To add a logo and ticker to a looping YouTube stream with OBS, build one scene with a looping Media Source at the bottom, an Image source above it and a Text source with a Scroll filter. The logo stays in place while the ticker moves; both are part of the OBS broadcast, not something added through YouTube itself.
Prepare the video, logo and ticker wording first, then check the full scene in OBS preview before testing the stream on YouTube. The steps below use OBS’s native sources, with a Browser Source as an optional alternative when the ticker needs a more elaborate or dynamic layout.
Prepare the video and overlay assets
Choose the background video you intend to loop, a logo image and the exact ticker wording. Check the files in your version of OBS before building around them: support depends on the source and format, and no single list of formats means every file will behave correctly on every system. OBS documents examples for Media Sources and Image Sources; use those current pages if a file fails to load.
For the logo, a transparent background can help it sit neatly over video, but transparency only works where the chosen image format provides it. Keep a copy of the original artwork and use a version with enough visible detail at the size you plan to show. A very large logo can obscure the scene; a tiny one may be unreadable on a phone.
Write ticker text as a short, legible line. Consider how it reads while moving, not only when viewed in a document: a long announcement may pass too quickly for a viewer to finish. Split essential information into shorter phrases, use clear separators where helpful, and avoid placing the ticker over subtitles, faces, or other important content.
It is also worth deciding whether the wording is fixed or must change while the stream is running. A fixed line is straightforward to enter directly in a Text source. If you expect to update it, OBS Text sources can also read from a file, though the specific source option varies by operating system. The OBS Text Sources guide describes the documented variants.
Before adding sources, decide where the logo and ticker belong in the picture. A common composition puts a modest logo in a top corner and a ticker along a bottom edge, but the right positions depend on the video and any existing titles. Leave a little breathing room from the edges so the overlay remains visible across different player sizes.
Add and loop the Media Source
In the scene’s Sources dock, add a Media Source and select the local video file. Give it a recognisable name, such as “Background loop”, especially if you will later add more than one clip or overlay. OBS’s source documentation explains how sources are added and ordered in a scene: Sources Guide.
Open the Media Source properties and enable Loop. The option is off by default according to OBS’s Media Sources documentation, so do not assume that a video will restart on its own. With Loop enabled, the source replays after reaching the end. Watch the transition in preview: a hard cut, a brief pause or a visible jump at the file boundary may be part of the video rather than a problem with the source setting.
If the source does not appear, confirm that OBS is pointing to the intended file and that the file can be opened in your OBS version. Avoid relying on a filename extension alone as proof of compatibility. If you move the file after setting up the source, check the source again, because OBS may no longer find it at the saved location.
Make the video fill the intended canvas before adding overlays. Use the preview to see whether the source is cropped, letterboxed or stretched. Preserve the picture’s proportions when resizing; stretching can make people and objects look distorted. If your scene is meant to be a simple full-frame loop, settle this background fit first so later logo and ticker placement is easier to judge.
The background should sit at the bottom of the Sources order. A source lower in the list is rendered beneath sources above it, so later additions will be visible over the video only when they are higher in the stack. If the loop stops at the end, return to the Media Source properties and verify Loop rather than trying to fix it with the ticker’s settings; they control different sources.
Place the logo above the background
Add an Image source and choose the logo file. In the Sources list, place it above the background Media Source. OBS renders higher sources above lower ones, which is the practical rule that determines whether the logo appears over the video or disappears behind it. The OBS Image Sources guide covers the Image source and supported image types.
Move and resize the logo in the preview. Keep its proportions while resizing, and check it against several parts of the video rather than a single still moment. A bright logo can vanish over a bright frame; a dark one can disappear over a dark frame. If that happens, consider changing the artwork or its position before adding extra effects.
Check the logo at the size viewers will actually see. The OBS preview is useful for composition, but a small player on a mobile screen can make fine lettering difficult to read. If the logo contains a slogan or detailed wording that is not essential, a simpler mark may work better. Avoid enlarging it until it competes with the content viewers came to see.
A static Image source is the simpler route when the mark remains unchanged. If you need a changing graphic, such as a rotating promotion, the native Image source alone is not a content-management system; you would need to change the asset or consider a different composition. Keep the first version uncomplicated, confirm that it renders correctly, and then decide whether further complexity is worth maintaining.
Create ticker text and apply Scroll
Add a Text source and enter the ticker wording, or configure it to read from a text file if that option is available in your OBS build. Source names differ by operating system: OBS documents Text (GDI+) for Windows and Text (Freetype 2) for macOS and Linux. Follow the guide for the system you are using rather than looking for an identical label on every computer.
Place the Text source above the background and logo as needed. If the ticker should cross in front of the video but not cover the logo, position the logo higher in the Sources list than the ticker. The list order controls overlap, so the preview is the place to verify the intended result. Arrange the text source’s size and position to define the lane through which the wording will move.
To make the words move, open the Text source’s Filters and add a Scroll filter. The OBS Scroll Filter guide describes the filter’s movement controls. Set horizontal movement for a ticker that travels left or right. In OBS’s documented convention, negative horizontal speed moves left and positive speed moves right. Start with a modest movement and watch it in preview; the right pace depends on how much text there is and how quickly a viewer should be able to read it.
