To loop a prerecorded church service in a YouTube livestream, open the recording in OBS Studio as a Media Source and enable Loop in that source’s properties. The repeat happens in OBS before the video reaches YouTube; YouTube’s viewer-side Loop command only repeats playback for an individual viewer and does not create a live broadcast.
What you need before you start
- A YouTube channel that is verified and has not had livestreaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. See YouTube’s livestream eligibility guidance.
- The church service recording stored on the computer running OBS. OBS supports common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM; check OBS’s Media Sources documentation if your file does not load.
- OBS Studio, an internet connection capable of sustaining the broadcast, and access to the channel’s YouTube Studio live-stream settings.
- Permission to rebroadcast all material in the recording, including music, for the intended audience and territory.
Set up a single recording to loop in OBS
- Create or choose a scene. In OBS, select an existing scene or create one for the service. A scene holds the sources that make up the outgoing video.
- Add the service file. In the Sources panel, select +, choose Media Source, name it, and select the local recording file in its properties.
- Enable repeat. In the Media Source properties, check Loop, then select OK. OBS documents this setting as specifying whether the file plays again after playback completes. Loop is off by default.
- Check the picture and sound. Use the OBS preview to confirm the video is framed correctly and play the recording to verify that audio is present and at a suitable level. If the file has separate audio or visual elements that need mixing, make those changes in the scene before going live.
- Connect OBS to YouTube Live. In YouTube Studio, open the live-stream setup and retrieve the stream URL and stream key, then configure OBS to use YouTube as its streaming service or enter the URL and key as required by your setup. YouTube describes the stream key as both an address and a password for the encoder; keep it private and reset it if compromised. See YouTube’s live-stream settings help.
- Start and verify the broadcast. Start streaming from OBS, then check the Live Control Room preview and the public watch page before relying on the feed. Confirm that viewers can access it from the channel and watch pages, including on mobile, and monitor audio and video.
Loop a playlist instead of one recording
For several recordings, OBS documents a VLC Video source with a Loop Playlist option. Install VLC for this source to be available. OBS notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Add the VLC Video source, choose the playlist files, and enable Loop Playlist in its properties. Test the order and transitions before broadcasting.
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Prepare for a scheduled service
YouTube recommends preparing an encoder stream ahead of the event. Its livestream tips say to set up at least two hours ahead and start the encoder at least 15 minutes before the scheduled event. Use that time to check the Live Control Room preview, confirm viewer access, monitor audio and video, and check local archive files. See YouTube’s livestreaming tips.
A loop setting only repeats the file in the OBS feed. It does not ensure that a computer, encoder, or internet connection will remain available unattended. Keep the machine and network running for the full broadcast and monitor the stream if you use this local setup.
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Understand looping, DVR, and the archived stream
OBS Loop versus YouTube’s viewer Loop
OBS’s Media Source Loop repeats the recording in the outgoing live feed. YouTube’s Loop videos or playlists control repeats playback on a viewer’s watch page; it does not make your channel’s livestream repeat.
DVR and long broadcasts
YouTube DVR lets viewers pause, rewind, and resume during a live stream, but it may be limited or unavailable for streams longer than 12 hours. Viewers cannot seek back to before the stream began. YouTube says turning DVR off does not prevent an entire-stream recording from appearing after the stream, once available. See YouTube’s DVR guidance.
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Check rights before rebroadcasting
YouTube’s livestream terms make the provider responsible for having the necessary rights to livestream content, specifically including music licensing rights. A recording that was cleared for an in-person service or a different distribution method is not automatically cleared for a YouTube rebroadcast. Confirm that permissions cover the music and other content, the livestream format, and the intended territory. Review YouTube’s livestream terms and conditions.
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Use OBS for a locally controlled loop
OBS is a straightforward fit when you want to control a single file or playlist from a computer at the church or another location. The computer, OBS, and its network connection must stay available for the broadcast; OBS’s Loop option alone is not an unattended-service guarantee.
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Dedicated hardware is not established as necessary for looping
YouTube’s encoder directory lists the AJA HELO Plus for scheduling prerecorded media to stream directly to YouTube Live without a computer, but that listing does not establish that it repeats a file. It is therefore not a documented loop-specific replacement for the OBS steps above. See YouTube’s encoder directory.
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Troubleshooting common problems
- The recording plays once and stops: Open the Media Source properties and check Loop. It is off by default.
- The live feed does not appear in YouTube: Confirm OBS is streaming, check that the stream URL and key are from the intended YouTube live setup, and make sure the channel meets YouTube’s livestream eligibility requirements. If the key may have been exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio and update OBS.
- The VLC playlist source is missing: Install VLC and ensure its architecture matches OBS; OBS requires 64-bit VLC when using 64-bit OBS.
- Viewers hear no audio or see the wrong content: Check OBS’s preview, source selection, and audio meters before the service. Verify again in the Live Control Room and on the watch page.
- The broadcast stops unexpectedly: A local OBS loop does not keep the computer or network alive. Check power, internet connectivity, and OBS status; the local setup requires these to remain available throughout.
- Viewers cannot rewind or the archive is not immediately visible: DVR may be limited on streams longer than 12 hours, and viewers cannot seek to before the stream started. YouTube says the full-stream recording can appear after the broadcast once available.
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