To stream a gaming VOD playlist from OBS on Windows, play the locally stored videos through an OBS scene, connect OBS to a YouTube Live event with its server URL and stream key, then check the incoming preview before you make the broadcast public. For a scheduled event, select Go live in YouTube Live Control Room when the preview is ready.
What you need before starting
- A Windows PC with OBS installed and the gaming VOD files available locally.
- Access to YouTube Studio to create or schedule a live event.
- The event’s YouTube server URL and stream key, which let OBS send its feed to the correct broadcast. Treat the key like a password: do not show it in screenshots or recordings.
This workflow sends prerecorded video through OBS as a live encoder feed. OBS scenes are arrangements of sources, which can include media; YouTube Live Control Room is where you create and manage the event. See the OBS Studio overview and YouTube’s encoder streaming instructions.
Prepare the VOD playlist in OBS
Choose what viewers will see and hear
Decide which VODs should play, in what order, and whether the broadcast needs an intro, intermission screen, overlays, or a closing scene. Make sure the audio you intend to broadcast is included in the OBS output.
Add local media to an OBS scene
In OBS, use a media playback source or another playlist-capable source available in your installed setup to play the local files. OBS’s documentation explains the general scene-and-source model, but does not establish a current, exact Windows click path for building a multi-file playlist. The specific source options and controls can vary by installed OBS version, so follow the controls shown in your setup rather than assuming a YouTube playlist URL can be pasted into OBS.
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Test the sequence and ending behavior
Before going live, check that each file plays in the intended order, audio is audible, transitions look right, and the final clip behaves as intended. OBS strongly recommends testing configured scenes and stream operation before a first live stream; see its overview guide.
Create an immediate or scheduled YouTube event
| Choice | When it fits | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate stream | You intend to broadcast now. | Create the live event from YouTube Studio’s Create → Go Live flow and use the Stream tab. |
| Scheduled stream | You want to announce the broadcast in advance. | Use the Manage tab and choose Schedule stream. YouTube says scheduled events can be promoted and let viewers set reminders; when the encoder feed arrives, check its preview and select Go live when ready. |
The event-creation and encoder steps are described in YouTube Help. Scheduling adds an audience-notice and preview stage; an immediate event is the more direct choice when you are ready to begin.
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Connect OBS to the YouTube event
- Open the event in YouTube Live Control Room and locate its stream connection details.
- In OBS, choose YouTube as the streaming service if that option is available in your installed setup. Otherwise, copy the YouTube server URL and stream key into the corresponding encoder settings.
- Verify the selected OBS scene is the one containing your VOD playback and intended audio.
- Start sending the OBS feed, then check Live Control Room for an incoming signal and preview. For a scheduled broadcast, click Go live there only when the preview is ready and you want viewers to see the stream.
YouTube’s instruction is: “To start streaming, enter your YouTube Live server URL and stream key into your encoder.” Use the current controls shown in YouTube Studio for the event rather than relying on old menu descriptions.
Manage the broadcast and its replay
Start and stop deliberately
With a scheduled broadcast, check whether the event and OBS integration are configured for automatic start and stop or require separate actions in Live Control Room. A community OBS forum guide from 2015 describes variation in this behavior, but it is not a reliable universal rule for current interfaces; follow the controls displayed for your event. See the OBS community workflow guide and current YouTube encoder instructions.
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Know the stated archive limit
YouTube Help says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived and can be found in YouTube Studio’s Live tab. That statement does not establish automatic archiving for broadcasts lasting 12 hours or longer, so do not count on a replay in that case.
Copyright and stream settings to verify
Use only VOD footage, game audio, music, and other material you have permission to broadcast. The reviewed YouTube and OBS guidance for this workflow does not establish that a gaming VOD or its soundtrack is cleared for livestreaming, nor does it provide current, exact encoder bitrate recommendations. Check rights for the particular content and consult the current guidance and settings shown for your YouTube event and OBS installation instead of relying on a guessed bitrate or a blanket assumption about game music.
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Troubleshooting common problems
- YouTube receives no feed: Confirm OBS is sending to the intended event and that the server URL and stream key match that event. Recheck the key privately; do not share it while troubleshooting.
- The preview is blank or shows the wrong material: Confirm the intended OBS scene is active and that its media source points to an available local VOD. Check playback before selecting Go live.
- There is no audio: Check that the intended media audio is part of the OBS output and listen to a test before the broadcast.
- A scheduled event is not public after OBS starts: Check Live Control Room for the encoder preview and the event’s current start controls. A scheduled event may require you to select Go live.
- The replay is missing: YouTube’s cited automatic-archive statement applies to streams under 12 hours. It does not promise archiving for longer streams.
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