A holding screen between videos in OBS is easiest to build as a separate scene containing an image, text, or simple slate. You can switch to that scene manually between clips, or configure Advanced Scene Switcher to react to a media item ending.
An OBS playlist loop does not add a holding screen by itself. Looping repeats the media; the interstitial needs its own scene and, for unattended operation, a tested automation rule.
Choose a holding image or slate
Start with the message viewers should see while the next clip is being prepared. A devotional channel might use a still image with the channel name and a short line such as “The next bhajan will begin shortly”. A study stream might show the current timetable. A local business could display opening hours or a website address.
Keep the main information large enough to read on a phone. Do not fill the screen with small social handles, several paragraphs, or changing details that will become inaccurate. One clear background, one title, and one short explanation are usually enough.
A holding screen can be a single image file, or it can be built from several OBS sources. A single image is simpler to test and less likely to leave one text source visible after you return to the video. If you need a clock, progress message, or animated element, add it only after the static version behaves correctly.
Use an image with the same shape as your stream canvas. If your stream is widescreen, make the slate widescreen as well. Mismatched proportions can produce empty bars or unexpected cropping, depending on how the Image Source is fitted in OBS.
Do not use a holding screen to hide a problem that should be fixed in the video source. If a clip has a long silent lead-in, a black frame, or incorrect audio, edit the clip or adjust its source settings. The slate should represent an intentional pause, not disguise an unreliable loop.
Before adding it to OBS, preview the image at the size at which viewers are likely to see it. Check spelling, especially names and devotional wording, and confirm that any URL is still correct. If the stream has a recognisable visual identity, this is also a useful place to apply it consistently. For broader presentation choices, see these 24/7 stream thumbnail ideas, although a holding slate and a thumbnail serve different purposes.
Create a dedicated Holding scene
Open OBS and create a scene named Holding. Create a second scene named Video if you do not already have one. Clear names matter later, particularly when an automation rule has to select one scene rather than another with a similar label.
In the Holding scene, add an Image Source and select your holding graphic. OBS scenes are collections of sources, so the image can sit alongside text, a logo, or another visual source if the design needs it. The OBS Sources Guide explains how image and media sources are added and arranged.
Resize the image to fit the canvas. In the preview, right-click the source and use the available transform options to fit it to the screen rather than stretching it by eye. Then check the preview at normal size. An image that looks tidy when zoomed in may have unreadable text in the actual stream layout.
In the Video scene, add the video source or VLC playlist that normally plays your clips. Keep the Holding scene separate from the video source where possible. This gives you a visible, deliberate state: Holding means the slate is shown, and Video means the media scene is shown.
Choose a scene transition in OBS, such as Cut or Fade. A Cut changes immediately. A Fade can make the change less abrupt, but it also means that the outgoing and incoming scenes overlap during the transition. If the last frame of a clip should disappear cleanly, test the chosen transition rather than assuming that a longer fade is always better.
The separate-scene method is not the only arrangement. You can place the holding image over the video in one scene and toggle its visibility between clips. That can be useful when the video remains active underneath, but it creates another state to manage. A dedicated scene is usually easier to inspect when you are working out why a slate is still visible.
The OBS Media Sources documentation covers the relevant source types and playback controls. It also distinguishes a normal Media Source from a VLC Video Source, which can contain a list of media items. If you use VLC, remember that OBS requires VLC to be installed for that source to be available.
Switch scenes between clips manually
Manual switching is the most straightforward setup. Start the Video scene and let the clip play. When it ends, select Holding in the Scenes panel. When you are ready for the next clip, select Video again.
This approach works well when you have a small number of clips, when the gaps are occasional, or when somebody is already watching the stream. It uses OBS scenes and transitions without relying on a plugin to interpret a media event. It is also easier to recover from an unexpected source state because you can see which scene is live and select the correct one.
The drawback is attention. Someone must notice the end of the clip and make both scene changes at the intended times. If you are running an overnight channel alone, manual switching can fail when you are asleep, away from the computer, or dealing with another issue. Do not describe it as unattended simply because the playlist itself is looping.
For a manual workflow, keep the controls visible and make the scene names unambiguous. Put Holding and Video close together in the Scenes panel if that helps, but do not depend on a particular button position if several people operate the channel. A short written run sheet can state: switch to Holding, confirm the slate is visible, prepare the next clip, then switch to Video.
