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Use OBS Media Source to repeat one video file: add the file and turn on Loop. Use VLC Video when you need a playlist: add the files, enable Loop Playlist, and leave Shuffle Playlist off to preserve their order. VLC must be installed, with its architecture matching OBS. These settings control playback inside OBS; YouTube’s encoder connection and go-live controls are separate.
Which OBS source should you choose?
| What you need | Choose | Why and what to check |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat one local video | Media Source | Its Loop property repeats that file. It is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux and does not require VLC. |
| Play several files in sequence, then repeat them | VLC Video | Add files to its playlist and enable Loop Playlist. Turn off Shuffle Playlist for a fixed order. VLC is required, and its architecture must match OBS. |
| Control playback when a source is hidden by a scene change | Either | Media Source offers Restart playback when source becomes active and Close file when inactive. VLC Video has visibility behavior options for stopping and restarting, pausing and resuming, or continuing to play while not visible. |
OBS’s Media Sources documentation lists formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, WebM, MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. The documentation lists Media Source’s Loop default as off and VLC Video’s Loop Playlist default as on; the upstream VLC source implementation also sets loop true and shuffle false by default. Defaults and labels can vary by installed OBS version, so verify the properties rather than relying on defaults.
How to loop one video with Media Source
- Add the source: In the OBS scene where the video should appear, select + in the Sources dock and choose Media Source. Name it, then confirm.
- Choose the file: In the source properties, select Local File and browse to the video. OBS lists formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, among others.
- Enable looping: Turn on Loop. The Media Source documentation lists this property as off by default. Leave it off only if the video should stop after one playback.
- Set scene-change behavior: Choose whether to restart playback when the source becomes active or close the file when inactive, according to how you use scenes. These options affect source playback, not the YouTube stream connection.
- Check output: Play the video in OBS and confirm that both its picture and audio appear as intended. Observe the end-to-start transition to check for an unwanted gap or abrupt cut.
OBS’s Sources Guide explains how sources are combined in scenes. A source being hidden or restarting is a local OBS playback behavior; it is not a command to start or stop YouTube Live.
How to loop a playlist with VLC Video
- Install VLC first: The VLC Video source depends on VLC. OBS documents that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC; match the architecture of your installation.
- Add the source: In the target scene, choose + in the Sources dock and select VLC Video. If the source type is missing, check that VLC is installed and its architecture matches OBS.
- Build the playlist: Add the files you want to play. Put them in the order you want if the sequence matters.
- Set repeat and order: Enable Loop Playlist to repeat the playlist. Disable Shuffle Playlist if files must play in the listed order; shuffle randomizes the sequence.
- Choose hidden-source behavior: Configure whether the VLC source should stop and restart, pause and resume, or keep playing while it is not visible. Check this setting if you switch scenes during the broadcast.
- Test the whole sequence: Confirm each file plays, the playlist reaches its end, and it starts again as expected. Verify the setting values in your OBS version; listed defaults are not a substitute for checking.
OBS’s Media Sources page lists 400 ms as the default VLC Video Network caching value. That is a configuration default documented on the page dated 2022-01-11, not a guarantee of network performance.
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OBS playback is separate from YouTube Live
Loop and playlist settings determine what OBS plays into its output. They do not configure the YouTube encoder connection, schedule a public start, or guarantee an uninterrupted session. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions say to enter the server URL and stream key in the encoder. For a scheduled event, use the Live Control Room preview and select Go live when ready; see Manage live stream settings.
Before going live, test picture movement and audio, check the Live Control Room preview, and monitor stream health. YouTube’s encoder settings guidance provides bitrate recommendations by ingestion resolution, frame rate, and codec. Choose settings appropriate to your connection and output; these recommendations do not establish that either OBS source will run continuously without interruption. The cited documentation also does not guarantee that changing a source preserves a live session or synchronizes local playback with a scheduled public transition.
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Common problems and fixes
- The video plays once and stops: Check that Loop is enabled on Media Source. For VLC Video, check Loop Playlist.
- The playlist repeats in a different order: Turn off Shuffle Playlist if you need a fixed sequence.
- VLC Video is missing from the source menu: Install VLC and make sure its architecture matches OBS. OBS specifically documents the 64-bit OBS/64-bit VLC requirement.
- The video restarts or stops after a scene switch: Review the source’s visibility and inactive behavior. Media Source restart/close options and VLC Video’s stop/restart, pause/resume, or always-play behavior affect playback when hidden.
- The video loops, but YouTube is not live: Check the encoder’s YouTube server URL and stream key, then inspect the Live Control Room preview and use Go live for a scheduled event. Source looping alone does not start YouTube Live.
- The stream looks poor or unstable: Check YouTube’s resolution-, frame-rate-, and codec-specific bitrate guidance, test the actual stream, and monitor stream health. A source’s loop setting does not fix encoder or connection problems.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a YouTube channel that keeps uploaded videos live around the clock, rather than a local OBS scene, StreamNeo runs the playback in the cloud:
- Upload a recording or build a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key once.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the video from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not have to stay on.
Every slot streams uploaded video as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot with no re-encode or quality tiers. It includes 10 GB storage per slot, pooled across active slots, 24/7 looping and playlists, automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream, and StreamNeo team support. The first day is free with no card, once per account. Billing options are a day, a week, a month, six months, or a year; cancel any time. UPI and cards are accepted in India, with card checkout worldwide. For five or more slots, contact support. StreamNeo streams to YouTube and plays uploaded videos; it is not a camera-based live source.
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