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How to Loop a Long Lofi Video on YouTube Live Using OBS Media Sources

Use OBS Media Source to repeat a local lofi video on YouTube Live, connect with a YouTube stream key, and test audio, video, rights, and archiving.

By DocumentaryTube Team 5 min read
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To loop a prerecorded lofi video on YouTube Live, add it to an OBS scene as a Media Source, enable Loop in that source’s properties, then connect OBS to a YouTube encoder stream with its server URL and stream key. Test the full audio-and-video scene before going live. The loop setting repeats the file after playback completes; it does not establish that the transition will be gapless or that a long broadcast will stay uninterrupted.

Choose the right OBS source

Use Media Source for one local video file. If you want OBS to cycle through multiple files, use VLC Video instead; it supports playlists and has a Loop Playlist option. VLC must be installed for VLC Video to appear in OBS, and OBS specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS. For a single file, Media Source is the simpler route.

OBS source Best fit What to know
Media Source One local video file Built into OBS; enable Loop to replay the file after playback completes.
VLC Video A playlist of media files Offers Loop Playlist; requires VLC to be installed.

OBS documents repeat behavior, not gapless playback. Do not assume either source will transition between repeats without a pause or other visible or audible seam.

Set up a looping video in OBS

  1. Create or select the scene. In OBS, choose the scene you want to broadcast. In the Sources dock, select the plus button, then choose Media Source. OBS lists common supported formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM, AVI, TS, FLV, and GIF.
  2. Name the source and select the file. In the Media Source properties, choose the local video file you want to play. Confirm that the source is visible in the scene and that the picture fits the intended output.
  3. Enable the loop. Turn on Loop in the source properties. OBS defines this option as replaying the file once playback completes. Restart playback when source becomes active is a separate property, on by default; it controls whether playback restarts when the source becomes visible in the current scene.
  4. Check the audio and framing. Play the scene and confirm the video is framed correctly and its audio reaches OBS’s meters. If the source has no intended audio, verify that the broadcast is meant to be silent rather than assuming the source is working.

Connect OBS to YouTube Live

  1. Make sure the channel can stream. YouTube says first-time live-stream activation can take up to 24 hours. Channel verification and eligibility or restriction rules may also affect access, so confirm availability before planning a broadcast.
  2. Create or select an encoder stream. In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create or choose an encoder stream. YouTube provides a stream URL and stream key for the encoder connection.
  3. Enter the connection details in OBS. Open OBS’s stream settings and enter YouTube’s server URL and stream key. YouTube describes the key as a credential that lets an encoder send a feed to the channel; keep it private and reset it if you think it has been exposed. YouTube recommends RTMPS.
  4. Set output quality for your connection. Select a resolution and bitrate your upload connection can sustain. YouTube’s encoder table lists 2–6 Mbps video bitrate for 720p at 30 fps; that is YouTube guidance for that specific output, not a universal setting for every resolution, frame rate, or internet connection.
  5. Preview and test before starting the public broadcast. Check the YouTube preview and test with representative audio and video. OBS recommends a short test; YouTube recommends testing encoder settings and monitoring stream health. Confirm the loop, picture, sound, and connection behave as intended before relying on the stream.

Check music and visual rights before you go live

YouTube’s livestream terms make the provider responsible for having the necessary rights for worldwide exploitation of live content, expressly including music licensing rights. Live content must also comply with YouTube’s Community Guidelines and applicable laws. Use lofi music and visuals that your channel is authorized to stream and, if relevant, archive. Calling a track “royalty-free” or identifying it as lofi does not by itself establish that you hold the required rights.

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Understand looping and YouTube’s archive limit

The OBS loop setting repeats the selected file after it completes; the YouTube connection carries the resulting live feed. Neither fact guarantees an uninterrupted unattended broadcast. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That statement does not establish reliable archive behavior for streams longer than 12 hours. If keeping a saved copy matters, check YouTube’s current guidance and make an appropriate local recording.

Troubleshoot common setup problems

  • The video stops instead of repeating: Reopen the Media Source properties and confirm Loop is enabled. If you intend to play several files, use VLC Video with Loop Playlist rather than treating a single-file source as a playlist.
  • VLC Video is missing: Install VLC. For 64-bit OBS, OBS specifies 64-bit VLC.
  • YouTube does not receive a feed: Check that the encoder stream is active in Live Control Room and that OBS has the matching YouTube stream URL and key. If a key may have been exposed, reset it and update OBS with the new key.
  • The channel cannot start a first live stream: YouTube says first activation can take up to 24 hours. Check channel eligibility and restrictions, then allow activation time before the planned broadcast.
  • The stream health is poor or the picture is unstable: Test the connection and monitor YouTube’s stream health. Adjust output resolution and bitrate to match the available upload capacity rather than assuming a bitrate that suits another connection will work for yours.
  • The loop transition has a seam: OBS documents replay behavior, not gapless transitions. Test the exact file and scene in advance; do not promise a seamless boundary based on the Loop option alone.
  • You need an archive from a session longer than 12 hours: YouTube’s cited automatic-archive guidance only covers streams under 12 hours. Check current YouTube guidance and keep an appropriate local recording if the saved copy is important.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Or let it run in the cloud

If you do not want your computer and home connection to stay on, StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos. Upload the lofi recording, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded video in the cloud; it does not stream from a camera.

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