To stream a rain video to YouTube around the clock from a Windows PC, add it to an OBS scene as a looping Media Source, connect OBS to a YouTube Live stream, then test picture, audio and stream health. Your PC and internet connection must stay available for this local-encoder setup to keep broadcasting.
The archive needs separate planning: YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That does not promise one complete automatic replay for a continuous 24-hour broadcast, so decide in advance whether you need a local recording or shorter sessions.
Prepare the rain video and scene
Start with a rain video you have permission to broadcast, saved locally on the Windows PC. Check that it plays from beginning to end in a normal media player before opening OBS. If it has a black frame at the start, an abrupt ending, or audio that stops early, a loop will repeat those flaws all night. Listen to the entire file at least once, especially its last seconds, where a hard cut can become noticeable each time it repeats.
A single-file loop is simplest when the footage is meant to repeat. The video should return naturally from its ending to its opening: steady rain on a window or a fixed garden view can hide the join better than a camera pan or a changing lightning flash. If the transition is conspicuous, edit a smoother loop before streaming rather than hoping the audience will not notice.
Open OBS and create a scene for the broadcast. A scene is the collection of sources OBS sends to the stream; for a simple rain channel it may contain only the video and its sound. Name it clearly, such as “Rain loop”, so it is easy to identify if you later add an opening slate or another scene. The live-streaming glossary explains common terms such as source and bitrate if those controls are unfamiliar.
Check the sound path deliberately. If the rain file includes audio, the Media Source can provide it; confirm that the audio meter moves when playback begins and that the intended sound is audible in a test. OBS Quick Start notes that desktop audio and microphone capture are enabled by default. Disable or remove capture you do not need, or your stream might pick up system notifications, a room conversation or other computer audio over the rain.
Check the frame in the OBS preview before going live. Make sure it fills the intended canvas without an unexpected crop, letterboxing or a hidden source. OBS’s Auto-Configuration Wizard can help choose starting settings based on intended use, hardware and network conditions, but it is a starting point rather than a substitute for a real stream test.
Add the video as a looping Media Source
In the scene’s Sources panel, add a Media Source and select the local rain-video file. OBS documents common formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM; if your file does not open, check the format and playback in OBS before troubleshooting the YouTube connection. The OBS Media Sources guide describes the source controls.
Enable Loop in the Media Source properties. OBS defines the setting as playing the file again after playback completes. Start playback and watch it reach its end once, then check that the beginning follows as expected. Do this before the live test: a source that works at startup but fails to restart can leave a static or black frame after its first pass.
If you want a sequence of several files rather than one repeated file, OBS also has a VLC Video source that can play and loop a playlist. OBS notes that VLC must be installed and that a 64-bit OBS installation needs 64-bit VLC. For one rain video, Media Source has fewer moving parts. For a playlist, the OBS playlist walkthrough covers the different workflow.
Keep the video file in a location that will remain available during the broadcast. Do not move, rename or delete it after selecting it as a source. If the file is on removable storage, a disconnect can interrupt playback. Before a long session, restart OBS and confirm the source still opens, rather than relying on a scene that has been left open for weeks.
Connect OBS to YouTube Live
First check that live streaming is enabled for your YouTube channel. YouTube says channels need verification and must not have a live-streaming restriction in the preceding 90 days; first-time activation can take up to 24 hours. Check YouTube’s current live-streaming eligibility and setup guidance before the planned start, particularly if the channel has never broadcast before.
In YouTube Studio, open Go Live and create or select the stream. In OBS, open the stream settings, choose YouTube as the service where available, and enter the server URL and stream key supplied by YouTube. The exact labels can vary between versions, so use the current stream details shown in YouTube Studio rather than copying connection details from an old tutorial. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions explain where the encoder details come from.
Treat the stream key like a password. It tells OBS where to send the feed and allows YouTube to accept it. Do not show it in screenshots or a public recording, and do not paste it into chat or a public document. If it is exposed, replace it in YouTube Studio and update OBS with the new key before trying again.
Once configured, start with a private or unlisted test stream rather than assuming that a successful connection in OBS means the public stream is ready. YouTube’s Live Control Room preview lets you check that the correct channel and stream receive the feed. Confirm the preview shows the expected rain scene and that sound is present before making the stream public.
Choose a bitrate your upload can sustain
Bitrate is the amount of encoded video data OBS sends each second. A higher video bitrate can preserve more detail, but it also asks more of your upload connection. If the connection cannot sustain what you have set, stream health can suffer even when the picture looks clean on the PC. No bitrate guarantees stable delivery: capacity can vary with other devices, Wi-Fi conditions and network congestion.
YouTube’s current encoder guidance recommends these H.264 video bitrates for the listed frame sizes. They are platform recommendations, not a promise that a particular home connection will carry them reliably.
| Output target | YouTube H.264 recommended video bitrate | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 8 Mbps | A lower data demand than the 1080p recommendation; check the resulting detail in the Live Control Room. |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps | Requires more sustained upload capacity; use it only if your connection holds up in testing. |
These figures come from YouTube’s recommended encoder settings. They refer to video bitrate; audio and network overhead also use capacity. Test the upload you will actually use, at the time and from the place you intend to stream. A speed result from a different connection or a quiet hour is not evidence that an overnight broadcast will behave the same way.
If your connection is variable, begin with a lower output target and make a test before raising quality. In OBS, YouTube’s RTMP/RTMPS guidance calls for constant bitrate (CBR), recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. Use those as encoder settings, then watch the actual health indicators rather than treating the settings as a stability guarantee.
