You can stream a prerecorded sermon stored on a Synology NAS by using a computer running OBS as the encoder: open the file from the NAS (or copy it to the computer), send OBS’s video feed to YouTube using the event’s stream URL and key, then start the scheduled event in YouTube Studio. The NAS stores the recording; it is the encoder that plays and streams it. Synology’s documented Surveillance Station Live Broadcast feature is for live camera streams, not a documented way to play a sermon file from a NAS folder.
What you need
- A sermon recording that plays correctly, including its audio.
- A Synology NAS and a production computer with access to the sermon file.
- OBS Studio, or another encoder supported by YouTube. OBS is listed by YouTube as an open-source software encoder and supports common media files through its Media Source feature.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled. YouTube says first-time enablement may take up to 24 hours, so check this well before the service.
- A reliable internet connection from the computer sending the stream. The NAS’s model, share configuration, network, and the recording’s codecs affect playback; the general documentation does not establish compatibility or performance for a particular setup.
YouTube describes an encoder this way: “An encoder converts your video into a digital format to stream on YouTube.” YouTube Help’s encoder guide explains how to connect one using the stream URL and key shown in YouTube Studio.
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Set up the sermon recording and NAS access
Check the recording
Play the complete video before service day and confirm the opening, ending, picture, and audio are as intended. OBS Media Source supports files including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, and can loop a file. A listed container does not guarantee that every codec inside it will work on a specific computer, so test the actual recording in your OBS installation.
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Use the church’s existing file-sharing arrangement to open the sermon from the NAS on the production computer. If playback stutters or you want to reduce dependence on the network share during the service, copy the recording to the computer first. This is practical setup guidance, not a Synology-specific integration or tested performance guarantee. Share permissions, DSM version, network conditions, and available space vary by installation.
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Choose a playback source in OBS
- In OBS, add a Media Source to the scene and select the sermon file, whether it is on the mounted NAS share or stored locally.
- Enable looping only if you want the sermon to repeat. For a one-time service, leave looping off and confirm what OBS displays after the file ends.
- For an ordered playlist or broader playback support, OBS offers a VLC Video source. VLC must be installed; when using 64-bit OBS, use matching 64-bit VLC.
- Play the source in OBS and check that the video and audio are present and synchronized. Confirm the first frame and audio begin where you expect.
See the OBS Project Media Sources guide for source details. The exact menus can vary by OBS version and operating system.
Create the YouTube Live event
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Go Live. Create a stream, or use Manage to schedule one in advance. YouTube’s current interface labels may change.
- For a planned service, schedule the event so viewers can see an upcoming broadcast and set reminders.
- In the event’s encoder settings, locate the server or stream URL and the stream key. Copy them for OBS. Treat the key like a password: do not show it in screenshots, public chat, or other materials.
Connect OBS and go live
- In OBS, open Settings and then Stream. Select YouTube if it is available and sign in or connect as prompted; otherwise choose the custom/server option and enter the server URL from YouTube Studio. Add the stream key in the corresponding field. OBS labels may differ by version.
- Apply the settings, return to the scene with the sermon source, and start the OBS stream. Start playback and confirm the correct sermon is being sent.
- For a scheduled event, wait for the feed to appear in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room preview. Check the picture and sound there, then click Go live in the control room when ready. Sending video from OBS alone does not necessarily make a scheduled event public.
- Have someone monitor the event and the encoder during the service. Rehearse with the actual file, NAS access, and YouTube event beforehand; this helps uncover local playback, audio, or connection problems.
- When the service is over, click End Stream for the scheduled broadcast and stop sending from OBS. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived and available in the Live tab.
Do not confuse prerecorded playback with Synology Live Broadcast
Synology’s Surveillance Station Live Broadcast documentation describes sending a live camera stream to YouTube: provide the RTMP path and corresponding key, then select a camera and stream profile. It does not describe selecting a prerecorded video file in a NAS folder as the broadcast source. Synology’s DSM 7.4 Surveillance Station specifications state that Live Broadcast supports H.264 streaming. That camera feature is therefore not the documented route for playing a stored sermon recording.
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Other encoder options
Computer running OBS
This is a flexible option if your team already has a suitable computer. OBS can play one media file or a playlist, while YouTube Studio provides the event and stream credentials. The computer must remain on and the event should be monitored by your team.
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YouTube’s encoder guide lists the AJA HELO Plus, describing it as a standalone H.264 encoder with a PlayToStream function for scheduling prerecorded media directly to YouTube Live. The listing also describes recording to SD cards, USB storage, or network locations. Check the device’s current documentation for your exact file and NAS workflow before buying; the listing does not establish that every Synology share or media format will work.
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Troubleshoot before the service
OBS cannot open the sermon
- Confirm the file plays on the production computer, not just on another device.
- Check that the NAS share is mounted and that the account used by the computer has permission to read the file.
- Try copying the file locally to distinguish a share-access problem from a media-decoding problem.
- If you are using VLC Video, verify that VLC is installed and matches OBS’s architecture, including 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS.
Playback stutters or the NAS share disconnects
Try the local-copy workflow and rehearse under the same network conditions planned for the service. The documentation does not specify a required NAS throughput or guarantee uninterrupted share access; performance depends on the particular NAS, network, computer, and file.
YouTube does not show a preview
- Confirm OBS is sending a stream and that its YouTube settings contain the URL and key for the correct event.
- Recheck the server URL and stream key in YouTube Studio. Regenerate or replace credentials only through the relevant YouTube controls if needed, and keep the key private.
- If this is the channel’s first live stream, allow for YouTube’s stated enablement period of up to 24 hours.
The event is scheduled but viewers cannot see it
For a scheduled stream, sending the encoder feed is not the final step: wait for the preview and click Go live in Live Control Room when you intend to begin the public event.
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There is no sound, or the wrong part of the sermon plays
Check the media source and audio in OBS before streaming. Seek to the intended starting point, verify the file does not begin with an unwanted slate or silence, and listen to the Live Control Room preview before going live.
A copyright or monetization issue appears
Use recordings and music your church has the rights or permissions to broadcast, including any music, images, or other material embedded in the sermon video. A prerecorded format does not remove YouTube’s copyright rules. Review the current YouTube guidance for any notice or restriction shown on the event; do not assume that ownership of the sermon recording covers third-party material in it.
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Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube channel to keep playing uploaded sermons without leaving a church computer on, StreamNeo is a cloud service that loops uploaded videos or playlists to YouTube. Upload the video, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams the uploaded file as made, up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
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