How to make a "starting soon" countdown for YouTube live

A "starting soon" countdown at the top of a live stream keeps early viewers from leaving and gives your stream a clean start. Here's how to make that waiting-screen countdown for free and use it in OBS or other streaming software.

1. Make the waiting countdown

Open Countdown Studio and set it up:

1. Mode: "Countdown".
2. Enter the seconds for your wait time (e.g. 300 for 5 minutes).
3. Aspect ratio: "Wide 16:9" to match YouTube.
4. A calm theme like "Dark" or "Mono" and the soft count sound work well.
5. Add "START!" in the end-message field as a cue.
6. Press "Export video" to download the MP4.

2. Use it in OBS

In OBS Studio, add a "Media Source" and select the exported MP4. Show that scene when your stream starts, then switch to your main scene when the countdown ends.

3. Use it as an intro for recorded videos too

For pre-recorded uploads, drop the countdown at the start of your main video in any editor for a quick opener.