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There is no single confirmed fix for an OBS VLC Video Source that fails after several hours. First determine whether OBS itself exits, the source freezes while OBS stays open, or playback simply stops. Then test one local file in a duplicate scene, compare it with OBS Media Source where appropriate, and check whether the media file or playlist changes the result.
Identify what is actually failing
“Crashing” can describe different symptoms, and the distinction determines what to investigate. Historical OBS reports include delayed process crashes, a network playlist that froze while OBS remained open, rapid memory growth during FLV playback, and a crash associated with adding an invalid file. Those reports cover different systems and setups; they do not establish one cause or a current universal defect.
- OBS exits: Record the time and retain the crash report if one is available.
- The VLC source freezes, but OBS stays open: Note whether the image is frozen, black, or otherwise stalled, and whether other sources continue.
- Playback stops or advances unexpectedly: Record whether the source is looping, changing tracks, or playing a playlist.
Before changing settings, write down your operating system, OBS Studio and VLC versions, media formats, and whether the source contains local files or a network stream. Capture the OBS log from a reproduction. These details help distinguish a source or media problem from an OBS process crash.
Isolate the file and source
Make a controlled local-file test
- Duplicate the affected OBS scene so the original setup remains available.
- In the copy, configure the VLC Video Source with just one local file. Remove network entries and other playlist items for this test.
- Run the test long enough to see whether the problem returns. Note the elapsed time, what stopped, and any change in OBS memory use.
- Check whether the same file plays normally outside OBS. This is a diagnostic comparison, not proof that the file is compatible with every OBS source.
Change one variable at a time. If the single-file test does not reproduce the failure, add playlist items or restore the network stream one at a time. That can help identify whether a particular file, playlist transition, or source type is involved.
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Compare OBS Media Source for one local video
For a local video, try a second copy of the scene with OBS Media Source and the same single file. Compare whether it plays, how long it runs, OBS memory use, and the log or crash report. This is a test for that file and setup, not a guaranteed replacement for VLC Video Source: a Media Source comparison may not cover a VLC playlist or network stream. A macOS user reported that Media Source looked promising for their video, but that anecdote does not establish a general fix.
Test a re-encoded copy if one file seems implicated
If the failure follows one looping file, make a separately re-encoded copy and repeat the same test with the same scene and playback settings. Compare the original and copy rather than changing multiple settings at once. A user described re-encoding as resolving one multi-hour crash; that is a limited, anecdotal result, not a guarantee.
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Keep the original file. If the re-encoded copy behaves differently, note the format and settings used so the comparison is useful. A historical OBS issue described substantial memory growth during FLV playback on macOS 10.15.4 with OBS 25.0.8. That case does not show that FLV universally causes crashes, or that memory growth is the cause of your failure.
If adding a file causes an immediate crash
Test whether the file is valid and playable independently before adding it again. An OBS issue opened in 2023 described a crash after an invalid file was added to VLC Video Source and its properties were closed, using macOS 13 and OBS 29.1.3. That immediate-crash reproduction differs from a failure after hours, but it makes file validity worth checking.
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If a network playlist freezes
Keep network-stream behavior separate from local-file tests. One OBS forum report described a YouTube playlist used as a VLC network stream freezing after about an hour, with the user replacing the source. It does not establish a fix for local video files or for every network protocol.
- Record the network source type and whether it is a playlist or a single stream.
- Compare it with a single local-file test in a duplicate scene.
- Note whether OBS remains open, whether other sources continue, and when the network source stops.
If only the network playlist stalls, that narrows the symptom; it does not prove that VLC, OBS, or the network alone is responsible.
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What the historical reports do—and do not—show
OBS forum reports from 2019 and 2020 and GitHub issues concerning OBS 25.0.8/macOS 10.15.4 and OBS 29.1.3/macOS 13 document individual cases. They are not evidence that a current OBS release has the same defect, nor do they support a universal fix such as upgrading or downgrading a version, changing drivers, or buying hardware.
For context, the 2020 FLV issue included a user-submitted memory-growth symptom of “1GB every 30 seconds” in that particular macOS 10.15.4/OBS 25.0.8 case. It is not a general rate or a diagnosis for other systems. The relevant reports are the OBS VLC Video crash thread, VLC source freezing thread, OBS issue #2919, video media source crash thread, OBS issue #9321, and VLC Media Playlist crash thread.
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Troubleshooting checklist
- OBS exits after hours: Retain the crash report and OBS log; record versions, operating system, file or stream type, and time to failure.
- Only the VLC source freezes: Record that OBS stayed open, then compare a network playlist with a local-file control if applicable.
- One local file appears responsible: Test it alone, compare VLC Video Source with Media Source, and, if useful, compare an independently re-encoded copy.
- Adding a file triggers an immediate crash: Check the file’s validity and playback outside OBS before retrying.
- Memory rises during the test: Record the observed change and timing; do not assume a historical FLV case proves the cause on your system.
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