You can loop a rain video in OBS and send it to YouTube continuously: create a scene, add the video as a looping Media Source, connect OBS with your YouTube stream URL and key, then test the picture, sound and stream health. For a true 24/7 run, the Windows PC and its internet connection must stay available; YouTube’s published automatic-archive guidance covers streams under 12 hours, not a complete replay of a continuous day-long stream.
Before you start: enable YouTube live streaming
Your channel must be verified and must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the preceding 90 days. First-time live-stream activation can take up to 24 hours, so enable it before you plan to go live. Check the current requirements in YouTube’s live-streaming setup guide.
- A Windows PC capable of playing the video and running OBS while streaming.
- A stable internet connection with enough sustained upload capacity for your chosen stream settings.
- A rain video file stored on the PC. OBS Media Source supports MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM files.
- OBS Studio. YouTube identifies OBS as free, open-source encoder software; OBS recommends starting with its Auto-Configuration Wizard to account for your intended use, hardware and network.
Set up the looping rain video in OBS
- Run OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard. Follow the prompts for streaming and let OBS suggest an initial configuration based on your computer and connection. Treat the result as a starting point, not a substitute for a live test.
- Create a scene. In the Scenes panel, add a scene for the rain broadcast.
- Add the video source. In Sources, add a Media Source, choose the local rain-video file, and enable Loop. OBS defines this option as replaying the file when it reaches the end.
- Check framing and playback. Confirm the image fills the intended canvas and plays smoothly before connecting to YouTube. If the video is silent by design, decide whether you want a silent stream; if it has rain audio, verify that the audio meter moves and that the intended track is audible.
- Remove unintended audio. OBS’s Quick Start Guide says desktop audio and microphone capture are enabled by default. Disable or remove any capture source you do not want, such as a microphone or system sounds, so the stream contains only the intended rain audio.
For multiple clips rather than one repeating file, OBS’s VLC Video source can loop a playlist. VLC must be installed, and a 64-bit OBS installation requires 64-bit VLC. For one file, Media Source’s Loop option is the simpler setup. See OBS’s Media Sources documentation.
Connect OBS to your YouTube stream
- In YouTube Studio, open Go Live and create a stream or select one you have already set up. Use YouTube’s encoder setup instructions if you need help finding the stream controls.
- Copy the stream’s Server URL and Stream key from YouTube’s Live Control Room.
- In OBS, open Settings and choose Stream. Select YouTube as the service if available, then enter or paste the server URL and stream key in the corresponding fields. If your OBS version offers an account connection instead, follow its on-screen flow and confirm that the selected YouTube account and stream are the intended ones.
- Keep the stream key private. YouTube uses it to identify where the encoder sends video and to accept the feed; anyone with access to it may be able to send video to your stream. If it is exposed, replace it in YouTube Studio and update OBS.
- Return to the main OBS window. Start with a private or unlisted test rather than immediately broadcasting publicly.
Choose resolution, bitrate and keyframes
For H.264, YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends 14 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps and 8 Mbps for 720p at 30 fps. It recommends constant bitrate (CBR) for RTMP/RTMPS and a 2-second keyframe interval; do not exceed 4 seconds. These are YouTube platform recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular home connection can sustain them. Check the current YouTube live encoder settings before setting up a different resolution or frame rate.
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| Output option | YouTube H.264 recommended bitrate | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p, 30 fps | 14 Mbps | Offers more image detail, but needs more sustained upload capacity. |
| 720p, 30 fps | 8 Mbps | Uses less upload capacity and may be a more reliable choice on a constrained connection. |
Choose a bitrate your connection can hold consistently, with room for normal variation and other household upload traffic. If the stream health is unstable, lower the output resolution or bitrate and test again rather than forcing the recommended setting. Rain footage does not inherently require 1080p; the right choice depends on the detail you want and what your connection can sustain.
Test the stream before leaving it overnight
- Start the encoder from OBS and wait for YouTube’s Live Control Room to detect the incoming stream.
- Check the preview for correct framing, motion and color. Listen for the rain audio and confirm there is no unwanted microphone or desktop sound.
- Keep the test running for a few minutes. OBS recommends a short test, and YouTube advises monitoring stream health; look for warnings or dropped frames before relying on an overnight broadcast.
- When ready, set the YouTube stream’s visibility and start the public broadcast through YouTube’s controls if required for the selected stream workflow.
For a 24/7 local-encoder setup, Windows must not put the PC to sleep and OBS must remain open and connected. Adjust the power settings available in your Windows version to prevent sleep for the planned run. Keep the computer on a reliable power source and avoid updates or restarts that would interrupt OBS. A UPS may help ride through a brief power interruption to the PC and network equipment, but it does not prevent an internet outage or guarantee uninterrupted streaming.
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Will YouTube save the entire 24-hour livestream?
YouTube’s encoder setup page states: “All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived.” That statement supports automatic archiving for streams shorter than 12 hours; it does not promise that a single continuous 24-hour stream will be retained as one complete replay. See YouTube’s encoder setup page for the current wording.
If preserving a full replay matters, do not rely on the automatic archive for a stream that runs past that threshold. Plan a separate local recording or divide the broadcast into shorter sessions, and verify YouTube’s current behavior for your channel. YouTube also recommends checking that a local archive is intact and continues to grow during recording. Local recording needs adequate storage and should be tested before the broadcast; a long recording can be a large file.
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Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube does not detect an incoming stream | Wrong or outdated stream key or server URL; live streaming is not enabled yet. | Confirm activation and copy the current URL and key from the selected stream in YouTube Studio. Update OBS’s Stream settings and keep the key private. |
| Rain video stops at the end | The Media Source is not set to loop. | Edit the source properties and enable Loop. If using a playlist, check the VLC Video source and VLC architecture requirements. |
| No rain sound, or unwanted sound is present | The source has no audio, its audio is not routed as expected, or default desktop/microphone capture is active. | Check the OBS audio meters and source settings. Disable captures that should not be included and test the actual YouTube preview with headphones. |
| Stream health reports instability or frames drop | The chosen bitrate exceeds reliable upload capacity, or the connection varies. | Reduce bitrate or resolution, stop competing uploads, and repeat a sustained test. Keep the setting your connection can maintain, not merely one it reaches briefly. |
| Broadcast ends when the PC is unattended | Windows sleeps, OBS closes, the PC restarts, power fails or the internet connection drops. | Prevent sleep during the scheduled run, keep OBS open, check power and network stability, and monitor the stream when possible. Local OBS depends on this PC and connection staying available. |
Or let it run in the cloud
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Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. UPI and cards are supported in India; card checkout is available worldwide. The service streams to YouTube and plays uploaded videos rather than broadcasting a live camera feed.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Copyright and channel-policy checks
Use rain footage and audio you created, licensed for this use, or otherwise have permission to broadcast. A video’s availability online does not grant permission to rebroadcast its images or sound. Review YouTube’s current copyright rules and the terms attached to any licensed material before streaming. Repeatedly broadcasting the same recording also does not by itself establish that a channel meets YouTube’s monetization policies; check the current rules for reused and repetitive content if monetization is a goal.
Use the OBS Quick Start Guide and YouTube’s current encoder settings guidance when menus or recommendations change.
Quick Recap
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