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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallTo rerun an existing gaming VOD in an OBS broadcast, add the video file to a scene as a Media Source and turn on Loop. OBS Replay Buffer is for saving a recent segment of gameplay as a local clip; it does not play a saved VOD on stream. YouTube Live DVR is a third feature: it lets viewers pause or rewind the live broadcast.
Which OBS feature should you use?
| What you want to do | Use | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat an existing local VOD in the OBS program output | Media Source with Loop enabled | Plays a file in the scene and restarts it when playback ends. |
| Save the last moments of captured gameplay for editing or sharing | Replay Buffer | Saves recent captured footage as a local clip when triggered. |
| Play a playlist of local video files | VLC Video source | Plays a playlist using VLC libraries; VLC must be installed. |
| Let viewers pause or rewind a current YouTube live stream | YouTube Live DVR | Provides viewer-side playback controls, subject to duration and platform limitations. |
These features solve different problems. For a single prerecorded VOD, Media Source is the direct OBS choice. Replay Buffer captures recent gameplay rather than selecting an already recorded file, and DVR affects how viewers control playback rather than what OBS sends.
Loop one gaming VOD in OBS
- Choose a scene. In OBS, select an existing scene for the VOD or create a new one.
- Add the file. In the Sources panel, select +, choose Media Source, and create a new source or select an existing one. Choose the local video file in the source properties.
- Enable looping. Turn on Loop in the Media Source properties. OBS documents this option as repeating the file after it finishes; its default is Off.
- Check playback and layout. Confirm the source is visible, appears in the intended stacking order, and displays correctly in the preview. Play it and check both picture and audio before going live.
- Connect OBS to YouTube. In OBS’s stream settings, choose the service and server as applicable, then enter the stream key supplied through YouTube’s live workflow.
- Test the broadcast setup. Check the scene, audio, and stream behavior before the first broadcast. The VOD only reaches YouTube while OBS is running and sending the stream.
Loop is not the same as “Restart playback when source becomes active.” Loop repeats the file at its end. The restart option starts playback again when the source becomes visible in the scene; it does not, by itself, make a finished file play continuously.
When Replay Buffer is the right choice
Use Replay Buffer when you want OBS to retain recent captured gameplay and save it as a clip. OBS’s overview describes enabling Replay Buffer and assigning a hotkey to save it; available hotkey actions include starting, stopping, and saving the buffer. It is not the control for putting a completed VOD file into a scene.
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When to use VLC Video for a playlist
For multiple local videos, OBS’s VLC Video source supports a playlist and includes a Loop Playlist property, documented as On by default. It relies on VLC libraries, so VLC must be installed; for 64-bit OBS, OBS specifies installing 64-bit VLC. For repeating a single VOD, a regular Media Source is simpler.
File compatibility and stream performance
OBS lists these supported video file extensions: .mp4, .ts, .mov, .flv, .mkv, .avi, .gif, and .webm. Its listed audio extensions are .mp3, .aac, .ogg, and .wav. Extension support does not guarantee that every codec and container combination will decode on every computer, so check the specific file in the OBS preview.
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OBS recommends testing a setup before the first live broadcast. Its overview also cautions that streaming at 60 fps can be substantially more taxing than at 30 fps. There is no single hardware requirement established here for every combination of video, resolution, frame rate, encoder, and computer. Test the actual VOD and settings you intend to use.
Set YouTube DVR separately
If you want viewers to pause or rewind the live broadcast, check the DVR setting in YouTube Studio’s live stream settings. DVR does not put a local file on air or create an OBS replay clip.
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- YouTube says DVR rewind may be limited or unavailable on streams longer than 12 hours.
- Apple TV, AirPlay, or older app versions can have lower limits.
- Viewers cannot seek to a point before the broadcast began.
- If DVR is disabled, viewers cannot seek back during the live broadcast. YouTube says a recording of the entire stream can still be viewed once it is available.
Troubleshooting a VOD loop
- The video does not repeat: Open the Media Source properties and confirm Loop is enabled. The documented default is Off.
- The video starts over after switching scenes but does not keep repeating: Check Loop. Restart playback when source becomes active handles source visibility, not continuous playback at the end of the file.
- The source is missing from the preview: Check that it is visible in the Sources panel and that its stacking order does not place it behind an opaque source.
- The file appears but will not play correctly: Confirm OBS can decode the specific file and its codecs; a supported extension alone is not a guarantee. Test the picture and audio in the preview before going live.
- The playlist source is unavailable: VLC Video depends on VLC libraries. Install VLC, matching the 64-bit requirement when using 64-bit OBS.
- The broadcast stops when OBS closes: Media Source only supplies playback to the OBS output. It does not broadcast on its own after OBS stops sending.
- Viewers cannot rewind: Check YouTube’s DVR setting and account for duration or playback-platform limitations.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a prerecorded YouTube stream to continue without leaving OBS or a computer running at home, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud and can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. It plays uploaded videos, not a live camera feed.
- Nothing at home has to stay on for the stream to continue.
- Each slot streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot rather than quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery is included if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required; it is one free day per account.
Monthly: $9.99 per month. Visit StreamNeo for details, or start the free first day.
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