Add the MP4 to an OBS scene as a Media Source, enable Loop, and stream that scene to YouTube. This avoids making a separate converted copy of the file first; it does not eliminate encoding of the outgoing live stream. YouTube still needs an encoded ingest stream, and its recommended settings depend on the codec and resolution you send.
Set up a looping MP4 in OBS
- Open the scene you intend to stream. In the Sources panel, select + and choose Media Source.
- Name the source if desired, then browse to and select your local MP4 file.
- Enable Loop. OBS will replay the file after playback completes.
- Decide whether to enable Restart playback when source becomes active. OBS documents this as restarting the file when its source is in the current scene and visible. Leave it enabled if making the source active should start the video from the beginning; consider the effect of switching scenes if you want playback to continue rather than restart.
- Optionally enable Use hardware decoding when available. OBS says this uses the GPU to decode certain file types when the GPU has a suitable built-in decoder. Availability depends on the file type and hardware; it is not the outgoing stream encoder setting.
- Check the source in the preview. Confirm that the picture fits the canvas and that the expected audio is present, then run a test stream before the real event.
OBS documents MP4 as a supported Media Source video format and describes the Loop property in its Media Sources documentation (dated 2022-01-11). A loop restart is not a guarantee of a visually seamless join: inspect the end-to-start transition in a test, especially if the file has a fade, silence, or a sharp visual change.
What “without re-encoding” means here
Adding a Media Source avoids a separate pre-stream conversion of the MP4. It is not file passthrough: OBS must encode the live output for YouTube, so the broadcast is not guaranteed to preserve the source bit-for-bit. Hardware decoding, when available, concerns playback of the source file; it does not remove the need to configure an encoder for the outgoing stream.
Configure the outgoing YouTube stream for 4K60
The following figures are YouTube Help’s current 2160p (4K) at 60 fps ingest guidance. Choose the row for the codec your OBS output will send; these are live-stream output settings, not instructions to alter the MP4.
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| Outgoing codec | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 14 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
| AV1 or H.265 | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
YouTube also specifies constant bitrate (CBR) and recommends a two-second keyframe interval, with a maximum interval of four seconds. For 4K, YouTube uses normal latency; its low-latency option is unavailable at that resolution. YouTube recommends RTMPS and transcodes incoming live streams into multiple formats for viewers. See YouTube’s live encoder settings and live encoder, bitrate, and resolution guidance.
In OBS, set the output encoder, bitrate, keyframe interval, and video resolution/frame rate to values appropriate for the codec and 4K60 stream you plan to send. The exact controls can depend on the OBS version and encoder available on your system; confirm the resulting stream settings and health in YouTube Live Control Room. Your upload connection must sustain the chosen bitrate with headroom for normal variation. Test the actual setup rather than assuming that a file’s 4K60 properties guarantee smooth playback or a successful 4K60 broadcast.
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Loop a playlist instead of one file
For multiple recordings, OBS documents a VLC Video Source with multiple files and a Loop Playlist property. VLC must be installed for that source to appear in OBS. For a single MP4, Media Source with Loop is the direct setup; for a playlist, VLC Video Source provides the playlist controls. The VLC dependency is the main extra requirement.
Test and troubleshoot before going live
YouTube recommends testing before starting a live stream and monitoring stream health. Use representative movement and audio—not just a static opening frame—so the test exercises the material you will actually broadcast.
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- No picture or playback: Confirm the selected file path is valid, the Media Source is visible in the active scene, and the source is not hidden behind another layer. Reopen the source properties and verify the intended MP4 is selected.
- It plays once and stops: Reopen Media Source properties and check Loop.
- It starts over after a scene change: Check Restart playback when source becomes active and decide whether restarting on activation matches your scene-switching plan.
- Playback stutters or drops frames: Hardware decoding is optional and depends on file type and GPU support, so toggling it may help only on compatible systems. Test playback and the outgoing encoder separately; a smooth local preview does not prove the live upload can sustain its bitrate.
- YouTube reports poor stream health: Verify the outgoing codec and bitrate against YouTube’s 4K60 guidance, check the keyframe interval and CBR setting, and test whether the available upload connection can sustain the stream.
- The picture or sound is wrong at the loop point: Review the end and beginning of the MP4 in a test stream. OBS repeats playback, but the documented Loop behavior does not promise a seamless visual or audio transition.
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