In OBS, add the video as a Media Source, turn on Loop, and disable or mute the microphone input. Leave the Media Source audio enabled if you want viewers to hear the video’s soundtrack. Connect OBS to a YouTube encoder stream, check the preview and audio, then go live.
Set up the video loop in OBS
- In Scenes, select or create a scene for the broadcast.
- In Sources, choose + → Media Source, name the source, select Local File, and browse to your video.
- Enable Loop. It is off by default; when enabled, the file plays again after it finishes. OBS documents support for common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
- Check the preview. If the video does not fill the canvas, right-click the source and use Transform → Fit to Screen, or adjust the canvas and output dimensions to suit the video’s aspect ratio. Check that important content is not cropped.
For multiple videos, add a VLC Video source instead of a single Media Source. Install VLC in the architecture matching OBS if the source is unavailable, add the files to its playlist, and check Loop Playlist. OBS documents that playlist looping is on by default; its VLC source stops when hidden and restarts when shown, so test scene changes if you use them. OBS Media Sources
Disable the microphone but keep the video’s sound
“Without a microphone” need not mean silent. OBS can capture a microphone by default, while the video’s embedded audio is part of the Media Source. Disable the mic input without muting the Media Source if you want the clip’s soundtrack in the broadcast.
- Open Settings → Audio and disable the configured Mic/Auxiliary Audio device, or set it to Disabled.
- Look at the Audio Mixer. Mute or remove any microphone channel that remains. Do not mute the Media Source channel if its audio should be heard.
- Play the video and watch the meters. The mic meter should remain inactive; the Media Source meter should move if the clip contains audio.
If you add an Audio Input Capture or Audio Output Capture source to the scene, avoid capturing the same device both there and globally in Settings → Audio; OBS warns that duplicate capture can cause echo. Details: OBS Audio Sources and the OBS Quick Start Guide.
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Connect OBS to YouTube and go live
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go live. Use the Stream tab to start an encoder broadcast now, or Manage → Schedule stream to create a scheduled event.
- In OBS, open Settings → Stream and select YouTube if it is available. Otherwise, copy the stream URL and key from YouTube’s Live Control Room into OBS’s server and key fields. Treat the key like a password; if it is exposed, reset it in YouTube and update OBS.
- Set the event’s title, description, category, and visibility in YouTube. YouTube offers public, private, and unlisted settings; check the selected setting before sharing the watch link.
- In OBS, select Start Streaming. For a scheduled broadcast, wait for the preview in Live Control Room and then select Go live. When finished, end the event in YouTube Live Control Room and stop OBS from sending the feed.
Follow YouTube’s encoder instructions and live stream settings guidance. Do not share the stream key in a public post or recording.
Check encoder settings and upload capacity
YouTube recommends RTMPS, the encrypted extension of RTMP. Its encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS with H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video, constant bitrate (CBR), up to 60 fps, and a keyframe interval of two seconds (no more than four). YouTube detects resolution and frame rate by default; manual selection is available with a custom stream key. YouTube transcodes the incoming feed to multiple output formats. Consult the current YouTube encoder settings for combinations not listed below.
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| Video setting | YouTube recommended bitrate | YouTube minimum bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| H.264, 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| H.264, 720p at 30 fps | 4 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| AV1 or HEVC, 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps | Not stated in the cited YouTube table |
| AV1 or HEVC, 720p at 30 fps | 6 Mbps | Not stated in the cited YouTube table |
These are YouTube’s published recommendations, not a guarantee that your connection can sustain them. Run a speed test and choose a bitrate your upload connection can maintain steadily; leave capacity for normal network variation. If the connection cannot sustain the chosen bitrate, reduce it or lower the output resolution or frame rate, then test again.
Check channel eligibility, copyright, and the archive
Confirm live access before preparing the event
YouTube’s published eligibility requirement is a verified channel with no livestreaming restriction in the previous 90 days. Check your channel’s status in YouTube Studio before planning a broadcast; eligibility for an individual account cannot be determined from the general rule. See YouTube’s live-streaming requirements.
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Use content you have the right to stream
A video playing in OBS is still being broadcast on YouTube. Make sure you have permission to stream the footage, music, and other material it contains, and review YouTube’s applicable copyright rules before going live. Repeating a video does not establish that you own or have permission to use it. YouTube’s live-streaming tips recommend checking the stream before broadcast.
Do not rely on a long stream being archived
YouTube’s encoder instructions say streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. They do not promise an archive for a stream at or above 12 hours. If you need a replay of a longer broadcast, plan a separate recording or schedule shorter broadcasts. YouTube encoder instructions
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Test the complete broadcast before relying on it
OBS recommends a test lasting a few minutes. Use an unlisted or private test event if appropriate, and check all of the following before your public broadcast:
- The video plays smoothly and starts over at the end.
- The intended soundtrack is audible, if the clip has one.
- The microphone meter stays inactive and no microphone audio reaches the test.
- The Live Control Room preview appears and YouTube reports acceptable audio and video quality.
- The title, visibility, and scheduled start time are correct.
Listen to the test output rather than relying only on OBS meters. See the OBS Quick Start Guide and YouTube live tips.
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Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The clip stops after one play | Loop is off on the Media Source. | Open the source properties and enable Loop. |
| The stream has no soundtrack | The Media Source is muted, or the file has no audio track. | Check the source’s audio and Audio Mixer, then verify the file’s audio in a local playback test. |
| The microphone is audible | A global Mic/Aux device or scene-level microphone capture is still active. | Disable the device in Settings → Audio, inspect the mixer, and check for duplicate scene captures. |
| The VLC playlist source is missing | VLC may not be installed, or its architecture may not match OBS. | Install the matching VLC architecture and reopen OBS. |
| YouTube does not receive the OBS feed | The stream key or server URL may be wrong, or the event may not be set up. | Check the Live Control Room credentials and OBS stream settings. Reset an exposed key and replace it in OBS. |
| The video stutters or YouTube reports poor quality | The computer may not decode the file smoothly, or the upload connection may not sustain the bitrate. | Test the local playback, check YouTube’s preview and quality indicators, and reduce output bitrate or resolution if needed. |
| The broadcast is not public | The event’s visibility is private or unlisted, or a scheduled event has not been started. | Check the event’s visibility and, for a scheduled stream, select Go live after the preview appears. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stream the loop if my YouTube channel is not verified?
YouTube’s published eligibility requirement includes channel verification, so verify the channel before attempting the broadcast.
Can I switch from a single video to a playlist without ending the stream?
The OBS guidance documents these as different source types, not a seamless live conversion. Set up and test the source you intend to use before going live.
Quick Recap
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