To loop a prerecorded Stardew Valley archive on a YouTube livestream, use OBS Studio: add one video as a looping Media Source, or load several recordings into a VLC Video playlist and loop the playlist. Then connect OBS to YouTube Live with the server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio, check the preview, and start the broadcast. Your channel must be verified and must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days, according to YouTube’s live-streaming guidance.
Before you start
- A prerecorded gameplay video file, or multiple files if you want a rotating archive.
- OBS Studio installed on the computer that will run the broadcast. For a multi-file playlist, install VLC as well; OBS says its VLC Video source appears only when VLC is installed.
- A verified YouTube channel with no live-streaming restriction in the last 90 days. YouTube identifies an encoder such as OBS as a typical choice for gameplay streams. See YouTube’s live-streaming requirements.
- A stable upload connection capable of sending the stream continuously. Choose settings that fit the connection and check YouTube’s stream-health feedback during the broadcast.
Choose how the archive should repeat
One recording: OBS Media Source
Use a Media Source when you want one file to restart automatically after it reaches the end. In OBS, add a Media Source, select the recording, and enable Loop. OBS documents this control on its Media Sources help page.
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Several recordings: VLC Video playlist
Use VLC Video when you want multiple archive files in one stream. Add the files to the source’s playlist, arrange them in the order you want (or choose shuffle if that suits the archive), and enable Loop Playlist. Install VLC first if the source is unavailable. OBS describes the playlist and loop controls in its Media Sources documentation.
Set up OBS and connect it to YouTube Live
- Build the playback scene. In OBS, create or select a scene, add the appropriate Media Source or VLC Video source, and select the recording or playlist. Confirm that video and audio appear in the OBS preview. If using a single file, enable Loop; if using multiple files, enable Loop Playlist.
- Create or select a stream in YouTube Studio. Open YouTube Studio, go to Live Control Room, and create a stream or select the one you intend to use. YouTube provides a server URL and stream key for the encoder. The exact workflow is in YouTube’s encoder setup guide.
- Enter the connection details in OBS. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, choose YouTube as the service if available, and enter the stream key. If configuring a custom server, use the server URL provided in Live Control Room as well. YouTube’s instruction is: “To start streaming, enter your YouTube Live server URL and stream key into your encoder.” Treat the key like a password: do not display it on screen or share it.
- Choose suitable output settings. Set resolution and bitrate to match the stable upload capacity available to the computer. YouTube recommends matching encoder settings to the available connection, recommends RTMPS for delivery, and transcodes the incoming feed into multiple output formats. See YouTube’s encoder settings guidance. Test rather than assuming a high bitrate will be reliable on your connection.
- Check the preview and go live. Start the stream from OBS, then confirm the incoming picture and audio in Live Control Room before starting the public broadcast. Once live, monitor stream health and listen for gaps, clipping, or unexpected silence as the archive changes files.
Protect the archive and understand YouTube’s limits
Keep an independent local copy of the recording if it matters. YouTube says broadcasts shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived, but streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all; a long-running loop should not be treated as the only copy of the video. See YouTube’s archive guidance.
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A working encoder setup does not establish permission to rebroadcast every image or sound in an archive. YouTube says monetization of game content depends on commercial-use rights granted by the game publisher. It warns that extended gameplay without an appropriate license may not qualify, while gameplay with step-by-step commentary tied to the action and instructional or educational value may be monetizable. YouTube’s guidance says: “Videos simply showing a user playing a video game or the use of software for extended periods of time may not be accepted for monetization.” This is platform guidance, not a determination of rights for a particular Stardew Valley recording. Review the applicable publisher terms and the provenance and contents of your own recording.
YouTube also scans live streams for third-party content. It may replace the stream with a placeholder, interrupt or terminate the broadcast, and issue claims on the archived live video after the stream ends. Check rights for music and other third-party material separately; having a gameplay recording does not by itself show that all included material is cleared. See YouTube’s copyright guidance for live streams.
Troubleshooting common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| The recording stops at the end. | Loop is off, or the wrong source type is in use. | For one file, open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. For several files, use VLC Video and enable Loop Playlist. |
| VLC Video is missing from OBS. | VLC is not installed. | Install VLC, then reopen or refresh OBS and add the VLC Video source. |
| YouTube does not receive the OBS feed. | The server URL or stream key is missing, incorrect, or belongs to a different selected stream. | Compare OBS’s stream settings with the current values shown in YouTube Live Control Room. Keep the key private. |
| The preview buffers or stream health is poor. | The outgoing settings may exceed the stable upload capacity, or the connection may be fluctuating. | Reduce resolution or bitrate, check the upload connection, and verify the result in Live Control Room before relying on the stream. |
| The live feed is interrupted or replaced. | YouTube may have detected third-party content or encountered a stream problem. | Check Live Control Room notices and review the archive’s music and other third-party elements and their permissions. |
| The live broadcast is not available as an archive. | Streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured by YouTube. | Retain your local recording rather than relying on YouTube’s automatic archive for a long-running broadcast. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you already have the archive and want the YouTube stream to continue without leaving a computer running at home, StreamNeo is a cloud service for looping uploaded videos on YouTube. Upload the recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; uploads stream as made 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, one free day per account. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
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