Video Switchers and Routers
OBS Studio automated camera switching
Switch OBS Studio scenes from your radio microphones. VRA connects camera angles and studio actions to the scenes you already use. OBS keeps mixing, recording and streaming the video.
Watch it work.
How OBS and VRA work together.
Scene state is mirrored
VRA reads the active OBS scene and the available scene list. Commands and operator panels therefore use the names already configured in OBS.
Scenes join the camera workflow
An OBS scene change can be attached to a camera angle, microphone trigger, dashboard button or macro, just like a hardware-switcher command.
Output Player can arrive over NDI
Send graphics from VRA Output Player over NDI and add that source to OBS using an NDI input plugin. OBS receives the picture separately from the websocket control connection.
Recording can follow the show
VRA can start and stop OBS recording from a media connection, allowing the same studio actions that run the show to handle the recording state.
How to set it up.
Requirements
- OBS Studio 28 or newer with obs-websocket v5 enabled.
- VRA Core with network access to the OBS host and websocket port.
- The websocket password when authentication is enabled.
- Scenes already created and named in OBS.
- An OBS NDI input plugin when receiving VRA graphics over NDI. Scene switching alone does not require it.
Install OBS Studio 28 or newer and build the scenes required for the production.
In OBS, open Tools, WebSocket Server Settings. Enable the server, note the port and set an authentication password. The default port is
4455.In VRA Cloud, add a Live Switcher, choose OBS and enter the OBS machine's host, port and password.
Save the connection and confirm that VRA shows the current programme scene and available scene names.
Test a scene change. Then assign OBS scene commands to camera angles, macros or automation.
OBS questions
Which OBS version does VRA require? +
Use OBS Studio 28 or newer with obs-websocket v5. Older websocket plugin versions use a different protocol and are not the connection described here.
What port should I enter for OBS? +
obs-websocket v5 uses port 4455 by default. Enter the actual port shown in OBS when the server has been changed from that default.
Can VRA control OBS overlays like an ATEM downstream key? +
VRA's OBS connection is scene based and does not expose the ATEM downstream-key workflow. Build the required source visibility into OBS scenes or macros and switch those scenes from VRA.
Does OBS have to run on the VRA Core computer? +
No. It may run on another machine, provided VRA Core can reach the websocket host and port and the firewall allows that connection.
OBS Project
About OBS.
OBS Studio is open-source software for video switching, compositing, recording and streaming. Version 28 and newer includes obs-websocket v5 for remote control.
VRA uses that websocket connection to mirror scene state and call OBS actions. OBS still renders and distributes the video. VRA links those actions to cameras, microphones, rundowns and operator macros.
What you can do with this connection
Automated camera switching for radio
Switch cameras from microphone activity and prepare PTZ shots off air.
More infoTurn your radio show into social media clips
Cut interviews, crop for social media and add subtitles from your studio recording.
More infoAutomated live graphics for radio
Update song titles, presenter names and show details from your automation and schedule.
More infoThe products behind it.
More integrations.
vMix
Use vMix with VRA for automatic camera switching, radio graphics over NDI and recording control. Keep your existing video production setup.
Blackmagic ATEM
Automate Blackmagic ATEM camera switching with VRA. Use microphone triggers, control programme and preview, and run keys and stored ATEM macros.
Check your studio setup with us.
Tell us your camera models, video switcher and radio automation. We will check the connections and show you the workflow that fits your station.