Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To make a 24/7 YouTube lofi radio stream with OBS and VLC, add your authorized tracks to an OBS VLC Video source, enable Loop Playlist, connect OBS to a YouTube stream using its server URL and stream key, then start the encoder and verify the incoming picture and sound. The playlist can repeat indefinitely, but your computer, power, internet connection, OBS, and YouTube ingest must remain available for the broadcast to stay live.
What you need before setting up the stream
- A computer that can run OBS continuously, with reliable power and internet for as long as you plan to broadcast.
- OBS Studio and VLC installed in matching architectures. OBS’s VLC Video source requires VLC; if you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
- Video or audio files you have permission to stream, plus artwork or an animation for the on-screen visual.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled. YouTube says first-time activation may take up to 24 hours, so enable it ahead of your planned launch.
No universal computer specification, minimum internet speed, or bitrate for this exact workflow is established here. Those depend on your output resolution, encoder, media, operating system, and connection. In OBS, use the current YouTube preset and settings appropriate to your chosen output rather than treating a guessed bitrate as a guarantee of uninterrupted service.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Set up the repeating lofi playlist in OBS
- Install OBS and VLC. Match their architectures: 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC for the VLC Video source to appear and work as expected.
- Create a scene and add the visual. In OBS, create a scene for the radio broadcast and add the artwork or animation you want viewers to see. Check its placement and that it fills the intended canvas.
- Add the playlist source. Add a VLC Video source, then add the media files you are authorized to use in the order you want them played. Enable Loop Playlist so the list starts again when it reaches the end. The source also supports shuffle if you want playback order to vary.
- Check source visibility behavior. Confirm the VLC source remains active in the scene as intended; changing or hiding sources can affect playback behavior. Keep the playlist source visible while it is meant to play.
- Check sound in OBS. Watch the OBS audio mixer while media plays. Confirm the VLC source is audible and the intended audio output track is included in the stream. Listen to the preview rather than relying only on mixer movement.
- Set the stream output. Use OBS’s current YouTube-oriented streaming preset where available. Configure resolution and encoder settings for your system and media; the source material does not establish one bitrate, keyframe interval, or resolution suitable for every creator.
Connect OBS to YouTube and go live
- Enable live streaming before launch. If this is your channel’s first live stream, allow for YouTube’s stated activation period of up to 24 hours.
- Create or open a stream in YouTube Studio. In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, create a stream or select the one you intend to use.
- Copy the server URL and stream key into OBS. Enter them in OBS’s stream settings. Treat the stream key like a password: do not publish it, send it to viewers, or show it in a screen recording.
- Start the OBS encoder and inspect YouTube’s incoming preview. Follow the Live Control Room flow for the selected stream. Before making the broadcast public, verify that YouTube receives both the intended image and sound.
- Run a short private or unlisted check first. Confirm the playlist plays through a transition and loops as expected, then check YouTube’s dashboard for dropped frames or ingest warnings. This is a prudent check, not a guarantee of future uptime.
- Start the public broadcast when ready. Keep OBS running and monitor the broadcast. If the computer sleeps, loses power or internet, or OBS crashes, playlist looping will not bring the stream back by itself.
Keep the stream online: looping is not uptime
Loop Playlist only controls media playback. It does not restart OBS after a crash, restore a failed connection, or prevent a computer from sleeping or losing power. A local setup depends on the computer, operating system, OBS process, power, network connection, and YouTube ingest throughout the broadcast.
- Set a human monitoring and recovery plan suitable for your equipment and connection.
- Know how you will restart OBS and reconnect the stream after an interruption.
- Use YouTube’s current RTMPS option where it is available in the encoder workflow; RTMPS encrypts RTMP over TLS.
- YouTube also documents HLS ingestion and notes it has higher latency than RTMP, with additional segment and playlist requirements. Unless you need HLS-specific capabilities, follow the current OBS and YouTube preset instead of applying HLS settings to a standard setup.
Plan for archives before broadcasting around the clock
YouTube Help states that live streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. A single uninterrupted 24/7 broadcast exceeds that duration, so do not assume it will produce a complete archived video. Check the current Live Control Room behavior and arrange separate recordings or shorter broadcasts if keeping a complete archive matters.
#1 Best Overall
- Pro performance with great pre-amps - Achieve a brighter recording thanks to the high performing mic pre-amps of the Scarlett 3rd Gen. A switchable Air mode will add extra clarity to your acoustic instruments when recording with your Solo 3rd Gen
- Get the perfect guitar and vocal take with - With two high-headroom instrument inputs to plug in your guitar or bass so that they shine through. Capture your voice and instruments without any unwanted clipping or distortion thanks to our Gain Halos
- Studio quality recording for your music & podcasts - Achieve pro sounding recordings with Scarlett 3rd Gen’s high-performance converters enabling you to record and mix at up to 24-bit/192kHz. Your recordings will retain all of their sonic qualities
- Low-noise for crystal clear listening - 2 low-noise balanced outputs provide clean audio playback with 3rd Gen. Hear all the nuances of your tracks or music from Spotify, Apple & Amazon Music. Plug-in headphones for private listening in high-fidelity
- Everything in the box: Includes Pro Tools Intro+, Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, and Hitmaker Expansion: a suite of essential effects, powerful software instruments, and easy-to-use mastering tools
Clear music rights before you start
YouTube’s livestream terms place responsibility on the provider to have the rights needed for live content and any archive. YouTube scans live streams for third-party matches; it may replace a broadcast with a placeholder, interrupt it, or terminate it. Even licensed third-party music can be interrupted if the rights holder has not allowlisted the channel in Content ID.
