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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTo transition between pre-recorded videos in OBS, put each video in its own scene, choose a transition such as Fade or Cut in the Scene Transitions dock, and switch scenes when you want the handoff to happen. For several files that should play within one source, use OBS’s VLC Video source instead—but a playlist is not the same as a scene transition.
Choose between separate scenes and a playlist
| Setup | Best suited to | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| One scene per video, with a Media Source in each | A deliberate handoff where you want to choose a transition between segments | You switch scenes to make the handoff. OBS’s documented guides do not establish automatic scene switching when a file ends. |
| One VLC Video playlist source | Playing an ordered list of files inside one source | Requires VLC installed with the same architecture as OBS. Playlist playback does not itself create a transition between scenes. |
In OBS, a scene is a container for sources, including video and audio. A scene transition changes which scene is on the program output; it does not determine how multiple files inside a playlist source change from one to another. The instructions below use one scene per video so you can control each handoff.
Set up a scene for each video
- Create the scenes. In the Scenes dock, click the plus button and create a scene for each video or segment. Give them clear names such as “Video 1” and “Video 2.”
- Add each video as a source. Select a scene, then in the Sources dock click the plus button and choose Media Source. Name the source, choose the local video file, and confirm. Repeat in the other scene with its video. OBS documents common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM.
- Fit the video in the scene. Select the source in the preview and position or resize it. To fit it to the canvas, use the source’s transform options; check the preview to ensure the picture is framed as intended.
- Check playback properties. Open the Media Source properties. OBS documents Loop as off by default, Restart playback when source becomes active as on by default, and Show nothing when playback ends as on by default. These are defaults, not recommendations for every workflow. If Close file when inactive is enabled, the file may take time to load again when the source becomes active.
Choose and configure a scene transition
In the Scene Transitions dock, select a transition from the dropdown and set its duration. OBS Project’s Overview Guide says Fade and Cut are available at first launch; it also lists Swipe, Slide, Fade to color, and Luma Wipe as additional options available through the plus control. The choices can vary with the installed OBS version, so check the interface you are using.
A Cut switches immediately, while a Fade blends between scenes over the configured duration. OBS documents duration as a configurable setting but does not establish an ideal length for a particular kind of video. Choose based on the material and check the result in a test run.
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Use Studio Mode for a controlled handoff
- Click Studio Mode. The live program scene remains on the right; the editable preview scene appears on the left.
- In the left preview, select the scene for the next video and make any needed framing or source adjustments. The audience continues to see the current program scene.
- Click Transition to move the preview scene to program using the selected transition. Alternatively, configure a Quick Transition and trigger it when ready. Quick Transitions can have their own durations.
- Before each handoff, confirm the next scene is ready. Switching to a scene does not guarantee its media file has finished loading or that its audio is at the level you want.
The OBS Project Overview Guide gives 500 ms and 1000 ms as examples of Quick Transition durations; these are examples, not evidence-based recommendations for transition timing.
Play multiple files inside one scene with VLC Video
If your goal is to play a list of files from one source rather than manually move between scenes, add VLC Video from the Sources dock and build the playlist in its properties. VLC must be installed, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. OBS documents Loop Playlist as on by default and Shuffle Playlist as off by default. This arrangement plays the playlist within a source; it is not a scene transition workflow.
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Connect OBS to YouTube and test before going live
- Get the connection details. In YouTube Live Control Room, create or open the stream and copy the stream URL and stream key. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions use these details to connect broadcasting software.
- Enter them in OBS. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, choose YouTube as the service if available, and enter or connect the account and stream key as appropriate for the displayed setup. Keep the stream key private; anyone with access may be able to broadcast to your channel.
- Use current encoder guidance. YouTube recommends RTMPS and publishes encoder settings by resolution, frame rate, codec, and protocol. Set OBS to match the current YouTube Help guidance for your intended output rather than relying on an old preset. A bitrate recommendation concerns the outgoing stream, not the scene transition.
- Run the whole sequence privately or as an unlisted test where appropriate. Confirm each file loads and plays, audio is present, the handoff looks right, and the YouTube Live Control Room preview and stream health are acceptable before starting a public broadcast. Monitor stream quality during the broadcast.
Can OBS switch scenes automatically when a video ends?
The OBS Project guides covering Media Source playback, VLC playlists, Studio Mode, and scene transitions describe those features but do not establish a built-in rule that switches scenes automatically when a Media Source reaches the end. The reliable workflow described here is manual: prepare the next scene and trigger the transition. If you need end-of-file automation, verify the specific plugin, script, or control method against your installed OBS version before relying on it.
Troubleshooting common transition problems
- The video changes without the transition you selected: Check the active transition in the Scene Transitions dock and use the Transition control in Studio Mode rather than switching scenes directly if you need a controlled handoff.
- The next scene is blank or slow to appear: Check that its Media Source points to the correct local file and that playback starts when the source becomes active. If Close file when inactive is enabled, allow for reload time and test it before the broadcast.
- The video ends and the scene does not change: This workflow does not establish automatic scene-at-end switching. Trigger the next scene manually, or separately verify an automation method for your OBS version.
- A VLC playlist source is unavailable: Install VLC and match its architecture to OBS; for 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
- YouTube does not receive the stream or the preview is unhealthy: Recheck the stream URL and key in OBS, confirm the encoder settings follow YouTube’s current guidance for the selected output, and inspect Live Control Room stream health.
- The transition looks different than expected: Test with the same scenes and media before going live, and confirm the installed OBS version offers the transition you selected.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is to keep pre-recorded videos looping on a YouTube channel, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative to running OBS on a computer at home. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. The service plays uploaded videos; it does not broadcast from a camera.
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