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To switch what viewers see during a YouTube live stream, configure the sequence in vMix, then use a vMix script or shortcut to control it. First choose the right kind of “playlist”: a vMix PlayList sequences separate production inputs, while a vMix List input plays a sequence of media files through one input. Neither is a YouTube channel playlist. YouTube Live is configured separately as the stream destination.

Choose between a vMix PlayList and a List input

Pick based on what the items in your sequence are and how you need them to change on air.

Option What it sequences Best suited to Playback considerations
PlayList Separate vMix inputs, such as a camera input followed by a video input. Switching between production inputs with transitions. Supports options including Loop, Begin from selected item, Clear Overlays, and Manual Mode. Previous and Next move through items using each item’s transition.
List input Multiple video/audio files or an M3U playlist within one vMix input. Playing a media sequence with automatic next and loop behavior. vMix notes that a List can avoid loading all videos at once. A List can also be placed inside a standard PlayList for a more advanced sequence.

Use a PlayList when each segment is already a distinct input in your production. Use a List when the sequence is primarily a set of media files. If you need both production-level switching and a media sequence, combine a List input with a standard PlayList.

Build and configure the sequence in vMix

  1. Prepare the inputs. Add the camera, graphics, video, or other production inputs that should appear as separate items in a PlayList. For a List, add the media files or M3U playlist to that input.
  2. Add the items to the sequence. In the vMix PlayList controls, add the available inputs in the intended order. For a List input, arrange the files in the desired playback order.
  3. Choose playback behavior. Set PlayList options such as Loop, Begin from selected item, Clear Overlays, or Manual Mode as needed. For a List, configure automatic next and looping behavior if the sequence should continue without manual intervention.
  4. Test transitions and order before going live. Start the PlayList and check that each item appears as expected. Previous and Next use the transition associated with the item, so verify transitions and overlays on the actual production inputs.

Create and start a vMix script

vMix documents scripting for its 4K and Pro editions. The scripting documentation currently points to vMix 29, but available functions and licensing details can vary by installed version; confirm the requirements and controls in your own installation.

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  1. Open Settings > Scripting and create a script with a unique name.
  2. Open Settings > Shortcuts, choose Add, and create a shortcut that uses the ScriptStart function.
  3. Enter the exact script name in the shortcut configuration. Assign a trigger that fits your workflow, such as a keyboard shortcut or supported control.
  4. Test the trigger while not live, checking that the intended sequence action occurs before relying on it during a broadcast.

vMix Web Scripting can run multiple function lines in order and insert Sleep delays between them. Its function syntax matches the Web API without the URL portion. This is useful for ordered actions that require a pause, but it does not remove the need to confirm every function name in your installed version.

Confirm playlist controls instead of guessing function names

The vMix API documentation identifies callable functions as those shown in the Shortcuts function dropdown at Settings > Shortcuts > Add. The documented material does not establish a universal exact function name for starting, stopping, or advancing a PlayList. Inspect your installed function list, choose the action exposed there, and verify it in that release before writing a runnable script. Do not assume a command named PlaylistNext or PlaylistStart will work.

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Configure YouTube Live as the destination

Setting up vMix playback does not create or change a YouTube channel playlist. YouTube Live is the destination that receives vMix’s production output; switching vMix inputs changes what is sent to viewers.

  1. In vMix, choose the YouTube Live destination or use its YouTube stream workflow.
  2. Log in and create a stream or select the scheduled event you intend to use, following the prompts in the installed vMix release.
  3. Complete the required YouTube credentials or stream-key setup, then confirm the selected destination and start the vMix stream.
  4. Check the live output and confirm that changing the vMix sequence changes the on-air content as intended.

Keep the YouTube destination setup separate from the PlayList or List configuration: one determines where the output goes, and the other determines what vMix plays.

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Know the limits of built-in automation

vMix’s built-in PlayList is designed for basic sequential switching, such as looping through several video inputs. It is not a time-of-day broadcast scheduler. The vMix Knowledge Base article updated January 17, 2025 says vMix does not support time-of-day scheduling and is designed primarily for single live events. It also notes that the third-party vMix Scheduler project is no longer maintained, with compatibility uncertain.

If your plan depends on starting a particular item at a particular clock time or maintaining an unattended 24/7 channel, do not treat a looping PlayList as a scheduling system. Confirm that any separate scheduling tool is maintained and compatible with your vMix version before depending on it.

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Troubleshooting vMix playlist switching

  • The script does not start: Check that the shortcut uses ScriptStart and that the entered script name exactly matches the unique name under Settings > Scripting. Confirm that your edition includes scripting.
  • The script runs but the sequence does not advance: Recheck the function name against the installed Shortcuts dropdown. Do not rely on an unverified example command; the exposed functions may vary by installation.
  • The wrong content appears: Confirm whether you built a PlayList of inputs or a List of media files, then check item order and the selected starting item.
  • A transition or overlay behaves unexpectedly: Review the transition assigned to the relevant PlayList item and the Clear Overlays setting. Test Previous and Next before the live event.
  • The media sequence stops at the end: Check the List’s automatic-next and loop settings, or the PlayList’s Loop option, depending on which model you are using.
  • The sequence works locally but viewers do not see it: Check that vMix is streaming to the intended YouTube Live destination and that the correct stream or scheduled event and required key or credentials are configured.
  • You need clock-time changes: Built-in vMix PlayList automation does not provide time-of-day scheduling. Use a verified compatible scheduling approach or choose a workflow designed for unattended cloud playback.

Or let it run in the cloud

If your goal is an always-on YouTube stream of uploaded videos rather than a live vMix production, StreamNeo runs the playback from the cloud: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home. Each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price, with no re-encode or quality tiers; if YouTube drops the stream, StreamNeo automatically recovers. The first day is free with no card, and the monthly option is $9.99 per month.

StreamNeo is for uploaded-video playback to YouTube, not camera-based live production. Start the free first day with StreamNeo.

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