To loop a Hindi yoga nidra recording on YouTube from OBS, add the local file to an OBS scene as a Media Source and enable Loop in its properties. Create an encoder stream in YouTube Studio, enter its stream details in OBS, then test the picture and sound before publishing.
That makes playback repeat; it does not make a local computer or internet connection reliable indefinitely. For a long broadcast, plan how you will monitor it and keep a local recording, because YouTube warns that streams over 12 hours may not be captured in the archive.
How the OBS loop works
A Media Source plays a file in an OBS scene. With Loop enabled, OBS starts the file again when playback reaches its end. You do not need a playlist plug-in to repeat one recording. The source must remain in the scene that is active while you stream.
The loop setting and the setting labelled Restart playback when source becomes active do different jobs. Loop repeats a finished file. Restart playback controls whether playback begins again when the source becomes visible or active, such as after you switch scenes. If your stream uses one scene and one recording, Loop is the setting that matters most; check the restart behaviour if you expect to hide and show the source during a broadcast.
This is a local-file workflow. OBS reads the recording from the computer running OBS, encodes the scene and sends the result to YouTube. The broadcast can therefore be affected by the computer, file access, power, network connection, OBS settings or an interruption on YouTube’s side. A looping file is not an uptime guarantee, and a successful test only shows that the arrangement worked under those test conditions.
If you are choosing between one recording and a playlist, first decide whether listeners should hear the same session again from the beginning or hear a sequence of different recordings. A single Media Source with Loop suits a repeated session. A playlist or a more involved scene arrangement is a separate setup; do not assume that adding several files to one scene will create the listening order you intend.
For a different looping approach using multiple tracks, see this guide to streaming a Hindi bhajan playlist as a YouTube Live loop. Its playlist use case differs from repeating one yoga nidra recording, but the distinction helps you choose the right source arrangement.
Prepare the local recording
Before opening OBS, locate the final audio or video file on the computer that will run the stream. OBS documents local Media Source support for formats including MP3, AAC, OGG and WAV for audio, and MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM for video. If you have a file in another format, confirm OBS can play it before you plan a long broadcast. Avoid changing codecs at the last minute unless you can test the converted file from beginning to end.
Listen to the file before you stream it. Check that the opening is intentional, the recording is complete, and the end does not contain an abrupt cut or a long silent tail that will repeat every cycle. For guided relaxation, a clipped instruction or unexpectedly loud ending can be more disruptive than a visible glitch. If the recording is meant to include pauses, make sure those are part of the intended session rather than the result of an incomplete export.
Check how the file is stored. A file on a removable drive, a network folder or a synchronised cloud folder can become unavailable if the drive disconnects, the network path drops or a sync process changes the file. A local copy in a stable folder is simpler to monitor. Do not move or rename it while OBS is using it, and keep a separate source copy if the recording matters to your channel.
If the recording is audio-only, decide what viewers should see. You can use a deliberate still image, title card or simple visual in the scene rather than leaving an accidental blank canvas. Make sure you have the right to stream the narration, music, image and any other material included. YouTube scans live broadcasts for third-party content, and a match can lead to a placeholder, interruption or termination. Read YouTube’s guidance on copyright issues with live streams and check that any required permissions cover live streaming on your channel.
Keep a note of the file’s location and the intended scene. That makes it easier to recover if you need to reopen OBS or check why playback has stopped. If you edit the recording after adding it, reopen the source properties and confirm OBS is pointing to the correct version; do not assume that a replaced file with the same name has the same duration or audio level.
Add a Media Source and enable Loop
Open OBS and select or create the scene you intend to broadcast. In the Sources panel, add a Media Source, give it a recognisable name such as “Hindi yoga nidra”, and browse to the local recording. OBS’s Media Sources documentation describes the source properties, including the loop control. The wording may vary slightly with the OBS version, but look for the Loop checkbox in the source properties.
Enable Loop, apply the change and start playback in the preview. Let the recording reach its end if the length makes that practical. Confirm that it starts again without requiring you to click the source. For a very long recording, you can check the behaviour with a short representative file first, then verify the final source settings and test the actual recording before going public.
If the source is video, check that it fits the scene as intended. A portrait recording placed in a landscape canvas may need a background or crop; make sure text, faces and any important visual cues remain visible. If it is audio-only, the still image or other visual should be present in the same active scene, and the audio source should be audible through the mixer rather than merely visible in the source list.
