To switch what viewers see on a YouTube live stream, configure the sequence in vMix, then use a vMix script or shortcut to control it. First choose the right kind of “playlist”: vMix PlayList sequences separate production inputs, while a vMix List input plays multiple media files through one input. Neither is a YouTube channel playlist; YouTube Live is configured separately as the stream destination.
Choose between a vMix PlayList and a List input
| Option | What it sequences | Best suited to | Playback considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayList | Separate vMix inputs, such as a camera input followed by a video input. | Switching between production inputs, including using transitions between them. | Supports options such as Loop, Begin from selected item, Clear Overlays, and Manual Mode. Previous and Next move between items using the item’s transition. |
| List input | Multiple video or audio files, or an M3U playlist, played through one input. | Playing a sequence of media files without making each file a separate production input. | Supports automatic next and loop behavior. vMix notes that a List can avoid loading all videos at once. |
| List input inside a PlayList | A media sequence within one input, used as an item in a broader input sequence. | Combining media-level playback with transitions between production inputs. | Lets you build a more advanced sequence from the two models. |
Choose PlayList if each segment is already a separate input and you need input-to-input transitions. Choose List if your sequence is a collection of files that should play through one input.
Build and configure the sequence
For separate production inputs
- Add the inputs you want to sequence to the vMix PlayList.
- Set the relevant PlayList options. Use Loop if the sequence should repeat, Begin from selected item to choose its starting point, Clear Overlays to clear overlays as items change, or Manual Mode if you want to control progression yourself.
- Start the PlayList and confirm the order and transitions before sending it to the live output.
For media files within one input
- Add a List input and load the desired video or audio files, or an M3U playlist.
- Configure automatic next and loop behavior as needed.
- Preview the List input and check that its playback is suitable for the live output.
You can also place a List input inside a standard PlayList when the show needs both media sequencing and transitions among production inputs.
Create and start a vMix script
vMix documents scripting for the 4K and Pro editions. The exact controls and available functions can depend on the installed vMix version, so confirm them in your own installation. Documentation currently points to vMix 29.
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- Open Settings > Scripting.
- Create a script with a unique name and add the actions needed for your sequence.
- To launch it from a shortcut, open Settings > Shortcuts, add a shortcut, choose ScriptStart, and enter the exact script name.
- Test the shortcut and script before going live. Confirm that the expected input or media sequence changes in the preview and that the correct output is sent.
Web Scripting is another option when you need to run multiple function lines in order with pauses between them. Its function syntax matches the vMix Web API without the URL portion; use a Sleep delay where an action needs time before the next one runs.
Find the right playlist control functions in your installation
Do not assume a function name such as “PlaylistNext” or “PlaylistStart” is available. The vMix API documentation says callable functions are the ones shown in the Shortcuts function dropdown.
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- Go to Settings > Shortcuts and choose Add.
- Inspect the installed function list for the action you need, such as starting, advancing, or stopping the relevant playback.
- Verify each action in your installed vMix release, then use the confirmed function in your script or Web Scripting sequence.
The documented function discovery method is more reliable than copying a guessed command: the available list in your installation determines what you can call.
Set YouTube Live as the destination separately
The vMix sequence controls the production sent to the stream; it does not edit or advance a YouTube channel playlist. Configure YouTube Live as the destination independently, using the YouTube Live destination workflow or the stream credentials/key workflow supported by vMix.
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- In the YouTube Live setup, sign in and create a stream or select the scheduled event you intend to use.
- In vMix, configure the YouTube destination and complete the required credentials or stream-key steps.
- Start the vMix stream and confirm that YouTube receives the output.
- Once the destination is live, the vMix output is what viewers receive as the inputs or media change.
Know what this automation does not schedule
A vMix PlayList can handle basic sequential switching, including looping several video inputs, but it is not a clock-based broadcast scheduler. vMix says it does not support time-of-day scheduling and is designed primarily for single live events. Its Knowledge Base article on scheduling was last updated January 17, 2025. The same support article says the third-party vMix Scheduler project is no longer maintained, and its compatibility is uncertain.
If your requirement is to start different programs at particular times of day, do not treat a PlayList script as a complete scheduling system. It can sequence actions, but the documented built-in capability does not establish a time-of-day schedule.
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Troubleshoot common switching problems
- The stream is live, but the expected item does not appear: Check whether the item is in the active PlayList or List, verify the sequence order, and confirm that the vMix output is sending the intended production.
- A script does not start: Confirm that scripting is available in your edition, that the script name in the ScriptStart shortcut matches exactly, and that the shortcut is being triggered.
- A function in a script fails: Recheck the function against the list in Settings > Shortcuts > Add. Do not rely on a function name copied from another installation without confirming it is available in yours.
- A sequence advances manually when you expected automatic playback: Check PlayList Manual Mode and the List input’s automatic-next behavior; these are different controls for different sequence types.
- The playlist repeats unexpectedly or stops at the end: Review the PlayList Loop setting or the List input’s loop behavior, depending on which model you chose.
- YouTube is not receiving the expected output: Check the separately configured YouTube destination, stream selection, and required credentials or key in vMix.
- You need time-specific program changes: Built-in PlayList sequencing does not provide time-of-day scheduling. Use an appropriate scheduling system rather than assuming a sequence loop will trigger at a particular clock time.
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