For a video that should play once before your YouTube channel returns to repeating content, put the intro in its own OBS scene as a Media Source with Loop turned off. Put the repeating video in a separate scene with its own Media Source and Loop turned on, then switch scenes when the intro ends.
That last scene switch is a separate step: OBS’s documented Media Source playback settings do not establish an automatic return to another scene when a file finishes. The dependable basic setup is therefore manual; if the handoff must happen unattended, treat scene switching as a separate automation requirement and test it before relying on it.
Separate the one-shot clip from the loop
Think of this as two playback states rather than one video with a special ending. The intro scene presents the clip that should run once; the loop scene presents material that should keep repeating. Keeping them separate makes it easier to check which source is on screen and to recover if you need to restart the introduction.
For example, a bhajan channel might show a short welcome or morning announcement before returning to a playlist video. A local business could play an opening notice before its repeating information loop. In either case, the intended order is clear: start on the intro scene, let the one-shot source finish, then select the loop scene.
The scenes organise what OBS displays; the source options govern how each media file plays. Turning off Loop on the intro source tells that source not to repeat its file. It does not, by itself, tell OBS to select a different scene. That distinction prevents a common setup mistake: assuming that a finished clip automatically reveals the content in a different scene.
If you are new to sending OBS output to YouTube, first check the channel and encoder prerequisites in this guide to streaming from a computer. The sequence described here controls the visuals inside OBS; it does not replace YouTube’s live-stream setup.
Create a scene for the repeating video
In OBS, create or select a scene for the material that should repeat. Add the video as a Media Source, open its properties, and enable Loop. OBS’s Media Sources guide describes Loop as the setting that repeats a file after playback completes; the documented default is off, so check the box rather than assuming a newly added source will repeat.
Use a descriptive scene name such as “Loop” or “Main playlist”. Add only the sources that belong in that output: for a simple channel this may be one video and an audio source, while a more composed scene might also include a logo or text. Keep the scene easy to recognise in the Scenes panel so you can return to it without guessing during a live session.
The loop video should be tested on its own. Start playback and let it reach the end; confirm that it begins again and that the transition is acceptable for your content. A hard cut may be fine for a static devotional visual, while a music or ambience channel may need footage whose beginning and ending do not create an obvious jump. OBS repeats the file; it does not make its edit seamless for you.
If you are building a long-running playlist rather than a single repeating file, OBS also has a VLC Video source for playlists and extended media support. The OBS guide says this source requires VLC, and that 64-bit OBS needs 64-bit VLC. Its Loop Playlist option repeats a playlist after it runs out. For one intro followed by one looping scene, however, separate Media Sources are easier to reason about than making a playlist source manage both jobs.
Add the intro as a Media Source
Create a second scene for the one-time clip and give it a name such as “Intro”. Add the intro file using Media Source, then select the local file in the source properties. OBS lists common formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM in its Media Sources documentation. If OBS cannot read your file, check the format and playback outside OBS before changing the scene sequence.
Keep the intro source distinct from the loop source, even if the same file is used in both scenes for testing. Separate sources let you set the intro to play once while the loop source continues repeating. They also make it apparent which source’s properties you are editing. Confirm the source is visible in the preview and occupies the intended canvas area; a clip can be playing correctly while appearing cropped, hidden behind another source, or smaller than expected.
Set the intro scene as the scene you will start from. For a live broadcast, you can choose it before starting the stream, or switch to it while you are still preparing. Check the transition between scenes as well as the scenes themselves: an OBS scene transition can affect how the change appears, but it does not decide when a media file has ended or choose a destination scene for you.
YouTube’s encoder setup instructions cover creating a live stream with an encoder. The scene composition and media playback choices in this workflow are made in OBS. Keep those responsibilities separate when troubleshooting: if the wrong image is on screen, inspect OBS sources and scenes; if YouTube is not receiving the encoder output, check the broadcast connection and YouTube setup.
Leave Loop off and choose the end appearance
Open the intro Media Source properties and make sure Loop is off. OBS documents Loop as off by default, but verify the actual setting rather than relying on a default, particularly if you have duplicated an existing source or scene. With Loop disabled, the intro file plays through once instead of beginning again.
You can also enable Show nothing when playback ends if you do not want the final frame to remain visible after the source finishes. OBS describes this as hiding the source on completion. It affects the source’s appearance at the end of playback; it is not an instruction to switch to the loop scene. Depending on the rest of your scene and transition, the viewer may see other visible content or a blank area, so test the result rather than inferring it from the label.
The setting Restart playback when source becomes active is worth checking too. OBS documents it as restarting playback when the source is in the current scene and visible, and it is on by default. If you return to the Intro scene later, that behaviour may be useful because the clip starts from the beginning. If your intended workflow differs, review the setting and test what happens when the source becomes visible again.
Here is the practical distinction:
| Intro source choice | What it controls | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| Loop off | The file does not repeat after finishing | It does not select another scene |
| Show nothing when playback ends on | The source is hidden when playback completes | It does not reveal a specific loop scene |
| Restart playback when source becomes active on | Playback restarts when the source becomes active and visible | It does not schedule a scene change |
| Loop source’s Loop on | The repeating file starts again after it finishes | It does not decide when the intro scene ends |
These settings are useful precisely because they do different jobs. Set the intro to play once, decide whether its final frame should remain, and configure the loop source to repeat. Then handle the move from one scene to the other as a separate operation.
