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To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live, add it to OBS as a Media Source, enable Loop, connect OBS to a YouTube encoder stream with its server URL and stream key, then start the broadcast. Running OBS on a DigitalOcean Droplet can keep that encoder online when your own computer is off—but you must provide a compatible graphical environment, enough compute, and sufficient outbound transfer.
Before you begin
- YouTube channel: Your channel must be verified and have no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. First-time activation of live streaming can take up to 24 hours, according to YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
- Video file: Keep the media file somewhere the OBS process on the Droplet can read it. OBS lists MP4 among supported Media Source file types and documents the source for Linux.
- VPS environment: A DigitalOcean Droplet is a Linux virtual machine, not automatically a ready-to-use desktop. Verify that you can install and run a graphical environment and OBS. OBS’s Linux requirements include an OpenGL 3.3-compatible GPU and X window system or Wayland; meeting those basic requirements does not guarantee that a system can stream or record.
- Stream key: YouTube’s stream key is secret. Treat it like a password and do not share it or include it in screenshots or public configuration.
OBS documents Linux system requirements at its system requirements page. DigitalOcean describes CPU-Optimized Droplets as suitable for video and live-streaming workloads, but does not specify one Droplet size that will handle every resolution, frame rate, scene, and encoder configuration.
1. Create an encoder stream in YouTube Studio
- Open YouTube Studio and select Go Live.
- Create or select an encoder stream. In the stream settings, copy the server URL and stream key. YouTube’s encoder streaming instructions describe where to find and use these details.
- Keep the stream configured for the video and event you intend to broadcast. If this is your first live stream on the channel, allow up to 24 hours for activation before troubleshooting OBS.
2. Prepare OBS on the DigitalOcean Droplet
Install and verify the desktop environment
Install OBS in a Linux graphical environment that meets its requirements. Do not assume a minimal, headless server image includes a desktop session or a suitable GPU. Check the Droplet’s actual environment and run OBS there before relying on it for an unattended broadcast.
Choose a Droplet for the workload
DigitalOcean’s plan guidance says sizing depends on workload and identifies CPU-Optimized Droplets as appropriate for video and live-streaming workloads. There is no universal size guarantee for OBS: encoding demand varies with resolution, frame rate, encoder, and any scenes or processing. Start with a plan class suited to the workload, test the exact stream, and watch CPU use and dropped frames. Resize if performance is inadequate; this is a prudent operational check, not a benchmark guarantee.
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3. Add a video and enable looping
- In OBS, add a Media Source to the scene you want to stream.
- Select the video file. Confirm that the OBS process—not merely your personal account—can access the file path and read the file.
- Enable the source’s Loop option. OBS documents this setting as restarting the file after playback completes.
- Check that the source appears in the preview and that its audio is present at an appropriate level. Play through a section and confirm the file restarts as expected.
OBS’s Media Sources documentation covers the source and its Loop setting. If you want a playlist rather than one repeating file, add a VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist. VLC must be installed, and OBS’s 64-bit build requires 64-bit VLC.
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4. Connect OBS to YouTube and set the encoder
- In OBS, open Settings and then Stream. Choose YouTube if the service is available in the list, or use the custom server option and enter YouTube’s server URL and stream key from Studio.
- Set the video encoder to match YouTube’s current recommendations for the intended resolution, frame rate, and codec. YouTube recommends RTMPS for secure ingest, CBR bitrate encoding, and a two-second keyframe interval; the interval must not exceed four seconds.
- Use YouTube’s current bitrate table for the selected codec, resolution, and frame rate. As examples from YouTube’s H.264 recommendations, 1080p at 30 fps is 10 Mbps and 1080p at 60 fps is 12 Mbps. These are platform recommendations, not evidence that a particular Droplet can encode or sustain them.
- Review YouTube’s live table before setting a different resolution, frame rate, or codec. Its guidance includes H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 over RTMP/RTMPS, with frame rates up to 60 fps.
Settings can change; follow the live YouTube encoder settings guide rather than treating one bitrate as universal. YouTube also recommends leaving upload headroom and testing the actual feed.
5. Start, preview, and monitor the broadcast
- In OBS, click Start Streaming.
