In OBS, add an Image Slide Show source to your scene to rotate album-art files automatically or advance them manually with a hotkey. That changes images on a timer or at an operator’s direction; it does not, by itself, match each cover to the track currently playing. Exact track-to-art matching requires a separate mechanism that detects track changes and updates the image.
Choose timed rotation or track-matched artwork
OBS’s Image Slide Show source cycles through an ordered or randomized set of image files. Its automatic mode rotates on a timer; its manual mode lets an operator advance the images. Neither setting is documented as reading the current song’s metadata or selecting that song’s embedded album cover.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Approach | Operator involvement | Follows track boundaries? | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic timed slideshow | Low after setup | No. Images change according to the configured interval, which may not match song lengths. | A stream that needs covers to change periodically, without requiring an exact match to the playing track. |
| Manual or hotkey advancement | An operator advances the image at each track change. | It can, if the operator keeps the image order aligned with the playlist. | A playlist managed by someone who can follow its track boundaries. |
| Metadata-driven updates | Potentially hands-off, depending on the implementation. | Designed to match each track, but requires a separate track-detection and image-update mechanism. | Unattended exact matching. The OBS documentation cited here does not verify a particular implementation. |
For a basic unattended visual, use timed rotation and describe it as such. If each cover must correspond to the song playing, do not assume a timer or a media playlist provides that link: the cited OBS documentation does not establish that it does. A person can instead advance covers manually as tracks change.
Set up a rotating album-art slideshow in OBS
- Prepare the images. Put the cover files in a folder or collect the files you want to use. OBS’s Image Slide Show source supports BMP, TGA, PNG, JPEG/JPG, and GIF images. Keep the intended sequence in mind if you plan to advance covers manually.
- Add the source. In the scene where your music stream is composed, add an Image Slide Show source and load the image files or select a directory of images.
- Choose how slides advance. Select automatic operation for timed rotation, or manual/hotkey operation if an operator will change the cover at each track boundary. The precise controls available can depend on the OBS version; consult the Image Sources documentation for the source behavior.
- Set the timing and transitions. Configure the interval, transition, loop, and randomization options for your show. The documented defaults are an 8,000 ms interval and a 700 ms transition speed; those are defaults, not recommendations for every playlist. Choose an interval with the understanding that it does not follow song boundaries.
- Check the result in the scene. Confirm that the desired images appear, that transitions look right, and that the slideshow loops or randomizes only if you intended it to. For manual operation, confirm that the operator can advance the image when the playlist changes track.
OBS documents the Image Slide Show source and its supported image formats and controls in its Image Sources guide. Its Media Sources guide describes a VLC Video source that can play a media playlist, loop it, and optionally shuffle it. That playlist behavior is separate: the documentation does not say it connects the current playlist item to an Image Slide Show item.
#1 Best Overall
- CRISP CLARITY: This 23.8″ Philips V line monitor delivers crisp Full HD 1920x1080 visuals. Enjoy movies, shows and videos with remarkable detail
- INCREDIBLE CONTRAST: The VA panel produces brighter whites and deeper blacks. You get true-to-life images and more gradients with 16.7 million colors
- THE PERFECT VIEW: The 178/178 degree extra wide viewing angle prevents the shifting of colors when viewed from an offset angle, so you always get consistent colors
- WORK SEAMLESSLY: This sleek monitor is virtually bezel-free on three sides, so the screen looks even bigger for the viewer. This minimalistic design also allows for seamless multi-monitor setups that enhance your workflow and boost productivity
- A BETTER READING EXPERIENCE: For busy office workers, EasyRead mode provides a more paper-like experience for when viewing lengthy documents
Keep the artwork and YouTube stream as separate jobs
OBS (or another encoder) composes the audio and video feed; YouTube ingests that feed. Album-art rotation does not replace YouTube’s live-stream encoder requirements, and choosing an ingestion method does not make covers track-aware.
- Encoder setup: follow YouTube’s guidance for supported codecs, frame rates, keyframe intervals, and bitrates in Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions. YouTube recommends: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” Test audio and visual movement similar to the planned stream, then monitor stream health while it is running.
