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NDI® output for OBS

Send what the projector shows as a video source on your network, so you can livestream the service with OBS, vMix or any other program that receives NDI.

Himnova Live can send what the projector shows over your local network using NDI®. In OBS, vMix or any program that receives NDI, it shows up as another video source, with lyrics, verses and slides exactly as the congregation sees them. NDI® is a registered trademark of Vizrt NDI AB (ndi.video (opens in a new tab)).

Tip: It also carries the app's sound (videos, music and hymns). If OBS gets its audio from your sound board, turn Sound off (see below).

Install the NDI runtime

NDI isn't included with Himnova Live. The computer running the projection needs the NDI runtime, which is free. Install it once, then restart Himnova Live.

Turn it on

  1. Open Settings › Projection and, in NDI® output, turn on Send over NDI®.

  2. Status says Sending and how many programs are receiving it. If it says the runtime is missing, Download NDI opens the download for your system.

  3. Keep the projection open. Without it, videos pause, on NDI too. If you only stream and don't use a projector, the projection opens as a window on your screen.

  • Name: how other programs list it, as “COMPUTER (name)”. The default is “Himnova Live”.
  • Resolution: 720p or 1080p (1080p by default). 1080p needs a gigabit (1 Gbps) network cable on both computers. Over Wi-Fi or a 100 Mbps cable, choose 720p.
  • Frames per second: 30 or 60 (30 by default). 60 sends twice as much data, so use it only over a gigabit cable.
  • Sound (on by default): the app's sound (videos, music, hymns), without any other sound from the computer. On Linux it sends all of the computer's sound, so close other programs that play sound. It needs Windows 10 version 2004 or later, or macOS 14.2 or later. Status shows whether sound is being sent and its peak level.
  • Sound sync: if the sound reaches OBS before the picture, raise it, and if it arrives after, lower it (from −200 to +400 ms).
  • It sends exactly what the projector shows, including BLACK, LOGO and overlays, so there's nothing extra to manage during the service.
  • In the welcome, the Streaming step turns it on with Yes, we stream.

The first time: allow network and audio access

  • Windows: Windows Firewall asks about “Himnova Live media engine”. Click “Allow access” (“Allow” on Windows 11), or other computers will see the source but get no picture.
  • macOS: it asks whether Himnova Live can access the local network. Click “Allow”. If you said no, turn Himnova Live on in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network. The picture comes back on its own; you don't need to restart.
  • macOS, with Sound on: it asks whether Himnova Live can record system audio. Click “Allow”. Otherwise the audio arrives silent, and Status tells you so. To change it later, turn Himnova Live on in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Screen & System Audio Recording and restart Himnova Live.

Receive it in OBS

  1. On the OBS computer, install the NDI runtime (see above) and the DistroAV (opens in a new tab) plugin, which adds NDI to OBS. If DistroAV doesn't load, update OBS, since newer DistroAV versions need a recent OBS.

  2. In your scene, add an NDI source and choose “COMPUTER (Himnova Live)” in its properties.

Warning: Both computers have to be on the same network. If the source shows up with no picture, check the network permission from the previous section on the computer running the projection. If both use a VPN (ZeroTier, Tailscale), the receiving program may connect through it and the picture will stutter. Turn the VPN off while you stream.

Something didn't work the way the guide says? Tell us on GitHub what you did, what you expected and what happened, and we'll see whether the app or the guide needs fixing. Report a problem (opens in a new tab)

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