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Use an MP4 video file with H.264 video and AAC audio as the practical starting point for a looping product video in OBS. Turn on Loop in the OBS Media Source, then separately set the outgoing YouTube stream to a supported live encoding—preferably H.264 video and AAC stereo audio. MP4 is the source file’s container; OBS encodes the live stream sent to YouTube.
Why MP4 is a good source format—and what it does not guarantee
MP4 is supported by OBS Media Source and is one of YouTube’s supported upload formats. For a product-video export, YouTube’s recommended upload profile uses MP4 with H.264 video and AAC-LC audio. Those upload recommendations concern a file you upload; they are separate from the settings used to send a live stream to YouTube. YouTube’s upload encoding guidance and OBS Media Sources documentation describe those respective uses.
The file extension alone does not determine whether viewers will hear sound. OBS plays the local file and mixes its audio into the outgoing stream. The stream’s audio codec, source volume, mute state, and track routing all matter too.
Set up a looping product video in OBS
- Prepare and inspect the file. Use a local MP4 with the intended video and audio. Play it outside OBS first to confirm the soundtrack is present and audible.
- Add the file as a media source. In OBS, add a Media Source to the scene and select the local file. Enable Loop in the source properties. OBS documents that this restarts playback when the file ends; it does not promise that every file will have a seamless or frame-perfect transition.
- Check the audio meter. While the file plays, watch the corresponding source in the OBS Audio Mixer. If the meter does not move, check that the file has an audio track and that the media source is playing as expected. OBS recommends checking mixer meters and selecting devices manually when an expected signal is absent. See OBS Audio Mixer.
- Confirm the stream mix and track. Make sure the source is not muted and that its audio is assigned to the track used by the stream output. A meter moving in OBS does not by itself prove that the audience mix contains that source.
- Choose supported live encoding. For a compatibility-first setup, send H.264 video with AAC stereo audio over RTMP/RTMPS. YouTube recommends RTMPS as the secure variant. Its current encoder guidance also lists H.265/HEVC and AV1 video, plus AAC or MP3 audio for RTMP/RTMPS. See YouTube live encoder settings.
- Test the actual scene before broadcasting. Run a controlled test for a few minutes. Check the audio, motion, stream health, and the moment the video loops back to its beginning. YouTube recommends testing and monitoring stream health; inspect your own export because a loop setting does not guarantee a gapless boundary.
Recommended YouTube Live settings to start with
| Setting | Starting point | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local source | MP4 file | OBS supports MP4 Media Sources. The file container is distinct from the live stream encoding. |
| Video codec | H.264 | A straightforward compatibility-first choice. YouTube also lists HEVC and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS live video. |
| Audio codec | AAC stereo | YouTube lists AAC and MP3 for RTMP/RTMPS. Its guidance supports 5.1 audio over RTMP only with AAC. |
| Stereo audio sample rate and bitrate | 44.1 kHz; 128 kbps | YouTube’s recommended advanced settings for stereo audio. |
| Video bitrate mode | CBR | YouTube recommends constant bitrate for live encoding. |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds | YouTube recommends two seconds and says not to exceed four seconds. |
| H.264 video bitrate examples | 720p30 or 720p60: 8 Mbps; 1080p30: 14 Mbps; 1080p60: 17 Mbps | These are YouTube’s recommended live ingest bitrates, not guarantees of image quality. Pick a profile your upload connection can sustain. See YouTube’s encoder settings. |
Diagnose a YouTube Live stream with no audio
Trace the signal from the file toward the audience rather than changing the file extension at random:
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- No movement on the OBS source meter: check that the file contains an audio track, that it plays, and that the correct media source is in the scene.
- The meter moves, but viewers hear silence: check mute state, the source’s track assignment, and which audio track the stream output sends. Verify that the outgoing encoder uses a YouTube-supported audio codec.
- Local headphones work, but the broadcast is silent: local monitoring is separate from the audience stream mix. Confirm stream routing and track assignment; do not treat monitoring as proof that the broadcast contains audio.
- Viewers hear an echo: look for the same device captured both in OBS global audio settings and as a scene source. OBS warns that capturing a device twice can cause echo. See OBS audio sources.
- YouTube reports a stream-format error: check the outgoing live codec and configuration in OBS and review YouTube’s explanation of live stream errors.
Use a controlled test stream or recording to verify the complete route: source file, OBS meter, stream mix, and YouTube stream health. OBS also documents how to set up audio monitoring; monitoring is useful for listening locally, but it is not a substitute for checking the stream output.
When a playlist or another ingest protocol makes sense
Several product videos
If you need a playlist instead of one looping file, OBS’s VLC Video source offers a Loop Playlist property that restarts the playlist when it reaches the end. See OBS Media Sources. Check the transitions and audio between files in a test; playlist looping does not by itself solve audio routing or guarantee seamless joins.
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RTMP/RTMPS versus HLS
RTMP/RTMPS with H.264 and AAC is the usual compatibility-first workflow for this setup. HLS is another ingest path for supported use cases, with AAC, AC3, and EAC3 audio options; it has additional segment and playlist requirements and higher latency because it sends segments. Switching to HLS will not fix a muted source or incorrect OBS track assignment. See YouTube’s HLS ingest guidance.
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