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For a continuous YouTube stream that plays a repeating list of clips in one scene, add an OBS VLC Video source, load the videos in order, and enable Loop Playlist. Install VLC first, matching its architecture to OBS. If each clip needs a different scene or action when it ends, use separate media sources with Advanced Scene Switcher macros instead.
Choose the right OBS method
| What you want | Use | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| One scene with several clips that play in sequence and repeat | VLC Video source | Supports an ordered playlist, optional shuffle, and playlist looping; requires VLC installed. |
| One scene with several clips played in random order | VLC Video source | Enable Shuffle Playlist and Loop Playlist. |
| A different scene, layout, or action for each clip | Separate Media Sources and Advanced Scene Switcher macros | More flexible, but requires plugin compatibility checks and testing of the full sequence. |
| One local video file repeated | Regular Media Source | Enable its Loop option; consider what should happen when the source is hidden. |
For a playlist that stays in one scene, VLC is the simpler choice. Use macro automation when the end of a clip needs to trigger a scene change or another action.
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Set up a looping playlist in OBS
- Install VLC. Match its architecture to OBS. OBS documents that the VLC Video source requires VLC, and 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC for the source to appear.
- Add the source. In OBS, select the scene that will remain on the stream, add a VLC Video source, and open its properties.
- Load the videos. Add the local files to the source playlist in the sequence you want. Check the list for missing files and unintended ordering before going live.
- Choose the order. Leave Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed sequence. Turn it on if the clips should play in randomized order.
- Repeat the list. Leave Loop Playlist on so playback returns to the beginning after the final item.
- Set hidden-source behavior. OBS lets you choose whether media continues, pauses, or stops while its source is hidden. Select the behavior that matches your scene plan; if the source must keep playing through scene changes, verify that it does so in your setup.
- Test the program output. Start playback and confirm that the first clip appears, the next clip follows, and the list restarts after its last item. Check the YouTube stream output before relying on the setup unattended.
Switch scenes or trigger actions when a clip ends
Use this approach when clips need different layouts, overlays, transitions, or follow-up actions. Instead of putting every clip in one VLC playlist, make separate Media Sources and scenes, then configure Advanced Scene Switcher macros to react to media playback state and switch scenes.
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The OBS Project Forums listing reported Advanced Scene Switcher version 1.36.1, minimum OBS Studio version 31.1.1, support for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and a last update of 2026-08-07. Those are listing details, not a guarantee that the plugin matches every installation. Check the current compatibility listing against your installed OBS version before installing.
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Build and validate the sequence
- Create a Media Source for each clip and configure the scenes and transitions each clip needs.
- In Advanced Scene Switcher, create macros using media conditions and scene-switch actions. A macro can respond to media playback state and switch to the scene for the next clip.
- For a repeating sequence, arrange the macros so playback advances through the intended sources and returns to the first one after the last. A maintainer forum example uses a pattern of starting a source, waiting for it to stop, and then starting another.
- Run the complete sequence in OBS before using it for an unattended stream. Test clip endings, transitions, source visibility, and the return to the first clip; behavior can vary with the particular source and scene arrangement.
The forum example demonstrates one configuration pattern, not a guarantee for every setup. In particular, do not assume that a hidden source will continue playing unless you have selected and tested the relevant behavior.
Keep the YouTube live session running while OBS changes clips
OBS switches what appears in its program output. For ordinary local playlist playback, you do not need to stop and restart the YouTube live stream or change YouTube’s ingestion protocol just to advance to another clip. Keep OBS connected to the live stream while the media or scene changes.
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Do not confuse an OBS playlist of local videos with YouTube’s HLS ingestion playlist. YouTube’s HLS guidance concerns how an encoder sends a stream to YouTube, not how OBS advances between local clips. If you specifically configure HLS ingestion, YouTube describes it as higher latency than continuous RTMP and sets separate requirements, including 1–4-second segment duration, TS-format segments, HTTPS POST/PUT, and a rolling playlist.
Check the videos and stream before leaving it unattended
- Use video files you have the rights or permission to stream. A playlist or automation setup does not grant rights to music, footage, or other material, and YouTube may act on streams that violate its policies.
- Do not treat repeated playback as a guarantee of monetization or channel eligibility. YouTube evaluates channels under its own current rules; check YouTube’s current guidance for copyright and reused-content requirements before building a channel around looping material.
- Confirm that every clip is available locally and that playback order, audio, scene changes, and looping work in the actual OBS output.
- Test the stream connection separately from playlist behavior. A correctly looping OBS source does not itself establish that YouTube is receiving a live stream.
Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Video is missing from OBS’s source list | VLC is not installed or its architecture does not match OBS. | Install VLC; for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC. Reopen OBS and check the source list again. |
| The playlist stops at the last clip | Loop Playlist is off. | Open the VLC Video source properties and enable Loop Playlist. |
| Clips play in an unexpected order | Shuffle is enabled or the playlist order is wrong. | Disable Shuffle Playlist for a fixed sequence and review the item order. |
| A clip pauses or stops after changing scenes | The source’s hidden behavior is set to pause or stop. | Set the hidden-source behavior to match the intended scene workflow, then test the transition and return. |
| A macro does not switch to the next scene | The media condition, action, plugin compatibility, or source visibility behavior may not match the setup. | Check the installed OBS version against the plugin’s current minimum, review the macro’s media condition and target scene, and test the complete sequence. |
| The clip sequence works in OBS but the YouTube stream is not continuous | Playlist playback and the encoder-to-YouTube connection are separate parts of the setup. | Verify OBS remains connected to the live session and inspect the program output and stream status independently. |
Or let it run in the cloud
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