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To keep a YouTube stream playing a sequence of videos in vMix, use PlayList for a modest set of clips with individual timing and transitions, or a List input for a larger library that should play as one input. Enable looping in the playback feature you choose, then send the vMix program output to YouTube and monitor the stream. MultiCorder is separate: it records selected inputs into individual files; it does not build or loop the playlist.
Choose the right vMix feature
| Feature | Use it for | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| PlayList | Sequencing vMix inputs, with per-item start position, duration, transition, and transition time. | It is not a full time-of-day broadcast scheduler. |
| List input | Playing a collection of video or audio files as one input, including a large library or M3U file; it can advance automatically, loop, and optionally shuffle. | It does not provide fixed clock-time scheduling. |
| MultiCorder | Recording selected capture sources to separate files alongside the main vMix recording. | It does not sequence or stream files as a playlist. |
For a small sequence where clips need different transitions or timing, start with PlayList. For a large or changing media collection, use List so the files need not all be loaded at once. You can also insert a List into a standard PlayList for a more involved sequence. See the official vMix PlayList help, List input help, and MultiCorder help.
Prepare your video inputs
- Add and check the media. Add the clips you want to play as vMix inputs, or prepare a file collection or M3U for a List input. Keep the source files available at the locations vMix expects when the preset is reopened.
- Choose how the sequence should behave. Decide whether clips should play in a fixed order or be shuffled, whether each clip should run for its natural duration or a set time, and whether transitions should be cuts or another available effect.
- Test the media before building the live sequence. Check that each file opens and plays with the intended audio and motion. A broken or unavailable file can interrupt the expected sequence.
Build and loop a vMix PlayList
- Open PlayList. Click the PlayList button at the lower left of the vMix interface.
- Add inputs. In the PlayList window, select an item under Available Inputs and click the right-arrow control to add it to the playlist.
- Set each item’s playback details. Double-click a playlist entry to configure its start position, duration, transition effect, and transition time. A duration of zero uses the input’s duration; enter a fixed duration when the item should switch at a specific elapsed time.
- Enable Loop. Turn on the PlayList loop control so playback returns to the beginning after the final item.
- Start playback and verify the cycle. Start the playlist with its PlayList control. Watch a complete sequence, including the transition from the final item back to the first.
- Save the preset. PlayLists are linked to the active preset. Save that preset and reopen the matching one when restoring the setup.
Use a List input for a larger media library
- Add a List input. Populate it with the video or audio files to be played, or use an M3U file where appropriate.
- Set its playback behavior. Keep Auto Next enabled to move to the next item; enable Loop to restart after the last item. Turn on Randomise only if shuffled order is wanted.
- Play it as one input. Use the List input directly, or add it as an item in a standard PlayList if the wider sequence needs other inputs or transitions.
- Check playback across file boundaries. Confirm the final file returns to the first when looping is enabled and that the resulting audio and transitions suit the program.
vMix describes List as a way to avoid loading all videos simultaneously, which can reduce resource use for large collections. Consult the List input documentation for the available controls.
Send the vMix program output to YouTube
- Confirm YouTube Live eligibility. YouTube requires a verified channel and no live-stream restriction in the previous 90 days. Use YouTube Studio’s current live-stream setup screens to create or prepare the broadcast; exact interface labels can change.
- Connect the encoder. In the YouTube live setup, obtain the stream key and configure vMix as the encoder sending the program output. Keep the key private: anyone who has it may be able to broadcast to your stream.
- Set output settings to match your stream and connection. Choose a resolution, frame rate, codec, and bitrate that your system and tested upload connection can sustain. YouTube recommends RTMPS, CBR, and a two-second keyframe interval, and says not to exceed four seconds. Its H.264 recommendations include 14 Mbps for 1080p30 and 17 Mbps for 1080p60; those are YouTube’s recommendations for those settings, not a guarantee that a particular connection can sustain them. See YouTube’s encoder settings guidance.
- Test before going live. YouTube recommends running a speed test to check upload bitrate. Test with representative motion and audio, not just a static frame or silent clip, and confirm the chosen settings behave as expected.
- Start and monitor the broadcast. Start the vMix output and the YouTube broadcast through the current YouTube Studio workflow. Watch YouTube’s stream health and vMix playback during the stream, especially after the first playlist transition and loop boundary. YouTube’s live-stream setup guidance covers account eligibility and setup.
Where MultiCorder fits
Use MultiCorder only if the production also needs separate recordings of selected sources—for example, capture inputs that will be edited individually later. MultiCorder records raw video or audio from selected capture sources into separate files in addition to the main recording. Those source recordings do not include normal program effects or color correction; Output 1–4 are the exception and capture those outputs as configured.
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- Check edition and feature compatibility. Current vMix Help 28 lists MultiCorder in vMix 4K, Pro, and Max. MultiCorder cannot be used at the same time as Instant Replay.
- Choose sources, format, and destination. In MultiCorder settings, select eligible sources, choose a supported recording format, and set the recording folder to suit the post-production workflow.
- Start recording and watch for dropped frames. MultiCorder can write several files at once. vMix warns that storage unable to keep up with simultaneous camera recordings can cause dropped frames; test the real number of sources and formats on the intended system.
vMix’s stated minimum requirements include an SSD, an Intel Core i7 Quad Core or higher, and a high-end graphics card with at least 1 GB onboard memory. Treat these as the guide’s listed minimums, not a universal guarantee of capacity: the workload, source formats, resolution, and number of simultaneous recordings matter. vMix recommends a fault-tolerant recording format and fast storage, but does not state a universal drive speed or capacity threshold. See MultiCorder requirements and settings.
Know what looping does—and does not—schedule
A looping PlayList or List can keep content cycling when it does not need to begin at particular clock times. It does not, by itself, create a television-style schedule of shows starting at fixed times. vMix says it is primarily designed for live streaming single events and does not support time-of-day scheduling; its scheduling article describes PlayList and List as basic playback options for continuous content. The same article says vMix Scheduler is unmaintained and compatibility is uncertain. Read vMix’s scheduling guidance, last updated January 17, 2025.
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Preflight checks and common problems
- Playlist stops instead of restarting: check that Loop is enabled on the correct playback feature, then observe the end of a complete cycle.
- A clip switches at the wrong time: open that playlist item’s settings and review its start position and duration. Zero duration means use the input’s duration; a nonzero value sets a chosen duration.
- A file does not play after restoring the setup: reopen the matching saved preset and check that the source media remains accessible at the expected location.
- Video or audio stutters during playback: test the source files and system load separately, then reduce workload or adjust settings to what the system can sustain. MultiCorder adds simultaneous recording load; slow storage may cause dropped frames.
- YouTube reports poor stream health: verify the encoder settings against YouTube’s guidance, test upload bitrate, and check the connection while monitoring stream health. A bitrate recommendation is not a substitute for a real upload test.
- The broadcast cannot start: verify the channel’s live eligibility, confirm the stream key is the current one for the intended broadcast, and check that the encoder is sending its output.
- Isolated recordings are unavailable: confirm the vMix edition includes MultiCorder and that Instant Replay is not running at the same time.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is simply to keep uploaded videos playing as a YouTube live stream, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Its cloud service keeps the stream running without a computer, OBS, or home connection left on. It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream, plays uploads as made up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and includes the first day free with no card. The monthly option is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo streams to YouTube; it does not replace vMix when you need live camera inputs, MultiCorder source recordings, or vMix production controls. Learn about StreamNeo or start the free first day.
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