A dependable way to move between pre-recorded videos in OBS is to place each segment in its own scene, choose a scene transition, and switch scenes when you are ready. A transition changes the active OBS scene; it does not make a list of files inside one source behave like a series of scene changes.
If you want one source to play several files in sequence, OBS offers VLC Video as a playlist source, but that is a different arrangement. The practical choice is whether you need a deliberate handoff between scenes or simply want a playlist to play within one scene.
Choose between scene transitions and playlist playback
An OBS scene is a composition of sources that make up the programme output: for example, a video, an image, and audio. A scene transition controls how OBS moves from one scene to another. A media source, by contrast, plays a file placed inside a scene. Keeping these jobs separate makes the setup easier to predict and troubleshoot.
Use a scene for each video when you want to decide when the next segment becomes live, give segments different layouts, or cut or fade between them. A devotional stream might have one scene for an opening prayer, one for a bhajan video, and another for a closing slide. With Studio Mode, you can prepare the next scene in preview before sending it to the live programme.
Use VLC Video when your requirement is a sequence of files played from one source inside one scene. It can suit a long list of clips that share a layout and need no scene-by-scene handoff. That playback is not the same thing as changing scenes, and the official OBS documentation reviewed here does not establish an automatic scene switch when a Media Source reaches the end of its file.
| Arrangement | Suited to | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| One scene per video, with a Media Source in each | Chosen handoffs, distinct layouts, or manual control | You must switch scenes; do not assume the next scene activates at the end of a file. |
| One VLC Video playlist source in a scene | Playing an ordered set of files within one layout | Requires VLC of the same architecture as OBS; playlist playback is not a scene transition. |
This distinction matters especially for a stream expected to run unattended. If you need each segment to move to a different scene without an operator, verify the exact automation method against your installed OBS version before relying on it. The basic workflow below is manual and makes no promise of end-of-file switching.
For related approaches to continuous playback, see how an FFmpeg playlist is streamed from a Raspberry Pi and how a Kannada podcast archive can play continuously on YouTube Live. Those are different workflows, but they help clarify whether your priority is scene control or an ongoing file sequence.
Create a scene for each video segment
Open the Scenes dock in OBS and use its add control to create a scene for each segment you plan to switch to. Give each scene a name that tells you what it contains, such as “Opening”, “Morning bhajans”, or “Announcements”. Names should still make sense when you are looking at OBS in a hurry; “Scene 2” and “Scene 3” are easy to confuse during a live handoff.
Treat a scene as a segment’s layout, not just a filename. If two videos use the same framing and audio arrangement, the scenes can be simple. If one segment has a logo, captions, or an additional image, keep those sources in that segment’s scene so the next scene does not inherit an unwanted visual element. OBS’s Sources Guide explains adding, layering, positioning, and sizing sources.
Create the scenes before going live, even if you will only use two. Check their order and labels, then leave the current opening scene selected for the start of the programme. If you expect to add or replace files later, record the intended sequence in your scene names or a separate run sheet. OBS will not infer your editorial order from filenames.
A scene for each segment uses more entries in the Scenes dock than a single playlist source. That is a reasonable trade if you need a chosen transition, different overlays, or a controlled preview. If your only goal is to play several files under one fixed image and layout, the playlist route may take less scene management.
Add and check each scene’s sources
Select the first scene, then in the Sources dock use the plus button and choose Media Source. Create a new source, name it clearly, and select the local video file. Repeat for each scene and file. OBS documents support for common local media formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WebM; check that your particular file plays correctly rather than assuming its extension guarantees compatibility.
Position and size the source in the canvas. If the video should fill the programme frame, use OBS’s fit-to-screen option and inspect the result. Check for letterboxing, cropped edges, or an image that is smaller than expected. If the scene includes an image or text source, confirm that the video is layered as intended. A correct file can still appear wrong if it sits behind an opaque source or is positioned outside the canvas.
Open the Media Source properties and review playback behaviour. OBS documents Loop as off by default, Restart playback when source becomes active as on by default, and Show nothing when playback ends as on by default. These are defaults, not universal recommendations: choose them according to whether the segment should repeat, restart when you return to its scene, or leave a visible frame after playback.
Also note the Close file when inactive option. OBS says a local file may take time to load again if this setting is enabled. For a short handoff, that delay could be noticeable, so test the actual files and settings on the machine you will use. If the source is intended to be active only briefly, the choice can differ from a long-running segment.
Check audio as well as the picture. Confirm that the expected source meters move, that no scene has an unintended duplicate audio source, and that the level is suitable when moving between scenes. If the audio seems late or out of sync, use a separate diagnosis rather than trying to correct timing by changing transition duration; the audio sync troubleshooting guide addresses that problem directly.
Choose and configure a scene transition
In the Scene Transitions area, choose a transition from the dropdown and set its duration. The OBS Project’s Overview Guide says Fade and Cut are available at first launch. Its guide also describes additional transitions, including Swipe, Slide, Fade to Color, and Luma Wipe, available through the plus control. Menus can vary by installed OBS version, so check what your copy actually offers.
A Cut changes immediately. A Fade blends from the outgoing scene to the incoming one over the configured duration. Neither is inherently right for every stream: a cut can keep a news update brisk, while a fade may suit a quiet music or ambience channel. The effect is a presentation decision, not a measure of stream quality. Do not treat a particular duration as a universal recommendation.
