To loop several local Indian music videos in OBS, add the files to a VLC Video source playlist, turn on Loop Playlist, and leave Shuffle Playlist off for a fixed sequence. A folder is not automatically imported or kept in sync: add the files you want to play to the playlist yourself.
For one video, OBS’s built-in Media Source has a separate Loop setting. The multi-file VLC Video source depends on VLC being installed, with the right architecture for your OBS installation. These settings control local playback, not YouTube eligibility, internet reliability or the rights to broadcast the videos.
Choose VLC Video or Media Source
Use VLC Video when you want OBS to play several local video files in sequence. Add each file to its playlist, then configure playlist looping and shuffle according to whether you want a fixed or random order. The source uses VLC libraries, so VLC must be installed for it to appear and work.
Use Media Source when there is just one file to repeat. Its Loop checkbox repeats that source’s file; it does not make a multi-file playlist. Media Source is part of OBS, so it does not require a separate VLC installation. OBS documents both sources and their settings in its media sources guide.
| Your playback need | OBS source | Repeat and order | Dependency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repeat one video | Media Source | Turn on Loop | Included with OBS |
| Play several videos in a fixed sequence, then repeat | VLC Video | Turn on Loop Playlist; leave Shuffle Playlist off | VLC installed with matching architecture |
| Play several videos in a changing sequence | VLC Video | Turn on Loop Playlist and Shuffle Playlist | VLC installed with matching architecture |
The distinction matters for a devotional set, a music-video rotation or a sequence arranged by language or mood. A single-file loop cannot advance through a folder. Conversely, a playlist gives you sequence control but means you should check its contents and settings before each session. The OBS playlist method for devotional videos covers a closely related use case; use the method that fits your number of files rather than treating the two sources as interchangeable.
Install matching OBS and VLC versions
Install OBS and VLC before building the scene. OBS’s knowledge base notes that its 64-bit version needs 64-bit VLC for the VLC Video source to be available. If you have installed 64-bit OBS but only 32-bit VLC, the source may be missing even though VLC itself opens normally. Check which OBS version you installed and choose VLC with the matching architecture.
After installing VLC, close and reopen OBS so it can detect the required libraries. If you installed or updated either application while OBS was open, restarting OBS is a sensible first check when the source is still absent. The source availability depends on the installed software; it is not a control for importing files from a directory.
Keep the videos on a drive and in a location the computer can read while OBS is running. If you rename or move a file after adding it, the saved playlist entry may no longer point to the intended media. For a long-running channel, avoid reorganising the source folder after testing unless you are ready to update and retest the playlist.
Prepare and add video files to the playlist
First make a short list of the videos you intend to broadcast. Check filenames, intended sequence and file paths. A local folder is simply where your computer stores files; it is not a YouTube playlist URL, and OBS does not promise to discover every file in a folder or update its playlist when the folder changes.
In OBS, select the scene that will carry the videos. In Sources, add a VLC Video source and open its properties. Use the playlist controls there to add the individual files you want. The labels and layout can vary between software versions, but the important distinction is explicit: populate the source playlist with the required files instead of assuming a folder selection will watch itself.
OBS’s Media Source documentation lists common containers and media types, including MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI, FLV, TS, GIF and WebM, as well as MP3, AAC, OGG and WAV audio. That list is useful when checking an unfamiliar file, but a listed extension is not a guarantee that every codec inside that container will decode on your particular computer. If a file fails, test it in VLC, then try a known-good file in OBS to separate a source-list issue from a decoding or file issue.
Give files clear names if the order matters, for example 01-opening, 02-evening-bhajan and 03-instrumental. The names help you review your plan; the actual playlist order is set in the source properties. Do not rely on the computer’s folder sorting to establish the playback sequence.
Set playlist order and loop behaviour
Review the playlist entries after adding files. Move them into the order you want, then confirm that Loop Playlist is enabled. Leave Shuffle Playlist disabled for a predictable sequence. If you want a less predictable rotation, enable shuffle deliberately and check the behaviour before going live. OBS’s guide indicates Loop Playlist is on by default and Shuffle Playlist is off by default, but inspect the actual properties rather than relying on defaults.
Looping means the playlist can return to its beginning after reaching the end; it does not mean each file is independently repeated before OBS moves to the next one. If you need one video repeated several times between other items, arrange the playlist to reflect that plan or prepare a separate playback workflow. Verify the transition from the last listed file back to the first in a test rather than assuming every boundary behaves as you expect.
Fit the source to the canvas with OBS’s transform controls, then inspect the preview at the intended scene size. Videos may have different aspect ratios, black bars or framing. Decide whether to fit the full image or fill the canvas and crop the edges; a devotional video with text near the frame edge, for instance, may need fitting rather than cropping. Check the result on the actual output canvas, not only in the source-properties preview.
