When OBS playlist videos have different aspect ratios, use a VLC Video source and set its transform so each clip fits proportionally inside the scene bounds, with horizontal and vertical alignment centred. This keeps the whole picture visible without changing its shape, although a clip narrower or taller than the canvas may leave bars.
Start with Fit to Screen, then inspect Transform → Edit Transform if the image moves or changes size as the playlist advances. The canvas is a fixed frame; the clips have different shapes. Your goal is to choose how each shape sits in that frame, not to make every clip fill it by distorting it.
Why playlist clips change size or position
A playlist can contain files with different dimensions and aspect ratios. One clip might be widescreen, another nearly square, and a third portrait. If the source or its transform is not configured for the frame you want, the picture may appear smaller, off-centre or differently scaled when the next item begins. Differences in the files are not, by themselves, evidence that a separate OBS scene is needed for every clip.
Think of the canvas as the fixed window through which the audience sees the scene. A video’s aspect ratio is the relationship between its width and height. A widescreen clip has more width relative to height than a portrait clip. If you preserve proportions and show every edge, a clip that does not match the canvas cannot cover every part of it: empty space will remain on one or more sides.
The word “fit” is sometimes used to mean two different things. You might want the whole clip visible, with its original shape, or you might want the image to reach every edge of the canvas. Those goals are not always compatible. Fitting the whole image preserves its proportions and content; filling the canvas may require cropping or distortion.
This is the practical issue behind the familiar request to keep videos with differing aspect ratios and resolutions “centered and scaled” while retaining their correct aspect. In OBS, the relevant controls are transforms, alignment and the bounds applied to a source. A user report on the OBS forum describes a closely related playlist problem and a fix involving transform settings. Treat that report as a useful example, not a guarantee that every OBS version or source will behave identically.
Choose VLC Video for a playlist
For a playlist managed inside OBS, use a VLC Video source. OBS documents this source for playlists and notes that VLC must be installed. If you use 64-bit OBS, the VLC installation must also be 64-bit. Check the current OBS Media Sources guide for the supported setup and requirements.
In OBS, add a VLC Video source to the scene and configure its playlist using the files you want to play. If you are preparing a longer sequence, first check that the clips are the intended versions and order. The guide to preparing a YouTube playlist for a continuous live stream covers the content and sequence side; the transform work here is about how those files appear within the OBS scene.
Once the source is in the scene, select it in Sources before applying a transform. OBS applies source transforms to the selected source, so selecting a different item can change what you edit. If you have several sources in the scene, verify the name shown as selected rather than relying on where the picture appears in the preview.
A playlist source is useful because you can manage several clips through one source instead of building a separate scene per clip. It does not mean OBS automatically preserves identical framing for every playlist item. The clips can still have different shapes, and the transform’s bounds and alignment need to suit the frame you want.
Fit a clip to the screen proportionally
Select the VLC Video source and choose Transform → Fit to Screen. The OBS Sources Guide lists Ctrl+F on Windows and Cmd+F on macOS for this action; shortcuts can vary with platform and version, so use the context menu if a shortcut does not work. See the current Sources Guide for the documented transform commands.
Fit to Screen is the quick starting point when you want the source sized to the canvas without changing its proportions. It does not promise an edge-to-edge picture for every aspect ratio. A wide canvas and a tall clip have different shapes; if all of the tall clip is to remain visible and undistorted, there will be unused space at the sides. A narrow or square clip can similarly leave space around it on a wide canvas.
That space is not a fault in the transform. It is the visible consequence of retaining both the full image and its original shape. For a devotional channel, for example, a portrait recording may need its whole shrine and text visible even if the surrounding canvas is widescreen. Bars may be preferable to cutting off the subject or stretching the recording.
OBS also offers Stretch to Screen, documented as Ctrl+S on Windows and Cmd+S on macOS. Stretching makes the source fill the canvas by changing its proportions. It may make faces, lettering or circular objects look wider or taller than they should. Unless that altered appearance is acceptable for your material, do not use stretching as a cosmetic fix for empty bars.
Cropping is another deliberate choice. OBS documents cropping through Alt/Option plus dragging the source edges. Cropping or scaling beyond the frame can fill more of the visible area while retaining image geometry, but it hides content at the edges. Use it only when the material can lose those edges; it is not a required fix for mixed aspect ratios.
