To loop a prerecorded radio show in OBS, add the local file as a Media Source and enable Loop. For several shows, use OBS’s VLC Video source as a playlist, then connect OBS to an encoder stream in YouTube Studio and test the complete path before going live.
OBS can repeat playback, but that alone does not create or guarantee a YouTube broadcast. Your scene must send its audio and any chosen visuals to YouTube through a working encoder connection, and you need to confirm that the feed is arriving as expected.
Choose one show or a sequence
Start by deciding whether the channel needs one file to repeat or a set of files to play in a fixed order. This determines the OBS source to add: Media Source is the straightforward choice for one local file, while VLC Video provides playlist controls for multiple files. Both are documented OBS approaches; neither requires paid software or special hardware for the basic loop setup.
For a single programme, inspect the file before opening OBS. Confirm that it is the intended final version, that it begins and ends where you expect, and that you have the rights needed for the audio. If the file is audio-only, OBS does not require you to turn it into a video just to loop it. You can add a still image to the scene if you want the stream to show something, but that is an editorial choice rather than a condition for playback.
For a sequence, decide the order before building the playlist. For example, a devotional channel might arrange a morning bhajan show, a short spoken introduction and a second programme in a deliberate order. If you want that cycle to repeat, keep shuffle off; otherwise, the order may change between rounds. A playlist also means checking the boundary between each file, not just the start of the first one.
Make sure the files are stored somewhere the computer running OBS can continue to access. A source can only play the local media you selected while that file remains available at its location. If you rename or move a file after setting up the source, reopen its properties and select the correct file again. Keep a simple record of the intended file names and order so you can spot a missing or mislabelled programme before a long broadcast.
A useful way to think about the job is as three separate checks: the file plays in OBS, the scene contains the right audio, and YouTube receives the encoder output. Passing one check does not prove the other two. If you are planning a rotation rather than a single show, this guide to rotating multiple videos in a YouTube Live stream covers the same sequencing question in a different content context.
Create an OBS scene for the radio stream
In OBS, create or select a scene dedicated to the radio stream. A scene is the layout that OBS sends as the programme output; it can contain media, images and other sources. Keeping the radio scene separate from other layouts makes it easier to test and reduces the chance that a microphone, desktop capture or unrelated video is included by mistake.
In the Sources dock, select + and add the source type that matches your plan. Name it clearly, such as “Main show” or “Programme playlist”, rather than leaving a generic label. Clear names help when you return to the project later or need to investigate which item is active.
An audio-only stream can still have a visual scene. You might add a station image, programme title or a simple static background, but there is no need to add motion simply because the destination is YouTube Live. If you use an image, check that it is visible in the scene and does not cover any other element you intend to show. OBS places sources higher in the list above sources lower in the list, so adjust their order if a logo or title is hidden behind the background.
Do not assume that a source has been included in the output just because you can see or hear it in the editor. Check the scene you intend to broadcast, and keep its name distinct from test scenes. A small, deliberate scene is easier to verify: the media source, optional artwork and only the other elements you actually need.
Add a Media Source and select local media
For a single show, add Media Source from the Sources dock. Give the source a name, then open its properties and browse to the local audio or video file. OBS documents common audio formats including MP3, AAC, OGG and WAV, and video formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM. If OBS does not play a file as expected, first confirm that the selected path points to the intended file and that the format is among those supported in the OBS Media Sources documentation.
The source’s properties include options that affect playback. For the loop recipe, the important setting is Loop, which tells the source to start again when it reaches the end. The source may also offer options such as restarting playback when it becomes active. Choose settings according to how your scene will be used: if the source is meant to continue through a scene change, check what happens when it is hidden or made active again rather than assuming it will retain its position.
After selecting the file, let it play long enough to confirm that the correct programme has loaded. Check the beginning for an unwanted silence or abrupt start, and listen for distorted or unusually quiet audio. A still image can sit in the same scene if you want a visual while the audio plays; it does not change the source’s looping behaviour.
