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Use an MP4 file with H.264 video and AAC audio as the product-video source in OBS, enable Loop in the Media Source, and send the live stream to YouTube using H.264 video and AAC stereo audio. The MP4 is the local source file—not the format of the live stream YouTube receives. If viewers hear no sound, trace the audio from the file through OBS’s mixer and stream mix to YouTube’s stream health rather than relying on the file extension or local playback alone.
Which file format should you use?
For a straightforward looping product video, choose an MP4 source file. YouTube lists MP4 among supported upload formats, and OBS Media Source can play and loop a local file. For the outgoing stream, H.264 video with AAC stereo audio is a practical compatibility-first setup. YouTube’s live encoder settings also list HEVC/H.265 and AV1 video, and AAC or MP3 audio; using those alternatives does not change how OBS reads your local MP4.
Keep the two layers distinct: the container and codecs inside your source file determine how OBS plays the video and its audio; the encoder settings in OBS determine what YouTube receives as a live stream. YouTube’s recommended upload profile of MP4 with H.264 video and AAC-LC audio is an upload recommendation, not a substitute for configuring live ingest.
Prepare and loop the product video in OBS
- Check the file. Confirm the local video plays and contains the sound you intend viewers to hear. MP4 is a supported, practical choice for an OBS Media Source.
- Add the source. In OBS, add a Media Source to the scene, select the local file, and enable Loop in the source properties. OBS restarts playback after the file ends.
- Use a playlist if needed. For multiple files, use OBS’s VLC Video source and enable Loop Playlist so playback restarts when the playlist runs out of items.
- Check the mixer while it plays. Watch the audio meter for the media source in OBS’s Audio Mixer. If it does not move, verify that the file has an audio track and that the source is playing with the intended audio settings.
- Check stream routing. Make sure the source is not muted and is included in the audio track sent by the stream. Local monitoring is a separate function: hearing the source through your own monitoring device does not prove it is included in the audience mix.
- Test the actual scene. Run a controlled test or recording for a few minutes. Check the sound, motion, and the transition where the file loops. OBS documents that playback restarts, but that alone does not establish a gapless or frame-perfect transition for every export.
Set the live encoder for YouTube
For the usual RTMP or RTMPS workflow, use H.264 video and AAC stereo audio. YouTube recommends RTMPS as the secure RTMP variant. Its current encoder guidance, checked 2026-10-03, recommends constant bitrate (CBR), a two-second keyframe interval (no more than four seconds), and stereo audio at 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps.
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| Setting | Practical starting point | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Local source | MP4 | OBS Media Source supports it; YouTube also lists MP4 as an upload format. |
| Live video codec | H.264 | YouTube’s RTMP/RTMPS guidance also lists HEVC/H.265 and AV1. |
| Live audio codec | AAC stereo | YouTube also lists MP3 for RTMP/RTMPS audio. Its guidance says 5.1 audio over RTMP/RTMPS is supported only with AAC. |
| Audio sample rate and bitrate | 44.1 kHz; 128 kbps stereo | YouTube’s recommended advanced settings. |
| Bitrate mode and keyframes | CBR; 2-second keyframe interval | YouTube says not to exceed a 4-second keyframe interval. |
| H.264 video bitrate examples | 720p30 or 720p60: 8 Mbps; 1080p30: 14 Mbps; 1080p60: 17 Mbps | YouTube’s recommended live ingest figures, not a guarantee of quality on a particular connection. Choose a profile your upload connection can sustain. |
YouTube’s Live Control Room can report unsupported codec or container configurations as stream-format errors. If it does, check the outgoing encoder configuration and the stream health messages; changing the local file’s extension alone does not correct an unsupported live output.
Fix a YouTube Live stream with no audio
Trace the signal in order. This isolates whether the problem is the media file, OBS source, output mix, or YouTube ingest.
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- Confirm the file has audible audio. Play it locally and check that the intended soundtrack is present. A video file’s extension does not guarantee it contains an audio track.
- Watch the OBS source meter. Play the Media Source and look for movement on its Audio Mixer meter. If there is none, focus on the file, playback, or source configuration; OBS recommends checking meters and selecting devices manually when an expected signal is missing.
- Check mute and track assignment. Verify the source is unmuted and assigned to the audio track used by the stream. If the meter moves but viewers hear nothing, inspect the source’s track assignment and the stream output mix.
- Check the outgoing audio codec. Use a YouTube-supported codec, such as AAC stereo, and review the Live Control Room for a stream-format error.
- Separate monitoring from broadcast audio. If you can hear the source locally but viewers cannot, monitoring may be working while the audience mix is not. Check the stream routing separately. If viewers hear an echo, look for the same device captured both globally and as a scene source; OBS warns that duplicate capture can cause echo.
- Repeat a controlled test. Confirm the actual stream output before the event, including the loop transition and the audio after playback restarts.
When HLS makes sense
RTMP/RTMPS with H.264 and AAC is the straightforward compatibility-first path for this workflow. YouTube also supports HLS ingest for supported use cases, with AAC, AC3, and EAC3 audio. HLS has additional playlist and segment requirements and higher latency because it sends segments. It is not a remedy for a muted source or audio routed to the wrong OBS track.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Run the loop from OBS or the cloud?
OBS is the do-it-yourself option when you can keep the computer, OBS, and a stable upload connection running for the broadcast. For an always-on YouTube loop without a computer running at home, StreamNeo is the cloud alternative: upload the video, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud; it does not go live from a camera.
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