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In OBS, add an Image Slide Show source to rotate album-art files automatically or advance them manually with a hotkey. That changes images on a timer or when an operator advances them; it does not, by itself, match each cover to the track currently playing. Exact track-to-art matching requires a separate mechanism that detects track changes and updates the image.
Choose the kind of rotation you need
Decide whether the artwork only needs to change periodically or must match each song exactly. OBS documents a slideshow that cycles through selected images, but its documented settings do not identify the current song or select that song’s embedded cover art.
| Method | Operator involvement | Follows track boundaries? | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic timed slideshow | None after setup | No; it advances according to its interval, not the track | A visual that changes periodically when exact matching is not required |
| Manual or hotkey slideshow | An operator advances the image at each track change | It can follow track boundaries if someone keeps the order aligned | A playlist managed by someone present during the stream |
| Metadata-driven image update | Potentially hands-off once configured | It must detect the playing track and update the image to match | Unattended exact matching; the sources cited here do not verify a particular implementation |
Set up a rotating album-art slideshow in OBS
- Prepare the image files. Use supported formats: BMP, TGA, PNG, JPEG/JPG, or GIF. Put the covers in the order you want if the sequence matters. For directory-based setups, keep only the intended artwork in the directory.
- Add the source. In the scene you use for the music stream, add an Image Slide Show source and select the image files or directory. Arrange and size it in the scene so the cover is visible alongside any other elements.
- Choose automatic or manual operation. Select automatic mode for timed changes. Choose manual or hotkey operation if an operator will advance covers at track changes; assign or configure the advance control in OBS and test it before the stream.
- Set the timing and transition. Configure the interval, transition, loop, and randomization options for the show. OBS lists 8,000 ms as the default interval and 700 ms as the default transition speed; these are defaults, not universal recommendations. Use an interval suited to your music and intended presentation.
- Check the relationship to the playlist. For manual changes, test the playlist order and advance the image at each track boundary. A VLC Video source can play a media playlist, loop it, and optionally shuffle it, but the OBS documentation does not say that its current item is connected to an Image Slide Show item. Do not assume that a playlist and slideshow stay synchronized automatically.
- Preview the full scene. Confirm the image is legible and correctly framed, then observe several transitions with the actual audio and visual behavior you intend to broadcast. If you need exact matching while nobody is operating OBS, the slideshow settings alone are not enough.
For the documented source behavior and settings, see OBS Project’s Image Sources guide and OBS Project’s Media Sources guide.
What exact track-to-cover synchronization requires
Exact synchronization means more than rotating a folder of covers: the setup must detect which track is playing, identify the corresponding artwork, and update the image at the track change. The OBS slideshow documentation cited here does not describe that metadata-aware link, and the reviewed material does not establish a specific plugin or automated recipe. If you build or source such a mechanism separately, verify its behavior with your player and playlist before relying on it for an unattended broadcast.
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Keep the 24/7 broadcast stable
Artwork handling and YouTube ingestion are separate jobs. OBS or another encoder produces the composed audio/video feed; YouTube receives that feed under its live-streaming requirements. Use YouTube’s current encoder guidance for codec, frame rate, keyframe interval, and bitrate settings rather than treating the artwork setup as a substitute for encoder configuration.
- YouTube recommends RTMPS for encoder ingestion. Check the current requirements and settings in Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
- Before going live, YouTube advises: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” Test with audio and visual movement similar to the planned broadcast, and monitor stream health while it is running.
- YouTube also supports HLS ingestion, but it requires an HLS-capable encoder and specific playlist, segment, and transport configuration. YouTube notes that HLS has higher latency than RTMP because it sends video segments rather than a continuous stream. HLS is an ingestion choice, not an album-art synchronization feature; see Set up an HLS stream.
- YouTube’s Live Streaming API describes reusing a live stream for recurring broadcasts and a 24/7 broadcast continuing without stopping the video feed. Those broadcast concepts do not control OBS scenes or synchronize its image source; see Understanding broadcasts and streams.
Troubleshoot common artwork problems
The cover changes in the middle of a track
The slideshow is probably advancing on its configured timer. Increase or adjust the interval if periodic changes are acceptable, or use manual advancement at track boundaries. A timer is not a track detector.
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The cover does not match the current song
Check whether the playlist order and image order still align, especially if tracks are shuffled. The documented OBS slideshow does not read the current track’s metadata. Exact matching requires a separate metadata-aware update mechanism.
The slideshow does not advance
Confirm that automatic mode is selected and that the source contains the intended files. If using manual mode, verify the advance control and test it in the scene before broadcasting.
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The image sequence changes unexpectedly
Review the randomization and loop options. Disable randomization when covers must remain in a fixed order; ensure looping is configured as intended.
The stream drops or looks unstable
Check YouTube’s stream-health feedback and confirm the encoder settings against YouTube’s current guidance. Test with the planned audio and moving visuals before relying on the stream for continuous operation.
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Or let it run in the cloud
For an uploaded-video YouTube stream, StreamNeo runs the loop from the cloud: upload the recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. This keeps the stream running without a computer or home connection staying on. It plays uploaded videos rather than going live from a camera, and it does not establish track-synchronized album art; prepare the video with the visuals you want, or use a separate image-updating workflow where exact track matching is essential.
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