You do not necessarily need to convert a MOV file before using it in OBS: OBS lists MOV as a supported Media Source format. For an OBS playlist, use the VLC Video source, which requires VLC to be installed (64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS). If the MOV does not play reliably in your setup, a practical compatibility target is an MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio. Try stream copy first when the MOV’s existing codecs are suitable; otherwise transcode and preserve the source resolution and frame rate unless you have a specific reason to change them.
Choose the right OBS source before converting
OBS has two relevant source types, and they do different jobs. Its Media Source plays a media file and lists MOV among supported video file types. For a playlist, OBS documents VLC Video, which uses VLC libraries. Install VLC to make that source available; if you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
The VLC Video source offers playlist controls, including Loop Playlist (on by default) and Shuffle Playlist (off by default), as well as visibility behavior, network caching, audio track selection, and subtitle controls. These options control playback and playlist behavior; they do not determine a video’s encoding bitrate or quality.
A MOV extension alone does not identify the codecs inside the file. Playback depends on those streams and the OBS/VLC playback environment, so first try the file in the source you intend to use. Convert only if playback or compatibility gives you a reason.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
When to copy streams and when to transcode
Use stream copy if the streams are already suitable
FFmpeg’s -c copy copies streams without re-encoding. That avoids another lossy video or audio encode, but it does not change the codecs: renaming or remuxing a file does not make an unsupported stream compatible. Copy only when the output container and your OBS/VLC playback environment support the selected streams.
ffmpeg -i input.mov -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0? -c copy output.mp4The command selects the first video stream and, if present, the first audio stream. The question mark makes the audio mapping optional, so the command can also handle a file with no audio stream. It does not retain additional audio tracks, subtitles, or other streams; map those explicitly if you need them.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Transcode to H.264 and AAC for a compatibility-focused MP4
OBS’s Audio/Video Formats Guide lists H.264 video and AAC audio in both MP4 and MOV. It describes H.264 as broadly playable and AAC as widely supported. That makes MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio a reasonable compatibility-oriented target, not a guarantee for every operating system, OBS or VLC build, hardware decoder, or source file.
ffmpeg -i input.mov -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0? -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 20 -c:a aac -b:a 192k output.mp4This selects the first video stream and optional first audio stream, encodes video with libx264, and encodes audio as AAC. The values medium, 20, and 192k are practical starting examples, not settings prescribed or tested by OBS for every MOV. FFmpeg’s codec documentation describes the libx264 preset and CRF controls. FFmpeg applies output options to the next output file, so keep the options before output.mp4.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
How to choose conversion settings
Video quality and file size: adjust CRF
CRF is libx264’s quality-based rate-control setting. A lower CRF generally targets higher quality and produces a larger file; a higher CRF generally trades some quality for a smaller file. Start with a short representative clip, inspect it at the size you expect to display, and adjust rather than treating any single CRF as universally best.
Encoding speed and compression: adjust the preset
The preset controls the speed-versus-compression trade-off. A faster preset reduces encoding time; a slower preset can improve compression efficiency at the cost of more encoding time. The best practical choice depends on your computer, source, and how much conversion time matters to you.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Resolution and frame rate: preserve the source by default
Do not resize or change frame rate just because you are converting containers or codecs. Keep the source dimensions and frame rate unless a specific delivery requirement, consistent playlist cadence, or playback-performance issue calls for a change. There is no universal best resolution or frame rate for every MOV playlist.
Audio and extra tracks
For the compatibility-focused MP4 transcode, AAC is the straightforward audio choice. If the existing audio is suitable and preserving its encoded form matters, copy it selectively, but confirm that the target container and playback setup support it. The example commands map only the first video and first audio streams. If the MOV has multiple audio tracks, subtitles, or other streams you want to keep, use explicit FFmpeg -map options and verify the intended audio or subtitle track in the VLC Video source settings.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Check the result in the actual playlist
- Try the original MOV first. Add the file to the OBS source you plan to use. For a playlist, choose VLC Video and confirm VLC is installed with the same 64-bit architecture as OBS.
- Test playback and loop behavior. Confirm the video, audio, subtitles, and playlist order behave as intended. Set the VLC Video source’s loop, shuffle, visibility, and track options to suit the playlist.
- If playback fails, inspect the streams. Identify the video and audio codecs, dimensions, frame rate, pixel format, and any additional audio or subtitle tracks with a media inspector or FFmpeg. The extension by itself is not enough to decide whether stream copy will work.
- Try stream copy if the existing streams fit. Use the copy command above, then test the resulting MP4 in the same OBS/VLC setup.
- Transcode if copy is unsuitable. Use the H.264/AAC template, test a representative section, and adjust CRF or preset according to the quality, file-size, and encoding-time trade-off.
- Test the finished playlist again. Check the converted file in the real playback configuration, including any tracks and looping behavior that matter to your project.
Troubleshooting MOV playlist playback
- VLC Video is unavailable: install VLC. For 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC.
- The MOV will not play or has missing audio: the MOV container name does not establish which codecs or tracks it contains. Inspect the streams, try a compatible stream-copy remux when appropriate, or transcode to H.264/AAC in MP4 and test again.
- The MP4 made with
-c copystill fails: stream copy preserves the original codecs. If those streams or properties do not work in the container or playback stack, use the transcode command instead. - A second audio track or subtitle is missing: the sample commands map only the first video and optional first audio stream. Add explicit mappings for the tracks you need, then select the appropriate track in VLC Video settings.
- The transcoded file is too large or takes too long to encode: adjust CRF for the quality-versus-size balance and the preset for encoding speed versus compression efficiency. Compare a short representative sample before converting a long recording.
- Playback is choppy or inconsistent: preserve the source dimensions and frame rate unless testing shows a concrete performance reason to change them. Check the file in the actual OBS/VLC configuration; results can depend on the system and playback stack.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your broader goal is to keep uploaded videos playing as a 24/7 YouTube live stream rather than run an OBS playlist locally, StreamNeo is the #1 option to try: it loops uploaded videos from the cloud, supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and includes a first day free. Upload your video or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, and the monthly option is $9.99 per month. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
