. The source restarts the same local video when it reaches the end.
Several recordings: VLC Video
Add a VLC Video source, populate its playlist, choose the order or shuffle behavior you want, and enable Loop Playlist. OBS requires VLC to be installed for this source option to appear. The controls are documented on the OBS Media Sources page.
Set up OBS and YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio and enter Live Control Room. Create a stream or select the one you intend to use. Copy its server URL and stream key. YouTube’s setup guidance is at Set up your encoder for live streaming.
- Configure OBS streaming. In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select YouTube if available, and enter or connect the stream details. If entering them manually, use YouTube’s server URL and stream key exactly. Treat the key like a password: do not put it on screen, include it in a recording, or share it publicly.
- Set up playback. Add the Media Source or VLC Video source described above. Fit the source to the canvas and confirm that the picture is visible.
- Check audio and motion. Play the source in OBS and watch the audio meters. Confirm that the recording’s audio is reaching the stream mix and that both video and audio continue as expected near the end of a file or playlist.
- Choose output settings your connection can sustain. YouTube recommends matching encoder settings to the available upload connection, recommends RTMPS delivery, and transcodes the incoming stream into multiple output formats. Use YouTube’s current encoder settings guidance for resolution and bitrate choices; test the actual feed rather than assuming a nominal upload speed will remain available throughout a long broadcast.
- Start the encoder and inspect the preview. In Live Control Room, wait for the incoming preview, check that audio and moving video are present, then start the broadcast. Monitor stream health after going live.
Keep a backup and plan around YouTube’s archive limit
Keep an independent local copy of any recording you cannot afford to lose; external storage is optional, not required for OBS playback. YouTube says broadcasts shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived, but streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. A continuous loop can cross that threshold, so do not rely on the YouTube replay as your only copy. See YouTube’s live-stream archive guidance.
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Copyright, monetization, and interruptions
YouTube says monetization of game content depends on the commercial-use rights granted by the game publisher. It warns that extended gameplay without the appropriate license may not qualify; gameplay with step-by-step commentary tied to the action and offering instructional or educational value may be monetizable. YouTube’s statement that “Videos simply showing a user playing a video game or the use of software for extended periods of time may not be accepted for monetization” is platform guidance, not a ruling about a particular Stardew Valley recording. Read YouTube’s video-game content monetization guidance and review the applicable publisher terms for your recording.
YouTube scans live streams for third-party content. It may replace a stream with a placeholder, interrupt or terminate the broadcast, and issue claims on an archived live video after the stream ends. Check rights for music and other material separately, and consider how the footage was recorded and who holds rights to it. YouTube’s platform accepting a feed does not establish that the archive is cleared for rebroadcast or monetization. See YouTube’s guidance on copyrighted content in live streams.
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Troubleshooting a looping gameplay stream
| What you see | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The video stops at the end | Looping is disabled, or the wrong source is being used. | For one file, open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. For several files, use VLC Video and enable Loop Playlist. |
| VLC Video is missing from the source list | OBS does not detect VLC. | Install VLC, then reopen OBS and check the source list again. |
| YouTube receives no video or audio | The selected source, scene, audio routing, or encoder connection may be wrong. | Check the OBS preview and audio meters first, then verify the active scene and the stream URL and key in Live Control Room and OBS. |
| The stream key is rejected or the stream does not connect | The key may be incorrect, stale, or paired with the wrong stream settings. | Copy the server URL and key again from the intended Live Control Room stream. Keep the key private. |
| Stream health is poor or playback stutters | The output settings may exceed stable upload capacity. | Reduce output demands to fit the connection, use YouTube’s current encoder guidance, and observe stream health during a test. |
| The live feed is interrupted or replaced | YouTube may have detected third-party content. | Review the stream and archive for music or other protected elements and resolve rights issues; do not assume the stream will resume without intervention. |
| No replay appears after a very long broadcast | YouTube may not capture broadcasts exceeding 12 hours. | Keep a separate local archive rather than relying on the platform replay. |
Or let it run in the cloud
With StreamNeo, upload your prerecorded video, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos or playlists from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Each slot streams the uploaded file as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly service is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo plays uploaded videos to YouTube; it does not stream from a camera. Start your free day on StreamNeo.
Quick Recap
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