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To loop a gaming video archive on a 24/7 YouTube livestream, send a looping file or playlist from OBS Studio to YouTube using an encoder stream key, then monitor the broadcast and keep a local recording. YouTube warns that streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured as replays, so do not rely on YouTube alone to preserve a continuous archive.
Before you start: check channel eligibility and rights
- Live access: YouTube says the channel must be verified and have no live-streaming restrictions during the preceding 90 days. Its general live-start guidance sets a minimum age of 16. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
- Content rights: You are responsible for having the necessary rights to broadcast the game footage and other material, including music, and for following YouTube’s Community Guidelines. Check the game publisher’s streaming policy and the rights status of in-game music, licensed tracks, overlays, and any other third-party content. Permission depends on the particular game and material.
- Equipment: You need the archive video files, OBS Studio, an internet connection suitable for a sustained upload, and access to YouTube Studio. A capture card is not needed when your source is already a video file.
Choose how OBS will play the archive
| Playback method | Best fit | Repeat behavior | Dependency |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Media Source | One local archive file | Enable Loop to restart the file when playback ends | None stated in OBS’s Media Sources documentation |
| OBS VLC Video source | A playlist of archive files | Enable Loop Playlist to restart after the playlist items finish | VLC must be installed for the source to appear |
Both options are documented by OBS Media Sources. Choose a single Media Source for a simple one-file loop; use the VLC Video source when you want to rotate several files.
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Set up the YouTube encoder stream
- Open YouTube Studio and create an encoder stream. In the live-streaming workflow, choose the encoder option and create or manage a stream. YouTube’s encoder streaming guide describes this workflow for content such as gameplay.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key. The URL tells OBS where to send the video; the key authorizes the encoder to send to your channel. Treat the key like a password: do not publish it or share it with anyone who should not be able to broadcast to your channel.
- Keep the Live Control Room open for setup. You will use its preview and stream status to check the encoder feed before making the broadcast public.
Build and loop the scene in OBS
- Create a scene for the archive broadcast in OBS.
- Add the video source. For one file, add a Media Source, select the local video, and enable its Loop option. For multiple files, add a VLC Video source, select the playlist, and enable Loop Playlist. If VLC Video is missing, install VLC and reopen OBS.
- Check the scene before streaming. Confirm the intended video appears and that its audio is audible at the desired level. If you use a playlist, verify the files and their order so the transition and repeat behavior are as intended.
- Set the encoder destination. Select YouTube as the service if available in OBS, or enter the YouTube stream URL and key manually. YouTube recommends RTMPS for ingest and publishes supported codec and bitrate guidance in its live encoder settings. Use YouTube’s current platform-specific recommendations as your starting point, then choose settings your computer and upload connection can sustain.
Test, launch, and monitor the broadcast
- Start with a short test. Start streaming from OBS and check the preview in YouTube Live Control Room before the public launch. OBS recommends a brief test before a first broadcast; YouTube recommends monitoring audio and video continuously.
- Verify the whole playback path. Confirm that the video is moving, the audio is present, and the stream remains connected. For a playlist, allow playback to advance and check that the loop behaves as expected before relying on it unattended.
- Launch with the intended visibility. Once the preview is correct, set the stream’s visibility and begin the planned broadcast in YouTube Studio.
- Keep monitoring available. A 24/7 schedule does not remove the need to check the encoder and YouTube status. Watch for a frozen or silent source, a dropped connection, or a playlist that has stopped advancing.
Preserve a replay and local backup
YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived, but a stream longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all. These are archive limits described in YouTube’s live-stream archive guidance; they are not a promise that every shorter stream will be available as a complete replay. For a continuous channel, plan separately for preserving recordings.
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- Use OBS’s local recording capability while broadcasting if you need a copy independent of YouTube’s replay.
- Check that the local recording is being written and that the resulting file plays correctly; YouTube also recommends checking local archive-file integrity.
- Plan storage for the recording duration and output settings. An external SSD or hard drive is an optional backup destination; the appropriate capacity depends on your files and settings.
Troubleshoot common failures
OBS’s stream does not appear in YouTube Studio
- Check that you selected the encoder workflow and entered the current YouTube stream URL and key.
- Confirm that the key was copied correctly and has not been exposed or replaced. If it has been shared, change it in YouTube Studio and update OBS.
- Check channel eligibility, including verification and any live-stream restriction in the preceding 90 days.
The video is not looping
- For a single file, confirm Loop is enabled in the Media Source properties.
- For a playlist, confirm Loop Playlist is enabled in the VLC Video source properties and that the playlist includes the intended files.
- If VLC Video is unavailable, install VLC and restart OBS so the source can appear.
The stream has no picture or audio
- Confirm the correct local file is selected and that the source is visible in the active scene.
- Check that the source file plays locally and that OBS’s audio meter responds during playback.
- Use the YouTube preview to distinguish a problem in the OBS scene from a problem in the outgoing stream.
The stream disconnects or struggles to stay live
- Check OBS’s connection status and whether the computer and network can sustain the selected encoder settings.
- Compare the configured codec and bitrate with YouTube’s current encoder recommendations; lower settings if the available upload connection or computer cannot sustain them.
- Check that RTMPS and the correct YouTube ingest destination are configured as intended.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want the archive to keep playing without leaving a computer at home switched on, StreamNeo runs an always-on YouTube stream from uploaded videos. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It runs in the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home; it streams what you upload, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot regardless of quality, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. Start your free StreamNeo day.
Quick Recap
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- 【What You Get】Includes: HDMI Capture Card, USB 3.0 to USB-C Adapter, User Manual. Tips: Make sure your tablet’s OTG function is enabled before connecting. Test your HDMI device with a monitor first to confirm video and audio output, then connect to the Video Capture Card for recording.
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Capture Card, 4K HDMI Video Capture Card, Game Capture Card, 1080P 60FPS Video Capture Device, HDMI to USB 3.0 Capture Card for Streaming, Work with Camera/Xbox/PS4/PS5/PC/OBS
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Guermok Video Capture Card, 4K USB3.0 HDMI to USB C, 1080P 60FPS & 2K 30FPS | Capture Card for Streaming, Compatible with iPad Mac OS Windows, Quest 3, OBS, PS5/4, Switch2/1, Xbox, Camera (Silver)
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- 【Package Content & Note】 1x HD Audio Capture Card , 1x USB 3.0 to USB C Adapter (A-side 3.0, B-side 2.0), 1x user manual. Please note that you need to restart the OBS Studio software after the audio setup is complete, otherwise it will result in no sound output. When using an adapter, if the device is recognized as USB 2.0, try using the other side with the USB-C port. Simply flip the capture card and reconnect it to be recognized as USB 3.0
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