Use OBS’s VLC Video source to play a playlist of local files, then separately set OBS’s output to 3840×2160 at 60 fps. The files’ resolution and frame rate do not automatically determine the live stream’s output. A reliable 4K/60 broadcast also needs a computer that can render and encode it and an upload connection that can sustain YouTube’s recommended bitrate.
Before you start: install VLC and check your setup
OBS’s VLC Video source provides playlist controls. Install VLC Media Player first; the source depends on VLC’s libraries. Match the application architectures: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. If you only need to play one file, OBS’s regular Media Source is the simpler alternative, but VLC Video is the playlist-capable source. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
- Have the video files available on the computer running OBS.
- Confirm that your PC and upload connection can handle the resolution, frame rate, and bitrate you intend to use.
- Make sure your YouTube channel is able to go live and that you have access to its stream key in YouTube Studio.
Add and arrange the playlist in OBS
- Open the scene. In OBS, select the scene where you want the videos to appear.
- Add the playlist source. In the Sources dock, click + and choose VLC Video. If the option is missing, check that VLC is installed and that its architecture matches OBS.
- Add the files. In the VLC Video source properties, use its playlist controls to add the local video files. Arrange them in the order you want them played.
- Set playback order and ending behavior. Leave Shuffle Playlist off to play the files in list order. Loop Playlist is on by default; turn it off if playback should stop after the last file.
- Choose how scene visibility affects playback. VLC Video’s documented default is to stop when the source is not visible and restart when it becomes visible. Check the visibility behavior setting if switching scenes should not restart playback.
- Fit and position the video. Select the source, then use its transform controls to size and place it. Fit to Screen is available from the transform menu (Ctrl-F on Windows; Cmd-F on macOS). This scales the source to the canvas; it does not set the live output resolution or bitrate. See the OBS Sources Guide.
- Check audio. Play the playlist in OBS and confirm the intended audio is audible in the mixer. Set levels and verify that transitions between files behave as expected before going live.
Set OBS to output 4K at 60 fps
In Settings → Video, set the output resolution to 3840×2160 and the frame rate to 60 FPS. The base canvas controls the scene layout; the output resolution controls the stream’s video dimensions. A 4K source fitted to a lower-resolution output is not a 4K stream, and a 4K output does not turn lower-resolution files into native 4K video.
Choose 60 fps only if OBS can render and encode reliably at that rate. OBS notes that 60-fps streaming is more demanding than 30 fps and advises reducing the frame rate or output resolution if performance is insufficient. If 4K/60 causes rendering lag, encoding overload, or dropped frames, test 4K/30 or a lower output resolution rather than persisting with an unstable stream. See OBS Encoding Performance Troubleshooting.
#1 Best Overall
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Configure the encoder and YouTube ingest
Open Settings → Output and configure the streaming encoder. YouTube supports RTMP/RTMPS live ingest with H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1, up to 60 fps. The encoder and ingest options available in your OBS installation depend on your hardware and software setup; select a codec YouTube accepts and that your system can encode consistently.
YouTube’s current live encoder guidance recommends CBR and a two-second keyframe interval; do not exceed four seconds. For 2160p at 60 fps, its recommended bitrate is 50 Mbps for H.264 or 35 Mbps for AV1/H.265. These are YouTube platform recommendations, not guarantees that your PC or internet connection can sustain the stream. Leave upload headroom for normal network variation; if the connection cannot reliably provide it, lower the output mode or bitrate and test stream health before the event. YouTube’s guidance does not state a publication date, so check its live encoder settings for current requirements.
Rank #2
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To send OBS to YouTube, copy the stream key from YouTube Studio’s live control room and enter it in OBS Settings → Stream, selecting YouTube as the service. Treat the key like a password: do not show it in a capture or share it. Start the stream from OBS, then confirm that YouTube receives the signal and reports healthy stream status before presenting the playlist to viewers.
Test the complete playlist before going live
Run a private or otherwise appropriate test using the same kind of movement and audio as the planned stream. YouTube recommends testing with audio and movement similar to the actual program. Check the first file, transitions, the last file, loop behavior, and what viewers will see if the source becomes hidden. Then watch OBS’s statistics and YouTube’s stream-health messages during the broadcast. YouTube 4K streams use normal latency; the low-latency option is not available for 4K.
Rank #3
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Troubleshoot common playlist and stream problems
- VLC Video is not listed: Install VLC Media Player and ensure its 32-bit or 64-bit architecture matches OBS; 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC.
- Files play in the wrong order: Turn off Shuffle Playlist and arrange the list in the source properties.
- The playlist repeats or stops at the end: Check Loop Playlist. It is on by default, so disable it to stop after the final item.
- Playback restarts after changing scenes: Check VLC Video’s visibility behavior. Its documented default is to stop while hidden and restart when visible.
- The stream is not actually 4K/60: Verify OBS’s output resolution and FPS in Settings → Video. File properties and source transforms do not set stream output.
- Frames are dropped or the stream stutters: Rendering, encoding, or upload capacity may be limiting performance. Check OBS statistics and YouTube stream health; reduce the output resolution or frame rate if the PC cannot keep up, and retest the connection against YouTube’s bitrate recommendation.
- Video appears but audio does not: Check the VLC source’s audio in OBS’s mixer and confirm that the test file itself contains the expected audio. Test transitions as well as the opening file.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is an always-on YouTube channel rather than operating OBS on your own computer, StreamNeo is a cloud option for uploaded videos and playlists: upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. Each slot streams uploads as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; it includes 10 GB of pooled storage per active slot, looping and playlists, and automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, once per account. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
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