Use OBS Studio on your Mac mini to play a local video file into a YouTube Live event: create a scene, add the file as a Media Source, connect OBS with the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio, then check the preview before you click Go live. Turn on the source’s Loop option only if you want it to replay after it ends. This sends the video as an encoder-based live broadcast; it does not upload it as a regular YouTube video.
Before you start
- Check live-stream access. YouTube says enabling live streaming for the first time may take up to 24 hours. Confirm access in YouTube Studio before planning an event. YouTube encoder setup.
- Install OBS Studio. OBS’s current product page lists macOS 13.0 or newer; check its requirements before installing, since the Mac mini generation and macOS version are not specified here. OBS Media Sources.
- Have the video file available locally. OBS will read it as a media source. An external drive is optional, not a requirement; it can be useful if the file or a separate local recording needs more storage.
- Allow time to test. YouTube advises setting up the encoder at least two hours before an event and starting it at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start. YouTube streaming tips.
Create the YouTube Live event
- Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room. Create or schedule an encoder stream.
- Set the event title, visibility, and other details. YouTube supports Public, Private, and Unlisted privacy settings. A scheduled event can have a watch page before the encoder feed starts. Manage live stream settings.
- Find the stream URL and stream key in the event’s stream settings. Keep the key private: YouTube describes stream keys as being like the stream’s password and address. Anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to your event.
Set up OBS to play the video
- Open OBS and create a scene, or select the scene you want to use.
- In the scene’s Sources area, add a Media Source.
- Choose the local video file. OBS documents common formats including MP4 and MOV, and its Media Source is available on macOS. OBS Media Sources.
- Enable Loop if you want that file to start again automatically when playback ends. OBS documents Loop as off by default. Leave it off for a one-time playback.
- Check the scene preview. Make sure the video is framed correctly and that its audio is audible in OBS’s audio meters.
For a playlist rather than one file, OBS documents a VLC Video source. VLC must be installed for that source to appear in OBS. OBS Media Sources.
Connect OBS to YouTube
- In OBS, open Settings and then Stream.
- Choose YouTube as the service if it is available in the service list. If configuring a custom destination, use the stream URL and key shown in YouTube’s Live Control Room; do not substitute a URL or key from another event.
- Paste the URL and key into the matching fields, then apply the settings. Treat the key like a password: do not show it on screen, publish it, or share it.
YouTube’s encoder setup instructions describe the connection process and provide the stream URL and key in Live Control Room. YouTube encoder setup.
Choose video and audio settings
Use YouTube’s current encoder guidance as the starting point, then choose settings your Mac mini and upload connection can sustain reliably. The figures below are YouTube’s published H.264 ingestion recommendations, not a guarantee of picture quality or a performance result for a particular Mac mini.
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| H.264 output | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s published figures in its encoder-settings guidance, accessed in 2026; its complete recommendations also vary by codec, resolution, and frame rate. Check the current table when configuring a different output. YouTube live encoder settings.
- For RTMP or RTMPS, use constant bitrate (CBR) and set the keyframe interval to two seconds, YouTube’s recommendation.
- YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted transport where supported. Its guidance lists H.264, H.265, or AV1 for video and AAC or MP3 for audio. Follow the settings supported by your OBS version and chosen workflow. YouTube RTMPS guidance; encoder settings.
- Do not assume a Mac mini can encode a particular resolution or frame rate based on its name alone. The generation, macOS version, source file, and OBS settings all matter; the sources cited here do not benchmark Mac mini models.
- Leave room for network variation. The upload connection must sustain the encoder’s outgoing bitrate; if the connection struggles, reduce the output resolution or bitrate and test again.
Test, start, and monitor the broadcast
- Start streaming from OBS. Allow the incoming feed to appear in YouTube Live Control Room.
- Check the preview for the right video, framing, and audio before you launch the event. For a scheduled stream, click Go live in Live Control Room when you are ready for viewers to see it.
- During the broadcast, watch for audio or video problems and verify that the event is accessible as intended. YouTube recommends starting the encoder at least 15 minutes before the scheduled event so there is time to check the feed. YouTube streaming tips.
- If the file should repeat, confirm that the Media Source’s Loop option is on. Stopping the encoder output or ending the event stops the live broadcast.
End the stream and handle the archive
When finished, stop the stream in OBS and end the event in YouTube as appropriate. YouTube says encoder streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived; that threshold is from its encoder setup help, accessed in 2026. For longer streams, do not rely on an automatic archive. If you also need a local recording, set up and verify it separately—an OBS recording and the YouTube archive are not the same file or necessarily stored in the same place. YouTube encoder setup; YouTube streaming tips.
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Troubleshooting
| What you see | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| No stream preview in Live Control Room | OBS is not sending a feed, or its destination details do not match the event. | Confirm OBS is streaming, then recheck the event’s stream URL and key in YouTube Studio. Keep the key private. |
| The event page exists, but viewers do not see the video | A scheduled watch page can exist before its encoder feed begins, or the event has not been launched. | Wait for the preview in Live Control Room; click Go live for a scheduled event when ready. |
| The video stops at the end of the file | Loop is off, which OBS documents as its default. | Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop if replay is intended. |
| The picture or audio is unstable | The chosen output may be too demanding for the upload connection or encoder setup. | Test a lower resolution or bitrate, ensure the connection can sustain the selected output, and check the OBS preview and audio meters before relaunching. |
| VLC Video source is missing | OBS requires VLC to be installed for that source to appear. | Install VLC, then check the OBS Sources menu again. |
Keep YouTube rights and content rules in view
Having a video file does not by itself establish permission to broadcast everything in it. Before streaming, check that you have rights to the footage, music, artwork, and other included material, and review YouTube’s current copyright and live-stream rules. Repeating a recording as a live feed does not change the underlying content or grant permission to use it. You can use StreamNeo’s copyright safety checklist as a preparation aid; it is not a substitute for rights clearance or YouTube’s policies.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube channel to keep playing uploaded videos without leaving the Mac mini on, StreamNeo runs the stream from the cloud: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams the uploaded file as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
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