You can keep a YouTube Live stream playing from a Vultr Cloud Compute server by running OBS on an Ubuntu instance, uploading your media to that server, and enabling OBS’s Loop option for the source. YouTube receives the feed from the cloud server, so your home computer does not need to stay on. Vultr documents this OBS-and-loop workflow, but its guide is not a promise of uninterrupted availability or proof that every playlist format works unchanged. The steps below focus on looping a source in OBS.
What you need—and what “playlist” means here
This method is for playing uploaded media as a YouTube Live feed, not broadcasting a camera. It uses an OBS media source with Loop enabled. Vultr’s Broadcaster guide says to upload the source files to the server for a 24/7 stream and enable Loop in OBS; that supports replaying a source, not a guarantee that every playlist format or ordered multi-file arrangement will behave identically. See Vultr’s Broadcaster guide.
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- A Vultr Cloud Compute instance running Ubuntu, with enough CPU, memory, disk space, and transfer allowance for your workload.
- OBS Studio and FFmpeg installed on the server, following Vultr’s OBS/Ubuntu tutorial.
- A YouTube channel enabled for live streaming, a live event, and its stream URL and key.
- Your video file or files uploaded to the server, plus a way to access the Ubuntu desktop where OBS is running.
Vultr’s OBS/Ubuntu tutorial lists 2 vCPUs, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB storage, and 3 TB bandwidth as prerequisites for its example. Those are tutorial figures, not a tested universal minimum or a guarantee for a particular resolution, bitrate, encoding mode, or continuous workload.
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Set up the Vultr server and encoder
1. Create an Ubuntu instance
In Vultr, deploy a Cloud Compute instance with an Ubuntu image. Choose its size by considering CPU capacity, memory, disk for uploaded media, and monthly bandwidth. Vultr’s provisioning guidance identifies those as plan-selection dimensions; it does not establish one instance size that will handle every 24/7 stream. Cloud Compute uses shared CPU, and Vultr says configurations can be scaled. If OBS encoding cannot keep up, monitor load and consider a larger or dedicated-CPU option.
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2. Install OBS Studio and FFmpeg
Follow the steps in Vultr’s Ubuntu streaming-server tutorial to install OBS Studio and FFmpeg. The documented GUI workflow is not a complete headless FFmpeg service recipe for arbitrary playlists. If you need a command-line-only process, do not assume these OBS desktop instructions provide a ready-made command or service definition.
3. Upload and verify the media
Transfer the source file or files to the Vultr server and confirm they are stored where the OBS session can access them. Before starting a public broadcast, preview the source in OBS and check that both picture and audio are present and that the repeat behavior is what you expect. This is a practical verification step; Vultr’s documented workflow specifically advises uploading files and enabling Loop.
Create the YouTube Live event and connect OBS
1. Create or schedule the broadcast
In YouTube Studio, create or schedule a live stream and obtain the stream URL and stream key shown in the live setup. YouTube distinguishes the incoming stream—the audio/video feed and its settings—from the broadcast event or video viewers see. A stream can be reused for recurring broadcasts. Keep the stream key private: anyone with it may be able to publish to your channel.
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2. Set OBS to publish to YouTube
Use the YouTube service and stream-key workflow documented in Vultr’s OBS tutorial. Copy the current stream URL and key from your YouTube live setup rather than relying on a hard-coded endpoint. YouTube supports RTMP, RTMPS, HLS, and DASH ingestion, but encoder support and event settings determine which route you can use.
For secure RTMP transport, Google describes RTMPS as “a regular RTMP (RealTime Messaging Protocol) video stream tunneled through an SSL connection.” Google’s documentation specifies a valid RTMPS URL and path, port 443, and the server hostname for SNI authentication. Use the RTMPS endpoint supplied by YouTube or its API response and ensure the encoder supports it; do not substitute a guessed address.
