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To loop a video from an external SSD on YouTube Live, connect the drive to the computer running OBS Studio, add the video as an OBS Media Source, enable Loop in its properties, then send OBS’s output to YouTube Live using the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio. OBS repeats the video; YouTube receives the live encoder feed. Keep the SSD connected and test the complete setup before broadcasting.
What you need to know first
- The SSD is storage, not the streaming system. OBS reads the video file from the connected drive and sends the encoded stream over your internet connection. YouTube’s guidance does not require an SSD or specify a minimum drive speed, filesystem, or connection standard for this setup.
- OBS performs the loop. In the Media Source properties, turn on Loop. OBS documents this option as off by default.
- Your channel must be eligible to go live. YouTube requires channel verification and no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. First-time activation can take up to 24 hours, so check before your planned broadcast: YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility requirements.
OBS Media Source documents support for formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. A listed extension is not a guarantee that every file encoded in that format will play correctly, so test your actual file.
Set up a single looping video in OBS
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Connect the SSD and locate the video
Plug the external SSD into the computer that will run OBS. Confirm that the video is accessible, and leave the drive connected while the source is in use. Avoid moving or renaming the file after selecting it in OBS.
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Add the video as a Media Source
In OBS, select or create the scene for the broadcast. In the Sources panel, add a Media Source, then browse to the video file on the SSD. OBS’s guide explains the source controls: OBS Project: Media Sources.
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Enable Loop
Open the Media Source properties and check Loop. OBS describes the control as specifying whether the file plays again after playback completes; its documented default is off. Start playback in OBS and confirm that the picture and sound are right before connecting to YouTube.
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Fit the video to the broadcast canvas
Check the OBS preview. If the video does not fill the canvas as intended, adjust the source transform or canvas settings, taking care not to stretch the image. Confirm that any intended borders, titles, or other scene elements are visible.
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Use a playlist instead of repeating one file
If the broadcast should move through several videos before repeating, use OBS’s VLC Video source rather than a single Media Source. Add the media files to its playlist and enable Loop Playlist. OBS says VLC must be installed for this source to appear. The single-file Media Source is the simpler choice; VLC Video provides playlist control but adds a software dependency. See the OBS Media Sources documentation.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
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Create or select the live stream
Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room. Create a new stream or select the one you intend to use. Get the current stream URL and stream key shown there; do not rely on an old saved key. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions are at YouTube Help: Set up your encoder for live streaming.
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Enter the connection details in OBS
Open OBS’s stream settings, choose the YouTube service or the applicable custom RTMP configuration, and enter the URL and key provided by YouTube. Treat the key as sensitive account access information. If you believe it has been exposed, YouTube allows channel owners or managers to reset a compromised key.
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Wait for the YouTube preview
Start sending the OBS feed and wait for the Live Control Room to show the incoming picture and audio. Check the preview and stream-health indicators before starting the public broadcast. YouTube’s preview is an important check that the encoder is reaching the intended event.
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Choose encoder settings and test the connection
YouTube recommends RTMPS. Its encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video options, CBR bitrate encoding, and AAC or MP3 audio for RTMP/RTMPS. Use a codec and settings supported by your computer and workflow; a codec listed by YouTube is not automatically the right choice for every encoder setup. Consult the current YouTube live encoder settings when configuring resolution and bitrate.
- Keyframes: YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe frequency and says it should not exceed four seconds.
- Bitrate and resolution: Choose settings your upload connection can sustain. The SSD’s read capability does not determine how much internet upload bandwidth is available.
- Bandwidth margin: YouTube recommends leaving 20% of upload bandwidth free; the bitrate of the live stream should not exceed available upload bandwidth. This is YouTube’s network guidance, not a guarantee that a particular connection will be stable.
Before the real broadcast, run a representative test using similar video motion and audio. Watch the Live Control Room preview and stream health, listen for audio problems, and monitor picture quality. YouTube recommends monitoring audio and video during the event; its encoder settings guidance and streaming tips cover testing and network preparation.
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Copyright, keys, and broadcast checks
- Use content you have the rights to stream. Having a video file on your SSD does not establish permission to broadcast its images, music, footage, or other material. Review YouTube’s applicable copyright rules and make sure you have permission for the content and any included music.
- Keep the stream key private. Anyone with the key may be able to send a feed to the associated stream. Retrieve it from YouTube Studio when needed, and reset it if compromised.
- Check the right event and audience settings. Confirm the selected stream, visibility, title, and other Live Control Room details before going live.
- Monitor the live feed. Confirm viewers can reach the event and watch stream health, image, and sound while it runs. If you are recording a local archive, YouTube’s streaming tips advise checking that the archive is intact and its file size is growing.
For YouTube’s operational advice, see YouTube Help: Streaming tips. A loop does not make copyrighted or reused material exempt from YouTube’s rules, and it does not guarantee that a channel or stream will remain available.
Troubleshooting a loop from an external SSD
- The video ends instead of repeating: Reopen the Media Source properties and verify that Loop is checked. OBS documents it as off by default.
- The source is missing or will not play: Check that the SSD is connected, the selected file path is still valid, and the file opens in a compatible player. A supported file extension alone does not guarantee compatibility with every file’s encoding.
- The playlist option is unavailable: OBS requires VLC to be installed for the VLC Video source to appear. For one repeating clip, use Media Source and its Loop option instead.
- YouTube does not receive the feed: Verify the stream URL and current key in the correct Live Control Room event, then check OBS’s stream settings and connection status. If a key may have been exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio.
- The preview stutters or stream health degrades: Check upload bandwidth and encoder load, lower bitrate or resolution if needed, and rerun a test. YouTube recommends 20% upload-bandwidth headroom; the external drive alone cannot fix an internet upload bottleneck.
- The picture or sound is wrong: Confirm the selected source, scene layout, and audio routing in OBS, then review both OBS’s preview and YouTube’s incoming preview before starting the event.
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