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To switch videos automatically in an OBS YouTube stream, use a Lua or Python script that detects when a media source finishes and then changes the active scene. OBS includes a Tools > Scripts interface, but playback-end switching is not a default OBS control: it requires a suitable script and a setup tested with your installed OBS version. One community example, Media Switch Scene, also requires Audio Status Monitor and was last updated in 2021.
Choose what should trigger the switch
First decide what “automatically” means for your stream. A playback-ended trigger suits a sequence of clips: when one video finishes, OBS moves to the scene for the next. A timer, schedule, hotkey, or external signal is a different behavior and needs a script designed for that trigger. OBS documents scripting callbacks and media-source signals, but that does not mean every switching pattern has a current, ready-made script.
- One video per scene: The script detects the ending clip and changes the program output to the next video’s scene.
- Playlist playback: VLC Video can play playlists, but VLC must be installed. This may be simpler than changing scenes for each clip, depending on the behavior you need.
- Timed or scheduled changes: Use a script made for a timer or schedule; a playback-ended script will not provide that behavior by itself.
Set up videos and scenes in OBS
- Create the output scenes. In OBS, add a scene for each video you want to show, or set up a playlist using VLC Video. Give scenes and sources clear names so you can select the right ones when configuring a script.
- Add the media. Use a Media Source for a local supported video or audio file, and configure its playback properties as needed. If you use VLC Video for a playlist, install VLC first; OBS specifically calls for 64-bit VLC when using 64-bit OBS.
- Check the scene flow. Decide which scene should be active after each clip ends. A media file ending and the program changing scenes are separate operations: the script must connect the playback event to the destination scene.
OBS describes scene transitions as the mechanism that moves between scenes in the output. Confirm that the transition you want is selected and that the destination scene contains the intended video and audio sources.
Add a Lua or Python switching script
OBS Studio supports LuaJIT 2 and Python 3 scripting through Tools > Scripts. OBS says scripting can extend or automate the program without building a native plugin. Choose a script that matches your trigger and the media setup rather than assuming one script works for every scene or playlist.
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- Open Tools > Scripts in OBS.
- Use the Scripts window to add the Lua or Python script file, then review any script-specific properties it exposes.
- Set the source or scene names and other options to match your OBS setup exactly. Check the script’s instructions for required dependencies. The Media Switch Scene community example, for instance, requires Audio Status Monitor.
- Verify how the script handles the end of playback and which scene it selects. If you modify or write a script, account for media-source signals and scene selection explicitly; do not assume that stopping a file automatically changes the program scene.
- Run a complete test before relying on the automation in a live broadcast.
Lua or Python?
| Option | Runtime setup | Good fit when |
|---|---|---|
| Lua | OBS embeds LuaJIT 2. | The script you plan to use is written in Lua, or you are comfortable configuring Lua scripts. |
| Python | On Windows or macOS, OBS requires a compatible Python installation and a configured path. The installed Python must match OBS’s architecture. | The script you plan to use is written in Python, and you can provide the runtime OBS expects. |
Neither language is universally better for this task: the available script, its dependencies, and your familiarity with the language matter more. OBS warns that poorly written scripts can leak memory or crash OBS. If you write or modify one, follow the API’s object-reference guidance, including releasing references to objects you acquire or create.
About the Media Switch Scene example
The OBS forum’s Media Switch Scene example is specifically intended to change scenes after a selected media file ends. Its forum page lists Audio Status Monitor as a dependency and shows a last update of December 20, 2021. Treat it as a starting point, not a compatibility guarantee: check it against your current OBS release and test the full sequence on your own system.
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Connect OBS to YouTube separately
Scene automation controls OBS; YouTube delivery is configured separately. In YouTube Studio’s live-stream setup, obtain the stream URL and stream key, then enter them in OBS’s streaming settings as the encoder destination. YouTube says first-time live-stream enablement can take up to 24 hours. A stream key works like a password, so keep it private and do not include it in a script, screenshot, or public post.
Encoder settings to check
These settings affect the video sent to YouTube, not the scene-switching trigger. YouTube’s current RTMP/RTMPS guidance accepts H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video, up to 60 fps; AAC or MP3 audio; and CBR bitrate encoding. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says it should not exceed four seconds. Select a bitrate appropriate to the resolution, frame rate, and codec you use, while ensuring your upload connection can sustain it.
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Test the complete stream before going live
YouTube advises testing before starting and monitoring stream health and messages during the event. Its live-stream tips recommend setting up the encoder at least two hours ahead and running it at least 15 minutes before the scheduled event. YouTube’s streaming tips recommend leaving upload-bandwidth headroom, with 20% as a recommendation; these are platform recommendations, not a guarantee of quality.
- Start a private or unlisted test stream and check the YouTube Live Control Room preview.
- Play every clip through its ending. Confirm the expected scene becomes active, the transition looks right, and audio neither cuts out nor continues unexpectedly.
- Watch YouTube’s stream-health messages and OBS for errors while the stream runs. Confirm the encoder remains connected through multiple switches.
- Repeat the test after changing OBS versions, scripts, dependencies, source names, or scene names.
Troubleshoot missed or incorrect switches
- The video ends but the scene does not change: Confirm the script is loaded, its selected source matches the actual media source name, and the script is designed to react to playback ending. Check any required dependency.
- The wrong scene appears: Recheck destination scene names and the script’s mapping from the ending source to the next scene. Small naming mismatches can prevent the intended selection.
- The playlist plays but does not switch scenes: Playlist advancement and scene changes are distinct behaviors. Check whether the script supports VLC Video or only a particular media-source setup.
- Python script will not load: On Windows or macOS, verify that a compatible Python version is installed, matches OBS’s architecture, and is selected in the OBS Scripts settings.
- VLC Video is unavailable or behaves unexpectedly: Confirm VLC is installed; for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC.
- OBS crashes or becomes unstable: Disable the script and test OBS without it. A script can introduce crashes or memory leaks, and a community example may not match the installed OBS version or current API assumptions.
- YouTube does not receive the stream: Check the stream URL and key in the encoder settings, confirm live streaming is enabled for the channel, and inspect YouTube’s stream-health feedback. Do not reveal the key while troubleshooting publicly.
Or let it run in the cloud
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