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Use OBS Studio to combine the radio station’s audio with a rotating image slideshow, then send the scene to a YouTube live stream. Before you start, confirm you have permission to rebroadcast the station and use every image; YouTube’s copyright checks can interrupt a live stream.
Before you set up the stream
- Confirm rebroadcast rights. Listening to a station, receiving its signal, or having permission to rebroadcast it elsewhere does not automatically grant YouTube streaming rights. Confirm that your agreement covers the station’s audio, YouTube, and the relevant territories.
- Clear the visuals. Use images you own or are licensed to show in a live broadcast. A station logo or title overlay also needs appropriate rights.
- Identify the audio source. Find the station’s actual stream URL and format. Direct URL compatibility depends on the format, OBS version, and environment, so verify your particular source rather than assuming every station link works in OBS.
- Install the required software. Use OBS Studio as the encoder and scene composer. For the VLC playlist option below, install VLC as well; OBS’s VLC Video source requires it, including the matching 64-bit version when using 64-bit OBS. OBS media sources
Create the YouTube broadcast
- In YouTube Studio, choose Create → Go Live, then create or schedule a broadcast.
- In the Live Control Room, locate the encoder connection details: the YouTube server URL and stream key. OBS needs both to send your audio and video to YouTube. Keep the key private; anyone with access to it may be able to send a stream to your channel.
- If the broadcast is scheduled for manual start, plan to check its preview in Live Control Room and click Go Live when you are ready. Connecting OBS and starting its output does not necessarily start a scheduled broadcast. YouTube encoder streaming instructions
Build an OBS scene with radio audio and a rotating background
Add the station audio
- In OBS, create a scene for the broadcast.
- Add the station feed as an audio source if its stream URL and format are supported in your setup. If you use a browser or another player instead, capture its audio using the appropriate source for your system.
- Watch the OBS audio mixer while the station plays. Confirm the meter moves, the source is not muted, and the level does not reach clipping. Avoid capturing the same audio twice—for example, once from a browser source and again as desktop audio.
Make still images rotate
For a straightforward slideshow, add an OBS Image Slide Show source and select the cleared images. Set the interval and transition using the timing controls shown in your current OBS interface. The official documentation does not establish one universal interval or transition value; choose timing that suits the station and check the result in preview.
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To use a playlist instead, add a VLC Video source, select a list of image or video items, and enable Loop Playlist. Turn on Shuffle Playlist if you want randomized rotation rather than the selected order. OBS describes VLC playlists as similar to an Image Slideshow, and documents both looping and shuffle options. OBS media sources
Use a moving background instead
An OBS Media Source can play a video file and has a Loop property. Check that the file works in your setup, and keep the station audio as a separate source so that the background video does not replace or interrupt it. OBS media sources
#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
Compose the picture
Fit or crop the slideshow or video to fill the OBS canvas. If you add a station name, logo, or other overlay, keep it legible over each image and use only material you have the right to show. Check the scene at the output size before going live.
Connect OBS and check the live preview
- In OBS, open the streaming settings and enter the YouTube server URL and stream key from the Live Control Room.
- Start streaming from OBS. Return to YouTube Studio and wait for the incoming preview.
- Check that the preview shows the intended images and that the station audio is audible. Confirm that the slideshow changes as expected and that audio continues across image changes.
- For a scheduled broadcast that requires a manual start, click Go Live in Live Control Room when the preview and timing are right. YouTube encoder streaming instructions
Test reliability and plan for long broadcasts
Let the scene run before announcing it. Check audio continuity, image rotation, and connection stability. OBS says rising dropped-frame counts can indicate an unstable connection or a bitrate the connection cannot sustain; its Auto Configuration Wizard is a quick starting point for basic settings. OBS FAQ and setup guidance
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
YouTube distinguishes a stream—the incoming audio-video content and delivery settings—from a broadcast, which is a distinct YouTube video. YouTube documents reusing an encoder stream for recurring broadcasts. Streams under 12 hours are automatically archived, according to YouTube Help. That does not establish that one broadcast can run indefinitely: plan how you will restart broadcasts and handle archives, and verify the current limits for your intended unattended operation. YouTube encoder streaming instructions
Copyright checks can interrupt the broadcast
YouTube says all live streams are scanned for matches to third-party content. If it identifies a match, it may replace the stream with a placeholder image, warn the broadcaster, and interrupt or terminate the stream if the content remains. YouTube also says that even licensed third-party material may be interrupted unless the rights holder adds the channel to its Content ID allowlist. Confirm the rights and any required allowlisting with the station or rights holder before going live. YouTube copyright and live streaming guidance
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.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| OBS shows no audio activity | The station source may not be playing, may be unsupported in this setup, or may be muted. | Verify the station URL and format, check the source’s playback, and inspect the OBS mixer. |
| Audio is doubled or echoes | The same player may be captured both as a source and through desktop audio. | Disable the duplicate capture path and check the mixer again. |
| The background does not change | The slideshow timing or playlist may not be configured as expected. | Check the slideshow’s timing controls, or confirm that the VLC playlist has the intended items and loop or shuffle settings. |
| VLC Video source is unavailable | OBS requires VLC for this source; a bitness mismatch can also matter. | Install VLC, including the matching 64-bit version for 64-bit OBS, and reopen OBS. |
| YouTube has no preview | The encoder connection details may be wrong, or OBS may not be sending a stream. | Check the YouTube server URL and stream key in OBS, then confirm that OBS is streaming and wait for the Live Control Room preview. |
| Dropped frames increase | OBS identifies an unstable connection or an unsustainable bitrate as possible causes. | Use OBS’s Auto Configuration Wizard as a starting point and reassess connection stability and bitrate. OBS FAQ and setup guidance |
| The live image is replaced or the broadcast is interrupted | YouTube may have detected third-party content, including material for which the channel is not allowlisted. | Review the YouTube notice and resolve rights or Content ID allowlisting with the rights holder before restarting. YouTube copyright and live streaming guidance |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube channel to keep looping uploaded recordings without leaving a computer on, StreamNeo is a cloud option. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; it plays uploaded videos, not a live camera feed. It is YouTube-only.
- Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on.
- Each slot streams your upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot.
- It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required.
The monthly option is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo for details, or start the free first day.
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
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
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