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You can loop a prerecorded 720p video on YouTube Live with OBS Studio: add the file as a Media Source, enable Loop, then send it to YouTube using an encoder bitrate your upload connection can sustain. Looping repeats playback; it does not reduce the bandwidth needed to transmit the live stream. For low upload capacity, test a conservative bitrate, leave YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom, and lower the resolution or frame rate if the connection is unstable.
What looping does—and what it does not do
OBS plays the local video repeatedly and sends the resulting live signal to YouTube. For a single file, OBS’s Media Source includes a Loop property that restarts playback when it finishes. For a sequence of videos, VLC Video can play a playlist with Loop Playlist enabled; VLC must be installed. See OBS’s Media Sources guide.
The encoder still has to upload continuously while the broadcast is live. Looping does not make a weak connection faster, keep a computer running, or guarantee an uninterrupted broadcast.
Set up a YouTube Live broadcast and loop the video
- Enable live streaming early. If this is the channel’s first live stream, enable it in YouTube Studio ahead of time. YouTube says first-time activation can take up to 24 hours. See Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
- Create or schedule the broadcast. In YouTube Studio, create a live stream and choose an encoder-based stream. Copy the stream URL and stream key from the stream settings.
- Connect OBS to YouTube. In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select YouTube as the service if available, and enter the stream key—or choose the custom server option and enter YouTube’s stream URL and key. Keep the key private; reset it in YouTube Studio if it is exposed.
- Add the video file. In OBS, add a Media Source, select the local video, and enable Loop in that source’s properties. For multiple files, configure VLC Video with a playlist and enable Loop Playlist.
- Set output deliberately. Choose the output resolution and frame rate, then set the encoder bitrate and keyframe interval. The recommended 720p video bitrates and other relevant encoder settings are in the next section.
- Test before going public. Start with a private or unlisted test, inspect the Live Control Room preview, and check stream health and audio. YouTube normally detects encoder settings, but its Live Control Room supports manual settings with a custom stream key. See Manage live stream settings.
- Go live and monitor. Watch YouTube’s stream health and messages during the broadcast. If the connection cannot sustain the stream, lower the bitrate or resolution rather than relying on a loop to solve the network problem.
Choose a bitrate that fits your measured upload
YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists these 720p video bitrate recommendations. Audio bitrate is additional, so the total stream rate will be higher than the video figure alone.
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| Codec | 720p frame rate | Minimum video bitrate | Recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 30 or 60 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 30 or 60 fps | 2 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s listed encoder settings, not a guarantee that a particular connection will work at those rates. Consult YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions for the full guidance.
- Use CBR. YouTube’s encoder guidance specifies constant bitrate (CBR).
- Set keyframes every two seconds. Do not exceed four seconds, according to YouTube’s guidance.
- Use a supported protocol and audio format. YouTube lists RTMP/RTMPS, H.264/H.265/AV1, and AAC or MP3 audio; prefer RTMPS where available. Its advanced settings list 128 kbps stereo audio.
- Measure upload, not download. Check the connection’s upload capacity with a speed test. Other household or office traffic can reduce what remains available to the encoder.
Example: estimating room for a low-bitrate 720p stream
This is an arithmetic example, not a YouTube-published benchmark: 3 Mbps video plus 128 kbps stereo audio is 3.128 Mbps total. YouTube’s practical network advice is “Leave a bit of room (20% recommended)” in its Streaming tips. Adding 20% headroom to 3.128 Mbps gives about 3.75 Mbps of upload capacity for the stream, before allowing for other network use or fluctuations.
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- Supported features include Wake-on-LAN function, Green Ethernet & IEEE 802.3az-2010 (Energy Efficient Ethernet)
- Supports IPv4/IPv6 pack Checksum Offload Engine (COE) to reduce Cental Processing Unit (CPU) loading
- Compatible with Windows 8.1 or higher, Mac OS
There is no universal upload-speed figure that guarantees a stable 720p broadcast. The encoder’s video bitrate, audio, shared network use, and connection stability all matter. If your measured upload cannot reliably support the selected total bitrate with headroom, reduce bitrate and/or resolution. A stable lower-resolution broadcast is preferable to an unstable 720p one. A lower frame rate may also be a reasonable way to reduce bandwidth needs, but the result depends on the source video.
Preflight checks and troubleshooting
Before the broadcast
- Enable live streaming in advance if this is the channel’s first stream; activation may take up to 24 hours.
- Use a representative section of the video, including motion and audio, for a private or unlisted test.
- Confirm the OBS preview appears in YouTube Live Control Room and that audio is present.
- Check stream health before relying on the broadcast, and use a reliable network connection.
When something goes wrong
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube receives no signal | The encoder is not sending, or its stream URL/key is incorrect. | Confirm OBS is streaming, check the URL and key against the active YouTube broadcast, and keep the key private. See YouTube live streaming error messages. |
| Connection warnings or unstable stream health | The total stream bitrate exceeds the upload capacity available to the encoder, or the connection fluctuates. | Reduce video bitrate and/or output resolution; check upload speed again with other network activity in mind. YouTube advises lowering resolution when available bandwidth is insufficient. |
| The video stops instead of repeating | Loop is not enabled on the Media Source, or the source is not configured as intended. | Open the source properties in OBS and enable Loop. For a multi-file playlist, check VLC’s Loop Playlist control. |
| The first stream cannot be started yet | Live streaming has not finished enabling for the channel. | Enable it in YouTube Studio earlier; first-time activation can take up to 24 hours. |
| Broadcast stops when the computer or network stops | The do-it-yourself encoder depends on the computer, OBS, source file, power, and network continuing to operate. | Check those components and YouTube’s error messages. A loop setting alone cannot keep the broadcast online indefinitely. |
A cable or router change can help only when the problem is within the local network; it cannot create upstream capacity if the internet connection itself is the bottleneck.
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