Rain footage often changes gradually, but that does not mean you should pick an arbitrary low bitrate and assume the image will look acceptable. Inspect the live preview for fine rain streaks, foliage and dark areas, where compression can be visible. The useful choice is the lowest output setting that gives the detail you want while remaining steady in a real test. If bitrate drops or the stream health changes, the bitrate troubleshooting guide gives a focused way to investigate.
Test and monitor the live stream
Before committing to a long broadcast, run a short test for a few minutes. OBS recommends testing; YouTube advises checking stream health and continuing to monitor the stream. Use the same scene, encoder settings, upload connection and PC that you plan to use overnight. An unlisted test is useful when you want to check the feed without announcing a public broadcast.
Check these items in the Live Control Room and OBS:
- The preview appears and shows the complete frame, not a black screen or a different scene.
- The rain audio is audible and at a sensible level; there is no microphone, notification or unrelated desktop sound.
- The stream health indicator remains acceptable while the test runs, and there are no repeated disconnections or visible stalls.
- The Media Source loops when it reaches the end, with no long pause or unwanted flash between repetitions.
- The public-facing stream title, visibility and channel are the ones you intended.
Do not stop at seeing one successful preview image. Leave the test running long enough to reach the file’s loop point, especially if the clip is short. If you make a change to bitrate, resolution, audio or source behavior, run the test again so you know what the new configuration does.
For this local OBS workflow, Windows must not put the PC to sleep and the network connection must remain active. Use the power settings available in your Windows version to prevent sleep for the planned session, and check what happens when the display turns off. The display can usually be off while OBS runs, but sleep or hibernation interrupts the local encoder. Do not make version-specific menu assumptions; inspect the current Power & battery or power settings on your installation.
Plan for ordinary interruptions. A power cut, router restart, Windows update or OBS crash can end the feed; successful testing does not guarantee an uninterrupted night. Keep the PC ventilated and avoid scheduling a restart or update during the stream. If continuing while your own computer is off is more important than operating OBS locally, StreamNeo removes the need to leave this Windows PC broadcasting; it accepts an uploaded video and YouTube stream key for the continuous feed.
Understand YouTube’s archive limit
The archive caveat matters if you expect viewers to watch the full broadcast later. YouTube’s encoder setup page states that “All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived.” That is the published statement for streams under 12 hours; it is not a promise that a continuous 24-hour stream will be retained as one complete automatic replay. Check the current YouTube guidance before relying on an archive.
If having a complete copy matters, plan for it separately. One approach is to record locally in OBS while you stream, then confirm the recording is being written and that the resulting file plays. Local recording uses disk space and adds work for the PC, so check that you have room and test the recording settings before the live session. YouTube also advises checking the integrity of a local archive and verifying that the file continues to grow during recording.
Another approach is to plan shorter broadcast sessions rather than one continuous 24-hour stream. That can make the under-12-hour archive guidance relevant to each session, but it changes the viewing experience and requires you to manage the hand-offs. Do not assume that breaking a broadcast into segments automatically solves every retention issue; verify the current archive behavior and your channel’s needs.
A local recording and a YouTube replay serve different purposes. The recording gives you a separate file to inspect or keep, while an archived live stream is managed by YouTube and subject to its current handling. If the video contains audio or material from another creator, a saved copy or a successful stream does not by itself settle permission or platform policy questions. Check YouTube’s current guidance and your own rights before broadcasting.
Decide whether local OBS fits a full-day channel
OBS is a practical choice if you want direct control over the scene, already have a suitable PC and can keep it running with a dependable connection. You can inspect the preview, change the scene and adjust the encoder yourself. The trade-off is that the computer, OBS, file storage, Windows power settings and internet connection all remain part of the broadcast chain.
A cloud-hosted workflow may fit better if leaving a PC switched on is the part you want to avoid. YouTube’s encoder setup page lists tools for continuous prerecorded-video streaming; check the provider’s own current terms, supported formats, pricing and retention details before choosing one. Do not infer that a hosted service removes the need to test the YouTube stream or plan for the archive limitation.
For OBS, include electricity and local recording storage in your practical plan. The 24/7 PC electricity-cost guide can help frame the power question for a particular machine, though your own hardware and electricity tariff determine the real cost. A small UPS can help bridge some brief power interruptions to the PC and network equipment, but it cannot protect the stream from an internet outage or guarantee uninterrupted delivery.
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
How do I loop a rain video in OBS?
Add the local file to a scene as a Media Source and enable Loop in its properties. Test through the end of the clip to make sure playback returns to the start cleanly and the audio behaves as intended.
How do I keep OBS streaming overnight?
The Windows PC running OBS and its network connection need to remain active. Prevent the PC from sleeping during the session, avoid planned restarts or updates, and test the stream and loop before leaving it unattended; these steps reduce avoidable interruptions but cannot guarantee delivery.
Will YouTube save a 24/7 livestream as one replay?
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That statement does not promise that one continuous 24-hour broadcast will be preserved as one complete replay, so use a separately tested local recording or plan shorter sessions if a complete copy matters.
What bitrate should I use for a rain video?
YouTube’s H.264 recommendations are 8 Mbps for 720p at 30 fps and 14 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps. Choose based on sustained upload capacity and the detail you need, then test and monitor the actual stream; neither figure guarantees stable delivery.