To rerun an existing gaming VOD in an OBS scene, add it as a Media Source and turn on Loop. OBS’s Replay Buffer does something different: it saves recent gameplay as a local clip when you trigger it. And YouTube’s DVR is a viewer control for pausing or rewinding a live broadcast—not a way to put a video on air.
Which OBS feature should you use?
| What you want to do | Use this | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat an existing local VOD in your OBS output | Media Source + Loop | Plays a file in the scene and restarts it when playback ends. |
| Save the last moments of gameplay you are capturing | Replay Buffer | Saves recent captured footage as a local clip when triggered. |
| Play several local videos as a playlist | VLC Video | Plays a playlist using VLC libraries; VLC must be installed. |
| Let viewers pause or rewind the current YouTube live broadcast | YouTube Live DVR | Provides viewer-side playback controls, subject to YouTube’s limitations. |
How to loop one gaming VOD in OBS
- Choose a scene. In OBS, select the scene that should show the VOD, or create a new one.
- Add the file. In the Sources dock, click + and choose Media Source. Create a new source or select an existing one, then browse to your local VOD file.
- Enable looping. In the Media Source properties, check Loop. OBS documents this setting as repeating the file after playback finishes; its default is off. Restart playback when source becomes active is a separate option: it restarts playback when the source becomes visible, but does not by itself make the file loop.
- Check the scene output. Confirm the source is visible and positioned correctly in the Sources stack. Play the file in the preview and check that both video and audio work as intended.
- Connect OBS to YouTube. In OBS’s stream settings, choose the YouTube service/server as appropriate and enter the stream key provided through YouTube’s live workflow. Keep the key private.
- Test before going live. Confirm the VOD loops and that the scene and audio behave as expected. OBS recommends testing scenes and stream behavior before a first broadcast.
OBS lists these video extensions as supported: .mp4, .ts, .mov, .flv, .mkv, .avi, .gif, and .webm. Listed audio extensions include .mp3, .aac, .ogg, and .wav. An extension alone does not guarantee that every codec and container combination will decode on every computer, so test the exact file in the OBS preview before broadcasting. OBS also cautions that streaming at 60 fps can be substantially more demanding than at 30 fps; the cited guidance does not establish a universal hardware requirement for a given resolution, frame rate, or encoder.
Replay Buffer is for saving recent gameplay
Use Replay Buffer when you want to capture the last portion of gameplay being recorded or streamed and save it as a clip. Enable Replay Buffer in OBS and assign a hotkey to save the buffer; OBS also provides hotkey actions to start and stop it. It is not the source for selecting a VOD that is already saved on your computer. To broadcast that file as scene content, use Media Source instead.
Use VLC Video for a playlist of VODs
If you want to play multiple local videos in sequence, OBS’s VLC Video source supports playlists and includes a Loop Playlist property, documented as on by default. It relies on VLC libraries, so VLC must be installed; OBS specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS. For repeating just one local VOD, Media Source is the more direct option.
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YouTube DVR is for viewers, not your OBS scene
YouTube Live DVR lets viewers pause and rewind during a live stream. Configure it separately in YouTube Studio’s live stream settings; it does not play a local file or create an OBS clip. Viewers cannot seek to a point before the broadcast began. YouTube says DVR may be limited or unavailable on streams longer than 12 hours, and that Apple TV, AirPlay, and older app versions can have lower limits. If DVR is disabled, viewers cannot seek back during the live broadcast, though YouTube says a recording of the entire stream can still be viewed once available. See YouTube Help: Turn on DVR on live streams.
What to check if playback or streaming fails
- The VOD stops at the end. Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. Restarting playback when the source becomes active is not a substitute.
- The source is missing from the output. Check that it is visible and that its position in the Sources stack does not put it behind an opaque source.
- The file has no picture or sound. Test the exact file in OBS preview. A supported extension does not ensure that its particular codec/container combination will decode on your machine.
- The playlist source is unavailable. Confirm VLC is installed and matches OBS’s architecture; OBS specifies 64-bit VLC when using 64-bit OBS.
- The stream does not continue after OBS stops sending. Media Source loops playback within OBS; it does not independently broadcast when OBS is stopped. OBS must keep encoding and sending the stream.
- The stream is taxing the computer. Test before going live and consider whether 60 fps is necessary; OBS notes it can be substantially more demanding than 30 fps. The documentation cited here does not prescribe a universal hardware specification.
- Viewers cannot rewind. Check the YouTube live DVR setting, and account for the broadcast’s length and the viewer’s device or app version.
For copyright, permission to rebroadcast a game’s footage, music, or other included material is not guaranteed by the fact that you recorded it or have a copy of the VOD. Review YouTube’s rules and rights that apply to the specific material before streaming. You can use StreamNeo’s copyright safety checklist as a practical preflight prompt; it does not grant rights or guarantee a platform decision.
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