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For a single recording, add it to an OBS Media Source and enable Loop. For a rotation of recordings, use VLC Video with Loop Playlist enabled. That keeps the media repeating in OBS; it does not guarantee an uninterrupted broadcast. A 24/7 YouTube stream also depends on your computer, power, internet connection, audio rights, and YouTube’s rules.
Choose the right OBS source
| OBS source | Best for | Setting to enable | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Source | One local audio or video file | Loop | Simple setup, but plays one item at a time. |
| VLC Video | A playlist of several local files | Loop Playlist | Supports playlist order and shuffle, but requires VLC installed. If OBS is 64-bit, OBS documents that VLC must also be 64-bit. |
OBS lists common local media formats including MP3, WAV, MP4, MKV, MOV, and WebM. Its Media Sources guide explains the source and loop settings. The guide documents looping and restart behavior, but does not promise gap-free transitions between every file or uninterrupted 24/7 operation; test your playlist in the OBS build you plan to use.
Set up a looping mantra source in OBS
- Create or select a scene. In OBS, use the Scenes dock to select a scene or add one with the plus button. A scene is the layout that OBS sends to the stream; sources are the media and other elements within it. See the OBS Sources Guide.
- Add the recording. In the Sources dock, select the plus button. For one file, choose Media Source. For a multi-track playlist, choose VLC Video.
- Configure one file. In the Media Source properties, select Local File, browse to the recording, and enable Loop. Confirm the correct file appears and starts playing in the preview.
- Configure several files. For VLC Video, create or populate the playlist in the source properties. Enable Loop Playlist to start it over after the last item. Enable Shuffle Playlist only if you want randomized playback rather than a fixed sequence. Install VLC if the source is unavailable; use the 64-bit VLC version with 64-bit OBS.
- Check visibility behavior. A Media Source can be set to restart when it becomes active. VLC Video can stop while hidden and restart when visible. If the source is in a scene that may be hidden, inspect these options and test what happens when you switch scenes; do not assume playback continues in the background.
- Check sound before going live. Play the source and watch the OBS audio meters. Confirm the recording is audible at a sensible level and that no unintended desktop or microphone audio is being sent. Run a short test stream before relying on the setup. OBS recommends testing settings and the stream in its Quick Start Guide.
Configure the stream and test it before leaving it running
OBS settings depend on your destination, resolution, frame rate, encoder, computer, and upload capacity. OBS’s overview covers output settings and automatic reconnect. YouTube recommends keeping upload capacity at least 20% above the total stream bitrate, including primary and backup streams where applicable; that margin is a recommendation, not a guarantee of stability. See YouTube’s streaming tips.
- Use a reliable internet connection and test the actual stream at the intended resolution and frame rate.
- Watch the YouTube preview and OBS audio meters during the test. Check that both picture and sound continue after the recording loops or the playlist changes tracks.
- Monitor the outgoing stream after it starts. A power interruption, network failure, source behavior, encoder load, or platform action can stop a broadcast.
- Do not assume that a computer meeting OBS’s listed system requirements can stream every combination of resolution, frame rate, encoder, and scene complexity. OBS says its system requirements are not a guarantee of performance for a particular setup.
YouTube Live is one documented destination, not the only possible platform; other destinations may have different eligibility, bitrate, archive, and content rules. For YouTube, the channel must be verified and must not have had live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days, according to YouTube’s live-streaming guidance.
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Plan for YouTube’s archive limit
YouTube says a stream lasting less than 12 hours can be automatically archived. A stream exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. This is current Google / YouTube Help guidance accessed on October 3, 2026; it is not a promise that every shorter stream will produce a complete archive. See Archive live streams.
If you need a complete recording, plan sessions shorter than 12 hours or make a local recording and verify it. YouTube recommends checking that the local archive file is growing in its live-streaming tips. A continuous broadcast should not be treated as one reliably archived VOD.
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Confirm the recording’s music rights
A devotional subject or a copy of a recording does not by itself establish permission to rebroadcast it. YouTube’s livestream terms say creators must have the rights needed for live content, including music licensing rights from artists, record labels, publishers, and other rights holders. Review the terms at YouTube’s livestream terms and conditions.
YouTube scans livestreams for third-party content. It may replace the picture with a placeholder, interrupt the stream, or terminate it; even licensed third-party material may require the rights holder to allowlist the channel through Content ID. Confirm that permission covers livestreaming and any archive, and coordinate allowlisting if needed. Details are in YouTube’s guidance on copyright issues with live streams. Crediting the artist or owning a copy is not a substitute for confirming those permissions.
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Troubleshoot common problems
- The file plays once and stops: Open the Media Source properties and check Loop. For a playlist, check Loop Playlist in VLC Video.
- VLC Video is missing: Install VLC and restart OBS. If OBS is 64-bit, install 64-bit VLC as well.
- Playback stops when you switch scenes: Review the source’s restart or stop-when-hidden behavior, then test scene changes with the actual playlist.
- The preview has video but no sound, or the sound is too loud: Check the source’s audio output and OBS meters while it plays. Verify the stream with a short test rather than relying on the preview alone.
- The stream drops or buffers: Check the network and encoder load, then compare the total stream bitrate with available upload capacity. YouTube recommends 20% upload headroom; lowering output demands may help when the connection cannot sustain them. Test again and keep monitoring.
- The live picture is interrupted or replaced: Check YouTube’s notices and the recording’s rights status. A Content ID issue may require permission or channel allowlisting; looping the source again will not resolve a rights restriction.
- The long stream has no complete archive: YouTube says streams over 12 hours may not be captured. Use shorter sessions or a verified local recording if preserving the full program matters.
Or let it run in the cloud
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Quick Recap
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