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For looping a local video file with control over scenes and sources, OBS Studio is the more directly documented fit: add a Media Source to a scene and turn on its Loop option. YouTube Live receives an encoder feed; the loop control in YouTube’s viewer does not rebroadcast a video. Datarhei Restreamer documents a separate workflow for publishing a source to YouTube, while Restream (a different product) documents scheduled prerecorded events with bounded looping. Choose based on whether you want local production control or a managed publication workflow.
First, distinguish the three products and the two kinds of “loop”
OBS Studio, datarhei Restreamer, and Restream are not interchangeable names for one product. OBS is locally run streaming software with scenes and media sources. Datarhei Restreamer is a separate service whose YouTube guide describes publishing a source using a YouTube streaming ID. Restream is another service; its documentation describes managed prerecorded events and a loop limit.
- Broadcasting a file repeatedly: an encoder or managed service sends a live feed to YouTube while the video plays again.
- Looping playback for a viewer: a setting in a player affects playback for that viewer; it does not create an encoder feed or turn a video into a live broadcast.
How the options compare
| Option | Documented workflow | Looping evidence | Operational fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Add a local Media Source to a scene and connect OBS to a streaming service as an encoder. | The Media Source has a Loop property; the OBS documentation says it is off by default and repeats the file after playback completes. | Best fit when you want direct control over local scenes and sources. The stream is produced from the OBS setup, so the local encoder workflow must remain available while it runs. |
| datarhei Restreamer | Select Publication Service, enter a valid YouTube streaming ID, save, and start the stream. | The cited YouTube publication guide does not specify a looping control; that alone does not establish that Restreamer has no loop capability. | Consider it when its publication workflow suits your source and setup. Follow the guide and verify the behavior you need before relying on it for a repeating broadcast. |
| Restream | Upload or select recorded video, then schedule a prerecorded event. | Restream’s reviewed help page states up to 10 plays for looping, with a maximum resulting stream duration of 40 hours; it lists looping for Marathon and Media add-on plans. | Consider it for managed scheduling rather than local scene production. Plan availability and limits can change, so confirm the current event workflow and plan terms. |
These are documentation-based workflow comparisons, not hands-on performance tests. The Restream limits above reflect the help page reviewed on October 3, 2026; check its current plan and event details before purchasing.
Loop a local video in OBS and send it to YouTube Live
- Prepare YouTube Live. In YouTube Studio, create or schedule a live stream using the encoder workflow in YouTube’s encoder setup guide. Copy the stream key for the broadcast and keep it private. In OBS, connect to YouTube using the available service/account workflow or configure the stream destination and key. Confirm the stream is set up in YouTube Studio before going live.
- Add the video source. In OBS, open the scene you want to use, select Sources, choose +, and add Media Source. Choose the local file. OBS documents common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. Use the Media Source’s Loop property to repeat the file when playback completes; it is off by default. See OBS Media Sources.
- Set output for YouTube. Use YouTube’s current encoder settings for the selected resolution, frame rate, and codec. YouTube recommends RTMPS and a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. Choose a bitrate appropriate to the output you are actually sending and the available upload bandwidth; use YouTube’s current guidance rather than treating a third-party bitrate figure as universal.
- Test before the intended broadcast. Start a private or unlisted test where appropriate, check that the file repeats, and watch YouTube Studio’s stream health indicators while the encoder is running. YouTube advises testing and monitoring stream health. Confirm the resulting broadcast plays and that audio and video remain synchronized.
- End cleanly. Stop the broadcast through the intended YouTube/encoder workflow and verify the live event has ended. If using datarhei Restreamer instead, its guide cautions that interrupting from Restreamer before ending on YouTube may affect saving the stream to YouTube’s DVR archive.
OBS also offers a distinct VLC Video source option that requires VLC and includes a Loop Playlist setting. That is separate from the ordinary Media Source file-loop control.
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When a managed workflow is a better fit
datarhei Restreamer
For the documented YouTube route, select Publication Service, enter a valid YouTube streaming ID, save, and start the stream. Follow datarhei Restreamer’s YouTube guide for the current interface. The cited guide establishes publication to YouTube but does not specify a loop control, so verify that the exact repeat behavior you need is supported before building a schedule around it.
Restream prerecorded events
Restream describes uploading or selecting recorded video and scheduling it as a prerecorded live event. Its documentation states looping up to 10 times and a maximum resulting stream duration of 40 hours, and lists the feature for Marathon and Media add-on plans. It also gives plan-specific video-library and resolution limits, which may change. Review the scheduled event guide and the Upload & Stream overview for current conditions rather than assuming unlimited playback or that every plan includes looping.
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Restream’s encoder connection guidance is a separate workflow from its prerecorded event feature: OBS can connect to Restream using account connection or an RTMP stream key, then send a feed to connected channels. Its recommended settings apply to that connection and should not be mistaken for universal YouTube or OBS requirements. See Connect OBS to Restream and Go live with streaming software. Restream Studio’s video playback and looping is yet another workflow: add a video from storage to a Studio scene and loop it there, as described in its Studio video guide.
Copyright, reused content, and channel responsibility
A repeating live stream is still a YouTube broadcast of the material you chose to transmit. Make sure you have the rights or permissions needed for the video, music, images, and other material; looping does not make copyrighted material safe to use or automatically satisfy YouTube’s monetization or channel rules. Review YouTube’s current policies for your channel and content before scheduling a long-running broadcast. A stream can be technically healthy while still raising rights or policy issues.
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Troubleshoot the common failure points
- The video ends instead of repeating: check that you enabled Loop on the OBS Media Source. Its default is off. If using VLC Video, check its separate Loop Playlist setting.
- YouTube never receives the stream: confirm the correct YouTube event and stream key are configured in the encoder, the key has not been replaced, and OBS is actively sending. Check YouTube Studio’s stream health rather than relying only on the OBS preview.
- Playback is choppy or stream health warns of problems: compare the encoder’s output resolution, frame rate, codec, bitrate, and keyframe interval with YouTube’s current encoder guidance; ensure the upload connection can sustain the chosen output.
- A scheduled event does not repeat as expected in Restream: confirm you are using the prerecorded-event workflow and that your current plan supports looping. The documented cap is finite, not an endless loop.
- The finished YouTube broadcast is missing from the DVR archive: when using Restreamer, end the broadcast on YouTube as directed rather than interrupting the Restreamer publication first; the guide warns that interruption order may affect saving.
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