To play several local video files one after another in a repeating YouTube Live broadcast, install VLC, add an OBS Studio VLC Video source, add your clips to its playlist, and enable Loop Playlist. OBS sends one encoded live feed to YouTube; YouTube creates the different viewer playback formats from that feed.
“Formats” can mean either different file types on your computer or different resolutions and playback options for viewers. The steps below cover both: OBS/VLC handles local files, while YouTube handles viewer-side transcoding.
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What you need before starting
- An OBS Studio installation and VLC installed on the same computer. The OBS VLC Video source depends on VLC being installed.
- The video files you want to play, stored locally and tested on the computer that will run OBS.
- A YouTube channel eligible for live streaming. YouTube’s requirements include a verified channel, no live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days, and a minimum age requirement. Check YouTube’s current eligibility details before scheduling a broadcast: YouTube live streaming requirements.
- A reliable internet connection with enough sustained upload capacity for the selected stream settings.
Set up a repeating playlist in OBS
- Create or schedule the YouTube broadcast. In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create or schedule a stream. Copy the stream URL and key for your encoder setup. YouTube’s current workflow is documented in Set up your encoder for live streaming.
- Open OBS and add the playlist source. In the scene where you want the videos to appear, click the plus button in the Sources panel and choose VLC Video. Name the source if useful, then add the local files in the order you want them to play.
- Set playback order and repeat behavior. Leave shuffle off for a fixed sequence. Turn on Loop Playlist so the source starts again after it reaches the last file. Shuffle and looping are separate controls.
- Fit the source to the scene. Select the source and use OBS’s transform controls to fit or crop it to the canvas. Check the preview for letterboxing, cropping, or unexpected borders.
- Check audio before streaming. Confirm the VLC source audio appears in OBS’s audio mixer, set an appropriate level, and listen to representative sections. Check each clip if their audio levels differ substantially.
- Connect OBS to YouTube. In OBS’s streaming settings, enter the YouTube stream URL and key, or use the supported account connection workflow. Treat the stream key like a password: anyone who obtains it may be able to broadcast to your channel. YouTube recommends RTMPS for secure encoder ingestion.
- Set the output configuration. Choose a resolution, frame rate, video encoder, audio format, and bitrate that your computer and upload connection can sustain. Use YouTube’s ingestion guidance for the exact combination you choose rather than applying a bitrate from a different resolution, frame rate, or codec.
- Test privately or unlisted before going public. Start the encoder, check the Live Control Room preview and stream-health messages, and watch at least one transition and one complete playlist loop. Confirm that video, audio, and framing behave as intended.
Which file formats can the playlist play?
OBS’s built-in Media Source documentation lists common extensions including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. That source is suited to a single file. The VLC Video source uses VLC libraries for broader media support and provides the playlist controls needed for multiple clips.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteAn extension alone does not guarantee that a particular file will decode correctly: files with the same extension can contain different codecs or have unusual encoding settings. Test every actual file in the OBS scene on the computer you will use for the broadcast. The OBS source documentation is available at OBS Media Sources.
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Local files, YouTube ingestion, and viewer formats are different stages
- Local playback: OBS and VLC read the files and play them through the scene. Their file types and codecs determine whether local playback works.
- Live ingestion: OBS encodes the scene into one outgoing stream and sends it to YouTube using the stream URL, key, and compatible encoder settings.
- Viewer delivery: YouTube transcodes the incoming live stream into output formats for viewers on different devices and networks. You do not need to send a separate OBS stream for every viewer resolution.
Choose YouTube encoder settings for your connection
YouTube’s live encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video for RTMP/RTMPS ingestion, up to 60 fps, and AAC or MP3 audio. It calls for constant bitrate (CBR), recommends a two-second keyframe interval, and says the interval should not exceed four seconds. The recommended video bitrate depends on the ingestion codec, resolution, and frame rate, so there is no one bitrate that is correct for every stream. Check the current table in YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrates documentation.
Use a speed test as a practical check of upload capacity, but do not treat a brief result as proof that a connection will sustain a broadcast. Leave headroom for normal network variation and other devices sharing the connection. YouTube also recommends RTMPS; use the matching secure ingest address when configuring the encoder.
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Test and monitor the loop
- Keep the computer awake and OBS open; local files are being played and encoded by that computer.
- Keep the media files available at their original paths, and check that the disk has enough free space for the assets and normal system operation.
- Inspect the Live Control Room preview and stream-health messages before sharing the stream publicly.
- Watch transitions between files and confirm the playlist restarts at the expected point. OBS does not promise seamless transitions between unrelated files.
- Monitor audio and video during the broadcast. The preview and health messages help identify delivery problems, but do not guarantee a stream will run indefinitely.
Troubleshooting common problems
A playlist item stays blank or will not play
Confirm VLC is installed, that the file exists at the path added to the source, and that VLC can play the file on the same computer. Try the actual file in OBS rather than relying on its extension to establish compatibility.
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The playlist stops after the final clip
Open the VLC Video source properties and make sure Loop Playlist is enabled. Check that the source contains all intended files and that shuffle is off if you need a fixed sequence.
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The video is cropped, too small, or has bars
Adjust the source transform in the OBS preview. Fit the source to the canvas when the whole picture matters; crop only when the composition requires it. A clip’s aspect ratio may differ from the OBS canvas.
YouTube does not receive the stream
Check that OBS has the correct YouTube stream URL and current key, that the stream is ready in Live Control Room, and that the computer can reach the internet. If the key was exposed, replace it in YouTube and update OBS. Confirm that the selected encoder settings are supported by YouTube.
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The stream health is poor or viewers report buffering
Check the Live Control Room’s health messages, confirm the configured bitrate matches YouTube’s guidance for your codec, resolution, and frame rate, and verify sustained upload capacity. Lowering the output resolution, frame rate, or bitrate may help when the connection cannot sustain the current settings.
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Check that the VLC source is routed into the intended OBS audio mix, inspect the audio meter, and listen to each clip. Clips made at different levels may need adjustment before broadcast or careful mixer control.
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