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With YouTube (automatic), you sign in to YouTube once in OBS. From then on, when a translated stream starts, the plugin creates that language's broadcast on your channel, streams to it, and ends it when you stop. No stream keys to copy.
Who it's for#
Churches whose main livestream already goes to YouTube and who want a translated broadcast per language.
Before you start#
- OBS is paired, and the language is added under Languages. See Stream a translated version from OBS.
- A Google account that can manage your church's YouTube channel.
- Live streaming is enabled on the channel. In YouTube Studio, click Create → Go live. The first time, YouTube can take up to 24 hours to enable it.
Google sign-in during the Beta#
SermonWave's YouTube connection is still going through Google's review. Until that's done:
- Google may show a screen saying Google hasn't verified this app. If you got the plugin from SermonWave, it's safe to continue: click Advanced, then the Go to … (unsafe) link at the bottom (Google's wording).
- Google may only allow sign-in for accounts that SermonWave has added as testers. If your sign-in is blocked, contact support with the Google account email you want to use.
Step 1 — Sign in#
- In the dock, find YouTube (automatic). It says "Not signed in. Sign in to let SermonWave create each language's YouTube broadcast for you."
- Click Sign in with YouTube. Your browser opens Google's sign-in, and the dock says "Finish signing in in your browser…".
- Choose the account, then the channel if asked, and allow SermonWave to manage your YouTube account.
- When the browser says you can close the tab, go back to OBS. The dock shows Signed in as and your channel name.
The sign-in is stored on this computer only. Sign out removes it and revokes SermonWave's access.
Step 2 — Privacy and title#
- Privacy — Unlisted (default), Public or Private.
- Title — the broadcast title. The default is
{date} — {device} ({language}). You can use these placeholders:
| Placeholder | Becomes |
|---|---|
{date} | The date of the service |
{time} | The start time |
{device} | Your SermonWave device name |
{org} | Your organization name |
{language} | The language of this broadcast |
Example: Sunday Service {date} ({language}).
Step 3 — Pick the stream key per language#
- In the language's panel, tick Stream … and set Platform to YouTube (automatic).
- Under Stream key, choose:
- Create a new key for SermonWave (…) (default) — SermonWave creates its own key on your channel for that language, or
- one of your channel's existing stream keys (loaded after sign-in; click Refresh to reload the list).
Your main OBS stream's key is marked "(used by the main OBS stream)" and can't be picked, because one key can only feed one broadcast.
Step 4 — Go live and share the watch link#
Start streaming in OBS as usual (or click Start now in the panel). The status line shows the steps:
- "Creating the YouTube broadcast…"
- "YouTube: waiting for video"
- "YouTube: receiving, going live…"
- "YouTube: live"
The broadcast is created with auto start and auto stop, DVR, your translated captions as CC, and recording on. Click Copy link to copy the watch link and share it with viewers who need that language.
When the translated stream stops, YouTube ends the broadcast ("YouTube: broadcast ended") and keeps it on your channel according to the privacy you chose.
Channel for /listen (no sign-in needed)#
Under YouTube (automatic) there is also Channel for /listen. Paste your channel link (youtube.com/@yourchurch), an @handle, or the channel ID (UC…) and click Save. While the device is live, your listener page shows your channel's live stream as the video. If you also send a translated stream to YouTube for a language, listeners who pick that language see that translated broadcast; for other languages the page offers Listen for the translated audio instead. You can set this in the Dashboard's Device settings too; see also YouTube video on the listener page.
Troubleshooting#
YouTube problems show as "YouTube: …" in the panel, or "Sign-in failed: …" under YouTube (automatic):
"live streaming is not enabled on this channel (YouTube Studio → Go live; it can take 24 h the first time)" — enable live streaming in YouTube Studio, then wait.
"this account may not stream to the channel (insufficient permissions)" — sign in with an account that is an owner or manager of the channel.
"YouTube API quota used up for today — try again later" — YouTube limits daily requests. Use a stream key with a manual YouTube platform for today.
"the sign-in was revoked or expired — sign in again" — click Sign in with YouTube again.
"That YouTube stream key was deleted — pick another" — the chosen key was removed in YouTube Studio. Pick another or let SermonWave create one.
"access was not granted" / "the sign-in took too long" — sign in again and allow access in the browser.
"Getting the YouTube settings from the SermonWave server… (… — retrying)" — OBS is still connecting to SermonWave. Check the dock says Connected; it retries by itself.
"YouTube is not set up on this SermonWave server yet" or "Google refused SermonWave's YouTube app (…) — your sign-in is kept; contact SermonWave support" — this needs SermonWave; contact support.
FAQ#
Does SermonWave see my YouTube password?#
No. You sign in on Google's own page. The plugin only stores a sign-in token on your computer.
Does this change my main YouTube stream?#
No. Only the translated broadcasts are created and ended by SermonWave.
I'm signed in but my language uses a manual YouTube platform.#
The dock suggests switching the destination to "YouTube (automatic)" so you can pick a key from your channel instead of pasting one.