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Freedom251 › Blog › OBS Studio

How to Make a YouTube Live Property Tour Playlist from MP4 Files on Ubuntu

By Freedom251 Team · · 5 min read

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To stream property-tour MP4 files in sequence from Ubuntu, use OBS Studio with its VLC Video source: add the files in order, keep shuffle off, and connect OBS to a YouTube encoder stream using its stream URL and key. Preview and test the entire sequence before the broadcast; transitions between files are not guaranteed to be gapless.

Before you set up the playlist

  • Your YouTube channel must be verified and have no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days, according to YouTube’s encoder setup guidance. Confirm eligibility in YouTube Studio before planning a broadcast.
  • Install OBS Studio and VLC on Ubuntu. OBS’s Linux installation page documents a PPA and apt route for Ubuntu 18.04 or newer, but it is dated 2021; check the current OBS Linux installation instructions and packaging for your Ubuntu release rather than assuming one command fits every system.
  • For 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC. OBS’s media-source documentation says VLC must be installed for the VLC Video source to work. Depending on how OBS was installed, VLC may not be visible to a sandboxed OBS build; if the source cannot find VLC, check that installation method’s permissions and integration.
  • Confirm you have permission to broadcast all video and audio in the tour files. A property video may include music, narration, or other material with separate rights.

Build an ordered MP4 playlist in OBS

  1. Open OBS and choose a scene. Use an existing scene or create one for the property tour. In OBS, set the canvas and output dimensions to suit the footage and the quality your computer and internet connection can sustain.
  2. Add a VLC Video source. In the Sources panel, select +, choose VLC Video, and create the source. OBS documents that this source can play a playlist of media files, including MP4s. If VLC Video is missing or fails to initialize, verify that VLC is installed and its architecture matches OBS.
  3. Add the tour files in the intended order. In the source properties, add each MP4 to the playlist and arrange the entries to match the route you want viewers to see—for example, exterior, living spaces, bedrooms, then amenities. Keep shuffle off so the order does not change. OBS documents shuffle as off by default and playlist looping as on by default; check both settings in the source properties.
  4. Set and check audio. Use the OBS audio mixer to confirm the VLC source is producing sound and that levels are appropriate. If the tour should be silent, verify that no unintended desktop or microphone audio is being sent.
  5. Preview the whole sequence. Play through every file, including each transition, and check framing, picture, and audio. OBS’s documentation describes playlist playback but does not guarantee gapless transitions for every combination of MP4 files, so test the actual files instead of promising a seamless handoff.

Choose a playback source that fits

OBS source Best for What to know
VLC Video Several MP4 files that should play in sequence Requires VLC installed and accessible to OBS. Playlist order, shuffle, and looping are available in the source properties.
Media Source A single video file at a time OBS documents Media Source for individual media playback. It is not the simplest choice when one source must manage a multi-file playlist.

For this multi-file tour, VLC Video is the more direct fit. OBS’s media-source guide covers both sources and their capabilities.

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Create the YouTube Live stream and connect OBS

  1. Open YouTube Studio’s Go Live control room. Create or schedule a stream using the encoder workflow. YouTube describes an encoder as software that converts video into a digital format for streaming.
  2. Copy the ingest details. In the Live Control Room, copy the stream URL and stream key into OBS under Settings > Stream. Choose YouTube as the service and enter the details. Treat the key like a password; if it is exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions and stream-key guidance.
  3. Use a supported connection and encoder configuration. YouTube recommends RTMPS where available. Its live encoder settings specify constant bitrate (CBR) and recommend a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. Select a supported video codec, resolution, and bitrate that your computer and upload connection can sustain; do not raise quality beyond what remains stable.
  4. Leave upload headroom. YouTube’s live-streaming tips recommend reserving 20% bandwidth headroom. That means the stream should not consume all of your available upload capacity; other traffic and connection variation can otherwise cause instability.
  5. Start OBS and verify the preview. Select Start Streaming in OBS. Wait for the video and audio preview in YouTube’s Live Control Room. For a scheduled broadcast, select Go live there after checking the preview. YouTube recommends testing ahead of the event and checking audio and video quality.

YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends setting up at least two hours before an event and starting the encoder at least 15 minutes before it, so there is time to check the incoming signal before going live.

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End the broadcast and understand the archive

When the tour is finished, end the broadcast in YouTube Live Control Room and stop streaming in OBS. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume the same automatic archive behavior for a longer broadcast. See YouTube’s encoder guide.

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Troubleshoot common problems

  • VLC Video is unavailable or does not play: Install VLC, confirm OBS and VLC use matching 64-bit architecture, and check whether your OBS installation method can access VLC. Sandboxed packaging may need additional integration.
  • Files play in the wrong order: Reorder them in the VLC Video playlist and confirm shuffle is off.
  • The playlist stops after one pass: Check that looping is enabled in the VLC Video source properties.
  • There is a pause or glitch between MP4 files: Preview the complete sequence. OBS does not guarantee gapless switching across arbitrary files; if a transition is unacceptable, revise the source files or sequence and test again before going live.
  • YouTube does not receive the stream: Check the YouTube service, stream URL, and key in Settings > Stream. If the key may have been exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio and update OBS.
  • The stream buffers, drops frames, or loses quality: Reduce the output demand to a resolution and bitrate the computer and upload can sustain, verify CBR and the keyframe interval, and preserve YouTube’s recommended upload headroom.
  • The preview has no sound or picture: Check the OBS scene and VLC source, confirm the file plays locally, and inspect the audio mixer. Verify the incoming preview in Live Control Room before starting a scheduled broadcast.
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If you need a YouTube channel to keep looping uploaded videos without leaving an Ubuntu computer running, StreamNeo is a cloud service for always-on YouTube streams. Upload the tour video or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams the uploaded file as made, at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month.

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