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Set the video to loop in OBS
- In your scene’s Sources dock, select + and add a Media Source.
- Choose Create New, name the source, and select your local video file.
- Enable Loop in the Media Source properties. OBS supports common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM.
- Leave Use hardware decoding when available off initially, then compare performance with it enabled as described below.
For a playlist, OBS’s VLC Video source can loop and shuffle multiple files. VLC must be installed, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. For one clip, Media Source has its own loop control; there is no established GPU-use advantage to choosing VLC instead. OBS Media Sources documentation
Reduce scene and rendering work first
OBS uses GPU resources to composite and render the scene as well as to encode video. Hardware encoding does not eliminate rendering work. Audit the scene for sources and effects that add work without improving the actual broadcast:
- Remove unused browser sources, duplicate media sources, and filters you do not need.
- Reduce browser overlays and other expensive sources; some sources may continue consuming resources even when not visible.
- Keep scene collections manageable rather than accumulating scenes and sources you no longer use.
- If the stream output is below 4K, or the video is displayed smaller than its original dimensions, try a lower-resolution copy of the clip. Decoding and displaying a 4K source is unnecessary when the final output or on-screen size is smaller.
These are workload reductions, not guaranteed utilization percentages. Observe OBS’s rendering and encoding lag as well as overall GPU use. OBS encoding performance troubleshooting
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Choose which quality to preserve
If 4K60 is essential, keep it and start by removing unnecessary sources and effects. If the system still cannot sustain the scene, decide whether resolution or frame rate matters more for the channel:
- Keep 4K, reduce frame rate: Try 30fps if 60fps is not working. This reduces motion smoothness but preserves 4K output detail.
- Keep 60fps, reduce output resolution: Lowering output resolution reduces workload but gives up 4K detail.
- Keep output below 4K: Use a smaller source asset when the video is being scaled down, so the source is closer to the delivered size.
In OBS, output resolution and FPS are set under Settings > Video. Lowering the base canvas resolution is a last resort: it can require repositioning and resizing sources. Change one factor at a time and check the resulting stream. OBS recommends reducing output resolution to reduce GPU resources and lowering FPS when necessary. OBS encoding performance troubleshooting
Test Media Source hardware decoding
In the Media Source properties, compare Use hardware decoding when available both off and on during a representative session. OBS documents this option for supported file types when compatible decoding hardware is available, and it is off by default. Hardware decoding shifts decoding work to GPU hardware; that may change the balance between CPU and GPU rather than lower total GPU use.
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- Run the scene with the option off and note CPU use, GPU use, OBS rendering/encoding lag, and whether playback is smooth.
- Enable the option, repeat with the same video and scene, and compare the same indicators.
- Keep the setting that works better for your file and hardware. If GPU use rises or playback becomes less stable, turn it back off.
OBS does not publish a result showing that hardware decoding lowers total GPU utilization for every file or setup. The codec, GPU decoder, driver, and scene all matter. OBS Media Sources documentation
Configure encoding and YouTube ingest
If your system has a compatible hardware encoder, OBS generally recommends one because it moves encoding work from the CPU to a specialised component. OBS documents NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF, Intel QSV, and Apple VideoToolbox; availability depends on the operating system and hardware generation. Encoding in hardware can reduce CPU load, but OBS still needs GPU resources for rendering and compositing. OBS hardware encoding documentation
YouTube’s live encoder guidance, accessed in 2026, supports H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 over RTMP/RTMPS, up to 60fps. For 2160p (4K) at 60fps, its figures are:
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| Codec | YouTube’s recommended bitrate | YouTube’s minimum bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 35 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| H.264 | 50 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s published 4K60 ingest recommendations and minima, not measurements of GPU use. YouTube recommends CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval, and says not to exceed 4 seconds. For SDR, its guidance lists Rec. 709. YouTube also says 4K streams cannot use “improve for low latency” and use normal latency. Choose a bitrate your upload connection can sustain and check YouTube’s current guidance for the channel and encoder. YouTube: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
Test before the broadcast
Run a private or otherwise appropriate test with the actual loop, audio, scene, output settings, and intended duration. Watch OBS’s status and YouTube’s stream health messages for dropped frames, rendering lag, encoding lag, or connection problems. Passing OBS’s basic system requirements does not prove that a particular computer can sustain a demanding 4K60 scene. OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard can suggest settings based on the system and intended workload, but verify the result with a representative test. OBS system requirements
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Troubleshoot common GPU and playback problems
GPU remains high with hardware encoding enabled
Hardware encoding handles encoding, not scene composition. Remove expensive sources and filters, test a smaller source file if it is scaled down, and consider reducing output resolution or FPS if necessary.
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Hardware decoding makes performance worse
Turn off Use hardware decoding when available and compare again. The option uses a compatible GPU decoder; it is not a universal reduction in GPU load.
The stream stutters or OBS reports rendering lag
Simplify the scene and remove unnecessary browser sources, filters, or duplicate sources. If 4K60 remains unstable, test 30fps or a lower output resolution, changing one setting at a time.
The picture is smooth locally but YouTube reports ingest trouble
Check the connection and ensure the selected codec’s bitrate is within your upload capacity. Confirm CBR and the recommended 2-second keyframe interval, then review YouTube’s stream health messages and current encoder guidance.
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A playlist source does not load
For VLC Video, install VLC and match its architecture to OBS—64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. If you only need one repeating file, use Media Source and its Loop property instead.
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