To stream a portrait video on YouTube Live repeatedly, add the local file to an OBS Studio scene as a Media Source, enable Loop, set up a 9:16 portrait canvas and output, then connect OBS to YouTube Studio with your stream key. Test the preview and stream health before making it public. If you want horizontal and vertical versions together, YouTube’s Live Control Room can create a vertical layout—or you can supply a separate portrait feed from an encoder.
Choose how to make the portrait stream
| Method | Best for | What to account for |
|---|---|---|
| OBS Media Source loop | Repeating a local video with control over the scene and portrait framing. | You arrange the canvas yourself and must keep the encoder running. The workflow does not guarantee uninterrupted 24/7 operation. |
| YouTube Live Control Room layout | Creating a vertical version alongside a horizontal stream through YouTube. | The default vertical version is a center crop, which may cut off content near the sides. |
| Separate encoder outputs | Sending independently composed horizontal and portrait feeds. | You must configure a second stream key and send each format to the matching key. |
Loop a local portrait video with OBS
1. Add the video and enable looping
- In OBS Studio, create or select a scene. In Sources, add a Media Source and choose the local video file. OBS documents support for common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM: OBS Media Sources.
- Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. This makes the file restart when playback ends. For a playlist, add a VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist; VLC must be installed for that source type to be available.
2. Set a portrait canvas and check the composition
In OBS, open Settings → Video. Set Base (Canvas) Resolution to the portrait workspace you will arrange sources in, and set Output (Scaled) Resolution to the portrait dimensions you intend to send to YouTube. A 9:16 aspect ratio is the vertical format; the actual resolution should suit your source, encoder, and upload connection.
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The canvas is where sources are laid out; the scaled output is the stream or recording size. Resize, crop, and position the Media Source until the preview shows the intended portrait frame. If you change the base canvas later, you may need to reposition or resize sources. OBS explains the distinction in its OBS Studio overview.
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3. Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- In YouTube Studio, open Create → Go live and set up or select the stream in Live Control Room.
- In OBS, select YouTube as the streaming service if it is available. Otherwise, copy the stream URL and stream key from YouTube Studio into the corresponding OBS fields.
- Keep the stream key private: YouTube describes it as functioning like the stream’s password and address. Use RTMPS where available; YouTube recommends the secure RTMP extension.
4. Test before the public stream
Start with a test or unlisted stream. Confirm that the vertical preview is framed correctly, the video loops as expected, and audio and video are present. Check YouTube’s stream health before relying on the setup publicly and continue monitoring it during the event. YouTube recommends testing before streaming and monitoring stream health: YouTube encoder settings and live stream guidance.
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Use YouTube’s vertical layout for a horizontal stream
YouTube’s Live Control Room can output horizontal (16:9) and vertical (9:16) formats together by default. The vertical version starts as a center crop of the horizontal stream. In the vertical preview’s editing canvas, choose Center crop, Fit to phone width, or Stacked, and adjust zoom and position as needed.
Check the vertical preview before going live: a center crop can remove text, faces, or action near the frame edges. You can continue adjusting the layout while live, but YouTube says you cannot add the vertical format after the stream has started. Follow YouTube’s instructions in the Stream tab of Live Control Room vertical live streaming.
For streams created through Live Control Room, YouTube says mobile viewers in the Shorts feed see the vertical version, while other viewers see the horizontal one. The versions share a live chat, one go-live notification, and a stream URL. YouTube says vertical live streams can appear while browsing live streams or Shorts in its app, but not on tablets; scheduled live streams and Premieres do not appear in that vertical feed. These are platform behaviors that may change.
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Send separate horizontal and portrait encoder feeds
- In Live Control Room’s Stream tab, open the vertical preview’s Auto menu and select Encoder.
- Choose RTMP(S) and select the second stream key for the vertical output.
- Configure the encoder to send the portrait composition to the vertical key and the horizontal composition to the horizontal key. Check that each aspect ratio is paired with its correct output.
- Verify both previews, then start the stream from YouTube Studio. Set up the vertical format before starting; it cannot be added after the stream has begun.
Encoder settings that affect the result
YouTube’s published encoder guidance recommends H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video; up to 60 fps; constant bitrate (CBR); and a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. It lists AAC or MP3 for audio. Choose settings your encoder and upload connection can sustain, and test the upload bitrate and stream conditions before the event.
| YouTube-published H.264 example | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s encoder recommendations, not a guarantee that your computer or connection can sustain the stream. A stable connection with headroom matters more than choosing a high setting that causes dropped frames.
Troubleshoot common problems
The video plays once and stops
Reopen the Media Source properties and confirm Loop is enabled. If you are using a playlist, confirm that it is a VLC Video source and that VLC is installed, then check Loop Playlist.
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The portrait image is cropped or has bars
Check the OBS Base (Canvas) Resolution and Output (Scaled) Resolution in Settings → Video, then inspect the source’s size and position in the preview. For a YouTube-generated vertical version, switch among Center crop, Fit to phone width, and Stacked and adjust zoom and position before the stream starts.
YouTube does not receive the encoder feed
Verify the selected service or server URL and stream key in OBS. If using separate outputs, make sure the portrait feed is sent to the vertical key and the horizontal feed to the horizontal key. Treat the key as a password; replace it if it has been exposed.
The stream buffers or reports poor health
Reduce the encoder bitrate or output resolution to a level the connection can sustain, then test again. Check YouTube’s stream-health indicators and the encoder’s output status; do not assume the bitrate recommendation will fit every connection.
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The vertical option is missing after going live
YouTube does not allow adding the vertical format after the stream has started. Stop and configure the layout before starting the next stream.
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