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Choose what the overlay should display
A “now playing” overlay can mean a filename, or it can mean track details such as artist and title. Those are not always the same: a filename can be useful when a file has no tags, while artist/title fields depend on metadata being present and available to the selected source. Decide which information you need before setting up the text format.
Set up the OBS playlist
- Install VLC. OBS requires VLC for its VLC Video source. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC.
- In OBS, select the scene where the playlist should appear. In the Sources panel, click + and add a VLC Video Source.
- Open the source properties and add the media files in the order you want them played. Set loop and shuffle according to how you want the playlist to behave, then confirm the source is visible in the scene.
- Start playback and verify the video appears as expected before adding the overlay.
OBS Project describes the distinction this way: “Unlike Media Source, you can create a playlist of items, similar to an Image Slideshow.” The playlist source and the text overlay are separate sources; OBS does not automatically connect a playlist’s current item to an arbitrary text file.
Automate the text with Tuna
Tuna is a third-party OBS plugin that can use a VLC source as its music source and write available track information to a file. The OBS text source then reads that output file. This is an integration path, not a built-in guarantee that every playlist exposes complete metadata.
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- Install Tuna using the instructions for your operating system. Tuna documents VLC-source support for VLC 3.0.0 or later. On Linux, installation steps vary by distribution; Tuna describes a Debian-based installer and manual alternatives, and notes reports of loading issues with the Flatpak OBS build.
- In OBS, open Tools > Tuna settings. Choose VLC as the music source, select the scene and the VLC source that contains the playlist, and add it. If the scene contains multiple or nested VLC sources, check that Tuna is pointed at the intended source.
- In Tuna’s Basics/output configuration, choose an output file path and a text format. For example,
{artists} - {title}requests an artist/title line where those fields are available. Tuna supports formatting and character limits, but a format cannot display fields the source does not provide. - In the OBS Sources panel, click + and add a text source. Configure it to read from the same output file Tuna writes. Position and style the text, and keep it above the VLC Video source in the source order so it appears over the video.
- Play several playlist items and watch the overlay at each transition. Check for blank, stale, or incomplete text, and correct the media tags or output format if needed.
Use a filename or manual text when metadata is missing
If a file does not contain usable artist/title tags, Tuna may not have those fields to write. A filename can serve as a fallback label, but confirm the result in the scene rather than assuming the plugin will turn every filename into the desired title. Correctly tagged files are needed for complete song-information extraction.
If you do not want to install a plugin, an OBS text source can read a text file that you maintain yourself. You can edit that file when the playlist changes, or use a separate metadata process you have tested. Simply adding both a VLC playlist and a text source does not make the text update automatically.
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Troubleshoot a blank or incorrect overlay
- The VLC Video source is missing: Install VLC and restart OBS if needed. Match VLC’s architecture to OBS; OBS explicitly requires 64-bit VLC for a 64-bit OBS installation.
- Tuna does not detect the playlist: Confirm that VLC is at least version 3.0.0, then revisit Tools > Tuna settings and select the correct scene and VLC source. Check the plugin’s current release notes if your OBS build or source arrangement differs.
- The overlay is blank or missing fields: Check that the output file path is correct, that the OBS text source reads that file, and that the media files contain the tags your format requests. The selected source may not provide every field.
- The overlay keeps showing the previous item: Test transitions with the actual playlist and confirm Tuna is attached to the VLC source that is playing it. Inspect whether the output file changes when the next item starts.
- Tuna will not load on Linux: Installation differs by distribution, and Tuna notes possible issues with OBS Flatpak. Check the instructions and release notes for your OBS package rather than assuming one installation method applies everywhere.
- You use nested or multiple VLC sources: Verify the selected source and plugin version. Tuna’s release history records a nested-source fix dated May 7, 2024, and a change dated May 19, 2023, related to selecting the first active VLC source. Its latest listed update, September 12, 2025, fixed a crash with the latest beta; compatibility can change, so consult current release notes.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is an always-on YouTube channel playing uploaded videos, StreamNeo is a separate cloud option; it does not create a camera-based live feed or replace the OBS overlay workflow. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. Each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card; one free day is available per account.
Monthly: $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo for details, or start the free day.
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