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In OBS, use Media Source for one sermon video and turn on Loop if it should repeat. For multiple local videos, use VLC Video Source and enable Loop Playlist. Then check what OBS does when playback ends or the source is hidden. These settings address common playback-related black screens, but OBS does not promise gapless transitions between every file and system.
First, find out where the black screen appears
Watch OBS’s preview or output and YouTube’s Live Control Room preview at the same time, if possible. The symptom alone does not identify the cause: a clip may have ended, a source may be hidden or reloading, or the scene or outgoing stream may be having a separate problem.
- OBS also goes black or loses the clip: Check the source type and its playback, end-of-file, and visibility settings.
- OBS continues showing the video, but YouTube does not: Check YouTube Live Control Room and the encoder or connection path instead of changing playlist settings blindly.
YouTube’s encoder setup guidance describes connecting an encoder and checking the stream preview before going live. OBS playback controls and YouTube’s encoder path are separate layers.
Choose the right OBS source
One local sermon or announcement video
Use OBS Media Source for an individual local audio or video file. Open the source’s properties and enable Loop if the video should repeat. If it should play only once, leave looping off and check the end-of-playback behavior instead.
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A sequence of local videos
Use VLC Video Source for a playlist of files. Add the videos in the intended order, then enable Loop Playlist if the list should start over after the final item. This is distinct from looping a single Media Source.
VLC Video Source requires VLC to be installed. OBS specifies that 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC. If the source is unavailable or the playlist will not load, verify both the VLC installation and its bitness.
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Check what happens when a clip ends or a source is hidden
Media Source end-of-file behavior
In the Media Source properties, check Show nothing when playback ends. If this is enabled, the source can show nothing after its file finishes; turn it off if you do not want that behavior. Turn on Loop when the same file should continue repeating.
Media Source reload behavior
Close file when inactive unloads the media file while the source is hidden or not on the current scene. OBS notes that showing the source again can involve a short period in which it is not visible while the file reloads. If a black interval occurs after switching scenes, check this option.
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VLC playlist visibility behavior
Review the VLC source’s Visibility Behaviour. OBS documents options for whether playback continues, pauses, or stops while the source is hidden; its documented default is to stop when hidden and restart when visible. Choose the behavior that matches how the church’s scenes are used. If the playlist should repeat after its last item, also enable Loop Playlist.
The settings above come from the OBS Project Media Sources guide, dated January 11, 2022. A loop setting restarts playback; it is not a guarantee of a perfectly gapless handoff between different files.
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Test the transition before the service
- Open the actual OBS scene. Confirm whether it uses Media Source for one file or VLC Video Source for a playlist.
- Check the relevant playback controls. Verify Loop or Loop Playlist, the Media Source end-of-playback setting, and the source’s behavior when hidden.
- Play through the real clip boundary. Watch OBS preview or output when one video ends and the next begins. Confirm the playlist order and look for a source disappearing or reloading.
- Check YouTube’s preview and stream status. If OBS output is healthy but the YouTube view is missing or degraded, investigate the encoder or connection path in Live Control Room.
Testing the actual files in the intended scene is a practical way to catch configuration problems, not a guarantee against every playback or connection failure.
Troubleshooting by symptom
| What you see | What to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| One video disappears at its end | Media Source properties, especially Show nothing when playback ends and Loop | Turn off “Show nothing when playback ends” if the source should remain visible, or enable Loop if the same file should repeat. |
| A gap appears after returning to a scene | Close file when inactive | Review whether the source needs to unload while hidden; re-showing an unloaded file can take a short time. |
| The playlist stops after its final file | VLC Video Source’s Loop Playlist | Enable it if the complete playlist should start over. |
| Playlist playback changes when switching scenes | VLC source’s Visibility Behaviour | Choose whether playback should continue, pause, or stop while the source is hidden. |
| OBS preview is fine, but YouTube is black or degraded | YouTube Live Control Room preview and the encoder/connection path | Check the stream status and encoder connection rather than changing OBS playlist settings without evidence of a playback problem. |
| VLC Video Source is missing or files do not load | Whether VLC is installed and whether its bitness matches OBS | Install VLC; use 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS. |
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