Watch the Audio Mixer while the file plays. The meter for the intended source should move when sound is present. If it is inactive or the wrong device is being captured, inspect OBS Settings → Audio and select the relevant device manually. Listen through headphones or monitor speakers as well: a moving meter does not tell you whether the sound is intelligible, too quiet, distorted or accompanied by an unwanted microphone.
Check the source volume and the overall mix with the same playback level you will use in the stream. Yoga nidra often includes soft speech and long pauses, so a quick glance at the meter can miss a level problem. Listen to a representative section, including a quiet passage and a spoken instruction. Disable any microphone or desktop audio source you do not intend to broadcast; an open microphone can add room noise over the recording.
If playback stops unexpectedly, first check whether the source is still in the active scene, whether the file path is valid, and whether the computer can still read the storage device. Loop only acts when the source completes playback normally; it cannot repair a missing or unreadable file. A local OBS source guide for looping a long rain video covers related source behaviour, though your audio and visual checks should suit a guided session.
Create an encoder stream in YouTube Studio
Sign in to YouTube Studio and open Go Live or the Live Control Room. Choose to create or schedule a stream using an encoder. YouTube says a channel must be verified and must not have had live-stream restrictions in the previous 90 days. Check your own Live Control Room status rather than assuming an account is eligible; access and account prompts can differ.
The Live Control Room provides a stream URL and stream key for the encoder. The URL tells OBS where to send the broadcast, while the key identifies the stream destination. Copy both into OBS’s stream settings, following the current YouTube encoder setup instructions. Treat the stream key like a password: anyone with access to it may be able to send a feed to the associated stream. Do not put it in a public screen capture, chat, document or tutorial, and reset it in YouTube if you believe it has been exposed.
Choose the stream’s title, visibility and other details in YouTube Studio. If you are still checking the setup, use private or unlisted visibility for the test rather than sending an unfinished broadcast to a public audience. Confirm the selected stream in the Live Control Room is the one whose key you entered in OBS. A key for a different scheduled stream can send the encoder to the wrong destination or leave you looking at the wrong preview.
OBS and YouTube settings need to agree with the computer and internet connection. YouTube’s encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265 and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS ingestion, recommends constant bitrate (CBR), and recommends a two-second keyframe interval, advising not to exceed four seconds. For H.264, its current bitrate guidance includes 14 Mbps for 1080p30, 8 Mbps for 720p30 and 4 Mbps for 480p30. These are platform recommendations for the stated formats, not a promise that your connection can sustain them. See YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate guidance before choosing your output.
| H.264 output example | YouTube’s listed bitrate recommendation | What to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps | More detail, with greater bandwidth and encoding demands |
| 720p at 30 fps | 8 Mbps | A lower-bandwidth choice if the image remains clear enough |
| 480p at 30 fps | 4 Mbps | Less bandwidth, with a visibly smaller picture |
The figures in this table are YouTube recommendations, not minimums that fit every network or proof of a stable connection. Lowering resolution can reduce the outgoing data rate and load, but it also reduces visual detail. A yoga nidra stream whose main content is voice and a still image may not need a high-resolution picture; a stream with detailed movement or text may need more. Pick a setting you can test reliably, and consider the upload bandwidth other people and devices share on your connection.
Connect OBS and check the preview
In OBS, open Settings → Stream, choose the YouTube service or the relevant custom configuration, and enter the stream URL and key from the Live Control Room. Save the settings and return to the main window. Button names and menus can change between OBS releases, so if the controls differ, use the current OBS setup documentation rather than guessing at a field.
When the scene and source are ready, start streaming in OBS. Watch OBS’s status indicators and the YouTube Live Control Room. Wait for YouTube to receive the feed and show a preview; a local picture in OBS alone does not confirm that YouTube is receiving it. Check the stream health messages and give the connection time to settle before you decide whether the output is usable.
Inspect the picture and sound in the YouTube preview. Confirm the intended image is visible, the audio is present and not clipping, the source is looping, and no private desktop, notification or microphone sound has entered the broadcast. If you use a title card, check that its text is readable on a phone-sized screen as well as on your monitor. Listen to a section through the YouTube preview or a separate viewer device, not only through OBS monitoring.
If YouTube reports a problem, change one relevant setting at a time and test again. Check that the stream key belongs to the open Live Control Room event, that the selected resolution and frame rate match the encoder output, and that the connection is not being saturated by another upload. Avoid changing several settings at once: that makes it harder to identify whether the actual issue was the key, the encoder, the network or the source.
