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To make every item in an OBS playlist fit the same scene, add the videos as a VLC Video Source, set the scene size under Settings → Video, then right-click the source and choose Transform → Fit to Screen. This gives the source a consistent fit on the canvas while preserving each video’s proportions. It does not change the pixel dimensions encoded in the original files.
What “the same resolution” means in OBS
An OBS scene has a canvas size, and the stream or recording has an output size. A playlist’s individual videos can still have different pixel dimensions and aspect ratios. Applying a transform changes how the playlist source is displayed on the canvas; it does not convert the videos themselves.
- Base (Canvas) Resolution: the workspace where sources are arranged and sized.
- Output (Scaled) Resolution: the dimensions used for the stream or recording. OBS notes that a 1080p source can, for example, be output at 720p by setting this value accordingly.
- Source transform: controls the selected source’s position and scale on the canvas. Changing output resolution alone does not apply a separate fit to each playlist item.
OBS describes the canvas as “the amount of space you have to fit your sources” and the output setting as the resolution the stream or recording will use. See the OBS Studio Overview Guide.
Set up the playlist and scene
- Add a VLC Video Source: In the OBS Sources dock, click +, choose VLC Video Source, and add the files to its playlist. OBS says this source supports multiple media files; VLC must be installed for the source to appear. See OBS Media Sources.
- Choose the canvas size: Open Settings → Video and set Base (Canvas) Resolution to the scene dimensions you want. For example, choose a 16:9 canvas if that is the frame your scene is designed around.
- Choose the output size: In the same panel, set Output (Scaled) Resolution to the resolution you want OBS to send to the stream or use for recording. This controls the output frame, not the playlist files’ encoded dimensions.
- Fit the source: Select the VLC Video Source in the Sources dock or preview, right-click it, then choose Transform → Fit to Screen. The OBS guide lists Ctrl+F on Windows and Cmd+F on macOS as the Fit to Screen shortcuts.
- Check different playlist items: Preview landscape, portrait, square, and 4:3 videos if your playlist includes them. Fit to Screen preserves proportions, so some items may leave bars or unused canvas space.
Choose how the source should fill the canvas
| Transform | What it does | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Fit to Screen | Fits the source within the canvas while preserving its proportions. Different aspect ratios can leave bars or unused space. | You want the whole image visible without distortion. |
| Stretch to Screen | Fills the canvas dimensions, which can change the image’s proportions. | Filling the entire frame matters more than preserving accurate geometry. |
| Center to Screen | Centers the source but does not make every item fill the canvas. | You want a centered source and can accept different apparent sizes. |
These are distinct source transforms in OBS. A practical OBS forum reply to a question about mixed-aspect-ratio VLC playlists recommended Fit to Screen or Center to Screen, and the original poster reported that it worked. That is a user report, not a guarantee for every file or setup. See the OBS forum discussion.
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If the actual video files must have matching dimensions
Scene transforms only affect how OBS renders the playlist source. They do not re-encode or rewrite the source files. If another workflow requires every file to have identical pixel dimensions, normalize the files in a video editor or transcoder before adding them to OBS. That is a separate step from fitting the playlist source to the scene.
Troubleshoot inconsistent-looking playlist items
- The image has bars or does not reach the canvas edges: This is expected when Fit to Screen preserves a video’s proportions but its aspect ratio differs from the canvas. Keep Fit to Screen to show the full image, or choose Stretch to Screen if filling the frame is more important than avoiding distortion.
- Some videos look smaller even though they are centered: Center to Screen centers a source; it does not make differently sized or shaped content fill the canvas. Use Fit to Screen for a consistent fit within the canvas.
- The stream or recording has the wrong dimensions: Check Settings → Video → Output (Scaled) Resolution. This sets the output size; the source transform separately controls how the playlist appears on the canvas.
- VLC Video Source is missing: Install VLC, then check the Sources dock again. OBS lists VLC installation as a requirement for this source to appear.
- The original files still report different resolutions: That is normal after applying an OBS transform. Use a video editor or transcoder to normalize the files if their encoded dimensions need to match.
- Behavior differs across a particular file or setup: OBS’s published guidance explains canvas, output, source, and transform controls but does not provide a version-by-version matrix for VLC playlist resizing. Results may depend on the file and the OBS/VLC setup.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep a YouTube channel live with uploaded videos rather than operate OBS on a computer, StreamNeo runs the playlist from the cloud: upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; your computer and home connection can be off. Videos stream as uploaded, at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. Start your free day on StreamNeo.
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