To add a pre-recorded playlist in XSplit Broadcaster, open Add source in the scene where it should appear, then choose Scene Widgets > Video Playlist. In the source properties window, click Add, select your video files, and click Ok to save the playlist source.
That creates a source in your scene; it does not start a YouTube broadcast. You must configure and start the YouTube Live output separately, then check that the playlist is visible and playing in the scene.
Open Add source in the target scene
First select the scene that should contain the videos. XSplit sources belong to scenes, so adding the playlist while a different scene is selected can leave you wondering where it went when you switch back to the intended layout. If your channel uses separate scenes for a holding screen, programme content and breaks, decide which scene should show the playlist before opening the source menu.
Open Add source with that scene selected. The menu contains several kinds of source, including scene widgets and individual media sources. You are looking for a playlist widget, not the single-file video source. XSplit’s playlist guide describes the dedicated route and is useful if the installed version labels or arranges its menu differently.
The source menu can change between XSplit versions. If you do not see the wording exactly as shown below, look for the Video Playlist entry under Scene Widgets rather than choosing another source merely because its name includes “video”. The distinction matters: a single video file and a playlist are different scene elements.
Choose Scene Widgets > Video Playlist
From Add source, open Scene Widgets, then choose Video Playlist. XSplit describes this widget as a source for multiple videos, with continuous playback and further options for how the videos appear in a scene. The wording does not mean every playlist setting is identical across versions, so use the controls actually displayed by your installation.
A playlist is the natural choice when you want several prepared clips to follow one another in a scene. For example, a community channel might sequence a welcome message, a recorded announcement and a short transition clip. If you only need one local clip, XSplit documents a separate Video File source instead; its image, video and audio source guide explains that separate source path.
There is also a distinct Media Slideshow widget. XSplit describes that as a slideshow for videos and pictures, while Video Playlist is specifically framed as a playlist of videos. Do not assume that a file-format list documented for Media Slideshow applies to Video Playlist. The two widgets address different ways of presenting material, so pick according to whether you need a sequence of video clips or a slideshow that may mix media types.
Click Add and select video files
When the Video Playlist properties window opens, click Add. Select the video files you want included from your computer. XSplit’s dedicated instructions stop at this practical sequence: add files, then confirm the source. The guide does not publish a complete compatibility matrix for the playlist, so do not rely on a format list written for a different widget as proof that a particular file will play here.
Before selecting files, it is worth arranging them in the order you intend to use, where your file picker and version make that convenient. Check the filenames and the content themselves: a short test clip with a clear opening is easier to recognise in the preview than several similar-looking files. If the order or playback options are not obvious in your installed version, inspect the playlist properties rather than guessing at hidden defaults.
The playlist uses files on your computer at this stage. This action adds them to a scene source; it does not upload the videos to YouTube, publish a live event, or send a broadcast. That distinction is useful when preparing an always-on channel: first make the media sequence appear correctly in XSplit, then handle the separate output and broadcast steps.
For a continuous station, such as a devotional music channel or a local notice loop, test a representative set of files before relying on a longer playlist. Watch for missing files, unexpectedly blank output or a transition that does not look right. XSplit’s documentation mentions continuous playback, looping and custom transitions, but does not enumerate the exact controls or defaults in its dedicated setup article. Check the options exposed by your version and verify the result rather than assuming a particular loop behaviour.
Click Ok to save the playlist source
Once you have selected the files, click Ok in the properties window to save the playlist source. This is the confirmation step in XSplit’s dedicated instructions. After it closes, the playlist should be available as a source in the selected scene.
If you close the window without confirming, or cancel out of the source setup, do not assume that the playlist has been saved. Reopen the source properties and check that the intended files are present. If one is missing, add it and confirm again. A quick check now avoids diagnosing an empty scene later when the broadcast output is already configured.
XSplit’s source menu overview describes sources as elements added to a scene and lists Video Playlist among Scene Widgets. That is the key mental model: saving creates or configures an element in a scene. It is not the same operation as starting the output that sends a live feed to YouTube.
Understand the playlist as a scene element
A source is content or a visual element that a scene can show. The playlist therefore sits alongside other scene elements, such as titles, backgrounds or overlays. Its position and size in the scene affect how it appears in the programme. Once the source has been added, inspect the scene layout to make sure the playlist occupies the intended area and is not covered by another element.
This matters if you have a branded frame, subtitles or a station logo. A source may be present but not useful to viewers if another element obscures it, if it is outside the visible canvas, or if the scene selected for broadcast is a different one. Treat the preview as a check of the whole composition, not just a check that the playlist source exists.
If the playlist will be one part of a schedule, consider how the scene changes around it. A station that alternates a playlist with a live presenter scene needs to confirm the right scene is active at the right time; the playlist widget by itself does not create a programme schedule. For broader ideas about arranging recurring channel content, see this guide to making a 24/7 channel look like a TV schedule.
