Hurttimurtti https://www.hurttimurtti.org/ Official Website Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:46:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.hurttimurtti.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/cropped-Hurttimurtti_Logo-32x32.png Hurttimurtti https://www.hurttimurtti.org/ 32 32 Multi‑Camera Production with OBS and Smartphones via NDI https://www.hurttimurtti.org/multi%e2%80%91camera-production-with-obs-and-smartphones-via-ndi/ Mon, 18 Aug 2025 12:50:33 +0000 https://www.hurttimurtti.org/?p=2521 Introduction This guide explains how to build a multi‑camera setup using OBS Studio, the NDI protocol, and smartphones as cameras. Traditionally, multi‑camera productions require expensive hardware and cabling, but NDI allows video and audio to be transmitted over a standard local network. By combining this with the free OBS Studio software and NDI HX Camera apps […]

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Introduction

This guide explains how to build a multi‑camera setup using OBS Studio, the NDI protocol, and smartphones as cameras. Traditionally, multi‑camera productions require expensive hardware and cabling, but NDI allows video and audio to be transmitted over a standard local network.

By combining this with the free OBS Studio software and NDI HX Camera apps for your phones, you get an inexpensive and flexible solution: existing iOS or Android phones become wireless cameras that you can control in OBS and switch between seamlessly.

The system is cost‑effective because you only need one computer, a reliable Wi‑Fi network and your phones—there’s no need for separate capture cards or expensive professional cameras. NDI also offers low latency, making it suitable for live streaming and smaller productions such as online training sessions, podcasts and event broadcasts.

1. Preparation

  • Shared network – NDI transmits video and audio over an IP network. For best results, connect your computer and phones to the same 5 GHz Wi‑Fi network or a wired Ethernet network. A weak network can cause delay and artifacts.
  • OBS version and plug‑ins – Install OBS Studio version 30.0.0 or newer (Qt6, x64/ARM64/Apple Silicon) on all machines. Also install the NDI plug‑ins:
    • Download the DistroAV NDI plug‑in from the OBS plug‑in directory.
    • Remove any old OBS‑NDI versions before installing.
    • Install the plug‑in after OBS is installed and reboot your machine to ensure proper loading.
    • Download and install NDI Runtime 6 or later.
  • Smartphone app – Install NDI HX Camera (available for iOS and Android). The app turns your phone into an NDI source; the stream is automatically recognized by NDI‑compatible receivers on the same network. You can choose bandwidth (high/medium/low), swap between front and rear cameras, zoom, lock focus, adjust exposure and control the device’s light or microphone.

2. Enable NDI Output in OBS

  1. Open OBS and go to Tools → Distro AV NDI® Settings.
  2. Enable Main Output and/or Preview Output and optionally name the output (e.g., “OBS‑StudioPC”). This broadcasts your entire OBS output as an NDI stream.

3. Prepare Your Smartphones

  1. Install and open NDI HX Camera on each phone.
  2. Connect the phone to the same Wi‑Fi network as your computer. If using the Camera for OBS Studio app, open the app’s preferences, go to the Output tab, select NewTek NDI output, and confirm; the status label should show NDI.
  3. Set the resolution and bandwidth (high/medium/low) to suit your network. Lower bandwidth can help on weaker Wi‑Fi.
  4. Choose the front or rear camera and adjust focus/exposure as neededobsproject.com.

4. Add Phones as NDI Sources in OBS

  1. Create a new Scene in OBS and add an NDI Source (Add → NDI Source).
  2. From the list, select the phone’s NDI streamobs.camera. Repeat for each phone in its own scene. If a device doesn’t appear, wait a few seconds and ensure everything is on the same network.
  3. Resize or crop the video as needed. You can create picture‑in‑picture layouts by adding multiple NDI sources to one scene.

5. Producing with Multiple Cameras

  • Switch scenes: Use OBS’s Studio Mode to preview and cut between scenes, or assign hotkeys for quicker switching.
  • Tally and preview: NDI HX Camera shows an on‑screen tally indicator (preview/on‑air), which helps presenters know which camera is live.
  • Audio: Smartphones can send audio via NDI, but for more control consider using a separate audio source (e.g., mixing board via NDI audio). You can add an Audio Sync filter in OBS if you notice lip‑sync issues.
  • Bandwidth and number of devices: Each NDI source consumes network bandwidth. If you use many phones, ensure your Wi‑Fi supports the required bandwidth (802.11ac/ax is recommended). Consider USB‑Ethernet adapters for wired connections.

6. Tips and Additional Considerations

  • Power and heat: Streaming over NDI can drain the phone’s battery and generate heat. Provide external power and allow airflow.
  • Test beforehand: Run a test stream to check delay and synchronization. Adjust audio sync in OBS if necessary.
  • Expandability: OBS supports other NDI devices (e.g., PTZ cameras, screen sharing). NDI allows video and audio sharing between different computers and software.

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