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How to Add a Now-Playing Title to a Prerecorded YouTube Live Stream

Show a changing now-playing title over prerecorded YouTube video with OBS, a text file, and a tested title-update process.
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To show a title that changes as prerecorded video plays, use OBS Studio with a video source and a text source that reads from a file. A separate updater must put the current title into that file; OBS’s documented text-file feature does not by itself detect the current item in a playlist. For a reliable result, test the updater with your exact playlist, media source, and operating system before going live.

Choose the workflow that matches your stream

Need Approach Trade-off
Change the title or graphics while video plays OBS scene with a video source and a text source You need a separate, dependable process to update the title file.
Play a playlist of local files OBS VLC Video source VLC must be installed, and playlist playback alone does not establish automatic title display.
Schedule an automatic prerecorded broadcast StreamYard prerecorded streaming Its automatic mode does not allow overlays or media assets to be controlled during playback. Embed the title in the video beforehand if needed.
Use dedicated hardware for playback and graphics AJA HELO Plus YouTube lists it for scheduled prerecorded playback and built-in graphics; it is an optional specialized hardware route.

Set up a changing title in OBS

  1. Create the YouTube encoder stream

    In YouTube Studio, create or schedule a stream in Live Control Room. Connect OBS through YouTube’s service integration, or enter the server URL and stream key supplied by YouTube in OBS’s stream settings. Treat the stream key like a password: do not share or publish it. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.

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  2. Add the prerecorded video or playlist

    Create an OBS scene. For one local video, add a Media Source. For a playlist, add a VLC Video source; OBS documents that it can loop or shuffle a playlist. VLC must be installed, and OBS notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. OBS lists common supported video formats in its Media Sources documentation.

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  3. Add a text source above the video

    Add an OBS Text Source, place it above the video in the Sources list, and enable “Read from file.” OBS describes this option as reading text from a file rather than the fixed Text property. See OBS Text Sources and the OBS Sources Guide. Choose a readable font size, color, and placement that remain visible against the video.

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  4. Make the title file change when the playing item changes

    Configure a helper tool, script, or manual process to write the current title to the text file. The title source can display what the file contains, but the cited OBS documentation does not provide a universal playlist-to-title updater or guarantee metadata extraction for every media source. Test the complete chain—including title changes between playlist items—before the broadcast, with the exact player and source you will use.

  5. Check the preview and go live

    Start streaming from OBS and confirm that its preview reaches YouTube Live Control Room before following YouTube’s go-live steps. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; this is an archive behavior, not a guarantee that a stream will end or recover in a particular way. See YouTube’s encoder help page.

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What to do if the title does not change

  • No title appears: Confirm that the Text Source is enabled, “Read from file” is selected, and the source is above the video in the scene’s source stack.
  • The title stays the same: Check that the updater is writing to the same file OBS is reading. Verify that it runs when the playlist item changes; OBS’s file-reading feature does not itself identify the current playlist item.
  • The VLC source is unavailable: Install VLC and check the architecture note: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
  • The title appears behind the video: Move the Text Source above the video source in the Sources list.
  • YouTube does not receive the stream: Recheck the selected YouTube service or server URL and the stream key in OBS. If the key may have been exposed, replace it in YouTube Studio and update OBS with the new key.
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Or let it run in the cloud

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  1. Upload your recording or build a playlist.
  2. Add your YouTube stream key once.
  3. Go live; StreamNeo keeps the stream running from its cloud service.

Nothing has to stay on at home. Your video streams as uploaded, 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 pricing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo plays uploaded videos and streams to YouTube; it is not a live camera workflow. To display a title that changes during playback, prepare and test that title in your video or overlay workflow separately.

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