For a simple vMix playlist, use 8GB of RAM as the vendor’s general recommended baseline and aim for 16GB for a more practical dedicated streaming PC. That 16GB target is a planning recommendation—not a tested minimum or a guarantee of uninterrupted streaming. The right amount depends on the whole production, not just the playlist.
vMix’s RAM recommendations
vMix’s Supported Hardware page lists 4GB DDR4 as the minimum and 8GB DDR4 as recommended in its general system requirements. Those specifications are not a benchmark for a nonstop playlist.
For broader production workloads, vMix’s computer purchasing guide says, “16GB of memory is recommended for most productions.” The guide was last updated November 11, 2020, so treat that as general production guidance rather than a playlist-specific test result. It also advises using at least two memory modules on most computers instead of one.
| Setup or guidance | RAM figure | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| vMix general system recommendation | 8GB DDR4 | Vendor baseline; not a 24/7 playlist guarantee. |
| Simple playlist with a basic output | 8GB baseline; 16GB practical target | 16GB is a cautious planning recommendation, not a measured minimum for every playlist. |
| Most productions, according to vMix’s purchasing guide | 16GB | General advice in a guide last updated November 11, 2020. |
The same supported-hardware page lists 4GB DDR4 as minimum, but meeting a minimum specification does not establish that a particular playlist, output, and background workload will run comfortably.
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Does a playlist load every video into RAM?
Not necessarily. vMix’s List input can play video or audio files back to back, supports M3U files, and has Auto Next and Loop controls. vMix says List has the advantage of not requiring all videos to be loaded at once, which can consume system resources. It does not publish a RAM-saving figure, so this feature should not be translated into a specific memory estimate.
Use List when you want one input to play a collection of media files in sequence. The separate PlayList feature automates sequential switching among vMix inputs and can loop the sequence. Choose it when the items you want to sequence are separate inputs rather than files in one media list.
What changes the amount of RAM you should plan for?
A playlist is only one part of a vMix production. vMix identifies CPU and graphics-card capability as important to production capacity; graphics performance affects how many HD inputs and simultaneous recording, streaming, and outputs are possible. A setup with cameras, overlays, multiple outputs, recording, higher resolutions, or other open applications is less like a simple playlist-and-output configuration.
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- Playlist structure: One List input is different from a production with many separate media inputs. List can avoid loading all its files at once, but no universal memory footprint is published.
- Other production tasks: Cameras, graphics, recording, extra outputs, and concurrent programs add to the demands on the computer.
- Computer limits: Check the computer’s supported RAM type, maximum capacity, module form factor, and available slots before upgrading. The general recommendation does not identify a compatible module for a particular PC.
- CPU and GPU: More RAM alone cannot establish that the processor and graphics hardware can handle the intended inputs, processing, encoding, and outputs.
If the PC will do little beyond one playlist input and a simple stream output, 8GB is the general baseline and 16GB is the more comfortable planning target. For a fuller production, use vMix’s 16GB general recommendation as the more relevant starting point, then assess the rest of the system. No published figure establishes RAM use by playlist length, file count, codec, resolution, or continuous runtime.
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Can vMix loop videos 24/7?
vMix describes List and PlayList as useful for basic 24/7 streaming. In its knowledge-base article, last updated January 17, 2025, vMix says it is “primarily designed for live streaming single events” and “does not support time of day scheduling.” Looping returns playback to the beginning of a list or playlist; it is a playback control, not a promise of unattended uptime or full television-style scheduling.
For a YouTube stream, the PC running vMix and the stream itself still depend on the complete setup and operating conditions. A RAM figure by itself cannot promise that the stream will stay live continuously.
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Checking whether a RAM upgrade will help
- Identify the workload. Count the media inputs and note whether the PC also handles cameras, graphics, recording, additional outputs, or other software.
- Check the PC or motherboard specifications. Confirm the supported RAM generation, maximum capacity, module form factor, and number of free slots. Do not buy a generic “16GB DDR4 RAM kit” until these details match your computer.
- Compare installed RAM with the workload. Treat 8GB as vMix’s general recommended baseline; consider 16GB as the practical planning target for a dedicated playlist PC and the broader recommendation for most productions.
- Assess the whole system. Review CPU, GPU, storage, and the number of inputs and outputs alongside RAM. An upgrade to memory cannot resolve a limitation elsewhere in the production chain.
- Try the actual playlist and output. Check the intended media and production configuration rather than assuming a particular amount of RAM guarantees stability. The official guidance does not provide a test result for every playlist or uptime scenario.
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