If you replace the file later, update the source path and test again. It is easy to leave the old file selected while assuming the new programme is ready. The OBS Sources Guide explains how sources form part of a scene and how their ordering affects what appears on screen.
Enable Loop for one show
Open the Media Source properties and turn on Loop. Save the change, then allow the file to reach its end in a test. The playback should begin again from the start. Do not treat a checked box as proof that the entire YouTube stream is repeating; it confirms the source setting, not the connection from OBS to YouTube.
A short test can confirm that the file loads and the loop setting is active, but it will not reveal every possible issue at the boundary. Listen for a pause, click or abrupt change at the end and beginning. If the show has a long ending or an intentional sign-off, that will repeat as part of the file unless you edit the media itself. OBS repeats the selected file; it does not decide which sections make editorial sense to hear again.
If the source is hidden during a scene change, playback behaviour can depend on the source’s settings. For a dedicated radio scene, the simplest arrangement is often to leave that scene active for the broadcast. If you do switch scenes, test the transition and verify whether playback resumes, restarts or continues in the way you intended.
Keep the audio inside the scene you are sending to YouTube. In OBS, watch the Audio Mixer while the file plays: the relevant meter should move. If it does not, check the source settings and the mixer rather than raising an unrelated device level. The OBS Quick Start Guide recommends checking audio meters and selecting devices where needed. For additional checks when a long broadcast drops, see why a 24/7 YouTube stream may disconnect.
Use a playlist source for multiple shows
For multiple files, add VLC Video rather than creating a separate Media Source for every item and trying to manage each loop independently. This source provides a media playlist and controls for playlist looping and shuffle. Populate the playlist with the shows in the order you want them to play, enable Loop Playlist, and leave shuffle off if the programme order should remain fixed.
OBS documents that VLC must be installed for VLC Video to be available. If you use 64-bit OBS, install the 64-bit VLC build. This is an additional software dependency for the playlist approach, not a general requirement for looping a single show with Media Source. If you would rather not install VLC, the single-file Media Source method remains suitable for one file at a time; it is not a substitute for a managed multi-file playlist.
Before relying on the playlist, check each item in turn. Confirm that every file is present, that the order is correct, and that the sound level is reasonable when playback moves from one programme to the next. A quiet spoken introduction followed by a loud music programme can be jarring even if each file sounds acceptable on its own. Adjust the source files or your programme arrangement as needed, then check the transitions again.
VLC Video also has shuffle and visibility behaviour settings. Keep shuffle disabled for a predictable running order. Choose the visibility behaviour with your scene plan in mind: if the source might be hidden during a scene change, test what it does when it becomes active again. Do not assume that hiding a scene pauses or preserves playback in a particular way without checking the actual setup.
| Setup | Best fit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Media Source with Loop | One local show repeating | Correct file, loop enabled, and the end-to-start transition |
| VLC Video with Loop Playlist | Several local shows cycling | VLC installed, playlist order, shuffle off if order matters, and transitions |
Neither path is universally better. A single-file show needs fewer moving parts; a playlist gives you a way to sequence several programmes but depends on VLC being installed and available to OBS. For an example involving a regional-language playlist, the Odia children’s story stream guide also illustrates why checking order and continuity matters.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
Looping in OBS only handles local playback. To broadcast, first create or schedule an encoder stream in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions describe the stream details OBS needs. In OBS, open stream settings and select YouTube if it is offered; otherwise use the stream URL and stream key provided by YouTube Studio.
Treat the stream key as a credential. Do not publish it in a scene, share it in a public message or leave it visible in a recording. If you think it has been exposed, use YouTube Studio’s current controls to replace or reset it. The key tells the encoder where to send the broadcast, so use the details associated with the intended YouTube stream rather than relying on an old configuration from another channel or event.
Check that your channel can go live before you plan the programme. YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance says that first-time enablement may take up to 24 hours. That is a reason to check ahead, not a promise that every channel will be enabled on the same schedule. Follow the current account-specific status shown in YouTube Studio.