- Confirm permission for both the sound recording and the underlying musical composition.
- Check that the permission covers your territories and intended uses: live broadcast, any replay or archive, and monetization if applicable.
- If a license is in place, ask the rights holder whether your channel needs to be allowlisted in Content ID.
- Do not assume a track is safe because a download page calls it “copyright free” or asks for a credit line. Keep records of the actual license and its conditions.
Copyright permission and monetization are separate questions
Having permission to use music does not by itself make a channel eligible for YouTube Partner Program monetization. YouTube’s channel monetization rules also apply to livestreams and require original, authentic content. The policy identifies repetitive or mass-produced material as potentially ineligible and gives collections of songs from different artists as an example that can fail monetization even when permission exists. Check the current monetization policy for your channel and format; copyright compliance and monetization eligibility are separate tests.
Rank #2
- The new generation of the songwriter's interface: Plug in your mic and guitar and let Scarlett Solo 4th Gen bring big studio sound to wherever you make music
- Studio-quality sound: With a huge 120dB dynamic range, the newest generation of Scarlett uses the same converters as Focusrite’s flagship interfaces, found in the world's biggest studios
- Find your signature sound: Scarlett 4th Gen's improved Air mode lifts vocals and guitars to the front of the mix, adding musical presence and rich harmonic drive to your recordings
- All you need to record, mix and master your music: Includes industry-leading recording software and a full collection of record-making plugins
- Everything in the box: Includes Pro Tools Intro+, Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, and Hitmaker Expansion: a suite of essential effects, powerful software instruments, and easy-to-use mastering tools
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube stream of uploaded lofi videos without leaving a home computer running, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Its cloud playback means nothing has to stay on at home; it plays the uploads as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream; and the first day is free with no card. The monthly option is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube streams of uploaded videos, not camera broadcasts. Start the free first day on StreamNeo.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The new generation of the artist's interface: Connect your mic to Scarlett's 4th Gen mic pres. Plug in your guitar. Fire up the included software. Start making your first big hit
- Studio-quality sound: With a huge 120dB dynamic range, the newest generation of Scarlett uses the same converters as Focusrite’s flagship interfaces, found in the world's biggest studios
- Never lose a great take: Scarlett 4th Gen's Auto Gain sets the perfect level for your mic or guitar, and Clip Safe prevents clipping, so you can focus on the music
- Find your signature sound: Air mode lifts vocals and guitars to the front of the mix, adding musical presence and rich harmonic drive to your recordings
- With Scarlett 4th Gen, you have all you need to record, mix and master your music: Includes industry-leading recording software and a full collection of record-making plugins
Rank #4
- Podcast, Record, Live Stream, This Portable Audio Interface Covers it All - USB sound card for Mac or PC delivers 48kHz audio resolution for pristine recording every time
- Be ready for anything with this versatile M-AUDIO interface - Record guitar, vocals or line input signals with two combo XLR / Line / Instrument Inputs with phantom power
- Everything you Demand from an Audio Interface for Fuss-Free Monitoring - 1/4" headphone output and stereo 1/4" outputs for total monitoring flexibility; USB/Direct switch for zero latency monitoring
- Get the best out of your Microphones - M-Track Duo’s transparent Crystal Preamps guarantee optimal sound from all your microphones including condenser mics
- The MPC Production Experience - Includes MPC Beats Software complete with the essential production tools from Akai Professional
Rank #3
- PLUG IN AND HEAR SOUND IN SECONDS - USB Type-A connector with a 3.5mm stereo headphone output and a separate 3.5mm mono microphone input. No drivers, no software, no external power - the adapter is USB bus-powered and is recognized as a standard USB audio device.
- WORKS ON WINDOWS, MAC AND LINUX - Driverless on Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/7/8, Linux and Mac OSX, and compliant with the USB Audio Device Class 1.0 specification, so any system that supports class-compliant USB audio will see it. Select it as the sound output and input device after plugging it in.
- TWO JACKS, TWO JOBS - The green jack is stereo OUT for headphones or powered speakers; the pink jack is mono microphone IN for a 3.5mm mic. It does NOT support 4-pole headsets on a single combo plug, it does NOT power passive speakers, and it does NOT add surround sound - it is a stereo 2-channel adapter.
- FOR LAPTOPS AND DESKTOPS THAT NEED AN AUDIO PORT BACK - Adds a headphone and mic port to a laptop, desktop, or mini PC whose onboard jack has failed or was never there. Managed and work-issued computers can block new USB audio devices by policy - check with your IT department before ordering for a company machine.
- SABRENT SUPPORT AND WARRANTY - What is in the box: one USB audio sound adapter. Backed by a 1-year limited warranty, extended to 2 years when you register within 90 days on the manufacturer's website.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
