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To loop a prerecorded church service in a YouTube Live broadcast, add the recording to an OBS Studio scene as a Media Source and turn on Loop in that source’s properties. Then connect OBS to the YouTube stream using the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio. The loop is created by the encoder—not by YouTube’s viewer-side Loop command.

Before you start

  • Your YouTube channel must be verified and must not have had live-streaming restrictions during the previous 90 days. YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility requirements explain the current requirements.
  • Have the service recording available as a local file that OBS can open. OBS lists common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF, and WebM; an unusual or damaged file may still fail to play correctly.
  • Confirm that the church has the necessary rights for the rebroadcast, especially music rights. YouTube’s livestream terms make the provider responsible for obtaining the required permissions.
  • Plan for the computer running OBS and its internet connection to remain available throughout the broadcast. A local OBS loop is not, by itself, an unattended cloud service.

Loop one recording in OBS

  1. Open or create a scene. In OBS Studio, select the scene that should carry the service, or create one for the broadcast.
  2. Add the recording. In the Sources panel, select +, choose Media Source, name it, and select the local video file in the source properties.
  3. Enable the loop. Turn on Loop in the Media Source properties, then confirm the source. OBS says this option makes the file play again when playback completes; it is off by default. See OBS Media Sources.
  4. Check the scene. Confirm the video fits the canvas and that its audio is reaching the OBS mixer. Play it through to a transition point if possible, so you can check the end and restart rather than assuming the loop behaves as intended.
  5. Connect OBS to YouTube. In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room for the broadcast and copy the stream URL and stream key from the stream settings. In OBS, configure YouTube as the service or enter the server URL and stream key in the streaming settings. Treat the key like a password: do not share it, and reset it if it is exposed. YouTube explains stream keys and encoder settings in Manage live stream settings.
  6. Start and verify the broadcast. Start streaming from OBS, check the Live Control Room preview, and confirm the watch page, video, and audio from a viewer’s perspective before relying on it for the service.

Loop a playlist instead

For multiple recordings, OBS documents a VLC Video source with a Loop Playlist option. VLC must be installed for that source to be available, and OBS notes that 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Add the VLC Video source, select the playlist files, enable Loop Playlist, and check the order and transitions before going live. The same YouTube connection and rights checks apply. OBS’s Media Sources documentation covers both source types.

Test and monitor before the service

YouTube recommends preparing an encoder stream in advance, checking the Live Control Room preview, monitoring audio and video, and verifying access from the channel, watch page, and mobile. Its live-streaming tips recommend setting up at least two hours before an event and starting the encoder at least 15 minutes before a scheduled broadcast. Check that any local archive file is being created as expected, too.

Keep OBS and the computer awake, maintain a stable internet connection, and monitor the stream during the service. If OBS, the computer, or the connection stops, the local loop cannot continue sending video. YouTube’s official sources do not establish a universal unattended setup for an OBS computer.

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Know what YouTube’s Loop and DVR controls do

Viewer-side Loop is not a live encoder loop

YouTube’s watch-page Loop command repeats playback for an individual viewer. It does not make a live broadcast or send the recording repeatedly to viewers. To repeat the recording inside the live feed, use OBS’s Media Source Loop setting. See YouTube’s instructions for looping videos or playlists.

DVR does not guarantee a complete archive

YouTube DVR lets viewers pause, rewind, and resume during a live stream, but DVR may be limited or unavailable for streams longer than 12 hours. Viewers also cannot seek back to before the stream began. Disabling DVR does not prevent an entire-stream recording from appearing after the broadcast, once available. Details are in YouTube’s DVR guidance.

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Troubleshoot common problems

  • The recording plays once and stops: Reopen the Media Source properties and verify Loop is enabled on the source used in the active scene. OBS has Loop off by default.
  • The recording does not appear in OBS: Check that the selected file path is correct and that the recording is in a format OBS supports. If the file plays incorrectly, test another compatible copy before the broadcast.
  • The playlist source is missing: Install VLC and ensure its architecture matches OBS; OBS notes that 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC for the VLC Video source.
  • YouTube shows no incoming preview: Confirm OBS is streaming, the YouTube stream URL and key are current, and the key was entered correctly. If the key may have been exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio and update OBS.
  • Viewers hear no sound or see a frozen picture: Check the OBS audio mixer and source visibility, then inspect the Live Control Room preview. YouTube recommends checking the encoder feed and monitoring audio and video before and during a broadcast.
  • A viewer cannot rewind far enough: That is consistent with YouTube’s DVR behavior: viewers cannot go back to before the stream began, and DVR may be limited or unavailable beyond 12 hours.
  • The broadcast is interrupted: Check the computer, OBS, and network connection. A loop setting only repeats media while the encoder continues sending it; it does not provide automatic recovery for a local machine or connection failure.
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