Start OBS output when you are ready for YouTube to receive the feed, then look at the preview in the Live Control Room. Confirm that the expected picture appears, if you are using one, and that the programme audio is present. Review the stream-health information there before making the broadcast public. YouTube’s current encoder guidance is the place to check its requirements for the intended output; do not assume that a successful local preview means the YouTube feed is healthy.
If you want a refresher on output settings, the guide to YouTube Live bitrate for prerecorded content is relevant to the encoder side of the setup. Check current YouTube guidance rather than treating any third-party setting as a universal rule: suitable output depends on the video format and connection you are actually using.
Test audio and playback continuity
Run a private or unlisted test before the scheduled broadcast. The test should cover the whole chain: the file plays in OBS, the mixer meter moves, OBS sends the output, and YouTube’s preview receives both the picture and sound you intend. YouTube Studio’s preview is important because the OBS canvas alone cannot confirm what has reached the platform.
Listen at the beginning, at a point in the programme, and across at least one file boundary or repeat boundary if the timing allows. Use headphones if they help you hear a gap, distortion or unintended source; they are useful for monitoring but not required to make the loop work. Pay attention to practical details such as a silent opening, a trailing announcement that repeats awkwardly, or a second source that is audible when it should not be.
Check the Audio Mixer during playback. A moving meter shows that OBS is receiving audio from a source, but it does not by itself prove that YouTube is receiving it. If the meter is still, inspect the selected source and device. If the meter moves but the YouTube preview is silent, check the output and stream configuration, then test again. OBS’s quick-start guidance is a useful reference for audio checks, while YouTube’s Live Control Room shows the platform-side preview and health information.
For a playlist, allow the test to reach the transition between shows. Check that the next file begins and that the programme order remains correct. If the source restarts after a scene change, determine whether that is wanted before leaving the scene unattended. For a single show, check the return to its opening. A brief sample confirms settings but cannot prove how every long programme boundary will sound, so consider editing awkward ends rather than expecting OBS to smooth them automatically.
There is also a separate rights check. Prerecorded does not mean cleared for livestream use. YouTube’s livestream terms place responsibility on the provider to have the necessary rights for live content, including music licensing rights. Its copyright guidance for live streams says streams are scanned for third-party content and may be interrupted when a match is detected. If you have permission to use music, check whether the rights holder needs to allowlist your channel; licensing and platform allowlisting are separate checks. Consult YouTube’s current official guidance and confirm the rights for the specific material before broadcasting.
If your main difficulty is that your own computer must remain available for a long broadcast, that is a different operational problem from setting an OBS loop. StreamNeo removes the need to leave that computer running by taking an uploaded video and stream key for a YouTube broadcast that can be monitored and restarted if it drops; it does not change the need to confirm that the content is suitable and cleared for use. If you are set on an OBS workflow, test the computer, connection and complete output path you will actually use rather than assuming the loop setting covers those risks.
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FAQ
Can OBS loop one audio-only radio show?
Yes. Add the local file as a Media Source and enable Loop in its properties. OBS can play supported local audio without requiring you to convert it into a video; add a still image only if you want one on screen.
How do I repeat several shows in a fixed order?
Use the VLC Video source, add the files to its playlist, enable Loop Playlist, and leave shuffle off. OBS requires VLC to be installed for that source, with the matching 64-bit build if you are using 64-bit OBS.
Does enabling Loop mean the YouTube livestream is running?
No. Loop controls playback in OBS, while YouTube receives a broadcast only after you connect OBS to an encoder stream in YouTube Studio and start the output. Check the Live Control Room preview and stream health before relying on the feed.
Do I need special hardware or paid software for this setup?
No special hardware or paid software is required for the basic local-media loop described here. The multi-file VLC Video route does depend on installing VLC, and you still need a working computer, internet connection, an eligible YouTube channel and the rights to broadcast the content.