Use a nested scene when you want to reuse a composed layout—such as a shared overlay or media block—in multiple OBS scenes. Add that scene as a source in each viewer-facing scene, arrange it in the source list, and avoid circular references. Use a group instead when you only need to bundle sources inside one scene. These choices help organize a stream; they do not guarantee OBS, your computer, or your internet connection will stay online continuously.
What nested scenes are for
OBS scenes are compositions of sources. Adding one scene as a source inside another lets you reuse that composition while keeping it independently editable. The OBS Project’s Sources Guide explains how scenes and sources form a stream layout, including ordering, visibility, positioning, and sizing.
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For example, create an Overlay - Shared scene containing your logo and persistent labels. Add it as a source to your starting, main, and break scenes. Change the overlay once, in its own scene, rather than rebuilding it in each output scene. Keep scenes intended to go live distinct from reusable building blocks so the scene list remains legible.
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| Choice | Use it when | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Nested scene | You want a composition to remain a scene and be reused in multiple output scenes. | Keep the scene graph understandable and ensure it does not eventually refer back to itself. |
| Source group | You only need to bundle or organize sources within one scene. | A group and a scene solve different organization needs; a group is not a universal replacement for a reusable scene. |
Community troubleshooting advice notes that a group can avoid creating an intermediate scene when a bundle is only used in one place. Choose based on whether the composition needs to be independently reusable.
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Build a reusable scene and add it to your stream layout
- Create the reusable scene. In the Scenes panel, add a scene and give it a functional name such as
Overlay - Shared,Camera - Host, orMedia - Main. Add and arrange the sources that belong together. - Add it to an output scene. Select the viewer-facing scene, use the Sources panel’s add-source control, and choose the scene source corresponding to your reusable scene. Select the existing scene when prompted.
- Position and layer it. Drag the scene source to the desired position in the Sources list and adjust its transform in the preview. Sources higher in the list appear above lower sources and can cover them, so verify the final stacking order.
- Repeat where needed. Add the reusable scene to each output scene that should contain it. Keep output scenes separate from utility scenes that are only building blocks.
- Test the complete layout. Check scene changes, visibility, sizing, audio, and playback in the actual output setup before relying on it live.
Avoid circular scene references
A scene must not include itself, either directly or through another nested scene. For example, if scene A contains scene B, scene B must not contain A. That cycle can produce an “infinite source recursion” error and prevent OBS from adding the source. An OBS Project Community Forum reply describes checking the entire chain of nested scenes for this problem; it is community troubleshooting guidance, not a formal product specification: infinite source recursion discussion.
If OBS refuses to add a scene as a source, trace its nested sources one by one and remove the reference that leads back to the parent. Avoid unnecessarily complicated scene graphs; the sources reviewed do not establish a maximum safe nesting depth or a performance benchmark.
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Loop a video or playlist inside OBS
Repeat one media file
- In the scene where the video should play, add a Media Source and select the local media file.
- Open the source’s properties and enable Loop.
- Test the beginning and end of the file, along with its audio and the transitions around it, in the actual output scene.
The OBS Project’s Media Sources guide lists formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, and WebM for video, and MP3 and WAV for audio.
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Repeat a playlist
- Install VLC if the VLC Video source is unavailable. The OBS documentation says VLC must be installed; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- Add a VLC Video source and configure its playlist in the source properties.
- Check Loop Playlist and test playback and audio in the output scene. The OBS documentation describes this property as on by default, but confirm the setting in your installation.
Looping means the selected file or playlist repeats. It does not supervise the OBS process, keep a computer or network running, or ensure the destination stays connected.
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Plan for continuous operation, not just tidy scenes
For a 24/7 goal, test the whole chain: media playback, scene changes, stream output, internet connection, and recovery when a connection drops. The OBS Project’s Quick Start Guide strongly encourages a short test before the first stream or recording. OBS’s Studio Overview Guide lists Automatic Reconnect among advanced settings and advises caution when changing advanced options. Reconnect options do not establish uninterrupted uptime.
OBS launch parameters include --startstreaming, --collection "name", and --scene "name", which can help launch a prepared configuration. They do not independently supervise OBS or guarantee recovery after every failure; see the Launch Parameters guide.
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