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Use a nested scene when you want to reuse a composed set of sources—such as an overlay or media layout—in multiple OBS scenes. Add it to each viewer-facing scene as a scene source, arrange it in the source list, and avoid circular references. A nested scene helps organize an OBS layout; it does not by itself keep a computer, internet connection, or stream online continuously.

When to use a nested scene

An OBS scene is a composition of sources. Adding one scene as a source inside another lets you reuse that composition without rebuilding its contents each time. For example, create an Overlay - Shared scene and add it to your starting, main, and break scenes. Update the shared overlay once, and the scenes that use it can reflect that change.

OBS describes scenes and sources as the core of a stream layout in its Sources Guide. In a viewer-facing scene, add the reusable scene as a source, then position and size it with the source transforms. Source order matters: items higher in the list appear above lower items and can cover them.

Nested scene or source group?

Choice Use it when Keep in mind
Nested scene You want a composed set of sources to remain a scene and be reused in several output scenes. Keep the scene relationships clear and prevent a reference from returning to its parent.
Source group You only need to bundle or organize sources within one scene. A group is an organizational tool, not a reusable scene composition in the same sense.

Choose based on reuse: use a group for a local bundle, and a nested scene for a composition that should be independently reusable.

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Build a reusable scene layout

  1. Create focused building-block scenes. In the Scenes dock, add a scene for each recurring composition, such as Overlay - Shared, Camera - Host, or Media - Background. Use names that describe their function.
  2. Add the building block to an output scene. Select the viewer-facing scene, use the Sources dock’s add control, and choose the scene source option to add the reusable scene. Select the desired scene from the list.
  3. Position and layer it. In Sources, move the scene source above or below other sources as needed. Select it in the preview and adjust its position and size. Check that overlays do not hide captions, media, or other elements unintentionally.
  4. Keep output scenes distinct. Name scenes that are intended to go live clearly, and keep helper scenes identifiable as reusable components. This makes it easier to choose the correct scene when streaming.
  5. Repeat and test. Add the same reusable scene to each output scene where it belongs. Switch among them and verify visibility, transforms, audio, and transitions in the actual output layout.

Avoid circular scene references

Do not create a chain of nested scenes that eventually points back to itself. If scene A includes scene B, scene B must not include scene A directly or through another scene. OBS forum troubleshooting identifies that circular arrangement as a cause of an “infinite source recursion” error; this is community guidance rather than a formal rule in the Sources Guide. See the OBS forum discussion.

If OBS refuses to add a scene as a source with an infinite-recursion message, inspect the full chain of scene sources, not just the two scenes you are currently editing. Remove the link that returns to the parent, then try again.

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Loop a video or playlist in OBS

Repeat one file with Media Source

  1. Add a Media Source to the scene where the video should play.
  2. Choose the media file and enable Loop in the source properties.
  3. Test the beginning and end of playback, including the audio transition, before using it in a live scene.

The OBS Media Sources guide lists supported examples including MP4, MOV, MKV, and WebM video, and MP3 and WAV audio.

Repeat a playlist with VLC Video

  1. Install VLC if it is not already installed.
  2. Add a VLC Video source and set up its playlist.
  3. Check Loop Playlist and test playback on the OBS installation that will run the stream.

The VLC Video source requires VLC to be installed; OBS notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. The guide documents Loop Playlist as on by default, but confirm the setting and behavior on your own setup.

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What nested scenes do—and do not—solve for 24/7 streaming

Scene organization and media looping address layout and playback. They do not guarantee that OBS will keep running, that the computer or network will stay available, or that YouTube will remain connected. The OBS Studio Overview Guide covers stream setup—including service or custom server, stream key, bitrate, and advanced settings—and lists Automatic Reconnect among advanced options. Reconnect is a recovery aid, not a promise of uninterrupted uptime.

The OBS Quick Start Guide encourages testing for a few minutes before a first stream or recording. For a 24/7 goal, test the complete workflow: playback, scene changes, source visibility, audio, and reconnect behavior. There is no established safe nesting-depth figure or uptime guarantee in the OBS guidance cited here.

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Start OBS with a prepared scene collection

OBS supports launch parameters such as --collection "name", --scene "name", and --startstreaming. These can select a collection or scene and start streaming when launching a prepared configuration. They do not supervise OBS as a process or guarantee recovery after every failure. See OBS’s Launch Parameters reference, and do not change advanced stream settings without understanding their effect.

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