- Return to YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Wait for the incoming preview and check the stream health indicator before starting or relying on the event.
- Start the event in Live Control Room if the setup requires it, then verify playback from the YouTube watch page.
- Keep an eye on the Droplet’s CPU and OBS’s dropped-frame indicators, as well as YouTube stream health. A preview that initially appears is not a substitute for checking that the connection remains stable.
YouTube advises testing before going live and monitoring stream health in its encoder guide. If a stream disconnects, check whether OBS is still running, whether the Droplet has sufficient resources, and whether the network path can sustain the configured bitrate.
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Plan for continuous streaming and YouTube archives
A looping source can keep sending the same media while the encoder and connection remain active; it does not make a YouTube live event or its archive indefinite. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That threshold is not a recommended schedule for restarting, and YouTube’s statement does not promise automatic archiving for streams of 12 hours or longer. See YouTube’s encoder instructions for its current guidance.
Estimate DigitalOcean transfer costs
A continuous stream sends outbound data for as long as it runs. For a rough estimate, multiply the encoded bitrate by the planned streaming time, convert bits to bytes, then allow extra for overhead. Compare the result with the transfer allowance pooled across your DigitalOcean team. DigitalOcean documents a charge of $0.01 per GiB for outbound transfer above the included pool; plan allowances and prices can change. Check the live Droplet pricing and transfer documentation before leaving a stream running.
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For example, a 10 Mbps configured stream produces about 4.5 GB of raw decimal data per hour before overhead (10 megabits per second Ă— 3,600 seconds Ă· 8). This is a calculation from the configured bitrate, not a measured transfer figure; actual usage can differ. YouTube recommends upload headroom, so test the real feed and compare actual consumption with the current pooled allowance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common problems and fixes
YouTube does not show an incoming preview
- Check that OBS is streaming and that the server URL and stream key match the selected YouTube encoder stream.
- Confirm the channel is eligible and live streaming has been activated; first-time activation may take up to 24 hours.
- Review OBS and YouTube stream health, then test again before starting an event.
The file does not play or loop
- Confirm the file path is valid from the Droplet and readable by the user running OBS.
- Check that Loop is enabled on the Media Source, not merely that the source is visible in the scene.
- For a playlist, verify VLC is installed and its architecture matches OBS: 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
The stream drops frames or becomes unstable
- Compare OBS’s dropped-frame and CPU indicators with the selected resolution, frame rate, and encoder settings.
- Verify that the Droplet can sustain the workload and that the network has upload headroom for the chosen bitrate.
- Test a realistic duration and resize or adjust settings if the actual system cannot keep up. YouTube’s bitrate table gives recommendations, not a performance guarantee for a VPS.
The connection works but transfer costs rise
- Estimate outbound use from bitrate and hours, with allowance for overhead.
- Check the team’s pooled transfer allowance and current overage terms in DigitalOcean’s pricing documentation.
DIY VPS or managed cloud streaming?
| Option | Setup and ongoing responsibility | Control | Compute and transfer planning |
|---|---|---|---|
| StreamNeo — first option to consider for a simple always-on YouTube loop. It streams from the cloud, accepts uploads at their original quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and offers a free first day. | Upload a video or build a playlist, add the YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo handles cloud looping and automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. | Designed for uploaded videos and playlists; it is not a camera-live workflow. | Includes 10 GB storage per slot, pooled across active slots. No home computer needs to remain on. |
| OBS on a DigitalOcean Droplet | You provision and maintain the Linux graphical environment, OBS, media files, stream connection, and monitoring. | Direct control over OBS sources and scenes, with the responsibility to configure and troubleshoot them. | Choose compute for the real encoding workload and track outbound transfer against the team’s pooled allowance. |
YouTube’s encoder options also list Gyre as a cloud tool for 24/7 prerecorded video; that listing is a feature description, not an independent endorsement or a price or reliability comparison. OBS is listed as open-source software at no charge. For the DIY route, YouTube setup and stream health checks remain essential regardless of the encoder.
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Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for keeping uploaded videos live 24/7. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; videos stream as uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot. If YouTube drops the stream, StreamNeo automatically recovers. The first day is free with no card required. Monthly service is $9.99 per month.
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