Live Screen Output

The live screen is the output URL that displays your overlays in real time. It is designed to be used as a browser source in streaming software like OBS, vMix, or similar tools.

How It Works

Each tenant has one or more screen output URLs. When you send an overlay (person, song, bible verse) from the Playout interface, it appears on the live screen in real time. The screen has a transparent background, making it perfect for layering over a video feed.

Screen URLs

Playout provides two types of screen URLs:

Standard Screen

https://your-instance.playout.studio/{tenant}/screens/{screenId}

This is the basic screen output tied directly to a screen configuration.

Production Unit Screen

https://your-instance.playout.studio/{tenant}/screens/{productionUnit}/{screenId}

This variant is tied to a specific production unit, allowing you to have different overlay outputs for different production setups.

TIP

You can find your screen IDs in the Screens configuration tab within an event.

Setting Up in OBS

1. In OBS, add a new Browser Source
2. Paste your screen URL into the URL field
3. Set the Width and Height to match your stream resolution (e.g., 1920×1080)
4. Ensure Shutdown source when not visible is unchecked so the connection stays alive

WARNING

The live screen URL is publicly accessible — anyone with the link can view it. It does not require authentication. Treat it as a semi-private URL.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Overlays not appearing	Verify the screen URL and screen ID are correct. Check that the event is started.
Transparent background shows as white	Ensure your streaming software supports transparent browser sources. In OBS, this works by default.
Overlays appear delayed	Check your network connection. The screen uses real-time Firestore listeners, so delays typically indicate network latency.
Wrong language or Bible version	Check your screen configuration — each screen has its own language and Bible version setting.