For a replay clip already saved on your streaming PC, use OBS Media Source. Use NDI when you need to bring live gameplay or another live video feed from a second computer over your local network. They solve different problems: one plays a file; the other transports a live source between networked systems. The right choice depends on whether your replay is already recorded or still coming from another PC.
Choose by where the replay exists
| Your situation | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A saved highlight, intro, or replay clip on the streaming PC | OBS Media Source | It plays local audio and video files in an OBS scene and offers loop and restart-on-activation controls. OBS Media Sources |
| Live gameplay or another live video source coming from a second PC | NDI | NDI carries video, audio, and metadata between network-connected systems. It is a way to move a live source across your local network, not a saved-file player. NDI: What is NDI? |
| You want to save recent gameplay as a clip while streaming | OBS Replay Buffer | Replay Buffer captures recent content for saving with a configured hotkey; it is separate from playing a saved file or sending another PC’s live output over NDI. OBS Studio Overview Guide |
In short, a saved replay needs a playback source; a live feed from a second machine needs a transport path. NDI is IP-based connectivity, and NDI states that it is not itself a codec. It does not replace OBS or the internet connection used to send your stream to YouTube.
Play a saved replay file in OBS
- Open OBS Studio and choose the scene where the clip should appear.
- In the Sources panel, select + and choose Media Source. Create a new source or select an existing one.
- In the source properties, select the local video file. Confirm that the preview shows the intended clip and that its audio is routed as expected.
- Set playback behavior for the scene: enable looping if the clip should repeat, or use restart-on-activation if it should begin at the start each time the source becomes active. Leave looping off for a one-time clip.
- Use the scene in your YouTube broadcast. If you want the replay to appear only at a particular moment, switch to a scene or source arrangement that displays it when needed.
OBS Media Source is appropriate for a clip that has already been recorded and is accessible on the streaming PC. If you need to create the clip first, OBS’s Replay Buffer can save recent content via a configured hotkey. OBS documents that recordings can run alongside streaming or be used offline; see its Standard Recording Output Guide.
Use NDI for a live source from another PC
Choose NDI when gameplay is running on one computer and the machine running OBS needs to receive that live video over the local network. The source PC and streaming PC need to be connected through a network that can carry the selected NDI format reliably. NDI supports wired networking, and its formats differ in bandwidth and latency, so check the requirements for the format and workflow you intend to use. NDI for Video
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Plan for network capacity
NDI’s bandwidth guidance says a typical 1080p60 stream can use up to 150 Mbps. This is NDI’s stated typical figure, not a guaranteed or fixed rate for every format or configuration; the same guidance says bandwidth is not deterministic and should be planned around average utilization. NDI also describes gigabit networking as essential in production workflows. For a two-PC setup, a wired gigabit LAN is a prudent starting point where practical, rather than assuming the local network has enough headroom. NDI bandwidth guidance
Check multicast only if your setup uses it
If your NDI setup uses multicast, network configuration may matter. NDI advises multicast filtering such as IGMP snooping to prevent unnecessary network burden. This is a conditional network-administration check, not a requirement that every home user change router settings. NDI performance and implementation
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What “replay stream” means for your workflow
- Replay already saved: add the file as an OBS Media Source. NDI adds no benefit if the file is already on the streaming PC.
- Gameplay is live on another PC: consider NDI to move that source over the LAN. This is not the same as replaying a saved clip.
- Capture a highlight during play: configure OBS Replay Buffer and its save hotkey, then use the resulting file when you want to play it back.
- Send a YouTube broadcast: whichever source path you choose, OBS still needs to produce the stream and send it to YouTube over your internet connection. NDI handles local-network transport, not internet delivery.
These recommendations follow the documented roles of OBS Media Source, OBS Replay Buffer, and NDI; they are workflow guidance, not results of a comparative hands-on test. The cited software and networking documentation establishes no India-specific ISP performance, upload-speed recommendation, or local availability claim. The choice applies to the workflow whether you are streaming from India or elsewhere.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep uploaded gaming videos or a playlist live on YouTube around the clock, StreamNeo is a different option from NDI or OBS file playback: upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so no computer or home connection has to stay on. It streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one price per slot, can recover automatically if YouTube drops the stream, and the first day is free with no card. The monthly plan is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube streams from uploaded videos, not a live camera feed. See StreamNeo, then start the free first day.
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