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To put a countdown in the video viewers see on YouTube Live, create a “Starting soon” scene in OBS Studio, add a timer as a browser source, text source, or countdown video, and switch to your meditation scene when it reaches zero. YouTube’s scheduled-event page and trailer can prepare viewers before the broadcast, but they do not add a custom countdown to the live video.
Build two scenes in OBS Studio
- Create the countdown scene. In OBS, add a scene named Starting soon. Add a background and the countdown source you plan to use. OBS scenes combine sources such as text, browser, image, and media sources. See the OBS Sources Guide.
- Create the meditation scene. Add a separate scene with the camera or other visuals and any audio sources needed for the guided session. Keeping it separate makes the transition straightforward.
- Arrange and check the output. Make sure the timer is legible against the background and visible in OBS’s program output. If you add pre-roll audio, confirm it is intentional and that you have the rights to use it.
Choose how to show the timer
Browser source: a styled, live countdown
Add a Browser Source to the Starting soon scene and enter the countdown page URL. OBS embeds a web page in the scene and lets you configure its URL and viewport dimensions. The documented defaults are an 800 × 600 viewport and a custom frame rate of 30 FPS; adjust the dimensions to fit your scene rather than assuming those defaults fill the stream canvas. See OBS Browser Source.
The timer depends on the page and its network or service behavior. Load it before the broadcast and verify that it counts down as expected, remains visible, and does not show unwanted page elements.
Text source: a simple editable display
Add a text source for the timer display. OBS text sources can read their contents from a file, so a timer mechanism, script, or other process can update that file. A plain text source does not count down by itself; arrange and test the updating mechanism separately. Text-source options can vary by operating system. See OBS Text Sources.
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Countdown video: a fixed pre-rendered timer
Add the countdown file as a media source. This approach avoids dependence on a live countdown web page, but the duration is fixed and the scene change may need to be manual. Test playback from the beginning and confirm what happens when the file ends, including whether it loops or leaves a blank screen. OBS lists media sources among its scene source types in the Sources Guide.
Start the stream and switch to the meditation
- Before going public, run a private or unlisted rehearsal. Confirm the timer starts when you intend, fits the screen, and does not reset unexpectedly when you change scenes.
- Start the YouTube Live broadcast with the Starting soon scene visible. Check the outgoing program view, not just the OBS preview, to confirm the audience sees the timer.
- When the timer reaches zero, switch to the meditation scene. If your chosen timer does not trigger a scene change, make the switch part of your live-session checklist.
- Check for an awkward pause, blank screen, or unwanted loop at the transition. Confirm that any audio during the pre-roll is appropriate and licensed.
Use YouTube’s scheduled page for a separate kind of pre-show
Scheduling a live stream can make it appear as an upcoming event, where viewers may select “Notify me.” Eligible creators can also add a trailer to a scheduled stream. YouTube’s stated trailer requirements are a length of 15 seconds to 3 minutes and eligibility of more than 1,000 subscribers with no Community Guideline strikes. These features apply to the watch page before the broadcast; an OBS countdown is part of the actual outgoing video. Details are in YouTube’s Manage live stream settings.
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YouTube’s documented native countdown theme is for Premieres: creators can choose a theme and length when scheduling a video as a Premiere. A Premiere is a different format from an ordinary live guided meditation, so this is not a customizable countdown overlay for a standard YouTube Live broadcast. See Customise your Premiere.
Choose the approach that fits your session
| Approach | Useful when | Tradeoffs |
|---|---|---|
| OBS text source with a timer | You want a lightweight, editable display. | Needs a timer mechanism to update the text; text-source options vary by operating system. |
| OBS Browser Source | You want a styled countdown from a web page. | Depends on the page and its network or service behavior; test it before going live. |
| Countdown video as a media source | You want a fixed visual that can be prepared in advance. | Fixed duration; scene transition may be manual. Check playback, ending behavior, and audio rights. |
| YouTube scheduled event and trailer | You want viewers to find the event and wait on its watch page before the broadcast. | Does not put a custom countdown graphic in the live program. |
| YouTube Premiere | You are scheduling prerecorded content and the Premiere experience suits it. | Different from a live guided meditation. |
Keep the arrival period calm and deliberate
There is no established meditation-specific ideal countdown length in the cited guidance. Choose a duration that gives your audience time to arrive without making them wait unnecessarily. A restrained screen, clear remaining time, and a brief “settle in” instruction can set expectations. Decide beforehand whether the pre-roll is silent or includes ambient audio, and use audio you have rights to use.
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Optional OBS scripting
OBS supports Lua and Python scripts through Tools > Scripts, which can provide a route to custom timer behavior. Script behavior and error handling need care; do not assume an unreviewed community script is an official OBS feature. See the OBS Scripting Guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
For a meditation made from uploaded video rather than a live camera, StreamNeo can keep a YouTube channel running from the cloud. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams uploaded video at the quality you made it, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot. If YouTube drops the stream, StreamNeo automatically recovers. The first day is free with no card. Monthly service is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo, or start the free first day.
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