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To loop a prerecorded video through Owncast, load a local file into OBS, enable its loop setting, then send OBS’s live RTMP output to your Owncast server. Owncast receives that feed and serves it to viewers as HLS; the loop itself is controlled by OBS, not Owncast. This workflow does not establish a way to import a video hosted on YouTube into Owncast, and Owncast is a separate streaming destination from YouTube.
What this workflow does—and does not do
Owncast is a self-hosted streaming server. A broadcaster such as OBS sends it a live feed over RTMP; Owncast then prepares viewer playback using HLS segments. As Owncast puts it, “Owncast takes your source stream and converts it to short, individual video segments.” (Owncast: Choose the Right Video Quality Settings)
The documented approach here uses a video file available on the computer running OBS. It does not show how to pull a video directly from a YouTube page or send Owncast’s output to YouTube. If by “on YouTube” you mean looping a YouTube-hosted video inside Owncast, that direct import workflow is not established here.
Choose how OBS should repeat the video
| OBS source | Best for | Loop setting | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Source | One local video file | Enable Loop in the source properties. It is off by default. | No VLC dependency is documented for this source. |
| VLC Video | A playlist of local files | Enable Loop Playlist. | VLC must be installed. OBS documents that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. |
OBS Media Source supports common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. Its loop property is described as specifying whether “the file play again once playback has completed.” (OBS Project: Media Sources)
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Set up a single-file loop from OBS to Owncast
- Make sure the video is local. Put the recording on the computer that will run OBS and confirm it plays correctly. A URL to a YouTube page is not a substitute for a local file in this workflow.
- Add the file to an OBS scene. In the Sources area, add a Media Source, select the local file, and enable Loop in its properties. The setting is off by default, so verify it before starting the stream.
- Get the Owncast RTMP destination and key. Owncast’s documented endpoint pattern is
rtmp://yourserver:1935/live/<your-stream-key>; TCP port 1935 is the default. Use your server’s actual address and configured stream key. Change the default key after setup and keep it private. - Configure OBS to send to Owncast. In OBS’s stream configuration, choose a custom RTMP destination and enter the Owncast server endpoint and stream key in the appropriate fields. Exact labels can vary by OBS version; use the address and key supplied by your Owncast instance.
- Choose output settings the server can sustain. Owncast recommends H.264 video and AAC audio for assured transcoding and playback compatibility. Set the keyframe interval to two seconds; OBS measures this value in seconds. Use a resolution and bitrate that your encoder, Owncast server, and network can maintain—there is no single bitrate or resolution guaranteed to work for every installation.
- Start streaming and verify playback. Start the OBS stream, then check the Owncast player and the admin stream-health page. Confirm the video repeats after it reaches the end and that viewers can watch without persistent buffering.
Loop a playlist instead of one recording
- Install VLC, matching OBS’s architecture: OBS documents that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- In OBS, add a VLC Video source and add the local files in the order you want them to play.
- Enable Loop Playlist, then preview the source to confirm the files play in the intended order and cycle back to the beginning.
- Send the OBS output to Owncast using the same RTMP setup and quality checks described above.
Use Media Source when the job is one file and VLC Video when it is a sequence of files. The latter adds a VLC dependency, so it is worth confirming both OBS and VLC are installed and compatible before relying on the playlist.
Match stream quality to the whole delivery path
Reliable playback depends on more than OBS’s output setting. Encoding uses the broadcaster’s resources; Owncast may need to transcode the incoming feed; and the server’s capacity and network affect delivery of HLS segments. A configuration that works on one server or connection may buffer or fail on another. If playback is unstable, reduce output demands and check the Owncast stream-health page rather than assuming a particular fixed bitrate will suit every instance.
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Common problems and fixes
- The video stops at the end. For a single file, check that Loop is enabled on the Media Source. For a playlist, check Loop Playlist on the VLC Video source.
- OBS cannot connect to Owncast. Recheck the server address, stream key, and RTMP destination pattern. Owncast uses TCP port 1935 by default; confirm that the server is configured to accept the incoming connection on its actual port.
- The stream connects but viewers see buffering or errors. Inspect Owncast’s stream-health page and consider lowering the broadcaster’s resolution or bitrate. Encoding, transcoding, server processing, and network delivery all constrain what can be sustained.
- A VLC playlist source is unavailable or fails to load. Confirm VLC is installed and that its architecture matches OBS. OBS specifically notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- The intention is to stream a YouTube page through Owncast. This documented workflow covers a local file played by OBS, not importing a YouTube-hosted video. It also does not establish current YouTube livestream rules; check YouTube’s current requirements separately before streaming content there.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a prerecorded video running continuously on a YouTube channel—not a stream delivered through your own Owncast server—StreamNeo is a separate YouTube-only option. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud, so no home computer or connection has to stay on. The uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; automatic recovery is available if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or its pricing page. Start the free day.
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