3. Add the source and turn on Loop
In OBS, add the uploaded media as a source, enable its Loop option, and confirm the preview behaves as intended. Vultr’s Broadcaster instructions specifically support uploading source files and looping the source in OBS for a 24/7 stream. Start the YouTube event when the preview and audio are ready.
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Choose an ingestion protocol deliberately
| Protocol | Security and compatibility | Latency and use |
|---|---|---|
| RTMP | Standard RTMP transport; use the endpoint and key YouTube provides. | YouTube lists it for normal through ultra-low latency use. |
| RTMPS | RTMP tunneled through SSL. Requires the valid endpoint/path, port 443, and hostname for SNI. | A secure option for common low-latency use when the encoder supports it. |
| HLS | Encrypted ingestion option associated with advanced codecs. | Generally higher latency; select only when the encoder and stream requirements support it. |
| DASH | Encrypted ingestion option associated with advanced codecs. | Generally higher latency; select only when the encoder and stream requirements support it. |
YouTube’s protocol documentation compares these options; the OBS tutorial’s ordinary setup can use its documented YouTube service configuration. The right choice depends on encoder support, codec and resolution requirements, and acceptable latency. See Google’s RTMPS ingestion documentation and YouTube’s ingestion-protocol comparison.
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A stream that runs all month can consume substantial outbound data. Estimate egress from the configured video and audio bitrate and the hours streamed, then include protocol overhead and compare the result with the selected instance’s current transfer allowance. The cited Vultr tutorial’s 3 TB figure belongs to its stated example prerequisites; it does not show that every bitrate will fit within that allowance. The sources do not establish a universal bitrate recommendation or a current Vultr price for this workflow.
- CPU: Watch OBS and server load while streaming. Vultr notes that high CPU load can cause dropped frames; reduce output demands or increase compute if the encoder cannot keep up.
- Disk: Confirm the server has room for all uploaded media and any other files the setup requires.
- Transfer: Track outgoing traffic against the plan’s current monthly allowance, especially before leaving a stream unattended.
- Recovery: Vultr’s OBS tutorial recommends automatic reconnect settings. A restart or supervision mechanism may help operationally, but the cited guides do not provide a tested systemd service definition; validate any such setup against your Ubuntu and OBS versions.
Configure firewalls without exposing unnecessary ports
Vultr Firewall Groups filter inbound traffic and can be attached to an instance. For an OBS push connection to YouTube over RTMPS on port 443, you do not need to open inbound RTMP port 1935 simply so YouTube can receive the outgoing stream. That port may matter in a setup that accepts RTMP input or operates an RTMP relay, which is a different architecture.
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Restrict administrative access to trusted sources. If OBS cannot connect, check both the Vultr Firewall Group and Ubuntu’s host-level firewall, along with outbound connectivity and the stream URL/key. See Vultr’s Firewall Groups documentation.
Troubleshoot a stream that stops or has poor output
- OBS cannot connect to YouTube: Recheck the live event’s current stream URL and key, confirm the selected service and protocol match your setup, and verify outbound connectivity. For RTMPS, confirm the supplied URL/path, port 443, and SNI hostname requirements.
- The stream starts but drops frames: Check CPU load and bandwidth. Vultr advises reducing output demands or increasing compute when high CPU load causes dropped frames.
- The file plays once instead of repeating: Confirm Loop is enabled on the OBS media source and verify the source’s behavior in preview before going live.
- There is no sound or picture: Check the source path, OBS preview, audio meters, and that the uploaded file is accessible to the OBS session.
- The connection fails after changing firewall rules: Review both provider-level and Ubuntu firewall rules. A push stream to YouTube does not inherently require inbound port 1935.
- The server runs out of transfer or disk: Compare actual outgoing traffic with the plan allowance and check free space for the uploaded media; resize or adjust the workload as needed.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube 24/7 loop without managing an Ubuntu server and OBS session, StreamNeo is a cloud service from Yorker Media: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It keeps the uploaded videos running from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Each slot streams your upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube streams of uploaded video, not camera broadcasts. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start your free first day.
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