To loop an MP4 from a USB drive on YouTube Live, add it to OBS as a Media Source, enable Loop, connect OBS to a YouTube encoder stream with your server URL and stream key, then start the stream. Keep the USB drive connected and mounted for the entire broadcast. For scheduled streams, confirm the preview in YouTube Live Control Room and click Go live.
Before you start
- Your YouTube channel must be verified and have no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. YouTube’s current help page also states a minimum age of 16. Check YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility requirements if access is unavailable.
- Install OBS and connect the USB drive containing your MP4. Confirm the file opens and plays before setting up the broadcast.
- Use a stable upload connection with enough capacity for the stream. YouTube recommends leaving 20% upload-bandwidth headroom; other devices sharing your network can reduce the capacity available to OBS. See YouTube’s streaming tips.
Add and loop the USB video in OBS
- Open OBS and select an existing scene or create one in the Scenes panel.
- In Sources, select + and choose Media Source. Give the source a recognizable name and confirm.
- In the Media Source properties, select the option to use a local file, then browse to the MP4 on the USB drive. The drive must be connected and mounted when you choose the file.
- Enable Loop, then confirm the source settings. Loop is off by default; when enabled, OBS replays the file after playback finishes. OBS lists MP4 among supported video formats in its Media Sources documentation.
- Check the OBS preview. Play the source and confirm the picture is visible and the intended audio is reaching the mixer. If the video is cropped or positioned incorrectly, adjust its transform in the preview before going live.
The USB drive is serving as a local media source, not as a backup copy inside OBS. Leave it connected, mounted, and accessible throughout the broadcast. Removing it or changing its mounted path can make the selected file unavailable. This is a practical consequence of using a local file, not a guarantee that OBS will recover automatically. If the stream must run for a long event, test the exact drive, port, computer power settings, and full playback duration in advance.
Loop several MP4 files as a playlist
For a playlist rather than one repeating file, use OBS’s VLC Video source. VLC must be installed for this source type to appear, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. Add the files to the source’s playlist and use its Loop Playlist setting, which OBS documents as enabled by default. You can use shuffle if you want the playlist order varied. For one MP4, the built-in Media Source is simpler and does not require VLC.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
- Open YouTube Studio, choose Create > Go Live, and create a stream in Live Control Room or schedule one. YouTube’s encoder setup guide covers creating and managing an encoder stream.
- Copy the stream’s server URL and stream key from YouTube’s encoder settings. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select YouTube as the service if offered, and enter the connection details. If OBS provides a stream-key field, paste the key there; use the server URL in the server field when required.
- Treat the stream key like a password. Anyone who obtains it may be able to send video to your channel. Do not show it in a screen capture, recording, or public post. If you think it has been exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio and update OBS with the new key.
- Before the real broadcast, run a short test using the actual MP4 and audio setup. Select Start Streaming in OBS, then check that YouTube Live Control Room receives the encoder signal and shows the expected preview.
- For a scheduled stream, wait for the preview in Live Control Room and select Go live there when you are ready. Starting the encoder in OBS sends the feed; it does not by itself necessarily publish a scheduled event.
Choose OBS output settings YouTube can receive
YouTube’s current encoder settings guidance recommends RTMPS, constant bitrate (CBR), and a two-second keyframe interval; the keyframe interval should not exceed four seconds. YouTube lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS. Use the current YouTube bitrate table for your chosen codec, resolution, and frame rate rather than treating one bitrate as suitable for every stream.
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- Protocol: Prefer RTMPS when configuring the server connection.
- Rate control: Set CBR in OBS’s output settings for the streaming encoder.
- Keyframes: Set the interval to two seconds; do not exceed four seconds.
- Resolution, frame rate, and bitrate: Select a combination listed in YouTube’s current encoder table that your upload connection can sustain. Account for YouTube’s recommendation to retain 20% upload headroom.
- Audio: Verify the MP4’s sound and OBS mixer levels during the test. A visible preview does not confirm that viewers can hear the intended audio.
Interface names and the available encoder options can vary with OBS version, operating system, and hardware. Check OBS’s current settings and YouTube’s linked table rather than relying on a universal bitrate number.
Test, monitor, and end the broadcast
YouTube recommends setting up at least two hours ahead and starting the encoder at least 15 minutes before a scheduled event. Use that time to confirm the encoder preview, watch stream health, and monitor both audio and video quality. These are YouTube preparation recommendations, not guarantees that a connection or local USB device will remain available.
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- Check the Live Control Room preview and stream-health status before making the event public.
- Listen to the audio and watch for stutters, missing frames, or playback stopping at the end of the MP4. Confirm that the video starts again as expected.
- Keep OBS, the computer, and the USB drive powered and accessible for the full stream. Disable sleep or settings that could interrupt the session, and test those settings beforehand.
- When finished, end the stream in Live Control Room and stop sending content from OBS, following YouTube’s encoder workflow. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; that statement does not establish archiving behavior for longer streams.
Troubleshooting common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The Media Source is black or the file will not load | The drive is disconnected, its mount path changed, or the file is inaccessible or unsupported. | Reconnect the USB drive, confirm the file is available at the selected location, then reopen the Media Source properties and select it again. OBS lists MP4 as supported, but the specific file must still be readable. |
| The MP4 plays once and stops | Loop is not enabled on the Media Source. | Open the source properties and turn on Loop. For a VLC playlist, check Loop Playlist. |
| VLC Video is missing from the Sources menu | VLC is not installed or its architecture does not match OBS. | Install VLC; for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC. Use Media Source if you only need to repeat one MP4. |
| YouTube does not receive the OBS stream | The server URL or stream key may be incorrect, or the channel may not be eligible for live streaming. | Recheck the encoder details in YouTube Studio and OBS, and review YouTube’s eligibility requirements. Keep the key private. |
| The preview appears but video or audio is unstable | The upload connection may not sustain the selected settings, or shared network use may be reducing available capacity. | Check YouTube’s stream-health guidance, choose settings from its current bitrate table that the connection can sustain, preserve upload headroom, and test with other network use reduced. |
| The scheduled event is not visible to viewers | The encoder is sending a signal, but the scheduled event has not been started in Live Control Room. | Confirm the preview appears, then select Go live in Live Control Room. |
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