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VGSources
Advanced Scene Switcher

How to Switch Videos Automatically in OBS for a Continuous YouTube Stream

Use OBS’s VLC Video source to loop a playlist in one scene, or Advanced Scene Switcher macros for clip-triggered scene changes.

By VGSources Team 4 min read
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For a repeating playlist in one OBS scene, add a VLC Video source, load your clips, and enable Loop Playlist. For clip-by-clip scene changes or actions triggered when playback ends, use separate media sources with Advanced Scene Switcher macros. In either setup, OBS changes what viewers see in its program output; you do not need to stop and restart the YouTube stream just to advance a video.

Choose the right OBS method

What you need Use Why
Several clips in one scene, played in order or shuffled and repeated VLC Video source It provides a playlist with shuffle and loop options.
A different scene, overlay, transition, or action for each clip Separate Media Sources or scenes with Advanced Scene Switcher macros Macros can respond to media playback conditions and switch scenes.
One local video repeated in the same scene Regular Media Source with Loop enabled OBS supports looping an individual file.

Set up a repeating playlist in one scene

  1. Install VLC. Install a VLC version that matches your OBS architecture. The OBS Project says the VLC source requires VLC, and 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC for that source to appear. See the OBS media sources reference.
  2. Add the playlist source. In OBS, select the scene that should stay on air, use the Sources panel’s add control, and choose VLC Video. If that source is missing, check VLC installation and architecture first.
  3. Add your clips. Add the local video files to the source’s playlist in the desired order. Keep Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed sequence; turn it on if you want randomized playback.
  4. Enable repetition. Turn on Loop Playlist so OBS returns to the start after the final item.
  5. Choose hidden-source behavior. OBS documents options for continuing, pausing, or stopping playback while a source is hidden. Set this to match your scene design: if the playlist must keep progressing while another scene is visible, choose a behavior that continues playback while hidden.
  6. Test the output. Start the playlist and watch the OBS program output through a full cycle, including the transition from the final clip back to the first. Confirm that the correct scene remains live and that audio behaves as intended.

Switch scenes or trigger actions when a clip ends

A VLC playlist is simplest when every clip uses the same scene. If clips need different layouts, overlays, transitions, or follow-up actions, create separate Media Sources or scenes and use Advanced Scene Switcher macros to react to media playback conditions and perform scene-switch actions.

Check plugin compatibility before installing

The OBS Project forum listing for Advanced Scene Switcher showed version 1.36.1, a minimum requirement of OBS Studio 31.1.1, and Windows, macOS, and Linux support when listed on 2026-10-03. Its listing gives a last update of 2026-08-07. Check the current listing against your installed OBS version before installing, since plugin compatibility and labels can change.

Build and test the sequence

  1. Create and arrange the scenes or media sources for the clips, with the desired overlays and transitions.
  2. In Advanced Scene Switcher, create a macro using a media condition and a scene-switch action. Configure the condition to detect the playback state that should trigger the next step.
  3. For a repeating sequence, configure the macros so the next source starts after the current one stops, and the final step returns to the first source.
  4. Run the complete sequence in OBS before relying on it unattended. A maintainer forum example describes starting one source, waiting for playback to stop, then starting another; it is an example pattern, not a guarantee for every source visibility or transition arrangement. See the maintainer discussion.

Keep the YouTube broadcast connected

Playlist advancement and scene switching happen inside OBS’s program output. They do not inherently require stopping and restarting the YouTube broadcast or changing its ingest protocol. Keep OBS connected to the live stream while the media shown in the output changes.

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Do not confuse an OBS playlist of local files with YouTube’s HLS ingest playlist. YouTube’s HLS ingestion guidance applies when an encoder sends a stream using HLS; it specifies delivery requirements including HTTPS POST/PUT, TS segments, a rolling playlist, and segment durations of 1–4 seconds. YouTube describes HLS as higher latency than a continuous RTMP stream. These are encoder-to-YouTube requirements, not settings needed to advance a local OBS playlist.

Troubleshoot common switching problems

  • VLC Video is not available in the source menu: Install VLC and confirm its architecture matches OBS. In particular, 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC for the VLC source.
  • The playlist stops after its last clip: Check that Loop Playlist is enabled on the VLC Video source.
  • Clips play in an unexpected order: Disable Shuffle Playlist for a fixed sequence, then verify the playlist item order.
  • Playback pauses or stops after changing scenes: Check the source’s behavior while hidden. Choose the continue, pause, or stop behavior that fits whether playback should progress off-scene.
  • A macro does not switch at the expected moment: Confirm its media condition, action, and source references, then test the entire sequence in OBS. Source visibility, scene transitions, and the exact macro arrangement can affect behavior.
  • The plugin will not install or load: Compare your OBS version and operating system with the plugin’s current compatibility listing before troubleshooting the macro itself.
  • You are changing an OBS playlist but expecting HLS behavior: Those are separate systems. A local playlist controls which clip OBS displays; HLS requirements apply only when the encoder is configured to send HLS to YouTube.
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