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Advanced Scene Switcher

How to Switch Videos Automatically in OBS for a Continuous YouTube Stream

Use OBS’s VLC Video source to loop or shuffle a playlist in one scene, or Advanced Scene Switcher macros for clip-by-clip scene changes.

By DocumentaryTube Team 5 min read

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For a playlist that should play in one scene and repeat, add OBS’s VLC Video source, load the clips in order, and enable Loop Playlist. Install VLC first; if you use 64-bit OBS, OBS requires 64-bit VLC for the source to appear. If each clip needs its own scene or an action at playback end, use separate media sources and scenes with Advanced Scene Switcher macros instead.

Choose the right way to advance videos

What you need Use Trade-off
One scene with an ordered or shuffled playlist that repeats OBS VLC Video source Requires VLC; simplest option for a continuous playlist.
One local file that repeats in the same scene OBS Media Source with Loop enabled Designed for a single file, not a multi-item playlist.
Different scene layouts, transitions, or actions for different clips Separate media sources or scenes plus Advanced Scene Switcher macros More setup; test the complete sequence, since source visibility and transitions can affect behavior.

These options change the media shown in OBS’s program output. They do not require stopping and restarting the YouTube broadcast.

Loop a playlist in one OBS scene

  1. Install VLC. Match its architecture to OBS. OBS documents that 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC for the VLC Video source to appear.
  2. Add the source: in the scene you want to keep on stream, select Sources → + → VLC Video. Name the source if useful, then confirm.
  3. Load your clips. In the source properties, add the local video files to the playlist and arrange them in the desired order.
  4. Choose playback order. Leave Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed sequence; turn it on for randomized playback.
  5. Repeat the list. Enable Loop Playlist so playback starts again after the last item.
  6. Check hidden-source behavior. OBS documents options for a source to continue, pause, or stop while hidden. Choose the behavior that matches your scene changes; if the source should keep advancing while another scene is shown, ensure it continues when hidden.
  7. Verify the output. Start playback and watch the OBS program preview through the end of a clip and the transition to the next. Confirm the playlist returns to the first item if looping is enabled before relying on the scene unattended.

For a single video rather than a playlist, add a Media Source and enable its Loop option. Its playback restart and hidden-source settings are separate considerations; check them against how your scenes are arranged.

Switch scenes or trigger actions when a clip ends

Use this approach when clips need different layouts, overlays, transitions, or follow-up actions. Create separate media sources and scenes for the clips, then configure Advanced Scene Switcher macros to react to media state and switch scenes.

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  1. Check compatibility before installing. The OBS Project Forums plugin listing reports Advanced Scene Switcher 1.36.1, last updated 2026-08-07, with a minimum requirement of OBS Studio 31.1.1 and support for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Compare that minimum with your installed OBS version and check the current listing before installing: Advanced Scene Switcher on the OBS Project Forums.
  2. Make one media source and scene per clip or layout. Keep the relationships clear: each macro should monitor the intended source and select the intended next scene.
  3. Build a macro around the playback event. Use the plugin’s media conditions and scene-switch actions to respond to a source’s playback state. A maintainer forum example uses a sequence that starts one media source, waits for it to stop, and then starts another: Advanced Scene Switcher maintainer discussion.
  4. Test the entire sequence in OBS. Verify source visibility, scene transitions, playback state, and what happens after the final clip. The forum example illustrates a method; it does not guarantee identical behavior for every scene and source arrangement.

If all clips can share one scene and only need to play in order or shuffle, use the VLC playlist instead of macros. It avoids adding scene automation to a task the playlist already handles.

Keep OBS playback separate from YouTube ingestion

An OBS playlist is a local way to choose which clip appears in the program output. It is not YouTube’s HLS ingestion playlist. YouTube’s HLS guidance applies only if your encoder is configured to send HLS: YouTube describes HLS as higher latency than continuous RTMP and specifies separate requirements for segment duration, TS segment format, HTTPS POST/PUT, and a rolling playlist. Those delivery requirements are not prerequisites for advancing a local OBS playlist. See YouTube Help: live encoder settings and HLS ingestion.

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Troubleshoot the common failure points

  • VLC Video is missing from the source list: install VLC and check that its architecture matches OBS. OBS documents that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC for this source.
  • The playlist stops at the last clip: check that Loop Playlist is enabled on the VLC Video source.
  • Clips play in an unexpected order: check the playlist order and whether Shuffle Playlist is enabled.
  • Playback pauses or stops after changing scenes: inspect the source’s behavior while hidden. Set it to continue if it must advance while another scene is active.
  • A scene does not switch when a clip ends: check the macro’s media condition, monitored source, and target scene. Confirm plugin compatibility with your OBS version, then test the full sequence; transitions and source visibility can affect the result.
  • YouTube’s stream is interrupted even though OBS changes clips: scene or playlist switching only changes OBS output; it does not itself restart the YouTube broadcast. Check the encoder’s connection and YouTube’s stream status separately.
  • You are changing HLS settings to make an OBS playlist advance: those are separate systems. HLS settings apply to sending a stream to YouTube using HLS, not to selecting local clips in OBS.
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