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To loop media in OBS, use a VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist. That repeats the playlist, but it does not itself fade audio between tracks. OBS’s built-in Fade is a scene transition; for automated source-volume fades, you can use the Advanced Scene Switcher plugin, provided you set up and test a suitable trigger.
Set up a looping playlist in OBS
- Install VLC with the matching architecture. OBS requires VLC for the VLC Video source. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC. If the source is missing, check this dependency first. See the OBS Media Sources guide.
- Add the playlist source. In OBS Studio, go to the Sources dock, select +, and choose VLC Video. Add the audio or video files to the source’s playlist. The basic Media Source is for an individual local file; use VLC Video when you need a playlist.
- Enable repeat. Open the VLC Video source properties and turn on Loop Playlist. OBS documents this as the setting that restarts playback after the playlist reaches the end; it is on by default. Shuffle is separate and is off by default.
- Check playback and audio. Play through the playlist in OBS and watch the Audio Mixer meter for the source. Confirm the intended files play in the intended order before relying on the loop during a stream.
Looping and fading solve different problems: looping starts the playlist again when it ends, while a fade changes volume gradually. The VLC Video source properties documented by OBS include loop and shuffle controls, not a playlist-item transition control.
Understand which kind of fade you need
Fade when changing scenes
OBS’s built-in Fade is a scene transition. It changes from one scene to another over a selected duration; it is not documented as a per-track fade within a single looping VLC playlist. If you want the whole scene to fade when you switch scenes, choose the transition in OBS and set its duration. The OBS Studio Overview Guide describes scene transitions separately from source filters and audio controls.
Fade a playlist item’s audio
For an automated volume change, Advanced Scene Switcher is an optional OBS plugin with macro conditions and actions, including audio actions. Its listing gives version 1.36.1, a minimum OBS Studio version of 31.1.1, and Windows, macOS, and Linux support. Check the plugin listing against your installed OBS version before installing; compatibility requirements can change.
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A macro can change a source’s volume over a fade duration when its trigger occurs. The key practical question is whether the trigger you configure corresponds to the moment you want: a scene transition is not automatically the same event as a VLC playlist track ending.
Use Advanced Scene Switcher for volume automation
- Verify compatibility. Check the plugin’s stated minimum OBS version and supported operating system on its listing before installing.
- Install and open the plugin. Follow the installation instructions for your platform, then open Advanced Scene Switcher from OBS.
- Create a macro with an audio action. Select the audio source you want to control and configure an action to change its volume, including a fade duration if offered by the installed version.
- Choose a trigger deliberately. Set a condition that matches the event you actually want to use. A community example shows audio fading to 0% on a transition-from condition and to 100% on transition-to. That example is tied to scene transitions; it does not establish a universal, reliable end-of-track trigger for every VLC playlist.
- Test the complete sequence. Run the macro and play through a full playlist loop before going live. Confirm that the volume changes at the intended point, reaches the intended level, and does not remain muted or overlap unexpectedly when playback restarts.
The community discussion about fading audio between scenes illustrates transition-triggered fades; it should not be read as an official OBS recipe for fades at VLC playlist boundaries. OBS’s Ideas and Suggestions request for transitions between videos in the VLC Video Playlist source is a feature request, not a definitive specification of every current release. Check the behavior of your installed build rather than assuming it includes a track-boundary fade control.
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Choose the approach that fits the stream
| Approach | What it does | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLC Video playlist with Loop Playlist | Repeats the playlist when it reaches the end. | You need continuous playback, but do not need automated volume fades between items. | Looping alone does not fade between playlist items. |
| Advanced Scene Switcher audio action | Can automate source-volume changes using macro actions and triggers. | You need a configurable fade and can use a trigger that matches the event you want. | Requires a compatible plugin installation and careful trigger setup; the cited community example is scene-transition based, not a universal playlist-boundary recipe. |
Troubleshoot common problems
VLC Video is missing from the Sources menu
- Cause: VLC is not installed, or its architecture does not match OBS.
- Fix: Install VLC; for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC. Restart OBS and check the Sources menu again.
The playlist stops instead of starting over
- Cause: Loop Playlist is disabled, or you are configuring a different source.
- Fix: Open the VLC Video source properties, enable Loop Playlist, and test playback through the end of the list.
The tracks repeat but do not fade between one another
- Cause: Loop Playlist repeats playback; it is not a crossfade control.
- Fix: Use a tested Advanced Scene Switcher macro if you have a suitable trigger, or accept a direct transition between items. Do not assume the built-in scene Fade applies to playlist boundaries.
The fade happens on a scene change but not at a track boundary
- Cause: The macro is responding to a scene-transition condition, not necessarily to the VLC playlist advancing.
- Fix: Revisit the macro trigger and test it against the exact event you need. The cited community example demonstrates scene-transition conditions; it does not guarantee an end-of-track trigger for every playlist setup.
The source stays too quiet or muted after a fade
- Cause: The macro may have changed the wrong source, used an unintended target volume, or not run the action that restores volume.
- Fix: Check the selected source and the macro’s volume actions, then test both the fade-down and fade-up sequence while watching the OBS Audio Mixer.
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