To repeat media in OBS, add a VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist. That setting repeats the playlist; it does not itself fade audio between tracks. OBS’s built-in Fade is a scene transition, not a per-track playlist fade. For automated volume changes, you can use the Advanced Scene Switcher plugin, but you must configure and test a trigger that fits your setup.
Set up a looping playlist in OBS
- In the OBS Sources dock, select + and add a VLC Video source. Add the audio or video files you want to play to its playlist. OBS documents VLC Video as the source for playlists; the basic Media Source is for an individual local file. OBS Media Sources guide.
- Open the VLC Video source properties and enable Loop Playlist. It restarts the source after the playlist reaches the end. Shuffle is a separate setting and is off by default; Loop Playlist is on by default. OBS Media Sources guide.
- If VLC Video is missing, install VLC. OBS says the source requires VLC; if you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. OBS Media Sources guide.
- Start playback and listen through a full playlist cycle before going live. Confirm the final item ends and playback returns to the first item as expected.
What OBS fades—and what it does not
OBS’s built-in Fade changes between scenes over a selected duration. It is useful when your stream changes scenes, but OBS documents it as a scene transition—not as a control that fades each track at the boundary inside one VLC playlist. The VLC Video source properties documented by OBS include looping and shuffling, but no playlist-transition control. Check your installed OBS build for any newer options; a request for playlist-video transitions is not proof of what every release supports. OBS Studio Overview Guide · Media Sources guide · OBS Ideas and Suggestions request.
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Use Advanced Scene Switcher for automated volume changes
Advanced Scene Switcher is an optional OBS plugin with macro automation and audio actions. Its listing currently identifies version 1.36.1, a minimum OBS Studio version of 31.1.1, and Windows, macOS, and Linux support. Check the listing against your installed OBS version before installing, since compatibility can change. Advanced Scene Switcher listing.
- Install a plugin version compatible with your OBS installation, following the plugin’s current instructions.
- Create a macro using an audio action to change the relevant source’s volume and set a fade duration. Choose a trigger that corresponds to the point at which you want the fade.
- Test the trigger and fade in a private or otherwise safe session, including a complete playlist cycle. A trigger tied to a scene change may work for a scene fade, but it does not necessarily identify the end of a VLC playlist item.
A community forum example demonstrates fading a selected source to 0% on a transition-from condition and to 100% on transition-to. It is an example of fades linked to scene transitions, not a guaranteed recipe for detecting every playlist boundary. OBS forum discussion: Fading Audio between scenes.
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Choose the method that matches the fade you need
| Approach | What it does | Best fit | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLC Video with Loop Playlist | Repeats the playlist when it ends. | You need continuous playback, without claiming fades between playlist items. | Looping is not audio crossfading. |
| Advanced Scene Switcher audio action | Can automate source-volume changes over a fade duration. | You can configure an appropriate trigger, such as one tied to a scene transition. | Requires plugin compatibility and testing; the cited community example is scene-transition-based, not a universal playlist-boundary trigger. |
| OBS Fade transition | Fades between scenes. | You want the stream’s scene to change smoothly. | It is a scene transition, not a documented per-track VLC playlist setting. |
Troubleshoot common problems
- VLC Video is not available in Sources: install VLC, matching OBS’s architecture; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. OBS Media Sources guide.
- The playlist stops at the last item: open the VLC Video source properties and check Loop Playlist.
- Tracks do not fade into one another: Loop Playlist only repeats playback. OBS’s documented Fade is for scenes; use an audio automation approach only if you can set and verify a suitable trigger.
- The plugin will not install or load: check the current Advanced Scene Switcher listing’s minimum OBS version and supported operating systems against your setup. Plugin listing.
- The fade happens at the wrong time: verify the macro’s trigger and test it through a full loop. A scene-transition condition does not establish that a playlist item has ended.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep uploaded videos looping on a YouTube channel, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative to leaving OBS running at home. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Your computer and home connection do not need to stay on. It streams uploaded video—not a camera feed—and supports video as uploaded up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo, then start your free first day.
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