XSplit’s advanced tips mention using the Video Playlist source for sponsor advertisements or other media during breaks, and refer to custom transitions and looping effects. They do not provide a definitive list of settings in the playlist setup guide. You can use those ideas as prompts to inspect your own source properties, but confirm each choice in the installed version. Do not rely on a control name or default remembered from an older tutorial.
A playlist is not the only route to a sequence of prerecorded material. If your goal is a long-running YouTube channel built around a prerecorded loop, the production workflow may involve more than a scene source: media preparation, output settings and monitoring all matter. The XSplit setup described here only covers adding the playlist element. It does not by itself guarantee uninterrupted playback, nor does it guarantee that the stream will stay connected overnight.
Configure the YouTube Live output separately
After the playlist is saved and visible in the intended scene, set up the YouTube Live output as a separate task. This usually means preparing the YouTube live destination and connecting XSplit’s broadcast output to the channel using the current controls in XSplit and YouTube. The playlist instructions do not configure that output, and adding the source does not start a YouTube stream.
Use YouTube’s official live streaming help for current requirements and steps to create or manage a live stream. YouTube’s encoder settings documentation is the primary reference for its current guidance on encoder setup. Check these pages when configuring output rather than treating the playlist guide as broadcast instructions; platform requirements and interface labels can change.
Keep the stages distinct during setup. First save the playlist source in the target scene. Next configure the YouTube destination and the broadcast output in XSplit. Then start the output using XSplit’s broadcast controls and verify that YouTube receives the programme. If you edit the playlist or change scenes after that, check the outgoing programme again. The source setup and the live connection are related parts of a workflow, not a single action.
For a channel intended to run while you are away, the computer running the broadcast and its network connection remain part of the arrangement. A prepared playlist does not remove those dependencies. Think about how you will notice a stopped output or a playback problem, and what you will do when you are not at the computer. Our guide to monitoring a playlist stream in YouTube Live Control Room covers the separate monitoring question.
If your requirement is specifically to keep a prerecorded video broadcasting without leaving your own computer on, StreamNeo addresses that particular operating burden: you upload a video, provide your YouTube stream key, and the broadcast runs with monitoring and automatic restart if it drops. It is YouTube-only; it does not replace the XSplit steps for someone who wants to build and broadcast a scene locally.
Verify the playlist in the scene
Before going live, inspect the selected scene in XSplit’s preview. Confirm that the playlist is present, that its content is visible in the intended area and that other scene elements do not hide it. If you expect several clips to play, watch enough of a test run to see that the sequence behaves as intended. A still preview of the first frame cannot tell you whether later files load or whether transitions look acceptable.
If playback does not appear, check the playlist source properties and confirm that the files you selected are still available at their original locations. Then check the scene selection and layout. XSplit’s general media-source documentation discusses source properties and playback controls, but does not establish that every control applies identically to Video Playlist. Use the controls exposed for this specific source and consult the current support article if the behaviour differs from your expectation.
Keep the checks practical. If the playlist is intended to run through a break, test a transition into and out of the scene. If a title or logo should remain over the video, check its relative placement while the playlist is playing. If the channel uses a recurring loop, verify the end-to-start behaviour rather than presuming it from the word “continuous”. XSplit’s advanced tips mention looping and transitions but do not specify a universal configuration.
Finally, verify the YouTube side after starting the broadcast separately. Confirm that the live destination is receiving the intended scene, not an idle scene or a different source. If you want to test without announcing a public programme, use YouTube’s current live setup options and visibility controls; check the official help for the choices available to your account. A successful source preview is not proof of a successful live connection, just as a connected broadcast is not proof that the right scene is being shown.
For a channel that runs continuously, make monitoring part of the plan rather than treating the initial test as a guarantee. The XSplit playlist can present a sequence, but playback, computer operation, network conditions and the YouTube connection are separate points to observe. Readers using other production approaches may find the FFmpeg 24/7 stream setup for Ubuntu useful for comparing a different workflow; it is not a prerequisite for using XSplit.
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FAQ
Does adding a Video Playlist start my YouTube stream?
No. Adding the source places a playlist in the selected XSplit scene. You still need to configure the YouTube Live output and start the broadcast separately.
Should I choose Video Playlist or Video File?
Choose Video Playlist when you want multiple videos in sequence. Choose Video File when you only need one local clip; XSplit documents it as a separate source type.
Does the playlist always loop continuously?
XSplit describes continuous playback and mentions looping options, but its dedicated playlist guide does not specify the available controls or defaults. Check the properties in your installed version and test the behaviour you need.
Which video formats does Video Playlist support?
The cited XSplit documentation does not provide a complete format list specifically for Video Playlist. Do not assume examples listed for Media Slideshow apply; test your files in the playlist source and consult current XSplit support if one does not play.