OBS can repeat a playlist when it reaches the end, but that is not the same as changing playlists every six hours. For a scheduled change, put each content block in its own scene and use Advanced Scene Switcher to trigger scene changes on a timer. The exact macro setup can vary by OBS and plugin version, so test the complete configuration before relying on it live.
First decide what “rotate” means
There are two different jobs people may mean by rotating a YouTube Live playlist:
- Repeat one playlist: play the files in a VLC Video source and start again when the final file ends. This is controlled by the playlist’s loop setting; it is not a six-hour timer.
- Switch content blocks every six hours: put different playlists in separate scenes, then automate scene changes with a timer or macro. This is the approach for a scheduled rotation.
A scene change is not the same as ending and restarting a YouTube broadcast. Do not assume a broadcast restart is required for a playlist rotation.
Set up a playlist that repeats
- Install VLC. In OBS, add a VLC Video source to a scene. OBS requires VLC for this source; if you use 64-bit OBS, OBS notes that 64-bit VLC is required too. See OBS Media Sources.
- Add the media files. Add the local files to the source playlist. Leave shuffle off if you want them to play in sequence.
- Choose whether to loop. Enable Loop Playlist if the list should start again after its final file. OBS describes this control as restarting the source when it has run out of media files. It does not set a six-hour interval.
- Set hidden-scene behavior. Check the VLC source’s Visibility Behaviour setting. Choose whether the source should continue, pause, or stop while its scene is hidden, based on how you want playback to behave before and after a scene change.
Rotate between playlist scenes on a six-hour schedule
Prepare a scene for each block
Create a separate OBS scene for each content block and put the corresponding VLC Video playlist source in that scene. Give the scenes clear names so you can tell which block is active. Decide how each source behaves while hidden: a source that pauses or stops may behave differently on returning to that scene than one that continues playing.
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Use Advanced Scene Switcher for the timed change
Advanced Scene Switcher supports macro-based scene automation, including workflows involving media conditions. Use its macro automation to trigger a scene change on the interval you intend. The available documentation supports this general approach, but does not establish one universal six-hour configuration for every version of OBS and the plugin. Follow the controls and terminology in the versions you have installed rather than assuming a particular sequence of menus or fields.
Before enabling a repeating schedule, verify what your macro does after a scene change: whether it returns to the first scene, advances to the next block, or needs separate triggers. Also check the intended behavior at the end of your rotation. A timer that changes scenes is a separate mechanism from VLC’s end-of-playlist loop.
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Test the whole rotation before going live
- Run the scenes and playlists locally and confirm the playback order and audio for each block.
- Check that the timer triggers the intended scene change and that the visible transition is acceptable.
- Check playback when a scene becomes hidden and visible again, using the selected Visibility Behaviour settings.
- Test the broadcast behavior in your own setup before relying on it. Confirm that the stream remains in the state you expect across a scene change; do not assume every aspect of an active YouTube broadcast is preserved automatically.
OBS recommends running a short test before a first stream or recording. Its Quick Start Guide advises testing for a few minutes rather than going straight into a first stream.
Which setup should you use?
| Workflow | What triggers playback or change | Use it when | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loop one VLC playlist | The playlist reaches its end | You want the same list to repeat | Set Loop Playlist and decide whether to shuffle. |
| Rotate between playlist scenes | A timer or macro triggers a scene change | You want a different content block on a six-hour schedule | Test the timer, scene transition, hidden-source behavior, and broadcast behavior in your versions of OBS and the plugin. |
An optional community plugin, Media Playlist Source, is another playlist-source option; it is not required for the VLC workflow. Check its listing for supported systems and version requirements before choosing it: Media Playlist Source.
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Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is to keep uploaded videos playing on YouTube without leaving a home computer running, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from the cloud; it does not stream from a camera.
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