To loop one video in a continuous YouTube livestream, add it to OBS as a Media Source, enable Loop, select an available NVIDIA NVENC encoder under Settings → Output, then connect OBS to a YouTube stream key. The loop setting repeats the video; the encoder and stream settings determine how OBS sends it live. You still need to keep OBS and the computer running for this do-it-yourself setup.
1. Add the video and make it loop
- In OBS, select the scene you plan to broadcast. Under Sources, select + and add Media Source.
- Choose Local File, browse to the video, and select it.
- Enable Loop in the Media Source properties. OBS restarts the file when playback reaches its end.
- Check the preview, framing, and audio before going live. If the source is not visible, confirm it is enabled in the Sources list and positioned appropriately in the scene.
OBS lists MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM among supported Media Source formats. See the OBS Media Sources documentation for source options and details.
Loop several videos as a playlist
For multiple files, add a VLC Video source, configure its playlist, and enable Loop Playlist. The source requires VLC to be installed; OBS notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. For a single video, Media Source is the simpler option.
2. Select NVENC in OBS
- Open Settings → Output.
- If you want to set individual streaming controls, change Output Mode to Advanced, then use the Streaming section.
- Open the encoder dropdown and select the NVIDIA NVENC option available on your system. Names and available codecs can vary with OBS version, operating system, GPU, and driver.
- Apply the settings, then confirm OBS still renders the scene and its audio correctly.
NVENC is a hardware encoder: OBS must be able to access compatible NVIDIA hardware and drivers. OBS’s hardware encoding guide, published in 2022, gives GeForce 750 Ti or GeForce 900-series (Maxwell) or higher as its baseline and recommends current GPU drivers. This baseline is not a promise that every machine exposes every codec or can handle every setting. Check the encoder dropdown on the computer you will use, and consult the OBS hardware encoding guide if NVENC is missing.
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Hardware encoding moves encoding work to a dedicated GPU component, but OBS notes that older hardware encoders can produce lower image quality than software encoding at the same bitrate. Judge the actual stream quality and system stability rather than assuming a preset will suit every video and GPU.
3. Match the stream to YouTube’s ingest settings
YouTube’s live encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS ingest and lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video. Select a codec supported by both your available NVENC implementation and the YouTube ingest configuration you intend to use. For live video, YouTube calls for constant bitrate (CBR) and recommends a 2-second keyframe interval, not exceeding 4 seconds. Its guidance lists AAC or MP3 stereo audio and recommends 128 Kbps; for SDR, it specifies Rec. 709 and 8-bit. Refer to YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate guidance for current options.
Set a bitrate for your resolution and frame rate
Do not copy one bitrate across every resolution, frame rate, and codec. YouTube’s current guidance at the time checked recommends these example ingest bitrates:
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| Output | H.264 | AV1 or H.265/HEVC |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 17 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s recommended values, not universal requirements. Choose the value for your codec and output mode, and make sure your encoder and upload connection can sustain it. If the upload connection is unstable, a lower supported output target may be more reliable than a bitrate it cannot maintain.
Keep recording settings separate from streaming settings
Do not copy OBS’s recording-quality baseline into the live stream controls. OBS’s Advanced Recording Settings Guide describes a recording baseline using NVENC Constant QP 16–23, a 2-second keyframe interval, P5 preset, High Quality tuning, two-pass quarter-resolution multipass, High profile, Look-ahead off, Adaptive Quantization on, and 2 B-frames. That guidance is for recording; YouTube’s live ingest guidance calls for CBR. Set the streaming encoder for the live platform separately.
4. Connect OBS to YouTube and verify the live feed
- In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select a stream and retrieve its stream URL and stream key. Follow YouTube’s encoder setup instructions if you need to create the stream.
- In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select the appropriate YouTube service option if available, and enter the stream URL and key. If the OBS service selection does not provide the connection details automatically, use YouTube’s server URL and key as directed in the setup flow.
- Treat the stream key like a password: do not publish it or show it in a recording. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube before broadcasting again.
- Start with a test or preview. Check that YouTube receives the stream, the video repeats at the end, and audio is present and at a suitable level.
- Monitor stream health in YouTube during the broadcast. YouTube recommends testing before going live; its computer livestream tips also suggest checking that a local archive file is growing when recording and stopping the encoder after the event has stopped on YouTube.
A repeating Media Source does not by itself guarantee an uninterrupted livestream. OBS must remain open, the computer must stay on, and the network and YouTube ingest connection must remain available. The Media Source loop governs playback of the file, not recovery from a dropped broadcast.
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5. Decide whether to make a local archive
YouTube says streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived and warns that a stream exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. If you need a copy of a long broadcast, configure a local recording rather than relying only on YouTube’s archive. See YouTube’s archive guidance.
OBS recommends MKV for recording resilience: an ungraceful stop is less likely to corrupt the entire file, and OBS provides a way to remux the recording to MP4 afterward. A local recording needs storage and may compete with the stream for system resources, so test both together before relying on them. OBS covers the format and output options in its Standard Recording Output Guide.
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| Workflow | Use it when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Media Source with Loop | You have one local video file. | Simple setup; the loop setting applies to that file. |
| VLC Video with Loop Playlist | You want several local clips to repeat in sequence. | Requires VLC, with matching 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS. |
| Stream only | You need the live broadcast but not a local copy. | Avoids local recording storage and load, but YouTube may not capture streams longer than 12 hours. |
| Stream plus local MKV recording | You need a backup or an archive of a long broadcast. | Needs local storage and should be tested for system load. |
Troubleshooting common problems
The video plays once and stops
Open the Media Source properties and verify Loop is enabled. For a playlist, check Loop Playlist on the VLC Video source and confirm VLC is installed with the required architecture.
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NVENC does not appear in the encoder list
OBS may not be able to access compatible NVIDIA hardware or a suitable driver. Check that the machine has a supported NVIDIA GPU, update its driver, restart OBS, and inspect the encoder list again. If the hardware or operating system does not expose NVENC, select an encoder that is available rather than assuming NVENC can be enabled through a setting.
YouTube reports unstable or unhealthy ingest
Confirm the streaming encoder uses CBR, the keyframe interval is 2 seconds (and no more than 4), and the bitrate matches the selected codec, resolution, and frame rate. Check the upload connection and YouTube’s stream health rather than increasing bitrate automatically.
YouTube receives video but no sound
Check the Media Source audio in OBS’s mixer, confirm it is not muted, and verify the stream’s audio encoder and track configuration. Listen to the OBS output during a test before leaving the broadcast unattended.
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The livestream stops even though the source is set to loop
Looping only restarts the media file. It does not reconnect OBS after a network or YouTube ingest interruption. Check the OBS connection, YouTube stream health, and the computer’s power and network status; restart or reconnect the broadcast if needed.
The YouTube archive is missing or incomplete
For broadcasts exceeding 12 hours, YouTube warns that the stream may not be captured at all. Use and monitor a local recording if a copy matters, and verify available storage before starting.
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