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To loop one study video on YouTube Live, add it to an OBS scene as a Media Source, enable Loop in that source’s properties, then connect OBS to YouTube Live Control Room with a stream URL and key. Test the picture and audio before going public, and keep the computer running for as long as OBS is streaming.
What you need before you start
- A video file stored on the computer running OBS. Broadcast only material you have the necessary rights to use.
- A YouTube channel eligible to livestream. YouTube requires a verified channel without live-streaming restrictions in the prior 90 days; first-time activation may take up to 24 hours. Check the current status in YouTube Studio.
- An internet connection with enough upload capacity for OBS’s outgoing bitrate, plus headroom for fluctuations.
OBS Media Source supports common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM. See the OBS Media Sources documentation for supported formats and source properties.
Set up a single looping video in OBS
- Create or select a scene. In the OBS Scenes dock, select an existing scene or use the add control to create one.
- Add the file. In Sources, click +, choose Media Source, give it a name, and select the local video file. Sources are layered: items higher in the list appear over items below them. Position the video and any background or text to suit your layout. The OBS Sources Guide explains scene layering.
- Enable the repeat setting. Open the Media Source properties and check Loop. OBS documents this setting as off by default; when enabled, the file starts again after playback completes. Confirm it is checked before streaming.
- Check the audio. Play the source and watch the OBS audio mixer meters. Listen for clear audio, and make sure the same sound is not also being captured through another source at a level that causes an echo or doubled audio. If needed, choose or adjust audio devices and levels using the OBS Quick Start Guide.
Loop a playlist instead of one file
For a sequence of study videos, add a VLC Video source rather than a single-file Media Source. OBS documents this source as playlist-capable, with Loop Playlist enabled by default in its documented properties. VLC must be installed for the source to appear, and its architecture must match OBS: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Use Media Source for one file; use VLC Video when you need a playlist and a chosen playback order. Details are in the OBS Media Sources documentation.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Create a livestream or select an existing encoder stream. Interface labels may change, so follow the current controls shown in Studio.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key. YouTube uses the key as the credential that lets an encoder connect. Keep it private; if it is exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio.
- Enter the connection details in OBS. Open OBS Settings and select Stream. Choose YouTube as the service, then enter or select the stream URL and key as prompted. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions cover creating a stream and connecting an encoder.
- Start with a test. Start streaming from OBS and wait for the feed to appear in Live Control Room. Preview the video, check that the audio is present and correctly balanced, and confirm the loop behaves as intended. Use an unlisted or private test where appropriate before starting a public broadcast.
- Go public and monitor. Once the preview looks right, start the stream in the way YouTube Studio requires for the selected setup. Keep an eye on the stream’s status and quality while it runs. YouTube recommends having about 20% more upload bandwidth than the total outgoing bitrate; this is headroom, not a target bitrate.
YouTube’s live-streaming tips recommend testing and monitoring. OBS also recommends a short test before relying on a setup for a longer session.
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#1 Best Overall
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Rights and YouTube’s live checks
“Study video” describes a use, not a copyright exception. YouTube scans live streams for matches to third-party content. If it detects content, it may replace the live feed with a placeholder and interrupt or terminate the stream if the content remains. For licensed material, the rights owner may need to add your channel to its Content ID allowlist; having a license does not necessarily prevent an interruption by itself. Read YouTube’s copyright guidance for live streams.
YouTube’s livestream terms require stream providers to have the rights needed to broadcast, including applicable music rights, and to follow the law and Community Guidelines. Do not assume that educational intent makes someone else’s video or background music safe to rebroadcast.
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Troubleshoot common problems
- The video stops at the end. Open the Media Source properties and check Loop; the documented default is off.
- The Media Source option is missing or the file will not load. Check that you chose Media Source, that the file is available on the computer running OBS, and that it uses a format supported by OBS. For a playlist, use VLC Video and install VLC with the same architecture as OBS.
- YouTube does not receive a signal. Confirm that OBS is streaming, that the configured URL and key match the selected YouTube stream, and that the key has not been reset or exposed. Check the connection status in Live Control Room.
- The preview has no sound or has doubled sound. Check the Media Source’s audio in the OBS mixer, then inspect other captured audio sources for duplication. Test by listening to the preview before going live.
- The stream buffers or reports poor quality. Check your available upload bandwidth and reduce competing network use. YouTube recommends roughly 20% bandwidth beyond the total outgoing bitrate; if your connection cannot sustain that margin, adjust the outgoing load and retest.
- The live feed is interrupted despite a license. YouTube’s third-party-content scan may still interrupt it unless the rights owner has allowlisted your channel in Content ID. Resolve the rights and allowlisting issue with the owner before relying on a long broadcast.
Or let it run in the cloud
With OBS, your computer and home connection must stay on while the broadcast runs. StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping an uploaded video or playlist live on YouTube: upload the video, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; the stream plays at the quality uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, and StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo for details, or start the free day.
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