OBS Teleport is an OBS Studio plugin designed to facilitate multi-machine streaming setups by offering an open alternative for transmitting OBS Studio scenes between computers over a Local Area Network (LAN). It acts as a straightforward, NDI-like replacement, specifically for users who need to send content from one OBS instance to another without relying on NDI technology.
Understanding OBS Teleport's Purpose
At its core, OBS Teleport addresses the common challenge faced by streamers and content creators who use multiple computers for their production pipeline. Instead of a single powerful machine handling everything, setups often involve a dedicated gaming PC and a separate streaming PC, or additional machines for capturing specific sources. OBS Teleport provides a solution to transmit video feeds (OBS scenes) from auxiliary OBS instances to the main streaming machine, all within the confines of a local network.
Key characteristics include:
- OBS Studio Plugin: It integrates directly into OBS Studio, leveraging its existing functionalities.
- Open Alternative: It positions itself as an open-source option, distinct from proprietary solutions.
- NDI-like Functionality: While offering similar capabilities to NDI for scene transmission, it maintains no NDI compatibility whatsoever. It's designed as an entirely separate, alternative system.
- LAN-Based: Operations are confined to a Local Area Network, making it ideal for home or studio setups.
- Multi-Machine Focus: Specifically built for setups where multiple computers are involved in the streaming process.
Key Features and Benefits
OBS Teleport simplifies complex streaming workflows by enabling seamless scene sharing.
| Feature Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Scene Transmission | Allows you to send entire OBS scenes, including all their sources and filters, from one OBS instance to another. |
| Multi-PC Support | Designed for setups with a "sender" PC (e.g., a gaming rig) and a "receiver" PC (e.g., a dedicated streaming rig), facilitating efficient workload distribution. |
| Open & Simple | Offers a straightforward, easy-to-implement solution without the complexities or licensing often associated with other professional streaming protocols. |
| Local Network | Optimized for performance within a LAN environment, ensuring low latency and high-quality video transfer between connected machines. |
| No NDI Conflict | Crucially, it operates independently of NDI, meaning there are no compatibility issues or conflicts if you choose to use it as a standalone alternative. It does not work with NDI in any form. |
Benefits for streamers and content creators include:
- Reduced Load on Main PC: Offload capture and rendering tasks to a secondary machine, freeing up resources on your primary streaming or gaming PC.
- Flexible Workflows: Easily incorporate multiple cameras, game captures, or remote commentary setups by transmitting them as distinct OBS scenes.
- Cost-Effective: As an open-source plugin, it provides a powerful solution without additional software costs.
How OBS Teleport Works (Conceptual)
In a typical OBS Teleport setup, one OBS Studio instance is configured as the "sender," transmitting a selected scene. Another OBS Studio instance on a different machine within the same LAN acts as the "receiver," ingesting that scene as a source.
Example Scenario:
Imagine you have a powerful gaming PC running OBS Studio to capture your gameplay. You also have a separate, less powerful streaming PC that encodes and broadcasts your stream. With OBS Teleport, your gaming PC can send its OBS scene (containing the game capture, webcam, and overlays) directly to the streaming PC over the LAN. The streaming PC then uses this incoming Teleport stream as a source, adds its own branding or alerts, and streams to platforms like Twitch or YouTube.
Practical Applications
OBS Teleport is incredibly versatile for various streaming and production needs:
- Two-PC Streaming: The most common use case, where a gaming PC sends its output to a dedicated streaming PC.
- Dedicated Camera PC: Use a separate, less powerful PC solely for a high-quality camera feed, sending it to the main streaming rig.
- Remote Commentary/Co-Streaming: If a co-host is on the same LAN, they could send their scene (webcam, mic, their game) to the main streamer's PC.
- Preview and Monitoring: Send a preview of your main stream to another machine for monitoring or to be displayed on a separate screen.
Installation and Usage
As an OBS Studio plugin, OBS Teleport is typically installed by placing the relevant files into the OBS Studio plugin directory. Once installed, it appears as a source or output option within OBS, allowing users to configure sender and receiver instances easily. For detailed installation instructions and to download the plugin, users should refer to the official OBS Studio plugin repositories or the developer's GitHub page, which are the credible sources for such extensions.
OBS Teleport vs. NDI (Clarification)
It's crucial to reiterate that while OBS Teleport offers NDI-like functionality (transmitting video/audio over IP), it is not NDI compatible. It functions as an entirely separate, open alternative. Users should choose based on their existing infrastructure, specific needs, and whether they prefer an open-source solution over a proprietary one like NDI. OBS Teleport provides a robust and simple solution for multi-machine setups within a LAN, specifically for transmitting OBS Studio scenes without any NDI integration.