A ticker that is too fast becomes decoration rather than useful information. A very slow ticker can also be awkward if a viewer waits a long time for the next phrase. Try the complete line in preview at the chosen speed and read it as it passes. If it is difficult to follow, shorten the wording or adjust the speed before adding more text.
For a narrow ticker lane, the Scroll filter’s width and height limits can help constrain the source. Check the cropped result in preview, because a limit that is too small can cut off letters or descenders. Keep the lane separate from important image content and, where relevant, from the controls or subtitles shown in the video itself.
Set movement and repeat behaviour
The Scroll filter moves the source image, while the Media Source Loop property repeats the background video. These settings are independent. Turning on Loop for the video does not make the ticker repeat, and enabling Loop in the Scroll filter does not restart the background clip.
If the ticker should reappear after it has moved out of view, enable Loop in the Scroll filter. Observe the point where the text leaves one side and returns; check for an abrupt re-entry or a gap that is longer than you intended. The result depends on the text source’s dimensions and the lane you have designed, so preview it rather than assuming a particular spacing.
For left-to-right movement, reverse the horizontal direction using the speed sign, then confirm the result in preview. The wording should enter from the side that makes sense for your audience and language. Do not change several controls at once: adjust direction, speed and source bounds separately so you can identify which setting produced the result you want.
A fixed phrase may be appropriate for a channel name or a short station message. If the information changes often, consider whether a scrolling line is the right presentation. A text file can make wording easier to update, but it does not remove the need to check the live scene after changing it. Confirm that the new text fits the lane and remains readable at the existing speed.
There is another route when a native Text source is too limited. OBS Browser Source can render a local HTML file or a web page, which can support a more tailored layout or dynamic content. That flexibility brings additional setup and can use more resources; OBS’s Browser Source guide notes that browser sources can be resource intensive. For one fixed line and a static logo, native Text and Image sources are usually the more direct starting point.
| Approach | Useful when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Text source with Scroll | The wording is fixed or only occasionally changed | Simple to compose, but layout and animation options are limited |
| Text source reading a file | You want to edit the wording without rebuilding the scene | You still need to check the text’s fit and movement after edits |
| Browser Source | The layout or content needs a custom web-based treatment | More flexible, but introduces extra configuration and resource use |
Preview the composition and test YouTube health
Before streaming, inspect the full composition in the OBS preview. Check that the video fills the scene as intended, the logo remains visible, and the ticker neither covers important content nor clips at the edges. Watch long enough to see the background reach its end and restart, and the ticker move off screen and repeat if Loop is enabled. A still image cannot show whether either loop behaves properly.
Then test the YouTube broadcast before relying on the scene for an extended stream. YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrate guidance recommends testing with representative audio and movement and monitoring stream health. Follow the current guidance for your chosen codec, resolution and frame rate: bitrate recommendations vary with those choices, so there is no single value that suits every scene and connection.
During the test, look at both the picture and the stream-health information. Confirm that the logo and ticker arrive in the broadcast as expected, listen for the intended audio, and watch for warnings or interruptions. If the OBS preview is smooth but YouTube reports a delivery problem, investigate the encoder and connection settings as well as the scene. OBS’s encoding performance troubleshooting guide is useful when the issue appears to be local encoding load.
Make changes one at a time, then run another short test. If you change the output resolution or frame rate, revisit YouTube’s current recommendations rather than carrying over a bitrate assumption from a different setup. The aim is to confirm that this particular combination of video, overlays, encoder settings and upload connection behaves as expected; a preview alone cannot verify delivery to YouTube.
A loop with a finished scene also has to stay available for the duration you need. Running OBS means keeping the computer and the broadcast process running, so plan for power, network stability and unattended operation. The guide on keeping a laptop stream running with the lid closed covers one practical part of that decision. If you are comparing a local setup with a cloud workflow, the article on using a video server for 24/7 YouTube streaming explains another operating model.
For a stream that needs to continue without leaving your own computer running, StreamNeo takes away the specific burden of keeping the OBS computer on for the broadcast: upload the video, provide your YouTube stream key, and the file is sent as a YouTube live stream from the cloud. It is YouTube-only, so it is not a fit if you need to send the same output to another platform; the guide to streaming the same video to YouTube and discusses that different need. If interruptions around ads are your concern, see the practical notes on keeping ad breaks from interrupting a looping livestream.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
Is the logo or ticker added in YouTube Studio?
No. In this workflow, OBS combines the looping video, Image source and scrolling Text source into the broadcast picture before it reaches YouTube. YouTube is where you manage and monitor the live stream, not where these OBS scene layers are composed.
Why does the background stop instead of starting again?
Check the Media Source’s Loop property. It is separate from the Scroll filter’s Loop control, which affects whether the ticker repeats after leaving its source bounds.
Why can I not find the same Text source name as a guide?
OBS documents different text-source variants for Windows and for macOS or Linux. Check the Text Sources guide for your operating system and use the option available in your installed version.
What should I do if the ticker is cut off or difficult to read?
Review the source bounds, Scroll filter limits, placement and speed in preview. Shorten the wording or adjust the ticker lane, then test the full movement and repeat before starting the YouTube stream.