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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To switch between pre-recorded videos during a YouTube Live stream, add each clip to its own OBS scene as a Media Source, then switch scenes while you are live. Use OBS Studio Mode to prepare the next clip before viewers see it, or use a VLC Video source when you want OBS to play a playlist without manually selecting each scene.
Choose how you want to play the videos
| Method | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Media Source in separate scenes | Selecting a particular clip or segment on cue | Media Source is built into OBS. Separate scenes let you choose which clip goes live, and you can switch to a scene with a hotkey. |
| VLC Video source | Playing a playlist from one OBS source | Requires VLC installed. You can configure playlist looping and shuffle, but playback follows the playlist rather than letting you cue any clip by selecting its scene. |
For a live documentary program where you need to decide what plays next, separate scenes are usually easier to control. For a set-and-play sequence, a VLC playlist may be more convenient.
Set up one scene per clip in OBS
- Create a scene: In OBS, use the Scenes panel to add a scene for the first clip. Give it a clear name, such as “Opening” or the clip’s title.
- Add the video: Select the scene, then use the Sources panel’s + button and choose Media Source. Name the source and select the local video file in its properties.
- Set playback behavior: In the Media Source properties, choose whether to loop the clip, restart playback when the source becomes active, use hardware decoding when supported, or hide the source when playback ends. Set these according to how you want that particular scene to behave.
- Repeat for each clip: Create another scene and Media Source for every video you want to select independently. Check the source properties in each scene; playback behavior is configured per source.
- Fit the video to the canvas: Check the OBS preview and adjust the source to fit your canvas. Confirm that the clip is framed as intended before you take it live.
OBS Media Source documents support for video formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, and audio formats including MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. If a file does not play, first check that its format is supported and that the selected file path is correct. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
Switch clips during the broadcast
Switch directly from the Scenes panel
While live, select the scene for the clip you want to show. The active scene becomes the live output. Before switching, confirm that the intended scene is selected so you do not accidentally show a setup or holding scene.
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Assign a hotkey to each scene
OBS supports hotkeys for switching to a specific scene. Assign a distinct keyboard shortcut to each clip scene in OBS’s hotkey settings, then use the relevant shortcut when you want to switch. A standard keyboard is enough; a programmable keypad is optional convenience, not a requirement. Review the OBS Sources Guide and OBS Studio Overview Guide.
Prepare the next clip with Studio Mode
Studio Mode shows the live scene separately from the scene you are preparing. Select the next clip in the preview area, check it, then use Transition or a configured Quick Transition to send it to the live output. OBS offers transitions including Fade and Cut, plus other built-in choices and adjustable durations; choose the effect and timing that suit your program.
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Use a playlist instead of separate scenes
- Install VLC: OBS’s VLC Video source uses VLC libraries. Install the VLC version that matches your OBS architecture; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- Add the source: In the scene where you want the playlist, choose + in the Sources panel and add VLC Video. If the source is unavailable, check the VLC installation and architecture.
- Build the playlist: Add the video files you want to play to the source’s playlist. Configure looping or shuffle if needed.
- Choose visibility behavior: Set how playback should behave when the source is not visible, then test what happens when you hide and show it or switch scenes.
The VLC Video source is useful when the playlist should advance on its own. If you need to choose a specific next video in response to the program, separate scenes provide more direct operator control. OBS documents the source options in its Media Sources guide.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room: Create or open the live stream and locate its stream URL and stream key.
- Enter the connection details in OBS: Open OBS stream settings and provide the stream URL and key shown by YouTube.
- Protect the key: YouTube describes stream keys as like the stream’s password and address. Do not show it on screen or include it in screenshots shared with others.
- Use YouTube’s encoder guidance: YouTube recommends RTMPS and publishes bitrate and resolution tables for encoder settings. Select a configuration for your intended output and available upload connection rather than relying on a generic bitrate number.
See YouTube’s instructions for managing live stream settings and creating a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
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Test before viewers arrive
- Play representative clips and confirm that both picture and audio appear in the OBS preview.
- Test every scene change, hotkey, or playlist behavior you intend to use, including what happens when a clip ends.
- Check the Live Control Room preview and stream health before the event.
- During the broadcast, monitor audio and video quality and stream health. YouTube’s advice is direct: “Test before you start your live stream.”
Use YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions guidance to choose settings for your selected output, and its live streaming tips for preparation and monitoring.
Troubleshoot common playback and switching problems
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| A Media Source shows no video | Verify the selected file path and supported format, then check the source in the OBS preview. |
| A clip starts at the wrong point after switching back | Check the Media Source’s restart playback when source becomes active setting and set it to match the intended behavior. |
| A clip stops at the end | Enable looping if the clip should repeat, or plan to switch to another scene. Check whether hiding when playback ends is appropriate. |
| VLC Video is missing from the source menu | Install VLC and verify that its 32-bit or 64-bit architecture matches OBS; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. |
| The wrong clip appears after a hotkey press | Review the hotkey assignments and ensure each shortcut targets the intended scene. Test them before going live. |
| The next scene is shown before it is ready | Use Studio Mode to prepare and inspect the scene before transitioning it to the live output. |
| YouTube does not receive the OBS stream | Check that OBS has the stream URL and key from the intended Live Control Room stream, then inspect YouTube’s preview and stream health. |
| Audio or video quality is poor | Check the OBS output configuration against YouTube’s bitrate and resolution guidance, verify the upload connection, and test with representative media. |
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