Switch to the loop scene after playback
For the documented manual setup, watch for the intro to finish and select the loop scene in OBS. If you are alone, keep OBS visible on a second display or arrange the preview and scene controls so you can switch without searching. If another person is operating the broadcast, agree on the cue: for instance, the operator switches when the final card disappears or when the closing audio ends.
The switch is not made by turning Loop off. Nor should you assume that enabling Show nothing when playback ends will select a scene. That option hides the finished source, while scene selection remains a separate action. The OBS Media Sources guide documents source playback controls; it does not document these controls as an automatic scene-return mechanism.
A manual handoff can be appropriate when the intro is short, the operator is present, and a precise unattended transition is not required. It is less suitable when the stream must start overnight, run while nobody is watching, or change scenes at an exact point every day. In those cases, manual operation is a reliability choice you should recognise, not a hidden automation feature.
YouTube’s live event and encoder workflow is another separate layer. A scene switch changes the video OBS is composing; it does not create a new YouTube event or alter the stream key. If you are planning a continuous broadcast around daily programming, this guide to changing a bhajan playlist at morning aarti may help you think through the schedule separately from the OBS scene handoff.
Test the handoff before going live
Test locally before sending the sequence to viewers. Start on the intro scene, verify that the media begins where you expect, let it reach the end, and switch to the loop scene. Confirm the loop video is moving, its audio is at the intended level, and the chosen transition does not expose a blank or unintended source. Then let the loop file reach its own end and confirm it starts again.
Repeat the check after reopening OBS or restarting the computer if that is part of your normal operating routine. Confirm which scene is selected on launch and whether the intro source begins from its start when activated. A setup that works only because a source happened to be already playing is not a reliable opening sequence. Save the scene collection after making changes and keep a simple note of the intended starting scene and manual cue.
A useful rehearsal is to make a short test stream or use OBS’s recording output to inspect the order and transitions. Recording helps you see what the programme output actually contained rather than relying only on the preview. Listen back as well: the picture may switch correctly while the audio source continues unexpectedly, drops out, or plays at a different level.
If the video looks wrong, check source order, visibility, fit to canvas and the file itself before changing the playback sequence. If the clip repeats, inspect Loop on the intro source. If it ends and the scene stays put, that is expected in the manual baseline: switch scenes yourself or arrange a separately verified automation method. For general continuity and encoder configuration, this OBS settings guide for a continuous devotional stream covers a broader set of checks.
When automatic switching is required
If the scene must change as soon as the intro ends while nobody is present, you need a scene-sequencing method beyond the documented Media Source playback settings. OBS’s source API reference includes source lifecycle and media signals, including a media_ended signal. That establishes that source events are exposed to the API; it does not show that the ordinary Media Source option automatically chooses and switches to your loop scene, or prove that any particular automation is installed and configured on your computer.
Treat any proposed script, plugin, macro or external controller as its own system to evaluate. Verify that it detects the correct source ending, targets the intended scene, behaves properly after a reconnect or OBS restart, and does not trigger on an unrelated file. Test with the exact OBS version and scene collection you plan to use. A successful test once is not a reason to assume the handoff will survive a restart, an edited clip, or a change to source names.
For a non-technical operator, the choice is usually between a manual cue and taking responsibility for maintaining an automation setup. If someone is present for the handoff, manual switching is simpler and easier to inspect. If there can be no operator, do not label the arrangement automatic until the whole path from media ending to the right scene being shown has been rehearsed unattended.
There is also a broader operating question: a desktop OBS workflow keeps the scene sequence under your control but depends on the computer and its session being ready. For a file-based, always-on YouTube channel, StreamNeo removes the need to leave your own computer running to carry the uploaded video broadcast, which may matter if computer availability is the pain you are trying to solve. It does not change the OBS-specific distinction above: confirm that the playback sequence you require is supported by the workflow you choose.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
Does turning off Loop make OBS return to my other scene?
No. It makes that Media Source stop repeating its file after playback finishes. Scene selection is a separate step, so the basic documented setup requires you to switch to the loop scene manually.
Should I enable Show nothing when playback ends?
Enable it if you do not want the intro source’s final image to remain after the file completes. It hides that source, but does not select a particular scene. Test the rest of the scene composition so you know what viewers will see at the end.
Can I use VLC Video instead of Media Source?
Yes, OBS provides VLC Video for playlists and extended media support, but it requires VLC to be installed. The OBS guide specifies matching 64-bit VLC for 64-bit OBS. For a single intro followed by one repeating video scene, the built-in Media Source is the more direct arrangement.
How do I make the handoff happen without an operator?
Treat it as a separate automation requirement, not as a consequence of Loop being off. Evaluate and test the script, plugin, macro or other method you intend to use with the exact sources and scenes in your broadcast, including after a restart. The source API exposes media events, but that alone does not configure a scene change for you.