If the video is a playlist, decide whether you want the playlist to continue underneath the Holding scene or whether each item should be started deliberately. Those are different behaviours. A scene change can hide a source, but the source’s playback settings determine whether it pauses, resumes, restarts, or has already moved on when it becomes visible again.
For a channel built around a long collection of pre-recorded files, the wider workflow is covered in how to create an always-on YouTube channel with pre-recorded videos. The important point here is that a repeated playlist and a human-controlled interstitial are separate functions.
Set up media-state automation
Automation needs two parts: a condition that identifies a media event and an action that changes the scene. Advanced Scene Switcher provides media conditions and scene-switch actions for this kind of arrangement. It does not infer your intended sequence from a playlist without configuration.
A basic conceptual sequence is:
- The current video item reaches its end.
- The media condition becomes true.
- OBS switches to the Holding scene.
- The configured hold period passes, or another configured condition is met.
- OBS starts or reveals the next clip and switches back to the Video scene.
The exact macro depends on your source arrangement. With individually configured Media Sources, you may create an explicit action for each clip. With a VLC playlist, you may use the condition for an individual playlist item ending. The second approach can be more convenient, but it needs careful testing because the playlist’s own playback state and the scene’s visibility state interact.
The distinction between an item ending and the entire playlist ending is important. Advanced Scene Switcher’s update information describes Ended as detecting an individual VLC playlist item and Ended(Playlist) as detecting the playlist end. If the holding screen should appear after every clip, the trigger needs to represent each item, not only the final item in the full list.
Do not treat enabling Loop Playlist as an interstitial setting. OBS documents that option as repeating the list. It does not document it as a command to display an image between entries. The holding scene, the media condition, the scene action, and any delay or restart action must be configured separately.
A practical automation design should also answer what happens when a clip fails to load. If the source does not reach the state expected by the condition, the macro may not run. If the source becomes active again without restarting, the next clip might resume from its previous position instead of starting at the beginning. Review the Media Source options for restarting playback when the source becomes active and for what should happen when playback ends.
For a simple channel, configure one macro first rather than building a large chain. Use one short video, one Holding scene, and one return action. Once that works, add the next source or playlist entry. This makes it possible to identify whether the problem is the trigger, the scene action, the delay, or the source’s playback setting.
StreamNeo removes the need to keep this particular OBS computer running by turning an uploaded video into a YouTube live stream, but if you are using OBS for your loop, the scene and media-state rules still need to be configured and checked in OBS itself.
Check Advanced Scene Switcher compatibility
Before installing or configuring the plugin, check the current OBS Forum resource page against your installed OBS version. As listed on the OBS Forum resource page in October 2026, Advanced Scene Switcher is version 1.36.1 and its listing states a minimum OBS Studio version of 31.1.1. That is a compatibility reference for that listing, not a guarantee that every future OBS build or source arrangement will behave identically.
The Advanced Scene Switcher resource page includes the project details and update information. Read the current listing before following an older tutorial, because plugin requirements and available controls can change.
Check three things before you rely on the rule overnight:
- Your installed OBS version meets the minimum shown on the current plugin listing.
- The plugin version available for your operating system is suitable for your installation.
- The media condition you plan to use is available and describes the event you actually need.
The plugin listing covers Windows, macOS, and Linux, but that does not remove the need to check the build for your operating system. A rule that works with one OBS version, source type, or playlist arrangement is not automatically valid for another.
If the Advanced Scene Switcher panel does not appear after installation, stop there rather than designing the rest of the workflow around it. Check the installed version, restart OBS if required by the installation process, and consult the current project notes. If you cannot establish compatibility, use the manual Holding scene instead of assuming the automation will work.
There is also a source choice to verify. VLC Video Source depends on VLC being installed and available to OBS. If VLC is missing, or if the installation does not match the OBS setup, the source may not be available. In that case, use supported Media Sources where they meet your needs, or resolve the VLC installation before testing the playlist logic.
Test the behaviour between clips
Test with short files before using a full overnight playlist. The test should include a normal clip ending, the switch to Holding, the hold period, the return to Video, and the start of the next clip. Watch both the OBS preview and the stream output if possible, because a preview can look correct while the published output has a different audio or scene state.
