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To loop one podcast episode in OBS, add a Media Source and enable Loop. To play several episodes in order and repeat them, add a VLC Video Source, arrange the files in its playlist, leave Loop Playlist enabled, and turn Shuffle Playlist off. These settings make OBS repeat the file or playlist, but OBS does not promise a frame-perfect, gapless handoff between separate files—preview your actual episodes and stream before going live.
Choose the right OBS source
| What you want to play | OBS source and setting | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| One episode repeatedly | Media Source with Loop enabled | OBS replays that file when playback completes; this is not a multi-episode playlist. (OBS Project, Media Sources) |
| Several episodes in a set order, repeating from the beginning | VLC Video Source with Loop Playlist enabled and Shuffle Playlist disabled | OBS restarts the playlist after it runs out of media files. VLC must be installed, with the same 32-bit or 64-bit architecture as OBS. (OBS Project, Media Sources) |
| A playlist managed by a separate OBS plugin | Third-party Media Playlist Source plugin | Optional, not required for the built-in VLC workflow. The plugin author’s version 0.1.3 update says OBS 31 or newer is required. (CodeYan, plugin updates) |
Loop one podcast episode
- In OBS, select the scene that should contain the episode.
- In the Sources dock, click + and add Media Source. OBS’s Sources Guide describes adding sources from this dock.
- Choose the local episode file in the source properties.
- Enable Loop, then confirm the properties.
- Preview playback through the end and into the restart. The setting tells OBS to replay the file after it completes; check the restart with your actual file before streaming.
Loop multiple episodes in order
Install the matching VLC version
OBS requires VLC to be installed for VLC Video Source to appear. Match its architecture to OBS: if you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. The OBS Media Sources documentation does not specify current VLC download links or supported version numbers, so follow VLC’s current installation guidance for your operating system.
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Add and order the episode files
- In OBS, select the target scene and click + in the Sources dock.
- Add VLC Video Source.
- In its properties, add the episode files to the playlist in the order you want them played. Check the list carefully; playback follows the playlist order.
- Leave Loop Playlist enabled so the source restarts after the list runs out.
- Turn Shuffle Playlist off if you want a predictable sequence. OBS lists Loop Playlist as On and Shuffle Playlist as Off by default in its Media Sources documentation.
- Confirm the properties and preview the full sequence, including each episode boundary and the point where the last episode returns to the first.
Can OBS guarantee no gap between separate episodes?
No. OBS documents how a Media Source repeats a file and how a VLC playlist restarts after it runs out of media files. That documentation does not promise sample-accurate or frame-perfect continuity between independently encoded episode files. A brief silence, black frame, or other transition can depend on the files and playback behavior; the available documentation does not establish a universal gap duration or a setting that eliminates it.
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To judge the result, test the exported episode files in the same OBS scene and source configuration you intend to stream. Listen and watch at the end of every episode, not just the playlist restart. If continuity is critical, prepare and inspect a single continuous file rather than assuming a playlist-loop setting guarantees seamless transitions.
#1 Best Overall
- [XLR Mic Input] One XLR microphone input interface is set on the gaming audio mixer, which is great to up your audio quality with your XLR setup. The XLR mixer is a stepping stone to upgrade your live streaming. Audio mixer offered built-in 48V phantom power which opens up more choices for mics. Directly use it with your condenser microphone but do not solve added peripherals. (NOT available for USB mic)
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Optional: use the Media Playlist Source plugin
The third-party Media Playlist Source is an alternative to VLC Video Source, not a requirement for looping multiple files. Its author’s update history says version 0.1.3 requires OBS 31 or newer and records fixes for playlists failing to continue after transitions or when a path repeats. Check the author’s current installation guidance and test compatibility with your OBS build before relying on it.
Troubleshoot looping and transitions
- VLC Video Source is missing: Install VLC and restart or reopen OBS. Confirm the architecture matches: 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
- The episode plays once and stops: For one file, verify Loop is enabled in Media Source properties. For a list, verify Loop Playlist is enabled in VLC Video Source properties.
- Episodes play in an unexpected order: Check playlist ordering and turn Shuffle Playlist off.
- There is a pause, flash, or other interruption at a boundary: The loop controls do not guarantee gapless transitions. Preview the actual exported files and stream output; the OBS documentation does not identify a setting that guarantees a frame-perfect handoff.
- A third-party playlist stops continuing: Check the plugin’s current updates and compatibility guidance. The author reports fixes in version 0.1.3 for continuation failures after transitions or when a path repeats; that release requires OBS 31 or newer.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
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