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To switch between cartoons and a holding screen during a YouTube Live broadcast, create two OBS scenes—one with your cartoon video and one with your holding-screen design—then select the scene you want live. You can switch with the mouse, assign scene hotkeys, or use Studio Mode to preview a scene before transitioning to it. The scene change does not require ending the stream.
Create a cartoon scene and a holding scene
- Add the cartoon scene. In OBS, create a scene and give it a clear name, such as “Cartoons.” Add a Media Source to the scene and select the video file on your computer. OBS documents support for formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
- Set how the cartoon plays. In the Media Source properties, select Loop if the video should start over when it reaches the end. Use Restart playback when source becomes active if you want it to begin from the start each time you return to the scene. These are separate controls: looping governs what happens at the end of the file, while restarting governs what happens when the source becomes active.
- Build the holding scene. Create a second scene and name it something unmistakable, such as “Holding Screen.” Add an image, text, a color source, or a combination. In OBS, sources can be positioned, resized, cropped and layered; consult the OBS Sources guide.
- Check the composition and audio. Make sure the cartoon is framed as intended and that its audio is present if you want viewers to hear it. Check that the holding screen is readable and that it does not unintentionally include audio or other sources. Test both scenes before going live.
Switch scenes while the stream is live
Select the scene with the mouse
Click the scene you want in OBS’s Scenes list. OBS sends the selected scene’s composition to the stream. Choose “Cartoons” to show the video, then “Holding Screen” when you want to pause the cartoon presentation without ending the broadcast.
Assign a hotkey for one-button switching
Open Settings > Hotkeys in OBS, find the actions for switching to your named scenes, and assign a key or key combination to each. Choose combinations that are unlikely to be pressed accidentally while using other software. Test them before the broadcast. OBS has built-in scene hotkeys, so an external keypad is optional. See the OBS Keyboard Shortcuts guide.
Use Studio Mode to preview first
Enable Studio Mode when you want to prepare the next scene without immediately changing what viewers see. Set up the scene in the preview pane, then click Transition when it is ready to go live. OBS provides Cut and Fade transitions, and the transition duration can be configured. A Cut switches immediately; a Fade softens the visual change. Confirm the selected transition looks right in the program output before relying on it.
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These switching controls change the OBS composition sent to the stream; they do not themselves start, stop or configure a YouTube broadcast. For the YouTube connection, use the current YouTube Live control room and OBS’s current streaming interface. OBS’s overview guide documents generic service and stream-key settings, but YouTube account eligibility and setup requirements can vary and are not covered by these scene steps.
Choose the right cartoon playback behavior
- Repeat continuously: enable Loop so the file starts again after it ends.
- Resume when returning: leave “Restart playback when source becomes active” off if you do not want each scene activation to start the video from the beginning.
- Start over on each return: enable “Restart playback when source becomes active” if each switch back should begin at the file’s opening.
Verify the result by switching away and back before you go live. The exact behavior you want depends on whether the cartoon should play as a continuous loop or restart for each segment.
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Troubleshoot scene switching and playback
- The wrong scene appears on stream: confirm you selected the intended scene. If Studio Mode is on, remember that selecting a scene in the preview does not put it on air until you click Transition.
- The cartoon does not restart as expected: check both Loop and Restart playback when source becomes active. They control different playback events.
- The video is missing or framed incorrectly: reopen the Media Source properties and confirm the selected file, then adjust the source’s position, size or crop in the scene.
- A hotkey does not switch scenes: revisit OBS’s Hotkeys settings, confirm the key is assigned to the intended scene, and check that another application or action is not intercepting the same shortcut.
- OBS performs poorly with a complex setup: reduce costly sources and keep the scene collection focused. OBS’s encoding performance troubleshooting guide discusses ways to reduce source and encoding load.
Keep a YouTube stream running without leaving a computer on
If your goal is to keep uploaded video playing on YouTube continuously rather than operate an OBS scene switch during a broadcast, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not need to stay on. Each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, once per account.
Or let it run in the cloud:
- Upload your video or prepare a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded material from the cloud.
There is no need to leave a computer running at home; any quality up to 4K 60fps is included at one price per slot; and StreamNeo 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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