For manual switching, repeat the sequence several times and check that the operator can identify the current scene immediately. Confirm that the holding image covers the whole canvas, that no old video frame remains visible, and that the next clip begins where you expect.
For automation, test one trigger at a time. First confirm that the media condition detects the intended end. Then confirm that the scene-switch action selects Holding. Finally add the return action or delay. If all actions are added at once, a failure can be difficult to locate because the scene may change twice before you can see what happened.
Test the difference between an individual VLC item ending and the entire playlist ending. A playlist with two short files is useful here. The expected result is that an item-level rule runs after the first item if the holding screen is intended between both items. A playlist-level rule will behave differently and may wait until the complete list has ended.
Check audio as well as pictures. When you change scenes, an audio source may stop, continue, or remain audible depending on how it is configured. Listen for the final sound of the outgoing clip, silence during the slate, and the first sound of the next clip. If the holding screen is meant to be silent, make sure no video scene audio remains active in the background.
Test interruption and recovery. Stop and restart OBS if that is part of your real operating routine. Reopen the scene collection and confirm that the intended scene is active. Also test what happens if a file is missing, moved, or unable to play. A reliable overnight design includes a known response to an abnormal source, even if that response is simply a manual check rather than another complicated macro.
Record the result in plain language. For example: “After clip one ends, Holding appears; after the configured delay, clip two starts from the beginning.” If the observed behaviour does not match that sentence, do not take the setup live yet.
Keep the holding screen visible as intended
A slate can disappear too soon for reasons that have nothing to do with its image file. The Video scene may be selected by another macro, the holding source may be hidden, or the media source may still be active underneath a one-scene overlay. Check the state of the scene and each source separately.
If a clip resumes instead of restarting, inspect the source option for restarting playback when the source becomes active. If a clip shows a loading gap, review whether the source is being closed, unloaded, or reinitialised when the scene changes. The correct choice depends on whether you want each clip to begin from the start or preserve its position.
If the Holding scene is visible but the image is blank, verify the file path and permissions. An image source linked to a file on a removable drive can fail when the drive is disconnected or mounted differently after a restart. For an always-on setup, store the media in a stable location and test the complete start-up process.
Do not put the holding image in a scene that another operator is likely to use for unrelated tasks. A dedicated scene makes the intended state obvious and reduces the chance of leaving a branded slate over a playing video. If you prefer one scene with a visibility toggle, label the source clearly and check its eye icon before going live.
For a 24/7 channel, the OBS computer is part of the operating plan. Sleep settings, automatic updates, power interruptions, and network changes can affect the stream even when the scene logic is correct. The OBS on a spare PC versus a VPS guide explains the broader trade-off between keeping OBS on a computer and using a different operating arrangement.
A holding screen can also help viewers understand a planned pause, but it does not solve stream delivery failures. If the published output becomes black, investigate the complete path from source to YouTube rather than changing only the slate. This black-screen troubleshooting guide is relevant when the problem is in the delivery environment rather than the OBS scene.
Choose the simplest setup that matches the way you operate. Manual switching is easier to understand and inspect. Automation is useful when the channel must run without someone watching, but it introduces a plugin, a media-state condition, and more possible interactions between source settings and scene changes. Either approach should be tested with the actual files and OBS build you plan to use.
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FAQ
Does OBS show a holding screen automatically between playlist items?
No. A VLC playlist loop repeats the media list, but it does not inherently insert an image between items. You need a separate Holding scene and either a manual scene change or a configured automation rule.
Should I use one scene or separate Video and Holding scenes?
Separate scenes are usually easier to understand and check because each scene represents one clear state. A single scene with a holding image whose visibility is toggled can work, but it adds another source state that must be managed correctly.
Can Advanced Scene Switcher detect every video ending in a VLC playlist?
It can be configured to use media conditions and scene-switch actions, but the exact result depends on the plugin version and your source arrangement. Use the individual-item ended condition when the trigger should run after each item, check compatibility with your installed OBS version, and test the macro before relying on it overnight.
What should I do if the next clip resumes instead of restarting?
Check the Media Source playback settings, especially the option for restarting playback when the source becomes active. Also check whether the source is being hidden, closed, or left active when you switch scenes, then repeat the test with a short clip.