Advanced Scene Switcher is the best-supported OBS plugin to investigate for automating scene changes around prerecorded video. Pair it with OBS’s built-in Media Source for one local video, or VLC Video for a playlist (with VLC installed). But OBS playback, OBS scene automation and YouTube’s live-event controls are separate layers: YouTube’s documented encoder workflow includes a manual Go live confirmation after the preview appears. Treat a fully unattended start and stop as unconfirmed until you test your event’s current settings.
Which OBS plugin should you use?
For a prerecorded video that should play and then hand off to another OBS scene, start by investigating Advanced Scene Switcher. The OBS community plugin directory identifies it as an automation tool, and a community discussion describes switching scenes after a video ends. That is a reported configuration, not an independently verified walkthrough; controls and compatibility can vary by plugin release, platform and OBS version.
Use OBS’s native playback source for the media itself. The plugin is for automation around playback, not a replacement for the source that plays your video.
Choose the right playback source
One prerecorded file: Media Source
Add a Media Source to the scene and select the local video file. Review its restart-on-activation and visibility behavior: those settings determine whether playback starts over or continues when the source is shown again. See the OBS Media Sources and Sources Guide documentation.
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A playlist: VLC Video
Use VLC Video when you need a playlist rather than a single file; VLC must be installed. OBS documents loop and shuffle controls for this source. Confirm the desired order and whether playback should repeat before connecting the scene to a scheduled event.
What each automation layer can—and cannot—do
| Layer | Useful for | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Media Source or VLC Video | Playing one local file or a VLC playlist; configuring restart, loop or shuffle behavior. | That it schedules a YouTube event or confirms the event is live. |
| Advanced Scene Switcher | Investigating timed or playback-related scene/source automation in OBS. | That every current version has identical controls, or that it controls YouTube’s event lifecycle. |
| YouTube Studio / Live Control Room | Creating and scheduling the event and connecting the encoder using the event’s stream URL and key. | That OBS scene automation necessarily bypasses YouTube’s Go live or end-of-event actions. |
| OBS scripting or WebSocket clients | Custom or external control of OBS scenes and sources. | That remote control of OBS also schedules or ends the YouTube event. |
Set up and rehearse the workflow
- Prepare playback in OBS. Create the scene and add a Media Source for one file, or VLC Video for a playlist. Set the restart, visibility, loop and shuffle behavior you actually need.
- Install and check the plugin. Review the current Advanced Scene Switcher release notes and match them to your OBS build, operating system and CPU architecture. OBS warns that plugin support varies across these factors. Back up your OBS configuration before changing a working setup.
- Configure the scene transition. Use the plugin’s current guide or release notes to set the trigger and action. A community example reports changing scenes after video playback ends, but the cited material does not establish a universal current setup. Test the exact end-of-file behavior with your installed versions.
- Schedule the YouTube event separately. In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, create or schedule the stream, then connect OBS using the event’s stream URL and key. Follow YouTube’s encoder workflow: wait for the preview and confirm the event’s live handoff. Its documented workflow includes clicking Go live; check current event settings and behavior before relying on unattended start or stop.
- Test the complete run privately or unlisted. Rehearse the scheduled start, preview-to-live handoff, end of file, scene change, playlist loop, OBS restart, missing media file and connection loss. Verify what viewers see and whether the YouTube event remains live before using the workflow for a public scheduled stream.
Alternatives and add-ons
Python/Lua scripts
OBS supports Python and Lua scripting for custom automation. A script can complement a plugin, but OBS warns that poorly written scripts can leak memory or crash the application. Use this route only if a specific behavior warrants maintaining a script, and test failure and restart cases.
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WebSocket and control hardware
OBS Studio’s Remote Control Guide says WebSocket integration is included by default with OBS Studio 28 and above; the guide is dated 2023-04-18. External clients can control OBS, and a control deck such as an Elgato Stream Deck is optional hardware—not a requirement for scheduled playback. Protect WebSocket with a password as OBS recommends. Neither a control deck nor a WebSocket client, by itself, proves that YouTube’s event start and end are automated.
Common failure points
- The video does not start when expected: check that the source points to an available file and review restart-on-activation and visibility settings.
- The scene does not change at the end: verify the plugin trigger against the playback behavior you configured, and test with the installed plugin version. Do not assume a community example applies to every release.
- A playlist stops or repeats incorrectly: check VLC installation and the VLC Video source’s playlist, loop and shuffle settings.
- OBS is live but the YouTube event is not: confirm the correct event stream URL and key, wait for the preview, and complete the required live handoff in YouTube Studio unless your current event settings have been verified to handle it.
- The plugin is unavailable or behaves differently: compare its release notes with your OBS version, operating system and CPU architecture before updating or reinstalling.
- OBS fails after adding a script or remote control: disable the new component to isolate the issue, restore the backed-up configuration if needed, and secure WebSocket access with a password.
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