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For a sequence of clips in one OBS scene, add them to a VLC Video Source and configure its playlist. If each clip should lead to a different OBS scene, use the Advanced Scene Switcher plugin to watch for media completion and trigger a scene change. These are different workflows: a playlist advances files inside one source, while a macro changes the scene layout.

Choose the right OBS method

What you want Use What changes
Play several files in a set order in one layout VLC Video Source The source advances through its playlist; OBS stays in the same scene.
Show a different layout or scene after a particular clip ends Advanced Scene Switcher A macro watches a media source and switches to the scene you specify.

For a straightforward sequence, start with VLC Video Source. It is simpler than making a separate scene and automation rule for every clip.

Set up a video playlist in one scene

Check the VLC requirement

OBS’s VLC Video Source requires VLC Media Player to be installed. Match the application architecture: 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. If VLC is missing or the architecture does not match, the source may not be available in OBS.

Add and order the files

  1. Open OBS and select the scene that will be on air.
  2. In the Sources dock, select + and choose VLC Video Source.
  3. Name the source, then add the local video files to its playlist in the order you want them to play.
  4. Set Loop Playlist according to whether the sequence should repeat. Leave it off for a one-pass program.
  5. Set Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed order; turn it on only when a randomized order is intended.
  6. Confirm the source is visible and positioned and sized correctly in the scene, then check playback in the OBS preview.

The documented VLC Video Source defaults are loop on and shuffle off, so check both settings rather than assuming the playlist will stop after one pass. The playlist keeps the clips within one source and scene; it does not create a separate scene transition for each file.

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Switch scenes when a file ends

Build the scenes first

Create an OBS scene for each distinct layout or segment, and add the media source for the clip that belongs in each scene. Plan the intended next scene for each clip. The plugin automates scene switching; it does not itself schedule, start, or end the YouTube broadcast.

Configure a media-to-scene macro

  1. Install an Advanced Scene Switcher release compatible with your OBS version. Check the plugin’s current release notes and compatibility information before installation.
  2. Open the plugin’s Macro area and create a macro for the transition.
  3. Add a Media condition that monitors the relevant media source for its playback-completion state.
  4. Add a Switch scene action that selects the next OBS scene.
  5. Enable the switcher and verify the condition’s exact state labels in the version you installed.
  6. Test each transition privately, including the order of scenes and what appears after the final clip, before relying on it in a live broadcast.

The plugin resource documents Media conditions and Switch scene actions, but the precise labels and available controls can vary by version. A condition-and-action setup should not be treated as a guarantee of a perfectly gapless transition.

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Check compatibility and reactivation behavior

The OBS Project forum resource listing reports Advanced Scene Switcher 1.36.1, last updated August 7, 2026, with OBS Studio 31.1.1 as its minimum supported version. Confirm the current listing before installing, especially if your OBS version is older.

OBS’s built-in Media Source has a Restart playback when source becomes active setting. If a scene is revisited, enabling this behavior can restart its clip instead of resuming from the previous position. Choose the behavior that fits your sequence and test a return to the scene.

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Prepare OBS output for YouTube Live

OBS composes the scenes and sources into the video sent by its streaming output. YouTube’s encoder-based live workflow is suitable for this production style, but switching scenes in OBS does not by itself start or schedule a YouTube broadcast.

  1. Make sure live streaming is enabled for your YouTube account. YouTube says first-time enablement may take up to 24 hours.
  2. In YouTube Studio, set up the intended live stream and obtain its stream key using YouTube’s encoder workflow.
  3. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select YouTube as the service, and connect or enter the stream details as directed by the current YouTube workflow.
  4. Check the video and audio in OBS, then verify the planned playlist or scene sequence before the event.
  5. Start the broadcast through the configured YouTube/OBS workflow when ready; do not assume a media-end macro will start or stop the broadcast.

OBS supports local media sources including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM. A built-in Media Source plays an individual file; its Loop setting repeats that file, and Restart playback when source becomes active controls what happens when it becomes visible in the active scene.

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Troubleshoot playback and switching

  • VLC Video Source is missing: Install VLC and check that its 32-bit or 64-bit architecture matches OBS; 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC.
  • The playlist repeats unexpectedly: Check Loop Playlist. Its documented default is on.
  • Clips play in an unexpected order: Check the playlist order and Shuffle Playlist. Its documented default is off.
  • A clip restarts when its scene returns: Review Restart playback when source becomes active on that Media Source and test the scene’s reactivation behavior.
  • The scene does not change at the end: Confirm the macro is enabled, the Media condition watches the intended source and completion state, and the Switch scene action names the correct destination. Check the installed plugin version’s condition labels.
  • The plugin will not install or load: Verify its current OBS minimum-version requirement and release notes against the OBS version installed on your computer.
  • YouTube is not ready for the broadcast: Confirm live streaming is enabled ahead of time. First-time enablement may take up to 24 hours.

Or let it run in the cloud

If your goal is to keep uploaded videos streaming on YouTube without leaving a computer running, StreamNeo is a cloud option. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. The cloud keeps the stream running, so nothing has to stay on at home. It streams the uploaded video as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot regardless of quality, and can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube streams from uploaded videos, not camera broadcasts. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free first day.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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