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Which format should you use?
| What you are doing | Practical choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Looping one local video in an OBS scene | MP4 or MKV | OBS Media Source supports both; its Loop property controls whether playback repeats. |
| Looping multiple files as a playlist | VLC Video source | It is designed for playlists and has Loop Playlist enabled by default. VLC must be installed. |
| Recording in OBS for later upload or editing | Record as MKV; remux to MP4 if needed | MKV is more resilient if recording is interrupted. MP4 is more broadly supported by editing software and is YouTube’s recommended upload container. |
| Sending a looping OBS scene to YouTube Live | Use either local container and configure the outgoing encoder for YouTube | The file played locally and the encoded live stream sent to YouTube are separate parts of the workflow. |
Loop one video in OBS
- Add the source: In the scene, select Sources → + → Media Source. Create or select a source, then browse to the MP4 or MKV file.
- Enable repeat playback: Select the Media Source and open Properties. Turn on Loop. OBS’s Media Sources guide lists MP4 and MKV among supported video file types and describes Loop as repeating playback after the file finishes.
- Choose how the source behaves between uses: Restart playback when source becomes active is on by default. Show nothing when playback ends is also on by default; with Loop enabled, the file should restart rather than remain ended. Close file when inactive is off by default; enabling it unloads a hidden file to free memory, but can introduce a delay when the source is shown again.
- Check the loop before going live: Preview the scene through the end of the file. Verify that playback restarts, audio does not cut unexpectedly, and the transition is acceptable. A supported container does not guarantee every particular file, codec, or computer setup will behave identically.
These property names and defaults are documented in OBS’s Media Sources guide, dated 2022-01-11. The same guide lists other supported file types, including .ts, .mov, .flv, .avi, .gif, and .webm.
Loop a playlist instead of a single file
- Install VLC. OBS’s guide says the VLC Video source requires VLC to be installed; 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC.
- In OBS, add a VLC Video source from Sources → +. If it does not appear, check that VLC is installed with the matching 64-bit requirement.
- Add the media files in the source’s playlist controls and leave Loop Playlist enabled if you want the sequence to repeat. OBS documents this option as on by default.
- Preview the playlist, including its last-to-first transition, before streaming.
For a single file, Media Source is the simpler choice. VLC Video is useful when the order of several files matters; the container choice still does not set whether the playlist repeats.
Recording in OBS: why MKV and MP4 serve different purposes
A file you play in a scene and a recording you create in OBS need not use the same format. If you are recording, OBS recommends MKV because an ungraceful stop—such as power loss—does not corrupt the whole recording in the way an unfinished ordinary MP4 or MOV may be unrecoverable. OBS’s Audio/Video Formats Guide, dated 2023-03-26, notes that MKV works with every audio/video encoder supported in OBS Studio, but some editing software supports it less well.
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MP4 is the more familiar delivery format for internet video and has excellent editing-software support, but ordinary MP4 requires finalization. YouTube’s upload recommendations specify MP4. That does not mean an MP4 upload requirement applies to a local file being looped in OBS.
Record as MKV, then remux when you need MP4
- In OBS, set the recording format to MKV in Settings → Output → Recording.
- After recording, choose File → Remux Recordings, select the MKV, and remux it to MP4.
- If you want OBS to do this after recording stops, enable Automatically remux to mp4 in the recording settings.
- Check the resulting MP4 in the intended editor or upload workflow.
OBS documents this workflow in its Standard Recording Output Guide, dated 2023-05-26. Remuxing changes the container; it is not the same as re-encoding the video.
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Other recording formats in newer OBS versions
OBS’s Hybrid MP4 format was introduced in OBS 30.2, and Hybrid MOV in OBS 32.0, according to its guide dated 2024-06-06. These combine fragmented-file recovery with a finalization step intended to retain compatibility with software that accepts regular MP4 or MOV. Hybrid MP4 supports H.264, HEVC, AV1, and common audio options listed in the guide; Hybrid MOV is the option in that pair that supports ProRes. Check the format choices in your installed OBS version and confirm compatibility with your editor before relying on them. See OBS’s Hybrid MP4 & Hybrid MOV Formats guide.
Does YouTube Live require MP4?
No. YouTube’s MP4 recommendation is for uploaded video files. For a live stream, YouTube receives an encoded stream from OBS; the local source’s MP4 or MKV container is not the live-ingestion format. The outgoing encoder’s video and audio codecs, bitrate, frame rate, and keyframe interval are what matter for ingestion.
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- Video codec: YouTube’s live encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1.
- Frame rate: The guidance supports up to 60 fps.
- Keyframes: YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds.
- Audio: For RTMP/RTMPS, the listed audio codecs are AAC or MP3.
- Bitrate: Use CBR and choose a bitrate from YouTube’s current table for your codec, resolution, and frame rate. Upload bitrate recommendations are not substitutes for the live settings.
Before a long broadcast, test with representative movement and audio, then check YouTube’s stream health. YouTube’s live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions page provides the current bitrate ranges and technical guidance. Its recommended upload encoding settings page covers uploaded files, including MP4, H.264, AAC-LC or Opus options, matching the upload frame rate to the recorded frame rate, and resolution-specific suggested bitrates.
Check copyright and YouTube’s live-stream rules
Having permission to play a file locally does not by itself establish that you may broadcast its audio or video. Before looping it publicly, confirm that you own or have the necessary rights to every included element, including music, footage, images, and any third-party material. A repeat loop does not change the rights question. Also check YouTube’s current policies and account eligibility in YouTube Studio; the technical encoder guidance does not guarantee that a particular channel or video is eligible to stream or remain available.
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YouTube’s encoder setup guide says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Treat this as archive guidance, not as a promise that every stream will be available indefinitely or that longer streams will be archived. For a continuous prerecorded live channel, YouTube lists Gyre as a cloud-based service in its encoder setup guide; that is a different workflow from simply looping a local OBS source.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting a loop or stream
- The video stops at the end: Select the Media Source, open Properties, and verify Loop is on. For multiple files, check Loop Playlist in VLC Video.
- VLC Video is missing: Install VLC and ensure its architecture matches OBS. The OBS guide specifically calls for 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS.
- The source is blank or does not play: Test the exact file in a fresh Media Source and preview it before going live. OBS’s supported-format list is not a guarantee for every file’s codec or configuration.
- The source pauses or reloads when hidden: Review Close file when inactive. When enabled, OBS unloads the hidden file to free memory and may take time to reload it.
- The YouTube stream has errors despite local playback working: Check the outgoing encoder settings—codec, CBR bitrate, keyframe interval, frame rate, and audio—against YouTube’s live guidance. Local loop playback and YouTube ingestion are separate stages.
- An interrupted recording will not open: If you recorded to ordinary MP4, the file may not be recoverable because that format needs finalization. For future recordings, use OBS’s recommended MKV workflow or verify whether a hybrid format is available and suitable in your version.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is a prerecorded YouTube channel that stays live continuously, StreamNeo is an alternative to leaving OBS and your computer running. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos in the cloud. No computer or home internet connection has to stay on. Each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card; it is one free day per account. The monthly option is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube and uploaded videos, not camera-based live capture. See StreamNeo, then start the free day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can OBS loop an MKV file?
Yes. Add it as a Media Source and enable Loop in its properties.
Does YouTube Live require the video file to be MP4?
No. MP4 is YouTube’s recommended upload container; live ingestion uses the OBS encoder output.
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