Choose a duration that suits the material, then preview the switch. OBS gives example durations for Quick Transitions in its guide, but those examples are not research-backed recommendations for every video. A change between two still layouts may feel different from a transition between moving clips. Test the actual pair of scenes and decide whether the change obscures content or leaves an awkward pause.
The Scene Transitions control applies to scene changes, not to files changing inside a playlist source. Keep that distinction in mind if a transition appears not to happen: first confirm that OBS is switching to a different scene, rather than simply advancing to another item within one source.
Trigger the next scene when ready
For a controlled handoff, enable Studio Mode. OBS shows the live programme scene on the right and an editable preview scene on the left. Select the next scene in preview, check the picture and sources, then click Transition to put it on air. This gives you a chance to catch a wrong file or layout before the audience sees it.
You can also use Quick Transitions. OBS lets you configure these with their own transition choices and durations, then activate them with the corresponding controls. If you use one, practise the action and check which scene is currently on programme before pressing it. A simple run sheet listing “current segment → next segment” can reduce mistakes when you have several scenes.
The handoff remains a deliberate operator action in this basic setup. A Media Source reaching the end of a file does not, on the basis of the cited OBS guides, establish that OBS will automatically select another scene. If you need automation, verify a specific plugin, script, or control workflow for your OBS version and test it under the conditions you expect to use. Do not build an overnight schedule around an assumption that the basic scene transition control will trigger itself.
Before a real broadcast, test the full sequence from the opening scene through each handoff. Verify that the correct next scene is selected, that the video starts as expected when it becomes active, that audio is present, and that the chosen transition looks right. Testing one scene in isolation will not reveal a wrong order or a transition that feels abrupt between two specific clips.
If your concern is running a continuous prerecorded stream rather than an operator-controlled sequence, compare the operating models in this guide to cloud services for 24/7 YouTube music streams. The right workflow depends on how much control you need at each handoff and whether you can monitor the broadcast.
Connect OBS to YouTube and check the preview
Scene transitions are configured in OBS; the connection to YouTube is a separate step. YouTube’s instructions for creating a live stream with an encoder use the stream URL and stream key from the Live Control Room. Treat the key as a credential: do not expose it in a scene, screenshot, or public run sheet.
For encoder settings, consult YouTube Help’s current live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions. Its recommendations depend on the resolution, frame rate, codec, and protocol you intend to use. YouTube recommends RTMPS; use the current official guidance for your planned output rather than carrying a preset over from a different resolution or an older guide.
Start a private test or otherwise use the appropriate test procedure for your channel, and check YouTube’s Live Control Room preview before you begin the public broadcast. Look at the image and listen to the audio there, then monitor stream health during the test. YouTube’s live streaming tips also advise checking the preview and monitoring quality. A transition that looks clean in OBS is only one part of a successful stream; the outgoing feed and its audio still need checking.
Keep this test practical: play each file, perform each handoff, inspect the YouTube preview, and confirm that the stream remains healthy. If a video is silent or the preview is black, fix that before relying on the scene sequence. For broader loop-planning considerations, the guide on running an Indian lofi stream with a static image covers a different visual format and helps separate content design from transition mechanics.
When a VLC Video playlist fits better
If several files should play within the same scene and layout, add a VLC Video source rather than creating a separate scene for every file. OBS documents VLC Video as its playlist source. VLC must be installed, and 64-bit OBS requires 64-bit VLC. If OBS does not offer or run the source as expected, check those requirements and your installed versions.
Add the VLC Video source to the scene and use its properties to build the playlist in the desired order. OBS documents Loop Playlist as on by default and Shuffle Playlist as off by default. Check both values instead of assuming they suit your programme. A shuffled order is unsuitable for a carefully sequenced service, while looping may or may not be what you want after the final item.
The playlist source is useful when the files are intended to follow one another under the same scene composition. It does not turn each file into a separate scene, and playlist playback should not be described as automatically performing a scene transition between files. If you need a distinct opening slate, announcement scene, or controlled fade between segments, create separate scenes and switch them yourself.
There is a management trade-off. A playlist keeps a sequence together in one source, but a problem in that source can affect the whole sequence. Separate scenes make the current and next segments visible in the Scenes dock, at the cost of maintaining more scene entries and manually advancing them. Choose based on the control you actually need, not on an expectation that the two structures are interchangeable.
Before relying on a playlist, test the order, repeat behaviour, picture, and audio from beginning to end. A short test can catch missing files or an unexpected shuffle before the stream is live. If your files change regularly, verify the playlist after updating them rather than assuming the sequence still matches your run sheet.
When the format, scenes, and YouTube connection have passed a test, decide who will perform scene changes and what happens if the stream needs attention.
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FAQ
How do I transition between videos in OBS?
For a manual handoff, put each video in its own scene, choose a transition such as Fade or Cut, and switch to the next scene when ready. Studio Mode lets you prepare the next scene in preview before sending it to the live programme.
How do I add a transition in OBS?
Use the Scene Transitions control to select an available transition and configure its duration. Test it between the actual scenes you will use, because the effect depends on the content and layout as well as the setting.
Can OBS automatically switch scenes when a video ends?
The official OBS guides cited here describe Media Source playback properties, VLC playlists, and scene transitions, but do not establish a built-in rule that switches scenes at file end. Treat the workflow as manual unless you independently verify an automation method for your OBS version and test it.
Does a VLC playlist fade between files?
A VLC Video source plays a playlist inside a scene; that is not the same as a scene transition. Use separate scenes and trigger a transition between them when you need a deliberate handoff between programme scenes.