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Black screens between demo clips usually mean OBS has no visible source to show at the moment a video ends or another clip is loading. Check each Media Source’s end behavior, visibility and restart settings first; then check whether “Close file when inactive” is unloading a clip during a scene change. Rehearse the complete sequence in OBS before going live so you can tell whether the blank appears in OBS’s output or only in YouTube playback.
1. Check what OBS shows when a clip ends
Open the affected Media Source’s properties and review Show nothing when playback ends. OBS’s Media Sources documentation lists this as on by default and says it hides the source when the file finishes. If that source was the only visible item, the scene can appear black or empty.
Decide what should fill the interval: a holding image, the next clip, a presenter camera, or a transition. Make sure the intended source is visible and positioned correctly in the Sources list; an item higher in the list can cover items beneath it. OBS’s eye icon controls whether a source is shown or hidden. OBS Media Sources; OBS Studio Overview Guide.
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In the Media Source properties, check Restart playback when source becomes active. OBS documents that this restarts the file once its source is in the current scene and visible; the documented default is on. Confirm the source’s eye icon is enabled when the clip should play.
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Choose the behavior that matches your sequence. Restart-on-activation suits a clip that should begin from the start whenever you enter its scene. If you expect playback to continue from its current position, verify that behavior in your installed OBS version and scene setup. The OBS Media Sources page was published on 2022-01-11, so labels or defaults may differ in newer or older releases.
3. Check whether OBS unloads the file during a scene change
Close file when inactive unloads a media file when its source is hidden or not on the current scene, freeing memory. OBS warns that when you switch back to a scene containing that source, there may be a short period when the video is not showing while it reloads. If black appears as a scene returns, test with this option off and compare the result in a controlled rehearsal. OBS Media Sources.
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4. Choose a playback setup that fits the show
| Setup | Best fit | Verify | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separate Media Sources, possibly in separate scenes | Clips need different overlays, layouts, or operator-controlled transitions | Restart-on-activation, show-nothing-at-end, close-file-when-inactive, and source visibility | More control over each demo, with more sources and scene setup to manage |
| VLC Video playlist | A straightforward ordered sequence of local clips | Playlist order, loop and shuffle settings, visibility behavior, and VLC installation with matching architecture | Centralized playlist management, but less per-clip scene and layout control |
OBS’s VLC Video source supports playlists. VLC must be installed for that source to appear, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Use separate sources when each demo needs its own layout or transition; a playlist is convenient when clips simply need to play in order. Test the actual files and scene collection before choosing. OBS Media Sources.
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OBS includes Cut and Fade transitions and supports other transition types. Studio Mode lets you prepare a scene before transitioning it to the live scene. Choose a transition and duration that suit the presentation, then confirm the actual output does not expose an unwanted blank while a clip loads. OBS Studio Overview Guide.
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- Run the same scenes, clips, visibility changes, and transitions you plan to use live.
- Watch the OBS output and note whether the black interval appears there.
- If OBS output is clean but YouTube playback is black, treat that as a separate symptom; the sources cited here do not establish a YouTube-specific cause.
- Repeat after changing one setting at a time so you can identify which change affects the gap.
OBS recommends testing scenes, settings, and stream smoothness before a first live stream. OBS Studio Overview Guide.
6. If the next clip is triggered immediately at the previous clip’s end
A report filed on 2024-07-29 describes a media source failing to restart reliably when hidden and shown immediately after playback ended in OBS 30.2.0 on Windows 11. The reporter found that waiting at least one second avoided that reproduction. This is a narrow, version-specific issue report—not a universal timing requirement or proof of the cause on other versions. If your setup uses automated hide/show at the exact clip boundary, test a short delay as a diagnostic. OBS issue #11040.
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7. Troubleshoot by symptom
- Black begins as soon as a clip finishes: Check whether Show nothing when playback ends is enabled and whether another source is visible underneath.
- Black appears when switching back to a scene: Test with Close file when inactive off; the file may need time to reload.
- A clip does not start again on entering its scene: Check Restart playback when source becomes active and confirm the source is visible in the current scene.
- Only an immediate automated hide/show fails: Reproduce it with a controlled delay, keeping in mind the reported case applies to OBS 30.2.0 on Windows 11 rather than all installations.
- OBS looks correct but YouTube shows black: Compare the OBS output with YouTube playback during a rehearsal. These OBS references do not identify a YouTube ingest or player-side cause.
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