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To keep a gaming broadcast as a YouTube VOD, stream from OBS and let YouTube archive it; for a backup, record locally in OBS as well. On Linux, capture gameplay with Display Capture or Window Capture, since OBS lists Game Capture as Windows-only. If by “rerun” you mean playing a previously recorded video as a continuous live stream, that is different from archiving a live gaming session or saving a short Replay Buffer clip.
Choose what you mean by a gaming VOD rerun
- Archive a live session: Stream gameplay through OBS; YouTube may automatically save the broadcast as a VOD.
- Keep your own full-session copy: Record locally in OBS while streaming. This gives you a backup independent of YouTube’s archive.
- Save a recent clip: Use OBS Replay Buffer and its save hotkey. It captures a configured recent segment; it does not replay or restart a YouTube VOD.
- Loop a previously recorded video as a live stream: This is not a live gameplay capture. StreamNeo is a separate cloud option for uploaded videos: upload the recording, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It does not capture a live game from your Linux PC.
Install OBS and confirm Linux capture works
OBS’s Linux installation guidance recommends Flathub for distributions other than Ubuntu and documents PPA and apt installation for Ubuntu 18.04 or newer. That page was published in 2021, so check current packaging guidance for your distribution before installing. OBS lists an OpenGL 3.3-compatible GPU and an X window system or Wayland among its basic Linux/Unix requirements; meeting those requirements does not guarantee smooth streaming on a particular machine.
Choose and verify a capture source
- Install OBS using the current instructions for your Linux distribution.
- In OBS, create a scene and add Display Capture or Window Capture. OBS’s Quick Start identifies these as Linux options and labels Game Capture “Windows only.”
- Check the preview while the game is running. Choose the least intrusive source that reliably shows the game; compatibility can vary with the game and desktop session.
- Check the Audio Mixer while playing and speaking. If the desktop or microphone meters do not move, configure the corresponding audio source before streaming.
Set up a local recording and optional Replay Buffer
YouTube’s archive is convenient, but it is not a substitute for a local copy when a session matters. OBS provides separate streaming and recording controls.
- In OBS settings, choose a recording path with enough free disk space. Start a short test recording, then confirm the file appears and grows while recording.
- If you want a full-session backup, enable local recording for the broadcast and verify it is active before playing.
- For short clips of recent gameplay, enable Replay Buffer and assign a save hotkey in OBS. Set the buffer length to suit the clips you want and test the hotkey before going live.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
YouTube’s encoder setup requires a verified channel with no live-stream restriction during the preceding 90 days. YouTube Live Control Room provides the server URL and stream key OBS needs to send the feed.
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- Open YouTube Live Control Room and create or schedule a stream.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that stream into OBS’s stream settings. Use the server URL YouTube supplies rather than guessing an endpoint.
- Treat the stream key like a password: anyone who has it may be able to send a feed to your channel. Keep it private and reset it if you think it has been exposed.
- Start the encoder and wait for the Live Control Room preview. Confirm gameplay, microphone, and desktop audio before starting the public broadcast.
Pick settings that your connection and PC can sustain
YouTube’s general encoder guidance calls for RTMP or RTMPS, constant bitrate (CBR), and a two-second keyframe interval; the interval should not exceed four seconds. Resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and codec depend on the quality you want and what your upload connection and system can reliably handle. There is no single bitrate that is right for every game, resolution, and frame rate.
- Choose a resolution and frame rate that match the gameplay and that your system can encode consistently.
- Use CBR and set the keyframe interval to two seconds, within YouTube’s stated maximum of four seconds.
- Test with gameplay that has similar motion and audio to the actual session. A static desktop test will not reveal every problem caused by fast-moving gameplay.
- Watch YouTube’s stream health during the test and broadcast. If the connection or encoding struggles, lower the stream quality until it is stable rather than assuming the highest setting is best.
- Set up the encoder ahead of the event and confirm that the local recording file is growing if you are making a backup.
End the stream and find the YouTube VOD
After ending the broadcast, look for it in YouTube Studio under Content and Live. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours can be automatically archived. Streams longer than 12 hours may not be captured at all, so keep a local recording for long sessions. In Studio, adjust the archive’s visibility or delete it if needed.
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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Copyright and channel eligibility checks
- Before broadcasting, make sure you have the rights or permissions needed for the game footage, music, and other audio you include. A game’s soundtrack or background music can create copyright issues even when the gameplay itself is yours.
- Check your channel’s YouTube Live eligibility in advance: YouTube requires verification and no live-stream restriction in the prior 90 days.
- Keep in mind that making a VOD available is not the same as having permission to reuse every element in it. Review YouTube’s applicable copyright and monetization rules for your content and location.
Common problems and fixes
| What you see | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The game is missing from OBS preview | The selected capture source is not capturing that game or desktop session. | Try Display Capture or Window Capture, then verify the preview before streaming. |
| No microphone or game audio | The relevant audio source is not configured or producing signal. | Check OBS audio sources and watch the Audio Mixer meters while speaking and playing. |
| YouTube does not receive a feed | The stream URL or key may be incorrect, or the encoder has not connected. | Copy the current URL and key from Live Control Room into OBS; check for accidental spaces and inspect the live preview. |
| The stream is unstable or YouTube reports poor health | The selected quality may exceed reliable upload or encoding capacity. | Test using representative gameplay and reduce resolution, frame rate, or bitrate until the feed is stable. |
| The archive is missing after a long broadcast | YouTube warns that streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured. | Check YouTube Studio’s Live content and use the local OBS recording if available. |
| A Replay Buffer hotkey does not produce the expected full VOD | Replay Buffer saves a recent segment, not the whole session or a YouTube archive. | Use OBS local recording for the full session; use Replay Buffer only for configured short clips. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to loop a prerecorded gaming video as a YouTube live stream—not capture gameplay live—StreamNeo keeps the uploaded video running from the cloud. Upload a recording, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot, and it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo, or start the free day.
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