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OBS Scripts for Automatically Switching Videos in a YouTube Stream

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OBS Studio can automatically switch scenes when a video ends, but it does not provide a built-in “switch to the next scene when this file finishes” control. You need a Lua or Python script to connect the media source’s playback-end event to a scene change. One community example, Media Switch Scene, is listed on the OBS forum and requires Audio Status Monitor; because it was last updated on December 20, 2021, test it with your installed OBS version before relying on it live.

Choose what should trigger the switch

First decide whether you want OBS to advance when a clip ends or to switch for another reason. The trigger determines what the script must do.

Trigger Best fit What to plan for
Media playback ends Playing a sequence of prerecorded clips The script must identify the correct media source and map its end event to the next scene or source.
Timer Changing scenes at fixed intervals A timer can trigger a scene change, but a fixed interval may not match variable-length videos.
Hotkey or external signal Operator-controlled or externally coordinated switching The trigger and its connection to OBS need to be supplied by the script or another integration.

OBS’s scripting API supports callbacks and timers, but there is not one official ready-made script for every switching pattern. A playback-ended trigger is usually the most suitable starting point for sequential clips.

Prepare the video scenes and sources

  1. Create an output scene for each video or playback state. In OBS, add the scenes you want viewers to see and give them distinct names. A media source playing a file and the scene sent to the output are separate things: a clip finishing does not, by itself, select another scene.
  2. Add the video source. Use Media Source for a local video or audio file. Its properties include playback options such as looping. For a playlist, OBS also offers VLC Video, which requires VLC to be installed. If you use 64-bit OBS, the OBS media-sources page specifies 64-bit VLC.
  3. Choose the next-scene behavior. Decide which scene should follow each clip, and what should happen after the last one: return to the first scene, switch to a holding scene, or stop advancing. Scene transitions are the mechanism OBS uses to change what appears in the output.
  4. Use stable, exact names. Record the source and scene names for the script configuration. A script that refers to a name that does not match the OBS item may not act on the intended source or destination.

Media Source is a straightforward choice for individual local files. VLC Video can handle playlists, but adds a VLC installation dependency. Neither source type alone guarantees that OBS will advance to a different scene when playback ends.

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Install and configure a switching script

OBS supports LuaJIT 2 and Python 3 scripting through Tools > Scripts. Scripting extends OBS; it is not a default scene-switching checkbox. Choose a script that matches your trigger and setup rather than assuming every script handles playlists, playback states, or scene changes the same way.

  1. Check the script’s requirements. Read its installation notes for supported OBS versions, required companion scripts, and whether it expects Media Source or VLC Video. The community example Media Switch Scene changes scenes after a selected media file ends and lists Audio Status Monitor as a requirement. It was last updated on December 20, 2021; compatibility with your current installation is not established by that listing.
  2. Open the OBS script manager. In OBS, go to Tools > Scripts, then use the add control to load the script file. Select it in the Scripts window and provide any required source, scene, or dependency settings described by its author.
  3. Choose Lua or Python according to the script. LuaJIT is embedded in OBS. Python scripts on Windows or macOS require a compatible Python installation and a Python path configured in OBS; the Python version must match the OBS architecture. Do not assume that a script written for one language or runtime can be loaded as the other.
  4. Connect playback end to the destination scene. Set the script to watch the intended media source and select the scene it should activate when playback finishes. If the script exposes different controls, follow its own instructions; the important connection is from the correct source’s end event to the intended output scene.
  5. Check the transition and the next clip. Confirm the selected transition is appropriate and that the next scene’s media starts as intended. A scene change and starting or advancing media are distinct operations; a script may need to handle both.

The OBS scripting guide describes scripts as a way to extend or automate the program without building a native plugin. OBS also cautions that poorly written scripts can leak memory or crash the program. If you are writing or modifying one, handle source and scene references carefully and release references as required by the API.

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Send the OBS output to YouTube

Scene automation and YouTube delivery are separate configurations. OBS must send its encoded output to the YouTube stream URL using the stream key from YouTube’s live-stream settings. Treat the stream key like a password: do not publish it, paste it into screenshots, or share it with people who should not control the stream.

  1. Enable live streaming in YouTube if needed. YouTube says first-time live-stream enablement can take up to 24 hours, so complete this well before the planned broadcast.
  2. Get the encoder destination and key. In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, create or select the stream and copy its stream URL and stream key into OBS’s stream settings. Use YouTube’s current encoder setup instructions for the exact account and stream workflow.
  3. Set encoder options for the actual video. YouTube’s current guidance for RTMP/RTMPS lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video; frame rates up to 60 fps; AAC or MP3 audio; and CBR bitrate encoding. It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. Choose bitrate for the resolution, frame rate, codec, and available upload capacity; these settings are for the encoder, not the switching script.
  4. Leave upload headroom. YouTube’s streaming tips recommend keeping 20% upload-bandwidth headroom. This is a platform recommendation, not a guarantee that a connection will sustain a stream.
  5. Test before the public event. YouTube says to test before starting a live stream, monitor stream health and messages, set up the encoder at least two hours ahead, and start it at least 15 minutes before the event. Check the Live Control Room preview as well as the OBS output.

Run a complete test before relying on automation

Test the exact scenes, source files, script, and YouTube configuration you plan to use. An unlisted or private test can reveal problems without making the event public. Let the sequence run through every transition, including the final clip.

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  • Confirm each clip starts and plays with the expected audio.
  • Wait for playback to end naturally and verify that the intended scene appears.
  • Check that the next clip starts, or that the chosen final-scene behavior occurs.
  • Review the Live Control Room preview and stream-health messages while OBS is sending.
  • Restart OBS and repeat the test if the setup needs to survive a restart or a later scheduled session.

The Media Switch Scene forum listing is an example, not evidence that a script is reliable on every platform or OBS release. Test the whole run with the OBS version you have installed; do not make a live broadcast your first compatibility check.

Troubleshoot common switching problems

Symptom Likely cause What to check
The script does not appear or load in OBS. Wrong script/runtime, missing Python setup, or an incompatible script. Check that the script matches Lua or Python, and for Python verify the installed version, architecture, and configured path in OBS. Review the script’s requirements and OBS logs.
The clip ends but the scene does not change. The script may be watching a different source, or its source/scene settings may not match the names in OBS. Confirm the selected media source and destination scene in the script settings. Test with the file ending naturally rather than only seeking to its end.
The scene changes but the next video does not play. Scene transition and media playback are separate operations; the destination source may not be configured to start as expected. Check the destination scene’s media-source properties and the script’s documented behavior for starting or advancing playback.
A playlist does not advance as expected. The selected source type or script may not support the playlist behavior you expect; VLC Video also depends on VLC. Verify the script’s supported source type and playlist behavior. If using 64-bit OBS with VLC Video, check that 64-bit VLC is installed.
OBS becomes unstable or stops responding. A script can make faulty API calls, mishandle object references, or be incompatible with the installed OBS version. Disable the script and retest OBS. Check its compatibility and dependencies before enabling it again; do not rely on it for a live event until a complete test succeeds.
The OBS preview changes correctly, but YouTube does not show the stream. Stream destination, key, encoder settings, or YouTube live enablement may be wrong. Check the stream URL and key in OBS against YouTube’s Live Control Room, confirm live streaming is enabled, and read YouTube’s stream-health messages.
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