- RTMPS or HLS: use an ingestion method supported by your encoder and configured for YouTube. YouTube’s HLS setup instructions require an HLS-capable encoder and specific playlist, segment, and transport configuration. YouTube notes that HLS has higher latency than RTMP because it sends video segments rather than a continuous stream. HLS is an ingestion choice, not an album-art synchronization feature.
- Continuous broadcasts: YouTube’s Live Streaming API documentation on broadcasts and streams describes reusing a live stream for recurring broadcasts and a 24/7 broadcast continuing without stopping the video feed. It does not automate or control an OBS scene’s image source.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a prerecorded music stream that stays live without leaving a computer running, StreamNeo keeps a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops the uploaded material from the cloud; it does not stream from a camera, and it does not make album art follow track metadata. Prepare the video with the artwork behavior you want before uploading.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【INTEGRATED SPEAKERS】Whether you're at work or in the midst of an intense gaming session, our built-in speakers provide rich and seamless audio, all while keeping your desk clutter-free.
- 【EASY ON THE EYES】 Protect your eyes and enhance your comfort with Blue-Light Shift technology. This feature reduces harmful blue light emissions from your screen, helping to alleviate eye strain during long hours of use and promoting healthier viewing habits.
- 【WIDEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE】Our sleek minimal bezel design ensures undivided attention. The nearly bezel-free display seamlessly connects in a dual monitor arrangement, delivering an unobstructed view that lets you focus on more at once, completely distraction-free.
Rank #4
- CURVED FOR ENHANCED ENGAGEMENT: An immersive viewing experience with a curved monitor that wraps more closely around your field of vision; It creates a wider view, enhancing depth perception and minimizing peripheral distraction
- SMOOTH PERFORMANCE FOR SEAMLESS CONTENT: Stay in the action when playing games, watching videos, or working on creative projects; The 100Hz refresh rate reduces lag and motion blur so you don't miss a thing in fast-paced moments¹
- MORE GAMING POWER: Gain the edge with optimizable game settings; Color and image contrast can be adjusted to see scenes more vividly and spot enemies hiding in the dark; Game Mode adjusts any game to fill the screen so you can view every detail²
- KEEP IT EASY ON THE EYES: Care for your eyes and stay comfortable, even during long sessions; Advanced eye comfort technology certified by TÜV reduces eye strain by minimizing blue light and reducing irritating screen flicker²
- INCREASED VERSATILITY: Connect to more; Plug devices straight into your monitor for increased flexibility, making your computing environment even more convenient
Rank #3
- Clear visuals. Fluid motion: A 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms MPRT deliver smooth, tear‑free motion across work, gaming, and streaming for clearer, more fluid viewing.
- Eye comfort: TÜV Rheinland 3‑star* certification reduces harmful blue light while preserving stunning color quality without compromise. *TÜV Rheinland 3-star eye comfort certification.
- Wide viewing angle: Get consistent views across a wide 178° /178° viewing angle.
- In-Plane Switching (IPS): See excellent color accuracy and consistency across wide viewing angles with In-plane Switching (IPS) technology.
- Ultra-thin bezels: Maximize your viewing experience with thin bezels.
Rank #2
- CRISP CLARITY: This 22 inch class (21.5″ viewable) Philips V line monitor delivers crisp Full HD 1920x1080 visuals. Enjoy movies, shows and videos with remarkable detail
- 100HZ FAST REFRESH RATE: 100Hz brings your favorite movies and video games to life. Stream, binge, and play effortlessly
- SMOOTH ACTION WITH ADAPTIVE-SYNC: Adaptive-Sync technology ensures fluid action sequences and rapid response time. Every frame will be rendered smoothly with crystal clarity and without stutter
- INCREDIBLE CONTRAST: The VA panel produces brighter whites and deeper blacks. You get true-to-life images and more gradients with 16.7 million colors
- THE PERFECT VIEW: The 178/178 degree extra wide viewing angle prevents the shifting of colors when viewed from an offset angle, so you always get consistent colors
- Nothing has to stay on at home: StreamNeo runs in the cloud.
- Each slot streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; there are no quality tiers or re-encoding.
- Automatic recovery is available if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card, one free day per account.
- Monthly pricing: $9.99 per month.
Start your free StreamNeo day.
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.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute

