A gap between videos usually comes from the playback source changing files, not from a YouTube setting. Use an OBS Media Source with Loop for one VOD, or a VLC Video source with Loop Playlist for several clips, then test the complete sequence before you go live.
Keep the OBS encoder sending its feed to the same YouTube Live stream while the source plays through the files. Loop controls repeat playback, but neither the documented settings nor YouTube’s stream controls promise a perfectly gapless hand-off between separate clips.
First decide what is looping
There are two different jobs that can sound like “loop my gaming videos”. You might want to replay one long recording from its end to its beginning, or you might want several shorter recordings to play in order and then return to the first. Choose the source for that job before changing your broadcast settings.
For one file, OBS’s Media Source is the direct route: select the local video and switch on Loop. When playback reaches the end, OBS repeats that file. If the end contains a few seconds of black picture, a fade to silence, or a pause before the action restarts, that material is part of the file and can appear on every repeat.
For a queue of separate clips, use OBS’s VLC Video source and add the files in the order you want. Its Loop Playlist control repeats the playlist. This solves the order-and-repeat part; it does not certify that one file’s final frame will lead into the next file’s first frame without a pause, blank frame, or audio change.
It helps to separate three layers when diagnosing a gap: the media files, the OBS source that plays them, and the encoder connection that carries OBS output to YouTube. A source can switch while the encoder keeps sending one continuous feed. Restarting the encoder at each clip boundary is not a playlist setting and can interrupt the live event.
If you have been deciding whether to send one continuous file or a sequence of local clips, the workflow in how to stream real estate walkthrough videos continuously on YouTube in India is useful context for thinking about a rerun as continuous programming rather than separate uploads. The technical choice still comes down to what OBS is asked to play.
Repeat one VOD with an OBS Media Source
In OBS, add a Media Source to the scene that should show the gaming recording. Give it a name you will recognise, select the VOD file, and enable the source’s Loop option. OBS describes these controls in its Media Sources guide. Keep the source in the scene used for the live programme and check that it is visible in the preview.
A useful first test is not to wait through the whole recording. Temporarily use a short representative excerpt or seek close to the end of the file, then watch the ending and restart in the OBS preview. Check whether the picture resumes as expected, whether the audio returns at the right level, and whether a black tail or quiet section belongs to the recording itself. Restore the intended file and any production settings after testing.
The Loop switch addresses repetition, not editing. If your VOD ends on a black screen or with a long fade, OBS will repeat that tail. If the game capture includes a pause menu, loading screen, or desktop at the end, viewers may see it each time. Trim the source file or make a clean export if those frames are not intended to be part of the rerun.
One file is easier to reason about because there is no separate-file hand-off at each boundary. That does not mean every file will look seamless when repeated: the beginning and ending still need to suit each other. A natural loop point might be a respawn, a lobby screen, or a repeated section of gameplay rather than an abrupt cut from a final victory screen to a title menu.
For a longer always-on channel, consider whether the computer must remain available for the entire broadcast. The article on keeping a YouTube playlist livestream running when your computer is off covers that separate operational question. Here, first establish that the media itself repeats correctly in a short OBS test.
Loop a queue with an OBS VLC Video source
If you have distinct match recordings, tournament highlights, or several edited sessions, add a VLC Video source rather than trying to turn YouTube’s watch-page playlist into the encoder’s playback queue. In the source properties, populate the playlist in the intended order and leave Loop Playlist enabled. OBS’s Media Sources documentation covers the VLC Video playlist controls as well as the single-file Media Source.
The VLC Video source depends on VLC being installed. OBS specifies that a 64-bit OBS installation needs 64-bit VLC. If the source is unavailable or does not behave as expected, confirm that the installed VLC matches the OBS bitness before assuming the playlist or video files are at fault. The OBS guide is the appropriate current reference for these source requirements and controls.
Build a small test playlist with the actual files, not just sample videos that happen to play smoothly. Check each clip’s beginning and end, and allow the sequence to pass from the last clip back to the first. A playlist can be in the right order and still have a visible or audible break because clips have different edits, formats, audio levels, or end padding.
Make the order explicit. Use descriptive filenames and inspect the playlist before starting the test, especially if the queue includes numbered episodes or clips from different sessions. A mistaken order can look like a playback problem when the source is simply doing what its playlist says. If one clip is missing, unsupported, or has a different aspect ratio, note how the source and scene appear around that point.
Do not infer a guarantee from the word “Loop”. It means the source repeats the media or playlist; the OBS documentation does not promise frame-accurate seamless transitions between separate files. If an uninterrupted feel matters, edit the material to create intentional in-points and out-points, or add a short visual bridge in your playback workflow, then test that version. Even then, judge the actual output rather than assuming a setting has removed every gap.
Keep one encoder connection to the live stream
Create or select the YouTube live stream in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. In OBS streaming settings, use the stream URL and stream key associated with that event. YouTube explains the encoder workflow in Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder; the key identifies the feed YouTube should accept. Treat it as a credential and do not share it publicly.
Once the broadcast is running, let the media source advance through the clip boundary while OBS continues sending its programme output. Do not stop and restart the encoder for each file. YouTube’s documented workflow says the stream ends when content transmission from the encoder stops, or when you end the event in the Control Room. The practical implication is that playlist sequencing belongs in OBS playback, while the encoder connection stays in place.
This is different from ending one live event and redirecting viewers to another destination. YouTube’s Live Redirect and Auto-start or Auto-stop controls relate to live event workflows; they do not create a queue of files inside OBS or repair a source’s transition. The relevant live stream settings documentation can help you understand those event controls, but do not expect a YouTube setting to fix a blank frame caused by a source change.
If you are choosing between a local OBS playback setup and another way to keep a feed running, compare the moving parts you will have to maintain: file order, the source, the scene, and the encoder session. A guide to setting up a free RTMP server for live streaming may help explain the role of an RTMP feed, but it is not a substitute for configuring the playback source that sequences these clips.
Test transitions before going live
Set aside a private or otherwise non-public test period with the final OBS scene, the actual video files, and the intended stream settings. YouTube recommends preparing the encoder in advance and checking the preview in the Live Control Room before taking an event live. Its live streaming tips also emphasise monitoring the stream rather than assuming that a successful start means the whole setup is sound.
Test the entire route, not only the OBS canvas. Watch the OBS preview, then confirm that YouTube’s Live Control Room receives the expected picture and sound. A local preview can appear correct while the wrong scene, muted audio source, or unintended crop is being sent to the event. Check the live preview before making the broadcast public or announcing it to viewers.
For a single file, observe the end and its return to the beginning. For a playlist, observe every hand-off at least once, including the final-to-first transition. If the clips are long, you can make working test copies with shorter lengths, but still run a final test with the exact files that will be broadcast. A short sample cannot reveal an issue that exists only in a particular clip’s last seconds.
Watch and listen rather than looking away while the test runs. Note the time and clip at any black frame, frozen picture, sudden volume jump, or silence. Re-test after editing or replacing a file, changing the playlist order, or altering the OBS scene. A change made to fix one boundary can affect another.
Keep a simple record of what you tested: file order, source type, Loop or Loop Playlist state, and any boundaries that need editing. This is more useful than relying on memory after an overnight run. If you need an operating pattern where the rerun does not depend on leaving your computer available, StreamNeo removes the specific burden of keeping that computer on for playback, while you still need to prepare the file and check the YouTube channel before the stream begins.
Check for blank frames, silence, and level changes
A gap is not always a source failure. It may be a few black frames intentionally present at the end of a clip, a title card before the next match, a file that begins with silence, or a source that momentarily shows no picture during a transition. Identify which one you are seeing before changing settings. Otherwise, you may adjust the wrong layer and leave the actual defect untouched.
Use a boundary checklist for each hand-off:
| What to inspect | What to look for | Practical response |
|---|---|---|
| Final seconds of a clip | Black tail, frozen frame, fade, or unintended menu | Trim or re-export the file if the tail is not part of the programme |
| First seconds of the next clip | Delayed action, black lead-in, wrong scene, or silence | Adjust the edit point or add an intentional slate or bridge |
| Audio at the hand-off | Sudden loudness change, missing game sound, or abrupt silence | Check the source audio and edit levels consistently |
| Playlist order | Unexpected clip or missing file | Verify the VLC playlist and file availability |
| OBS scene and preview | Empty source area or wrong source visible | Confirm the source is active and correctly placed in the scene |
| YouTube preview | Difference from the OBS canvas or missing sound | Confirm the intended scene and audio are reaching the event |
Use headphones at a sensible monitoring level and listen through the transition, not only to the loudest gameplay. A music bed or commentary track can mask a short silent gap in speakers but become obvious to someone listening closely. Conversely, a brief pause may be intentional if a clip is designed to end on a title card. Decide what the programme should sound like, then edit consistently.
If a boundary still feels abrupt, edit the assets or add an intentional slate or transition in the playback workflow. A fade can make a cut feel softer, but it does not prove that playback was gapless; it deliberately changes picture or sound over time. Choose a treatment that suits the channel, then test it in the same scene and YouTube preview that you plan to use.
YouTube stream settings are useful for connecting and managing the live event, not for repairing the source transition. Likewise, an OBS Loop or Loop Playlist switch controls repeat behaviour, not the content inside a file. Keep those responsibilities separate: fix edits in the media, fix sequence in the source, and keep the encoder connection stable.
Decide what to do if the test still shows a gap
First classify the symptom. If only one file repeats badly, inspect its end and beginning. If every separate-file transition pauses, focus on the playlist hand-off and whether the clips need to be joined or given a deliberate bridge. If OBS looks right but YouTube’s preview does not, check which scene and audio mix are being sent and whether the encoder remains connected.
Do not solve a media boundary by ending and re-creating the YouTube event unless your actual goal is a new event. An event restart affects viewers and the broadcast lifecycle, while it does not make separate source files meet more cleanly. Keep the encoder transmitting and test a revised source or edit before scheduling the rerun again.
If you cannot remove every pause, make it intentional and predictable. A short branded slate, an intermission card, or a brief audio bed can be more coherent than a flash of desktop or a silent black frame, provided it fits the channel and does not mislead viewers. The test is whether the transition you chose appears and sounds as designed in the YouTube preview.
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FAQ
Is Media Source Loop the right setting for several videos?
No. Media Source Loop repeats its selected file. For a sequence of separate clips, use a VLC Video source with the files in a playlist and Loop Playlist enabled.
Does Loop Playlist guarantee a gapless transition?
No. It repeats the queue, but the documented OBS setting does not promise zero blank frames or silence between different files. Test the actual assets and edit or bridge any boundary that does not look or sound right.
Should I stop OBS and reconnect at every clip boundary?
No. Keep the encoder sending its feed to the same YouTube Live stream while the source changes clips. YouTube’s event workflow ties ending the stream to stopping encoder content or ending the event in the Control Room, not to a normal playlist change.
Can a YouTube setting remove the gap between clips?
No. YouTube stream settings connect and manage the live event; OBS handles which media plays. Check the current YouTube and OBS documentation for the controls available to your setup, then test the source transition before viewers rely on it.