The OBS Aspect Ratio Guide explains these trade-offs. The decision is about what matters most: keeping every edge, preserving the original shape, or filling more of the canvas. Fit to Screen is normally the sensible first test when complete, undistorted visibility matters.
Set bounding-box behaviour
If a clip appears to shift when another playlist item starts, open Transform → Edit Transform for the VLC Video source. The Sources Guide also lists Ctrl+E on Windows and Cmd+E on macOS for Edit Transform. Read the available controls in your installed version; the wording and options can vary, and you should not assume that every bounding-box mode is available or behaves the same way in every source configuration.
A bounding box defines the area within which the source is positioned or scaled. For a playlist intended to remain within the scene, choose a mode that scales the source inside the bounds you intend to use, rather than allowing its placement to become an accidental outcome of how a particular clip fits. If the source does not yet have suitable bounds, apply Fit to Screen first, then inspect the transform fields and bounds in Edit Transform.
Do not treat a particular bounding-box label as a universal prescription. The useful test is whether the selected mode gives you a stable area to work in and keeps the picture proportionate for the clips you actually play. If a control’s effect is unclear, note its current value, change only that control, and preview the result before changing another. This makes it easier to identify which setting affected the picture.
A bounding box and a crop are not the same thing. A box sets how the source is fitted or positioned relative to an area; cropping removes part of the visible image. If you need the full frame, use a proportional fit within the scene bounds and accept empty space where the aspect ratios differ. Do not crop just because the playlist contains mixed dimensions.
Centre horizontal and vertical alignment
In Edit Transform, set the position alignment to centre horizontally and centre vertically. Those settings make the source’s placement use its centre as the reference point, rather than aligning one edge or corner. For a playlist where clips have different shapes, centre alignment is a practical way to keep the visual midpoint in the same part of the canvas as the source changes items.
Position alignment is separate from scaling. A clip can be the right size but aligned against the wrong edge; it can also be centred while too large or too small. Check both the bounding-box behaviour and the horizontal and vertical alignment rather than trying to correct every apparent shift by dragging the picture around in the preview.
OBS’s Center to Screen command, listed as Ctrl+D on Windows and Cmd+D on macOS in the Sources Guide, can centre a selected source as a quick placement action. If the source needs a more deliberate setup, use Edit Transform to check the horizontal and vertical position alignment alongside the bounds. A one-time centre command and the transform settings are useful controls, but neither removes the aspect-ratio difference between clips.
If you have already dragged a source manually, its position may no longer match the values you expect. Use Edit Transform to inspect the current transform, then centre it and test again. Keep a note of the working settings or duplicate the scene before experimenting if it would be awkward to restore a carefully arranged layout.
Check the transform when the playlist advances
A static preview tells you how the currently selected clip looks, not necessarily how the next item will sit. Let the playlist advance through its clips and watch for a change in scale, position or visible edges. If one clip appears to jump, first identify whether the shift is a change in placement, a change in size, or simply a different amount of empty space around a correctly centred image.
Return to Sources, select the VLC Video source and reopen Transform → Edit Transform. Check the bounding-box type and the horizontal and vertical position alignment. A relevant OBS forum report describes a playlist whose clips differed in aspect ratio and resolution; its user reported resolving the placement problem by configuring transform and alignment controls. That is a user example, not proof that one set of values will resolve every playlist.
Change one setting at a time and preview the result as the playlist advances. If you alter the bounding-box mode, recheck the clip that previously looked correct as well as the one that shifted. If you change alignment, confirm that the centre of the picture now stays where you expect. This small, controlled check is more informative than repeatedly dragging the source until one preview looks right.
If the scale changes but the subject remains centred, the differing frame shape may explain the apparent difference. A portrait clip fitted to a landscape scene will occupy less width than a landscape clip. Do not try to force them to look the same size by stretching unless distortion is acceptable. If the clip is genuinely displaced from the centre, focus on the alignment and bounds rather than changing the scene resolution as a first response.
