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To keep clips in an OBS VLC playlist centered and consistently framed, give the source a fixed bounding box in Transform → Edit Transform, then choose whether to fit the whole frame, crop its edges to fill the canvas, or stretch it. Test the result with clips of different shapes: a playlist can switch dimensions as it advances, and you should confirm the preview with the files and OBS/VLC versions you use.
Set up a VLC playlist source
- Install VLC. OBS requires VLC for its VLC Video source. If you use 64-bit OBS, install 64-bit VLC too. OBS’s media sources guide describes VLC Video as similar to Media Source but able to play a list of items.
- Add the source. In the OBS scene where the playlist should appear, use the Sources panel’s add control and select VLC Video. Give it a clear name, then add the video files to its playlist in the source properties.
- Select the source and open its transform controls. Right-click the source in the preview or Sources panel and choose Transform → Edit Transform. OBS also provides Fit to Screen, Center to Screen, and Stretch to Screen shortcuts; the transform guide documents these options at OBS Transforms.
For a playlist whose items have different dimensions, use a fixed bounding box aligned with the canvas and set centered alignment in Edit Transform. That helps keep clips anchored to the middle instead of appearing to shift toward an edge when the source changes dimensions. This approach is recommended in OBS community discussion, not guaranteed behavior for every version or file, so check it with the clips you intend to use: OBS forum: Help getting videos from VLC playlist to be centered and sized properly.
Choose how each clip should fill the canvas
Aspect ratio is the relationship between a frame’s width and height. A 16:9 landscape clip and a 4:3 clip have different proportions; portrait clips differ more. Decide whether the entire image must remain visible, whether filling the canvas matters more, or whether distortion is acceptable.
| Outcome | What happens | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Fit the whole video | Scale the clip proportionally until it fits inside the canvas. | The full image remains visible, but mismatched ratios can leave empty space or bars. |
| Crop to fill | Scale proportionally until the canvas is covered, cropping the excess edges. | The image keeps its proportions, but content at the edges is lost. |
| Stretch to fill | Force the clip to the canvas width and height. | The canvas is filled, but the image’s proportions are distorted. OBS says stretching warps the source and is generally not recommended; see its Aspect Ratio Guide. |
Show the complete frame
Choose a proportional fit when viewers must see the entire clip—for example, text or action near the edges must not be cut off. Uneven bars or unused canvas space are the cost of preserving the whole image when its ratio differs from the canvas.
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Fill the canvas without distortion
Scale proportionally to cover the canvas, then crop the excess. This is often a better choice than stretching when a full-looking frame matters, but inspect the edges: a title, face, or other important detail can be cut off. If the automatic framing is not right, adjust crop values manually.
Stretch only when distortion is acceptable
Stretching changes the relative width and height of the image. Use it only if that visual distortion is acceptable for your content; it is not a proportional fit.
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Crop manually or enter exact crop values
To trim a source directly in the OBS preview, select it and hold Alt while dragging an edge on Windows or Linux, or hold Option on macOS. OBS shows cropped edges in green. For precise adjustments, open Transform → Edit Transform and edit the crop values there. These controls are described in the OBS transform guide.
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Check the playlist before going live
- Preview a landscape clip and confirm that its position and scale match your chosen fit, crop, or stretch behavior.
- Preview a portrait clip and at least one other item with a different ratio or dimensions. Check both the center alignment and the edges.
- Watch the transition as the playlist changes items. If framing shifts or important content is cut off, revise the bounding box, alignment, fit choice, or crop values.
- Repeat with the actual playlist files and current installed OBS/VLC builds. The cited OBS guides and forum discussions do not establish that every version, codec, or file will behave identically.
If different playlist items still look inconsistent
- The source jumps toward an edge: Reopen Edit Transform and check that the bounding box and centered alignment are set as intended. Community advice for this playlist issue recommends a fixed box and centered alignment; verify the preview with your own clips.
- Bars appear around a clip: That is expected when fitting the whole frame while preserving its proportions and the source and canvas ratios differ. Choose crop-to-fill if losing some edge content is preferable.
- Important content disappears: Crop-to-fill removes edges. Reduce or reposition the crop, or fit the complete image instead.
- The image looks unnaturally wide or tall: The source is likely being stretched to the canvas dimensions. Use a proportional fit or crop-to-fill to preserve its proportions.
- The VLC Video source is unavailable: Install VLC and match its architecture to OBS; the OBS guide specifies 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS.
Some OBS forum replies suggest trying a Scaling/Aspect Ratio filter for playlists with varying dimensions. Treat that as a community-suggested alternative to test, not a guaranteed fix or an official prescription: OBS forum: VLC playlist resolution.
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