Build separate Countdown, Program, and Intermission scenes in OBS Studio, then switch between them while OBS continues sending the same encoder feed to YouTube Live. Put a prepared local video in the countdown and intermission scenes, configure it to loop or restart as needed, and test the scene changes on the actual stream before leaving the setup unattended.
What the countdown and intermission change—and what they do not
OBS scenes determine the picture and audio sent through the encoder. Switching from a countdown scene to a program scene, or from a program to an intermission, changes that output without requiring you to stop streaming in OBS. It does not, by itself, start or end a YouTube broadcast or create a schedule that switches scenes automatically.
YouTube receives an encoder feed configured with a server URL and stream key. In YouTube’s documented workflow, you start the encoder, wait for the preview in Live Control Room, then select Go live. For a scheduled stream, see YouTube’s encoder setup instructions. A schedule or reusable stream key can make recurring broadcasts easier to manage, but neither creates an OBS scene schedule.
Prepare the countdown and intermission media
Make clips that fit their purpose
- Countdown: Prepare a video with the countdown and any starting information viewers need. Decide whether it should play once or repeat until you switch to the program.
- Intermission: Prepare a clean break screen or loop. If viewers may arrive mid-break, include enough context—such as what is coming next—that the screen still makes sense when playback is partway through.
- Audio: Check levels and listen to the full clips. A loop that sounds fine at its beginning can have an abrupt join; use a seamless edit or mute the source if appropriate.
Use media you have the rights to broadcast. YouTube’s live-streaming guidance is the place to check current stream requirements; a countdown or intermission does not exempt music, video, or other material from copyright rules.
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Create the scenes and set up playback in OBS
- Create three clearly named scenes. In the Scenes panel, add scenes such as Countdown, Program, and Intermission. Put the game capture, camera, or other show sources in Program, and the prepared clip in each of the other scenes.
- Add each clip as a Media Source. Select the Countdown scene, use the Sources panel’s add control, choose Media Source, and point it to the local video file. Repeat for Intermission. A local file avoids depending on a web page staying available during a long broadcast.
- Choose the playback behavior. In the Media Source properties, enable Loop if the clip should repeat. Enable Restart playback when source becomes active if each time you switch into that scene it should begin at the start. If the countdown should run only once, leave Loop off and switch scenes yourself when it ends.
- Add overlays if needed. Add a logo, schedule, or text source above the video in the Sources list so it appears on top. OBS draws higher sources over lower sources; check the resulting scene in the preview.
- Set a scene transition. Choose Fade or Cut in the Transitions controls and select a duration that fits your presentation. Preview the change and confirm it looks right in the program output, not only in the scene editor.
For a sequence of multiple clips rather than one video, OBS’s VLC Video source can play a playlist and loop it. It requires VLC to be installed, and the OBS documentation specifies that VLC’s architecture should match OBS—for example, 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS. See OBS’s media-source documentation for the current options.
Connect OBS to YouTube and test the scene changes
- Set up the stream in YouTube Studio. Open Live Control Room and create or schedule an encoder-based stream. Set its title, visibility, and other metadata, then copy the stream URL and stream key. Scheduling can provide a watch page viewers can find in advance.
- Protect the stream key. Treat it as a credential: it tells the encoder where to send video and lets YouTube accept the feed. Do not show or share it. If it is compromised, reset it in Studio and replace the key in OBS. YouTube documents reusable custom stream keys and auto-start/auto-stop controls in its stream settings guidance; labels and behavior can vary, so verify the current settings for your stream.
- Enter the connection details in OBS. Open OBS stream settings, select YouTube if that option is available, or enter the server URL and stream key from Studio. Confirm the selected stream configuration before starting.
- Start and verify the feed. Select Start Streaming in OBS. For YouTube’s documented scheduled-stream workflow, wait until Live Control Room shows the preview, then select Go live. Auto-start settings may change that manual step; test the behavior rather than assuming it is enabled.
- Exercise the full sequence. While watching the YouTube output, switch Countdown → Program → Intermission. Confirm the right scene appears, the transition is acceptable, the clip plays and loops or restarts as intended, and audio is correct. Keep the first run monitored before relying on it for an unattended broadcast.
Choose the right way to play a break loop
| Option | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| OBS Media Source with a local video | A single countdown or intermission clip, with control over whether it loops or restarts when activated. | Prepare and maintain the video file on the OBS computer. |
| OBS VLC Video source | A playlist of several clips that should play in sequence or loop. | Requires VLC installed with an architecture matching OBS. |
Plan for continuous operation and replays
A continuous feed depends on the OBS computer, its network connection, media playback, and the YouTube ingest session remaining available. A successful scene test does not establish guaranteed unattended uptime. Monitor the first long run and have a way to check the encoder and Live Control Room if the stream stops or the output freezes.
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YouTube Help says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; that does not establish that an uninterrupted 24/7 stream will produce one complete replay. If preserving each program matters, check YouTube’s current limits and consider separate broadcasts or a local recording workflow.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
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