Build separate Countdown, Program, and Intermission scenes in OBS Studio, put prepared media in the countdown and intermission scenes, then switch scenes while OBS continues sending the feed to YouTube. Scene changes alter what viewers see; they do not, by themselves, end the encoder feed.
What you need before you start
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled. First-time enablement may take up to 24 hours, according to YouTube Help; check the current guidance if you have not streamed before.
- OBS Studio installed on a computer that can stay on and connected for the duration of your broadcast.
- A countdown clip and an intermission clip saved locally, or a playlist if you want several clips to play in sequence.
- A stream URL and stream key from YouTube Studio. Treat the key as a credential: anyone with it may be able to send a feed to your stream.
YouTube describes an encoder as converting video into a digital format for streaming. OBS is the encoder and scene switcher in this setup; YouTube Studio supplies the live event and receives the feed.
Prepare the YouTube live stream
- Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room. Create or schedule an encoder-based stream.
- Set the title, visibility, and other metadata. Scheduling can give viewers a watch page in advance.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for the event. In YouTube Studio, stream settings can also provide a custom reusable key for recurring broadcasts; confirm the currently selected settings before reusing it.
- Keep the key private. If it is exposed, reset it in Studio and replace the saved key in OBS.
YouTube’s documented encoder workflow is to send the feed from the encoder, wait for the preview in Live Control Room, and select Go live. Auto-start and auto-stop settings may change the manual steps, so test the specific event instead of assuming it will start or end automatically.
Create the countdown, program, and intermission scenes in OBS
Add the three scenes
- In OBS, create scenes named Countdown, Program, and Intermission. Clear names help avoid choosing the wrong screen during a live change.
- In Countdown, add a Media Source and select your locally prepared countdown video.
- In Intermission, add a Media Source and select your break video. For a still image, add an image source instead; a video loop can include motion, a schedule, or other prepared information.
- In Program, add the sources needed for the show. The scene could contain a prepared program video or other OBS sources, depending on how your show is produced.
Set playback behavior
Open each Media Source’s properties and enable Loop when the clip should repeat. Enable Restart playback when source becomes active when every return to that scene should begin the clip from its start. If you want playback to continue from its current position when switching away and back, do not enable restart.
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If the break should cycle through several files, OBS’s VLC Video source can play a playlist and loop it. This option requires VLC to be installed, with a matching architecture: for example, 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS. A single local Media Source is simpler when one clip is sufficient and avoids an additional VLC dependency.
Layer overlays and choose a transition
OBS sources are layered: sources higher in the list appear above those below. Put a logo, text, or schedule above the background media when you want it visible over the clip. A Browser Source can load a local page or a URL for a custom layout; a local video or image does not depend on an external page remaining available during the broadcast.
Choose Fade for a gradual change or Cut for an immediate one. Both are available in OBS from first launch. Set the transition duration to suit the material, then preview the actual program output while switching scenes. Do not rely only on the scene editor preview.
Connect OBS and take the stream live
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Select YouTube if that option is available, or enter the server URL and stream key copied from Studio.
- Apply the settings and select Start Streaming in OBS.
- Return to YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. Wait for the incoming preview. For the documented scheduled-stream workflow, select Go live when the preview is ready, unless the event’s verified auto-start setting handles that step.
- Once the YouTube broadcast is live, select Countdown in OBS. When it is time for the program, switch to Program; when the show ends, switch to Intermission. Leave OBS streaming while changing scenes.
Switching scenes changes the video OBS sends through the encoder. It is different from stopping the encoder or ending the YouTube broadcast. For recurring operation, reusing stream settings can simplify setup, but it does not schedule the scene changes themselves.
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Choose the right broadcast structure for a continuous channel
Decide whether viewers should watch one continuous live page or separate event pages. A 24/7 encoder feed can remain connected while the picture changes among countdown, program, and break scenes. Google also documents a pattern in which a continuous feed coexists with a separate broadcast; choose based on whether each program needs its own event page and metadata.
Do not assume an uninterrupted stream produces one complete replay. YouTube Help says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; that does not guarantee a single complete archive for a stream that continues beyond 12 hours. If individual program replays matter, verify YouTube’s current limits and consider separate broadcasts or a local recording workflow.
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Test before leaving it unattended
A continuous broadcast depends on the computer running OBS, its network connection, media playback, and the YouTube ingest session remaining available. A scene setup is not an uptime guarantee. Run a monitored test that includes the full sequence—starting the feed, switching scenes, checking audio and video, and confirming the stream is live in Studio—before relying on it unattended.
- Confirm the countdown and intermission clips play and loop as intended.
- Check that the program audio and video are present and that overlays are legible at the stream’s viewing size.
- Switch scenes while watching the YouTube output to verify the transition and ensure the encoder feed remains connected.
- Confirm the stream’s auto-start or auto-stop behavior in the exact Studio settings you plan to use.
Troubleshoot common problems
YouTube does not show an incoming preview
Check that OBS is streaming, the server URL and stream key match the selected YouTube event, and the event is open in Live Control Room. If the key was reset, update it in OBS. A scheduled stream may still require you to select Go live after the preview appears.
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The countdown or break clip does not play
Check the Media Source file path and confirm the clip opens locally. If the source should repeat, enable Loop. If it should restart from the beginning each time the scene is selected, enable Restart playback when source becomes active.
The VLC playlist source is unavailable
Install VLC and match its architecture to OBS, such as 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS. If you only need one repeating clip, replace the playlist with a standard Media Source and enable Loop.
The scene changes in OBS but not as expected on the stream
Make sure you are changing the active scene rather than only selecting a scene in the editor, and inspect the output in YouTube’s preview. Check that the intended media source is visible in the scene’s layer order and that the transition is set as expected.
The stream ends or the archive is incomplete
Check the OBS computer, network connection, and YouTube ingest status; any of these can interrupt the feed. For archives, YouTube’s stated automatic archiving condition applies to streams under 12 hours, not as a promise of one complete replay for an uninterrupted 24/7 broadcast.
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