A connection that looks sound for a short preview may still fail under the conditions of a longer broadcast. YouTube recommends testing with audio and movement similar to what you intend to stream and monitoring the audio and video continuously. For a yoga nidra recording, use representative quiet and spoken sections, not just the opening few seconds. OBS itself should be part of the test, because a locally stable preview and a healthy YouTube ingest are separate checks.
Test privately or unlisted before publishing
Use a private or unlisted stream to rehearse the full sequence before announcing a public broadcast. Start with the computer in the same state you expect to use later: the recording is in place, power settings will not put it to sleep, OBS has the intended scene, and no unrelated audio source is active. Test at the resolution and frame rate you plan to use rather than relying on a different preset.
A useful test checks more than whether the first frame appears. Let playback run long enough to confirm the sound is steady and the scene behaves as expected. If the file is short enough, observe the loop transition. If it is too long to wait for a full cycle, test a short stand-in file with the same source settings, then make a separate check of the actual recording’s duration, playback and loop checkbox. Confirm there is no gap or unexpected visual change at the transition that could disturb a listener.
Check the broadcast from another device or browser if possible. This helps catch problems that are hidden by OBS’s local monitoring, including muted playback, an incorrect visual crop or audio that is difficult to hear at ordinary listening volume. Use a device and connection similar to the audience’s where practical, and review YouTube’s stream health rather than relying on one viewer’s experience alone.
Do not treat a private test as a copyright clearance process. You remain responsible for having the necessary rights to stream all spoken, musical and visual material. YouTube says third-party content can be detected during a live stream; the broadcast may be replaced with a placeholder, interrupted or terminated. If you use licensed third-party content, check whether the rights owner needs to allowlist your channel for Content ID. A test can reveal technical issues, but it cannot guarantee that rights checks or account decisions will not affect a later stream.
Write down the settings that worked: source file, scene, output resolution, frame rate, encoder and bitrate. That small record helps you restore a known configuration if you adjust OBS for another project. Also note any remaining limitations, such as a noisy microphone source, a network that is shared with other work, or a file stored on a drive that needs to remain connected.
Record locally and monitor long streams
YouTube’s archive is not a dependable backup for an especially long broadcast. Its help guidance says streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived and warns that streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. Do not assume that a 24-hour or longer session will be available afterwards as a regular video. The archive guidance for YouTube Live streams explains the limit; if you need a copy, plan a local recording instead.
OBS can record while it streams. Configure the recording path in Settings → Output → Recording and choose a destination with enough free space for the intended duration and quality. Storage use depends on the recording settings and content; calculate from your own output rather than assuming a fixed file size. An external SSD can be a practical destination if it is connected reliably, but it is not a requirement and should be checked before the stream starts.
OBS recommends MKV as a recording format because an ungraceful stop is less likely to corrupt the entire file. If your editing workflow needs another format, you can remux a completed recording afterwards using OBS’s remux tool. Confirm the recording path, available space and format in a test; a recording that silently fills the system drive can disrupt other work or fail before the broadcast ends.
Streaming and recording at once asks more of the computer and storage than streaming alone. Watch OBS’s encoder and dropped-frame indicators, and check for adequate disk space. If the machine struggles, reduce the encoding load or record at a setting appropriate to your archive needs. A lower local recording quality may be preferable to a failed recording, but preserve enough quality to make the copy useful for the channel.
A long local OBS broadcast relies on the computer staying powered, awake and connected. Review sleep and restart behaviour, prevent operating-system updates from surprising you during a planned session, and arrange a way to check the stream periodically. Do not describe that plan as unattended forever: software can stall, the network can drop, and a restart may require attention. If you cannot monitor a local computer or accept interruptions, this is a different operating requirement from simply looping a file in OBS. A comparison of local OBS and other PC streaming software can help frame software choices, but the operating constraints remain yours to evaluate.
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FAQ
Does OBS repeat a Media Source automatically?
Only when you enable Loop in that source’s properties. Without it, playback reaches the end and stops; test the transition or verify the setting before you go live.
Can I leave the OBS stream running indefinitely?
A local OBS setup is not a guarantee of continuous connection. It depends on the computer, power, network, file access and monitoring, so plan for interruptions and decide who will respond if the stream drops.
Will YouTube save a stream longer than 12 hours?
YouTube warns that streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured in the archive. Keep a local recording if you need a copy, and check available storage and recording settings before starting.
Can I use any Hindi yoga nidra recording?
Use only audio, images and video for which you have the necessary rights to stream. YouTube scans live content for third-party matches, and a match can interrupt or terminate a broadcast; check the current official guidance and any applicable licence terms before publishing.