Check the canvas and output resolutions
If the entire scene frame seems unexpectedly shaped, check Settings → Video. OBS distinguishes Base (Canvas) Resolution, which defines the scene space in which sources are arranged, from Output (Scaled) Resolution, which sets the stream or recording output size. The OBS Studio Overview Guide describes this distinction.
The canvas is the frame you arrange sources against; the output is the resolution OBS uses for the delivered stream or recording. If the base canvas is not the shape you intended, sources may seem poorly fitted even when their own transforms are sensible. Check the intended scene dimensions before adjusting every clip individually.
Changing the base canvas can mean sources need realignment or resizing. If you change it, revisit the VLC Video transform and check the scene in the preview rather than assuming its previous placement still applies. Avoid changing the output resolution merely to hide bars: output scaling cannot make different source aspect ratios identical without the same choices about empty space, cropping or distortion.
Test clips with different aspect ratios
Test with representative clips from the playlist, not only the first one. Include a clip that is wider than the canvas, one that is taller or narrower, and any file whose framing has already caused trouble. You do not need a separate scene for each shape to do this check; the point is to confirm how the single playlist source behaves within the chosen bounds.
For each clip, ask three questions: Is the whole image visible? Does it retain its original proportions? Does it fill the canvas? If you keep the first two, the third may be no. If filling the canvas is essential, decide whether you can accept cropped edges or whether the content can tolerate stretching. A simple test sequence makes the compromise visible before the stream is running.
| Choice | Proportions | All image content visible? | Canvas completely filled? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit proportionally | Preserved | Yes | Not always; bars may remain |
| Crop or scale beyond the frame | Preserved | No; edges are hidden | More of the canvas can be filled |
| Stretch to Screen | Changed | Usually visible, but distorted | Yes |
The table describes the trade-off, not an automatic result for every file. The framing of the source and the canvas shape both matter. For a music or study stream where the complete artwork matters, proportional fit is often easier to live with than missing edges. For footage where a small amount of edge loss is acceptable, a deliberate crop may suit the composition better.
For a playlist running as part of a longer live operation, include the transform check in your wider pre-stream routine. The guide to looping aarti videos on YouTube Live without a gap is useful when continuity between devotional clips is part of the job; continuity and framing are separate checks. Likewise, if the clips are only one part of a 24/7 YouTube live stream schedule, verify both the playback sequence and the scene appearance before relying on the schedule.
A short preview across the playlist is more useful than judging from a single still frame. Look at faces, titles, borders and any text close to the edge. When the same content remains centred and undistorted, bars can be a sound outcome rather than a defect. When it does not, return to bounds and alignment first, then decide whether the content itself can tolerate cropping.
Keep the operating workflow separate from the framing fix
These OBS settings solve a scene-composition problem. They do not ensure that a computer will keep broadcasting all night, that a YouTube stream will remain connected, or that the playlist is suitable for continuous playback. Keep those checks separate: first confirm how clips look in OBS, then test the full playback and live-stream workflow you plan to use.
If your channel depends on an always-on broadcast, think about what should happen when your computer is off or the local setup stops. StreamNeo turns an uploaded video into a YouTube live stream, so the playlist does not depend on keeping your own computer switched on to run; this addresses that particular operating burden, not the OBS transform settings described above. It is YouTube-only, so it is not the answer if you need to broadcast to another platform.
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 Fit to Screen fill the whole canvas?
Not necessarily. It fits the source proportionally, so a clip whose aspect ratio differs from the canvas can leave empty bars. Use cropping or stretching only if you accept, respectively, hidden edge content or a distorted image.
Why does the playlist look like it moves when a new clip starts?
The clips may have different aspect ratios, so their visible width or height changes even when they are centred. If the image is genuinely displaced, inspect the VLC Video source’s bounding-box behaviour and horizontal and vertical position alignment in Edit Transform.
Do I need a separate OBS scene for every clip?
Not as a first fix. A VLC Video source can hold a playlist, and a proportional fit with centred alignment is a sensible setup to test across the playlist. Check the actual clips before deciding whether different compositions need separate scenes.
Do I need to crop clips to make their sizes consistent?
No. Cropping is one option when filling the frame matters more than retaining every edge, but it is not required for mixed aspect ratios. Fit proportionally when the complete, undistorted image matters, and accept that some clips may leave bars.