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You can keep prerecorded video streaming to YouTube without leaving your home computer on by running OBS on a Vultr server. Vultr documents two routes: its preconfigured Broadcaster Marketplace app, which provides browser-accessible OBS, and a self-managed Ubuntu server, which gives you more control but requires installing and configuring the software yourself. For one clip, use an OBS Media Source with Loop enabled; for a rotating set of clips, use a VLC Video Source.
Choose the Vultr setup that fits your needs
| Option | How you access OBS | Setup and control |
|---|---|---|
| Broadcaster Marketplace app | In a browser | Preconfigured deployment; retain the generated OBS web password. Less installation work than setting up Ubuntu yourself. |
| Ubuntu with OBS | Through a remote desktop | Install and configure OBS and FFmpeg yourself. Offers responsibility for the installed stack and its configuration. |
Vultr’s guides do not provide a current price comparison or measured reliability comparison between these approaches. Marketplace availability may vary by region, so check Vultr’s current deployment options before starting. The Broadcaster app guide was updated 25 July 2024; the Ubuntu guide was updated 1 April 2025.
Prepare your YouTube stream and server
Set up YouTube and protect the stream key
- In YouTube Studio, create or schedule the live stream you intend to use and obtain its stream key and server details.
- Keep the stream key private: anyone who has it may be able to broadcast to your channel. Do not place it in a public post, screenshot, or unprotected file.
Check YouTube’s current live-streaming requirements and policies for your account and content before you configure OBS. The Vultr setup guides do not establish eligibility for a particular account or whether YouTube permits a specific prerecorded stream.
Deploy the server
For the preconfigured route, deploy Vultr’s Broadcaster Marketplace app and save the generated OBS web password securely. For the self-managed route, Vultr’s Ubuntu tutorial specifies a baseline of at least 2 vCPUs, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB storage, and 3 TB bandwidth. Those figures are tutorial prerequisites, not a guarantee that every workload will perform well; resolution, frame rate, media and concurrent server activity affect resource needs.
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Upload the video and configure OBS to loop it
Transfer media to the server
The video file needs to be present on the remote server so OBS can keep playing it after your local computer is off. Vultr lists SFTP, FTP, SCP, or Rsync as transfer methods. Use a secure transfer method and store the file somewhere the remote OBS session can access.
Loop one video or create a playlist
- Open OBS on the server. For the Marketplace app, connect using its browser-accessible OBS page and generated password; for Ubuntu, connect to the remote desktop.
- For a single clip, add a Media Source, browse to the uploaded video, and enable Loop.
- For multiple files, add a VLC Video Source and configure the playlist with the uploaded media.
- Preview playback. Confirm that video appears and that the Audio Mixer shows activity if the clip has audio.
Vultr’s Broadcaster guide specifically advises uploading source files to the server for a 24/7 stream. A preview confirms local playback in OBS, but it does not prove that the destination platform is receiving a live stream.
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Set the destination, video output, and reconnect behavior
Configure the streaming destination
- In OBS, set the streaming service to YouTube or configure the custom stream URL and key supplied by the destination.
- Enter the stream key carefully and avoid exposing it in recordings or screenshots. If it is compromised, replace it in the destination’s live-stream settings and update OBS.
- For Ubuntu, set the canvas and output resolution, frame rate, and bitrate in OBS. Vultr suggests 720p (1280 × 720) for servers with two or more vCPUs and cautions that higher resolution and frame rate require more processing. Treat this as guidance from its tutorial, not a universal performance guarantee.
- Choose bitrate settings that match the current destination-platform guidance for your resolution and frame rate. Vultr’s Ubuntu guide includes recommended bitrate ranges, but platform requirements can change; verify the current requirements rather than treating tutorial values as fixed.
- Enable OBS automatic reconnect settings so it attempts to resume output after a connection interruption.
Vultr’s Ubuntu guide also calls for configuring the destination, video settings, and reconnect behavior before starting the stream. A live preview alone is not sufficient: check the destination’s live dashboard or watch the stream as a viewer to verify it is actually arriving.
Start the stream and verify it remotely
- Start streaming in OBS and confirm that OBS reports an active connection rather than an error.
- Open the destination’s live dashboard and verify that it detects the stream. Check video and audio there, not only in the OBS preview.
- Leave the server running and check that the media continues to loop. Monitor OBS resource indicators for sustained high CPU or memory use, especially if you increase resolution or frame rate.
Secure the remote setup
- Protect the generated OBS web password and use a strong, unique credential.
- Use a trusted SSL certificate for domain-based access, as Vultr recommends.
- Restrict access to critical ports, including RTMP port 1935 where applicable, to trusted IP addresses using Vultr Firewall.
- Keep the operating system and remote-access method secured, and do not expose administrative access more broadly than necessary.
Troubleshooting common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| OBS cannot connect to the destination | Incorrect stream key or server URL, or a network/firewall restriction | Re-enter the current destination details, confirm the key has not been reset, and review firewall access for the required streaming connection. |
| OBS preview is black or the clip does not play | Media path is wrong, file transfer was incomplete, or the remote session cannot access the file | Confirm the video exists on the server, select its actual path in the Media Source, and test playback in OBS. |
| The video plays once and stops | Loop is not enabled for the Media Source | Open that source’s properties and enable Loop. For multiple clips, check the VLC Video Source playlist instead. |
| OBS shows a stream, but viewers see no live video | Destination-side stream is not active or the wrong destination details were used | Check the live dashboard and test the viewer-facing stream; do not rely on the local preview alone. |
| Stream drops or becomes unstable | Connection interruption or server resources insufficient for the chosen output | Confirm automatic reconnect is enabled, inspect OBS resource indicators, and consider reducing resolution or frame rate. These steps are diagnostic, not a promise that a particular server size will solve the issue. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a YouTube channel that keeps prerecorded videos on air, StreamNeo is a simpler alternative to managing a Vultr server and remote OBS. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. It streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo, then start your free first day.
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