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Use OBS Media Source to repeat one video file; enable its Loop setting. Use VLC Video Source when you need a playlist: its playlist loop is on by default, shuffle is off by default, and VLC must be installed. Neither source choice, by itself, keeps OBS, your computer, or the YouTube connection running 24/7.
Which OBS source should you choose?
| Your playback need | Choose | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat one local video | Media Source | Turn on Loop; it is off by default. |
| Play several files as a playlist | VLC Video Source | Review Loop Playlist (on by default) and Shuffle Playlist (off by default). |
This is a playback-pattern choice, not a proven reliability comparison. OBS documents what the sources do, but the documentation does not establish that either one provides better extended uptime.
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Set up Media Source for one repeating video
- In OBS, add a Media Source to the scene that will carry the stream, then select the video file.
- Open the source properties and enable Loop. The setting controls whether the file starts again when playback ends.
- Check restart and visibility behavior for your scene. Media Source also exposes restart-on-activation, hardware decoding when available, hide-at-end, close-when-inactive, playback speed, and color-range controls. Confirm the labels and defaults in your installed OBS version, since documentation defaults can change.
- Preview the scene and let the file reach its end once to confirm that it restarts as intended.
OBS documents support for common video formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, and audio formats including MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. See the OBS Project Media Sources documentation.
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Set up VLC Video Source for a playlist
- Install VLC before adding a VLC Video Source. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC as well.
- Add VLC Video Source to the scene and create or select the playlist items you want it to play.
- Check Loop Playlist and Shuffle Playlist. Loop Playlist is on by default and Shuffle Playlist is off by default; change them if the intended order differs.
- Review visibility behavior if the source may be hidden by scene changes. VLC Video Source also exposes network caching, audio-track, and subtitle controls.
- Preview the playlist through its end and confirm the next item starts in the expected order.
OBS describes VLC Video Source as allowing a playlist of items, unlike Media Source. Refer to the OBS Project documentation for the installed version’s controls.
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Connect OBS to YouTube and check the whole chain
- Confirm live-stream eligibility. YouTube’s guidance says the channel must be verified and must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the prior 90 days.
- Create or configure the YouTube live event, then enter YouTube’s stream URL and stream key in the encoder settings in OBS. Treat the stream key as private; anyone who obtains it may be able to send a stream to your channel.
- Start with a test broadcast and verify the actual output, not only the source preview. Watch YouTube’s stream-health indicators while it runs.
- If you also record locally for an archive, verify the resulting file’s integrity. YouTube recommends checking local archive files.
See YouTube’s live-streaming tips and encoder setup guidance for current workflow details.
What looping does—and does not—keep running
A source’s Loop setting restarts media playback after the file or playlist ends. It does not restart OBS if OBS closes, keep the computer powered, repair a failed home internet connection, or reconnect the encoder to YouTube. The OBS source documentation and YouTube encoder guidance describe separate parts of the workflow; they do not provide a comparative 24/7 endurance test for Media Source and VLC Video Source. Do not treat either source’s loop setting as an uptime guarantee.
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Plan separately for YouTube’s archive limit
YouTube says a stream shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived, but warns that a stream exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. A continuous 24/7 event therefore should not be assumed to produce a complete YouTube archive. If preserving the full recording matters, plan a separate local recording or archive workflow and verify the local files.
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Source: YouTube Help, Archive live streams.
Troubleshoot common failures
- The single video stops at the end: Open Media Source properties and enable Loop, then test through the end of playback.
- The playlist stops or repeats unexpectedly: Check Loop Playlist and Shuffle Playlist. The documented defaults are loop on and shuffle off, but confirm the settings in your OBS version.
- VLC Video Source is unavailable or fails to play: Install VLC and match its architecture to OBS; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- The media plays in the preview but the broadcast ends: Playback looping does not maintain the encoder or YouTube connection. Check that OBS remains open, the computer and network remain available, and YouTube’s stream-health indicators report a healthy feed.
- The source disappears after changing scenes: Review source visibility and restart behavior, then test the scene transition while monitoring the output.
- The long stream has no complete YouTube archive: YouTube warns that streams over 12 hours may not be captured at all. Use a separate recording or archive plan if a complete copy is required.
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