To show one devotional image while audio plays continuously, add the image as an OBS Image Source, add the audio file as a Media Source, and enable Loop on the audio. Connect OBS to a YouTube encoder stream, test that viewers can hear the audio, and use material you have the right to broadcast.
Set up the OBS scene
- Create or select a scene. In OBS, use the Scenes panel to choose an existing scene or add one for this broadcast.
- Add the devotional image. In Sources, select the plus button, choose Image, name the source, and browse to the image file. Keep it below any optional text or logo sources so those elements appear on top. Resize or fit the image to the canvas, then check the framing in the preview. The image remains still; it does not need to be converted into a video. See the OBS Sources Guide.
- Add the audio file. In Sources, select plus, choose Media Source, name it, and select the local audio file. OBS lists MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV among supported formats. Turn on Loop in the Media Source properties so playback restarts when the file ends. Keep the source active and visible in the scene. See OBS Media Sources.
- Check the audio meter. Start playback and confirm the Media Source meter moves in the OBS Audio Mixer. A moving meter confirms OBS is receiving audio, but it does not prove the YouTube stream will be audible; verify that separately in the test below.
For one local file, Media Source is the simpler option. If you need a playlist, OBS also provides VLC Video Source with a Loop Playlist option. VLC must be installed, and its architecture should match OBS: for example, 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. See OBS Media Sources.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Choose the canvas and encoder settings
Image layout
Use a landscape canvas and output resolution that suit the image and your intended stream. Fit the image to the canvas, then inspect the preview for cropping, empty borders, or text that is too small to read. A still background has no motion detail to preserve, so select a frame rate your computer and network can sustain rather than increasing it without a reason.
Recommended Free Tools
Video and audio encoding
YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265 (HEVC), or AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; CBR bitrate encoding; and a recommended keyframe interval of 2 seconds, not exceeding 4 seconds. For stereo audio, YouTube lists 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps in its advanced settings. Consult the current YouTube encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions when choosing a profile.
#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
For H.264, YouTube’s current table recommends these video bitrates:
| Output | YouTube recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps |
These are platform recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular computer or connection can sustain the stream. YouTube recommends keeping 20% upload-bandwidth headroom in its streaming tips. Run a speed test and choose a bitrate that fits your actual upload capacity; leave room for network variation and other household traffic.
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
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create or select an encoder stream. YouTube’s encoder setup guide describes the setup flow.
- Copy the server URL and stream key shown for the stream into OBS’s stream settings. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select YouTube or the applicable YouTube service option, and enter the requested connection details. The exact interface can vary by OBS version and service selection; use the server URL and key provided in YouTube Studio.
- Treat the stream key like a password. Do not show it in a screen share or publish it. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio before broadcasting.
- Start streaming from OBS and wait for the incoming signal and preview in the Live Control Room. Check the preview and stream health before starting the public broadcast. YouTube’s live stream settings guide covers stream settings in Studio.
Test the complete viewer experience
Before the real broadcast, run a short test using the same image, audio loop, output settings, and network you plan to use. OBS recommends testing for a few minutes in its Quick Start Guide. YouTube advises testing with audio and video movement similar to the planned stream in its encoder settings guidance.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches- Confirm the image is framed correctly in both OBS and YouTube’s preview.
- Check that the OBS audio meter moves and listen to the YouTube preview from a separate device or browser session, if practical.
- Check YouTube’s stream health and OBS for dropped frames or interruptions.
- Listen for silence at the start or end of the file, unexpected gaps, clipping, or a loop transition that disrupts the devotional audio.
- Keep OBS and the computer running for the duration of this encoder stream, and monitor the stream while it is live.
Clear rights for the image and audio
Use an image and audio recording you created, licensed for this exact broadcast use, or are otherwise legally entitled to stream. A devotional subject does not make a recording or image copyright-free. Keep the relevant permission and license terms accessible, and check that they cover YouTube Live and any necessary channel or commercial use.
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.
YouTube scans live streams for third-party content. Its copyright guidance for live streams says identified content can trigger a warning and placeholder; persistent content may temporarily interrupt or terminate a stream. Even a licensed third-party track may be interrupted unless the rights owner allowlists the channel. Resolve any required allowlisting with the rights owner before going live.
YouTube’s Content ID matching for live streams has separate operating requirements, including exclusive rights for material enrolled in that program. Those requirements are not a blanket rule that every live creator must use only self-created work. The practical requirement for this setup is to clear the rights for the specific image and audio you broadcast.
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
Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Image is missing or cropped | The wrong file is selected, the source is hidden, or its bounds do not fit the canvas. | Open Image Source properties, confirm the file path, make sure the source is enabled, and fit it to the canvas. Review the OBS preview. |
| Audio stops when the file ends | Loop is not enabled on the Media Source. | Open the Media Source properties, turn on Loop, and test playback through the end of the file. |
| OBS meter moves but YouTube preview is silent | The wrong audio source may be routed, the stream mix may omit it, or the preview has not yet received the audio. | Check OBS’s audio settings and mixer, confirm the Media Source is active, and listen to the YouTube preview again. Avoid capturing the same device both as a scene audio source and under global Settings > Audio, which can cause echo. See OBS Audio Sources. |
| Echo or doubled audio | The same device is captured through more than one OBS audio source. | Use one capture path for that device: remove the duplicate scene capture or disable the corresponding global audio device in Settings > Audio. |
| Stream is unstable or drops frames | The selected bitrate may exceed stable upload capacity, or the connection may be variable. | Run an upload speed test, lower output bitrate or resolution, preserve YouTube’s recommended bandwidth headroom, and test again. |
| VLC playlist source will not load | VLC may be missing or its architecture may not match OBS. | Install the VLC version matching OBS (64-bit with 64-bit, for example), or use Media Source if you only need one looping file. |
| Live stream is interrupted with a copyright warning | YouTube may have identified third-party content, or the channel may not be allowlisted for a licensed track. | Stop and resolve the rights issue with the rights owner; confirm permissions and any required allowlisting before restarting. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is an always-on YouTube stream of uploaded devotional recordings rather than a camera-based OBS broadcast, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos in the cloud, so no computer or home connection has to stay on. It supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo streams to YouTube only and plays uploaded videos; it does not go live from a camera. Start the free 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
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.
