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You can combine selected songs from different folders into one playlist in OBS Studio, add a visual to the scene, and send the result to a YouTube Live broadcast. For a multi-file playlist, OBS’s documented VLC Video source is the direct fit: install VLC, add the tracks you want, then choose fixed-order or shuffled playback and enable looping. Your computer must stay on and connected while this local OBS setup is streaming; “24/7” describes the intended schedule, not guaranteed uptime.
Before you start: check access and music rights
- Check YouTube Studio for current channel restrictions and live-stream access before planning a long broadcast. Eligibility steps and interface details can change, and the sources cited here do not establish the current requirements for every channel or region.
- Use recordings and compositions you have permission to broadcast. Buying a track or being able to play it personally does not by itself establish permission to broadcast it.
- Confirm with the rights owner that your channel is allowlisted through Content ID when required. YouTube says a licensed track can still interrupt a live stream if the channel is not on the rights owner’s allowlist.
- Gather the files you actually want in the rotation. OBS lists MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV among supported media formats, but its documentation does not promise recursive folder scanning, automatic monitoring for new files, or separate rotations by folder.
YouTube states that “All live streams are scanned for matches to third-party content, including copyrighted content in the form of another live broadcast.” A match can cause a placeholder, warning, interruption, or termination if the content continues. If you archive the broadcast, YouTube says Content ID claims are made after the live stream ends; that is separate from live matching and interruption. See YouTube’s live-stream copyright guidance.
Build one playlist from files in multiple folders
1. Install OBS Studio and VLC
Install OBS Studio and VLC before creating the playlist source. OBS’s VLC Video source requires VLC to be installed. If you use 64-bit OBS, OBS says to install 64-bit VLC as well. The OBS instructions are documented on its Media Sources page; interface details may change between releases.
2. Create a scene and add the VLC source
- In OBS, create or select the scene you plan to send to YouTube.
- In the Sources area, add a VLC Video source. Give it a recognizable name, such as “Radio playlist.”
- In the source’s properties, add the intended audio files to its playlist. Select files from each folder as needed; do not assume that choosing a parent folder will import every nested file.
OBS’s native Media Source is designed for a single local media file and has a loop option. For a playlist made up of multiple files, use the documented VLC source instead.
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3. Choose fixed order or shuffle, then loop
- Fixed order: Leave Shuffle Playlist off to play entries in the order shown in the playlist. Arrange the files in your intended sequence.
- Randomized order: Enable Shuffle Playlist if you want the playlist entries played in a randomized order rather than a fixed sequence.
- Continuous repetition: Enable Loop Playlist so playback starts again after the playlist reaches its end.
These controls apply to the playlist entries you added. They do not create independent folder rotations or automatically include tracks added to a folder later.
Add a visual and check the scene
OBS scenes combine sources in the output. Add a still image or another visual source alongside the music source, and arrange the scene so the visual appears in the output. OBS explains scene sources in its Sources Guide. The cited sources do not establish YouTube’s current acceptance of an audio-only stream, so use a visual rather than relying on that assumption.
- Check that the image or other visual is visible in the OBS preview and does not cover or obscure anything you intend viewers to see.
- Check that the VLC source is playing the intended files and that audio is audible in the OBS audio mixer.
- Confirm the playlist loops as intended before leaving the stream unattended.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
Create or select a live broadcast in YouTube Studio, then configure OBS to send its output to that broadcast using YouTube’s current connection options. YouTube’s API documentation distinguishes the broadcast from the incoming audio/video feed: a liveBroadcast represents the broadcast, while a liveStream represents the feed sent to YouTube. Its documentation also recognizes a 24/7 broadcast use case; that describes a use case, not a service uptime guarantee. See Understanding Broadcasts and Streams.
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Follow the current controls shown in YouTube Studio and OBS rather than relying on a fixed set of menu names. Before starting a long run, verify that the selected broadcast is the one you intend to use, OBS is connected to it, and the YouTube preview has both the visual and audible music.
Keep the ingest feed to one audio stream
A playlist that plays songs one after another is not the same thing as sending multiple separate audio streams to YouTube. YouTube’s live ingestion guidance says that a feed containing multiple audio streams must contain only one audio stream. Keep the distinction in mind if you configure separate audio tracks or an advanced encoding workflow; the rule is about the encoded feed, not how many songs are in your playlist. See YouTube LiveStreams documentation.
Verify the broadcast before leaving it running
- Start the broadcast and check the YouTube preview for the expected visual and audible sound.
- Confirm the VLC playlist advances through the files you selected.
- Wait for the playlist to reach its end and confirm Loop Playlist starts it again.
- Check the stream after it has been running for a while. A 24/7 schedule is an intention, not a guarantee that the local computer, connection, OBS, or YouTube ingest will never stop.
Google’s API material covers how broadcasts and feeds relate; it does not provide a measured reliability figure for this setup. Do not treat “24/7” as an uptime promise.
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Troubleshoot common problems
The VLC Video source is missing
Install VLC and restart or reopen OBS. If OBS is 64-bit, use the 64-bit VLC installation OBS specifies for this source.
Some tracks do not appear or play
Check that each intended file was added to the VLC playlist and that its format is supported. The OBS Media Sources page lists MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV among supported formats. Add files from each folder explicitly rather than relying on recursive folder import.
The playlist stops at the last song
Open the VLC source properties and enable Loop Playlist. Shuffle Playlist changes playback order; it does not enable looping.
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YouTube shows a copyright warning, placeholder, or interruption
Review the matched content and confirm that you have broadcast rights for both the recording and composition. If you rely on a licence, ask the rights owner whether your channel must be allowlisted through Content ID. YouTube may interrupt or terminate a stream when identified third-party content continues.
The YouTube preview has no sound
Check that the playlist is playing, OBS’s audio mixer shows activity for the source, and the YouTube preview itself is audible. Do not confuse consecutive playlist entries with multiple audio streams in the ingest feed; YouTube’s guidance on one audio stream applies to the encoded feed.
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Cost and continuity trade-offs
The OBS method uses your own computer and internet connection for the duration of the stream, so continuity depends on that local setup remaining available. This workflow does not require a particular computer accessory, but it does require the machine running OBS to remain on. A cloud service is an alternative if you do not want to keep a home computer running.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does “24/7” mean the YouTube stream is guaranteed never to stop?
No. It describes the intended schedule. YouTube’s API documentation recognizes a 24/7 broadcast use case but does not provide an uptime guarantee for an individual stream.
Will adding a new track to one of my folders automatically put it in the OBS playlist?
OBS’s cited documentation confirms playlist playback, but does not establish folder monitoring. Add and check the files you want in the VLC source playlist.
Is a playlist with many songs the same as sending multiple audio streams to YouTube?
No. Playlist entries are played in sequence; YouTube’s one-audio-stream ingest guidance concerns the feed sent to YouTube, not the number of songs in that playlist.
Quick Recap
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