To run a prerecorded video on repeat through OBS Studio 30, add it as a Media Source, enable Loop, connect OBS to a YouTube Live stream with its stream key, and configure the encoder to match YouTube’s current recommendations for your chosen codec, resolution, and frame rate. A local OBS setup requires the computer, video source, and internet connection to keep working; for a cloud alternative, StreamNeo can loop uploaded videos to YouTube without leaving a computer on.
What you need before configuring OBS
- OBS Studio 30 installed on a computer that can remain on while streaming.
- A prerecorded video file stored where OBS can access it.
- A YouTube channel able to create a live stream in YouTube Live Control Room.
- A stable upload connection capable of sustaining the bitrate for the selected settings.
OBS’s Media Sources documentation lists video formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM, and audio formats including MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV. See the OBS Media Sources guide for details.
Configure the looping video in OBS Studio 30
- Open OBS and create or select the scene you want to use for the broadcast.
- In the Sources panel, select + and add a Media Source.
- Give the source a recognizable name, then select the prerecorded video file.
- In the Media Source properties, enable Loop. This makes the file play again after playback completes.
- Review the other playback options. Restart playback when source becomes active controls what happens when the source is activated; hardware decoding can be enabled when available; and Show nothing when playback ends determines what appears if the file stops without looping.
- Confirm the source appears and plays in the OBS preview, including its audio. Adjust the scene layout if the video does not fit the canvas as intended.
For a 24/7 loop, verify that Loop is enabled on the correct Media Source. If the scene or source is changed while live, check the preview again before leaving the broadcast unattended.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Live Control Room and create or select the live stream you plan to use. YouTube’s encoder setup guide describes setting up a stream and connecting an encoder.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that stream into OBS’s streaming configuration. Keep the key private: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to your stream.
- Start streaming from OBS. For a scheduled broadcast, check the preview in Live Control Room and use its Go live action when you are ready to publish.
- Check YouTube’s stream health indicators and confirm that both the video and audio are arriving correctly.
Choose encoder settings that match the video
YouTube’s current encoder guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS and lists H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 as video codecs. It recommends constant bitrate (CBR), frame rates up to 60 fps, and a two-second keyframe interval; do not exceed four seconds. These are platform recommendations, not guarantees that a particular computer or connection can sustain a stream. Consult YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate table for the exact codec, resolution, and frame-rate combination.
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H.264 examples from YouTube’s bitrate table
| Output | YouTube-recommended bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps |
These figures are YouTube’s published H.264 recommendations, not independent measurements. Do not apply a bitrate from one row to a different codec, resolution, or frame rate. The appropriate target for AV1 or H.265 can differ; use the live YouTube table for the configuration you select.
Match the OBS output to what you can sustain
- Set the video codec, resolution, and frame rate to a combination supported by your encoder and the source video.
- Use CBR and a two-second keyframe interval as YouTube’s starting guidance, with a keyframe interval no longer than four seconds.
- Choose a bitrate from YouTube’s table for that precise codec, resolution, and frame rate.
- Account for the upload connection’s sustained capacity, not just a brief speed-test result. If the feed becomes unstable, reduce the output demands and test again.
OBS notes that streaming at 60 fps can demand more from a system than streaming at 30 fps. A prerecorded source does not remove the work of encoding and uploading the live output. The OBS Studio Overview Guide discusses streaming considerations.
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Test the stream before leaving it running
- Run a test with the same video, audio, output settings, and network you intend to use for the continuous stream.
- Check playback and audio in YouTube’s preview, then review stream health for connection or encoding problems.
- Let the test run long enough to catch recurring playback or stability issues; a successful short test does not establish unattended 24/7 reliability.
- Confirm the computer will not sleep or shut down and that OBS and the video file will remain available. OBS and YouTube do not provide an uptime guarantee for a local setup.
What to expect from a 24/7 YouTube archive
YouTube’s encoder setup page states that streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That statement does not establish whether a stream running longer than 12 hours will be archived as one complete video. Do not rely on a multi-day broadcast producing a single complete archive without confirming YouTube’s current behavior.
Troubleshooting common problems
The video plays once and stops
Open the Media Source properties and confirm Loop is enabled on the source in the active scene. Also check that the source has not been removed or replaced.
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YouTube does not receive the OBS feed
Check that OBS has the correct stream URL and stream key for the selected YouTube broadcast. If you suspect the key has been exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Live Control Room and update OBS with the new key.
The stream health is poor or the feed disconnects
Compare the configured bitrate with YouTube’s table for the exact codec, resolution, and frame rate. Lower the output demands if the computer or upload connection cannot sustain them, then repeat the test and watch stream health.
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The computer struggles at 60 fps
OBS says 60-fps streaming can be more demanding than 30 fps. Try a lower frame rate or resolution that your computer and connection can maintain, and select the matching bitrate from YouTube’s table.
The broadcast ends without a complete archive
YouTube’s stated automatic archive behavior covers streams under 12 hours; it does not establish what happens to longer broadcasts. Do not assume a 24/7 stream will be preserved as one complete archive.
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If you do not want your computer and home connection to remain part of the streaming setup, StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers, and includes automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube streams of uploaded videos, not camera broadcasts. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
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