Stream Pre-Recorded Video Live with OBS Studio

Streaming a pre-recorded video as a live broadcast is an excellent way to maintain a consistent upload schedule, broadcast highly edited content, or host webinars without the stress of live presentation. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to configure OBS Studio to stream your pre-recorded video files to platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook Live, making them appear completely live to your audience.

Step 1: Prepare Your Video File

Before opening OBS Studio, ensure your video file is ready. For the best streaming experience: * Use standard formats like MP4 or MKV. * Match your video’s resolution (e.g., 1080p) and frame rate (e.g., 30fps or 60fps) to your intended OBS streaming settings. * Place the file in a permanent folder on your computer so OBS does not lose the file path.

Step 2: Create a New Scene in OBS

  1. Open OBS Studio.
  2. Go to the Scenes box at the bottom-left of the screen.
  3. Click the + (plus) icon to create a new scene.
  4. Name the scene something recognizable, such as “Pre-Recorded Stream,” and click OK.

Step 3: Add the Video File as a Media Source

  1. Move to the Sources box next to the Scenes box.
  2. Click the + (plus) icon and select Media Source.
  3. Name the source (e.g., “My Video”) and click OK.
  4. In the properties window, click Browse and locate your pre-recorded video file.
  5. Adjust the settings:
    • Loop: Leave this unchecked if you want the stream to end when the video finishes. Check it if you want the video to repeat indefinitely.
    • Restart playback when source becomes active: Keep this checked. This ensures your video starts from the beginning when you switch to this scene.
    • Use hardware decoding when available: Keep this checked to reduce CPU usage.
  6. Click OK. Your video will appear in the preview window. If it does not fill the screen, right-click the preview, go to Transform, and select Fit to Screen.

Step 4: Configure Audio Settings

To ensure your audience can hear the video and not your background noise: 1. Look at the Audio Mixer panel. You will see a volume bar for your “Media Source.” 2. Mute your physical microphone (Desktop Audio or Mic/Aux) by clicking the speaker icon next to those sliders. This prevents keyboard clicks or background noise from interrupting the video. 3. Keep the “Media Source” audio active. 4. To hear the video yourself, click the three dots next to your Media Source in the Audio Mixer, select Advanced Audio Properties, and change the Audio Monitoring dropdown for your video to Monitor and Output.

Step 5: Input Your Stream Key

  1. Click Settings in the bottom-right corner of OBS.
  2. Select the Stream tab on the left menu.
  3. Choose your streaming service (e.g., YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Live).
  4. Enter your Stream Key (obtained from your streaming platform’s creator dashboard) or connect your account directly.
  5. Click Apply and then OK.

Step 6: Start the Broadcast

  1. Ensure your video is ready to play. You can pause the video using the media controls beneath the OBS preview screen.
  2. Click Start Streaming in the bottom-right corner of OBS.
  3. Press Play on your media controls in OBS to begin the video. The content will now broadcast to your selected platform as a live stream.