Keep the music in a separate, persistent OBS source instead of attaching it to each video clip. For one repeating track, use a Media Source with Loop enabled and Close file when inactive disabled. For a playlist, use OBS’s VLC Video source, configure its playlist and loop behavior, and make sure its visibility settings fit your scene layout.
Set up music to continue across video clips
These steps apply to OBS scene collections generally, but exact behavior can depend on your OBS version and how sources are arranged. After changing settings, test the transitions in your own scenes.
- Add a persistent music source. In the scene used to manage the stream, click + in the Sources dock and choose Media Source. Select your audio file. OBS lists MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV as supported audio formats. Keep this source available to the scenes that show your video clips; avoid creating a separate copy of the same music source in every scene.
- Choose whether to repeat one file or play a playlist. For one track, enable Loop in the Media Source properties. For a sequence of tracks, add VLC Video, select the playlist, and set Loop Playlist if you want the sequence to repeat. VLC must be installed; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. See the OBS documentation for Media Sources and VLC Video Source.
- Prevent the source from unloading between clips. For a single-file Media Source, leave Close file when inactive off. If using VLC Video, choose a visibility behavior that allows playback to continue while the source is hidden when your scene arrangement requires it. Keep the same music source available to the relevant video scenes.
- Check what happens when a source becomes active. OBS documents Restart playback when source becomes active as On by default for Media Source. If music starts over when you return to a scene, inspect that setting and the source’s visibility and activation behavior. The right combination depends on the scene collection, so test it rather than assuming every layout behaves the same.
- Set and monitor the mix. Play the stream or use OBS audio monitoring and listen while adjusting the music level in the Audio Mixer. OBS’s Audio Mixer Guide, published April 3, 2026, recommends keeping background music in the green meter zone as a starting reference. Listen to the actual output as well as watching the meter.
Choose the source arrangement that fits your music
| Setup | Best suited to | Continuity setting to check |
|---|---|---|
| Media Source with one audio file | A single track that should repeat | Enable Loop; leave Close file when inactive off; inspect restart-on-activation behavior. |
| VLC Video with a playlist | A sequence of tracks, optionally repeated | Set Loop Playlist as needed and choose visibility behavior that suits the scenes. VLC is required, with a matching 64-bit installation for 64-bit OBS. |
A shared or persistent music source is generally easier to manage than duplicating the source in each clip scene: it avoids separate playback instances that can overlap or restart. OBS also notes that audio input and output capture sources may be specific to a scene and capture the device while the source is active. If you capture the same device globally and again as a scene source, OBS warns that the duplicate capture can cause echo. See the Audio Mixer Guide.
Why music stops or starts over on a scene change
- The source becomes inactive or hidden. A scene change can affect a source’s visibility or activation. For Media Source, check whether Close file when inactive is enabled; OBS says closing and reloading a file can introduce a delay. For VLC Video, inspect its visibility behavior.
- The source restarts when it becomes active. Check Restart playback when source becomes active on a Media Source. OBS documents this option as On by default, so returning to a scene can restart playback depending on the source arrangement.
- The music source exists only in one scene. Make sure it is available to the scenes displaying the clips and is not set up as a scene-specific device capture when you need continuous playback.
- You hear an echo or doubled music. Check for duplicate sources, especially the same audio device captured both globally and in a scene. Remove or disable the unnecessary capture, then listen again.
OBS’s documentation describes these settings, but it cannot identify the cause in an individual project without its scene and source configuration. Verify the result with the exact scenes you use.
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OBS playback does not clear music rights for YouTube
A track playing correctly in OBS does not mean you have permission to use it in a live broadcast. YouTube says it scans all live streams for matches to third-party content. If it identifies a match, it may replace the stream with a placeholder and warn the creator; if the content continues, the stream may be interrupted or terminated. YouTube also notes that even a creator with a license may need the rights owner to add the channel to its Content ID allowlist. Confirm that your rights cover live-stream use and the territories where viewers may watch with the licensor or rights holder. See YouTube’s guidance on copyright issues with live streams.
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