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To build a YouTube Live loop from videos with mismatched resolutions, set one fixed output frame in OBS, add your clips to a looping VLC Video playlist, and choose how each clip fits that frame. OBS produces the consistent composition; YouTube transcodes the stream it receives into playback formats for viewers. It does not fix inconsistent framing in your source layout.
1. Choose one output frame for the broadcast
In OBS, open Settings → Video. Set the Base (Canvas) Resolution for the layout where you arrange sources, then set the Output (Scaled) Resolution for the stream YouTube receives. The clips can have different pixel dimensions; the canvas and output settings give the broadcast one stable frame size. OBS explains the difference in its Studio Overview Guide.
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For a conventional 16:9 broadcast, 1920×1080 is one example, not a requirement. Choose an output resolution and frame rate your computer can encode reliably and your upload connection can sustain. Keep the output dimensions fixed while clips change; do not try to solve mixed input sizes by changing the stream output for every file.
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- Install VLC. OBS’s VLC Video source requires VLC, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- Add the source. In the scene, choose Sources → + → VLC Video, then add the local clips in the order you want them to play.
- Set playback behavior. Enable Loop Playlist and disable Shuffle Playlist for a predictable sequence that repeats.
- Check the playlist. Play it in OBS and verify that every intended clip loads and transitions as expected.
OBS documents the playlist controls in its Media Sources guide. For one repeating video rather than a playlist, use an ordinary Media Source and enable its Loop option.
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3. Decide how each clip fits the frame
Different pixel dimensions do not necessarily mean different aspect ratios. A 1280×720 clip and a 1920×1080 clip are both 16:9, while a vertical clip has a different shape. Select a transform based on whether the whole image, a full canvas, or undistorted geometry matters most.
| OBS framing choice | Whole image visible? | Bars? | Edges removed? | Geometry distorted? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit to Screen | Yes | Possible when aspect ratios differ | No | No |
| Crop to fill | No, some image is sacrificed | Usually avoided | Yes | No |
| Stretch to Screen | Yes, but the image is reshaped | No | No | Yes |
Use the source transform controls in OBS to apply the framing. Fit to Screen preserves proportions and shows the full image, but may leave bars. Crop to fill fills the frame by cutting off some edges. Stretch to Screen fills the canvas but warps the image; OBS’s Aspect Ratio Guide generally discourages stretching when accurate proportions matter. The Sources Guide describes source sizing and transforms.
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Review every playlist item, not just the first. A crop that works for one clip may cut off a face, title, or important detail in another. For mixed landscape and portrait footage, consider a consistent fit-with-bars treatment if retaining the complete image is more important than filling every pixel.
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In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select YouTube as the service, and connect the account or enter the stream key from YouTube’s Live Control Room. Treat the key as a password: do not show it on screen or share it. In OBS’s output or streaming settings, select an ingest protocol and encoder settings supported by YouTube. YouTube recommends RTMPS and currently lists RTMP/RTMPS with H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 among its general live encoder guidance. Check YouTube’s current encoder settings and bitrate recommendations when configuring a different codec or frame rate.
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For H.264, YouTube’s guidance accessed in 2026 lists these example bitrates:
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|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps |
These are codec- and frame-rate-specific configuration recommendations, not a guarantee of picture quality or a universal setting for other resolutions and codecs. YouTube recommends constant bitrate (CBR) and a 2-second keyframe interval, not exceeding 4 seconds. Its streaming tips also recommend keeping 20% of upload bandwidth available beyond the stream bitrate. Check actual upload capacity and leave room for other network traffic; a bitrate that exceeds stable upload capacity can cause dropped frames or stream-health warnings.
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5. Test the full loop before going public
- Start a private or unlisted test stream through YouTube Live Control Room before scheduling or making the broadcast public.
- Let representative clips play, including different aspect ratios and the most demanding motion, and inspect framing in the YouTube preview.
- Listen for audio gaps, unexpected overlaps, and abrupt starts or ends at playlist transitions.
- Check YouTube’s stream health and messages after starting, and monitor audio and video quality while testing.
- Make corrections in OBS, then test the revised playlist and output before relying on it for a continuous broadcast.
YouTube recommends testing before going live and monitoring the stream’s audio and video quality. Its live stream settings guide covers the settings managed in Live Control Room. YouTube automatically transcodes the incoming live stream to create different playback formats for viewers across devices and networks; that happens after OBS has composed the video, so it does not replace the framing checks above.
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Common problems and fixes
- A clip has bars or appears cropped: Its aspect ratio differs from the canvas, or its transform is not suitable. Try Fit to Screen to retain the whole image, or intentionally crop to fill; inspect the full clip before settling on the choice.
- A clip looks stretched: Replace Stretch to Screen with Fit to Screen or a deliberate crop. Stretching can alter the apparent shape of people and objects.
- The playlist does not load: Confirm VLC is installed and matches OBS’s architecture—64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS—then check that the file paths are valid and the clips can play.
- The playlist stops at the end: Check that Loop Playlist is enabled. For a single file using Media Source, enable that source’s Loop option instead.
- Clips play in an unexpected order: Disable Shuffle Playlist and arrange the files in the intended sequence.
- YouTube reports poor stream health or OBS drops frames: Compare the configured bitrate with YouTube’s recommendation for the chosen codec, resolution, and frame rate. Check that the connection can sustain it with YouTube’s recommended upload headroom, and reduce output demands if it cannot.
- The stream connects but the image or audio is wrong: Check the selected scene, source visibility, transforms, audio levels, and the YouTube preview in a test broadcast before going public.
Copyright and continuous-play considerations
A technically valid loop is not automatically cleared for broadcast. Use footage and audio you own or are licensed to stream, and review YouTube’s copyright requirements and channel rules before broadcasting. Repeating the same material does not itself grant rights to it. Keep the stream key private and test privately or unlisted before a public launch.
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If you do not want a home computer and connection to keep the broadcast alive, StreamNeo is a cloud service for looping uploaded videos to YouTube. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It plays uploaded video rather than broadcasting a camera.
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