If you have been comparing approaches, the 24/7 Kannada story playlist guide is useful for thinking about a planned local-media rotation. Do not assume a workflow described for another setup will synchronise your folder or remove the need to inspect each OBS playlist entry.
Configure the YouTube Live destination
Before configuring OBS, confirm the channel can go live. YouTube’s getting started guidance says live access requires channel verification and that a channel must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days. Requirements can change, so check the current official guidance and your channel’s status. If you need help finding the status, see how to check live-streaming restrictions.
In YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room, create or select the live event and find its stream settings. In OBS, open Settings → Stream, select YouTube as the service and enter the event’s server and stream key as instructed by the current interface. YouTube documents the encoder setup and stream-key workflow in its encoder help page. Keep the stream key private: treat it like a password, and do not expose it in a screen recording or public screenshot.
Make sure the event settings and OBS destination refer to the same intended stream. A locally playing playlist is not proof that YouTube is receiving it. OBS must encode and send the output over your internet connection, and YouTube must accept the connection for the event. You can find additional advice about a related continuous-stream use case in the guide to mantra meditation music on YouTube Live.
Test playback and audio
Do a private or otherwise appropriate test before making the event public. Start playback in OBS and check that the expected video appears, the order advances, and the playlist returns to the beginning when it reaches the end. A short test will not prove how a longer session behaves, but it can reveal a broken file path, an unexpected shuffle setting or a scene that does not contain the source.
Watch the OBS audio meter while a video is playing. If it remains silent, check the source’s audio output settings and OBS’s audio mixer, then listen to the preview using the intended monitoring setup. Do not assume that visible video means usable audio. Also check for an unexpected second audio source that could make the music sound doubled.
Use YouTube’s Live Control Room preview to check the incoming picture and sound before the public event. YouTube recommends upload capacity with 20% headroom above the total stream bitrate; review its current stream health guidance when assessing the connection. That recommendation is not a guarantee of uninterrupted streaming. The computer must continue reading and encoding the files, and the network must keep sending the stream.
The playlist controls playback; they do not confer broadcast rights. YouTube’s live-stream terms say creators warrant that they have the necessary rights for live content, including applicable music licensing rights. YouTube also says it scans live streams for third-party content and may interrupt or replace a stream when it detects material. Resolve rights and any required channel allowlisting before you go live, and check YouTube’s current copyright guidance for live streams. A loop setting cannot guarantee permission, approval or continued transmission.
Troubleshoot a missing VLC Video source
If VLC Video is not in the source-add menu, first check that VLC is installed. Then confirm its architecture matches OBS; for 64-bit OBS, use 64-bit VLC. Close and reopen OBS after installing VLC. These checks address the most common dependency mismatch described by OBS, but software updates and platform details can affect what you see.
If the source is available but a file will not play, add one known-good file and test it separately. Check that the file still exists at the saved path, can be opened in VLC, and uses a format and codec your system can decode. The extension alone does not settle compatibility. If one file works and another does not, focus on the problem file or its encoding rather than rebuilding the whole playlist.
If the playlist plays the wrong item first, inspect the order in the source properties and ensure shuffle is off. If it stops at the end, check Loop Playlist rather than Media Source’s single-file Loop option. If video appears but sound does not, follow the mixer and monitoring checks in the test section. Make one change at a time, then preview again so you know which change addressed the problem.
If OBS shows the correct output but YouTube does not, verify the selected event, stream settings and key, then inspect Live Control Room’s connection status. A key for a different event or an inactive event can send you down the wrong troubleshooting path. Re-enter credentials carefully without displaying the key to anyone who does not need it.
If managing the playlist requires the streaming computer to stay on for longer than suits your operation, decide whether local OBS is still the right arrangement. StreamNeo can remove the need to leave your own computer running by turning an uploaded video into a YouTube live stream, but this OBS guide’s playlist workflow remains a local-file workflow. Choose based on whether you need OBS scene control and a local multi-file queue, or a different way to keep a prepared video on air.
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FAQ
How do I loop multiple videos in OBS?
Add the files you want to a VLC Video source playlist, turn on Loop Playlist, and leave Shuffle Playlist off if order matters. VLC must be installed, and its architecture must match OBS. Check the playlist entries and test the end-to-start transition before streaming.
Does OBS automatically import every file in a folder?
Do not rely on that. Add the individual videos you want to the VLC Video playlist, then review its order. OBS does not promise that it will discover all files or keep the playlist synchronised with later folder changes.
Can I use Media Source for a playlist?
Media Source is the better fit for one file, with its own Loop setting. For several files in a sequence, use VLC Video and its playlist controls. The two sources have different repeat behaviour and dependencies.
Does looping mean I have the rights to stream Indian music videos?
No. Playback settings do not grant broadcast rights. Check YouTube’s current terms and copyright guidance, make sure you have the necessary rights for the material and address any required Content ID allowlisting before going live.