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DistroAV

How to Set Up an NDI Output in OBS Studio

Use DistroAV (formerly OBS-NDI) to send OBS Studio’s main program view over NDI. Check version requirements, install the plugin, and troubleshoot discovery issues.

By DocumentaryTube Team 4 min read
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To send OBS Studio’s program feed to another device over NDI, install the current third-party plugin, DistroAV (formerly OBS-NDI), confirm that your OBS and NDI versions meet its requirements, then enable its NDI Output feature. Do not add an NDI Source for this job: that feature brings an external NDI feed into OBS instead of sending OBS out.

What you need before setting up NDI Output

  • OBS Studio: DistroAV’s current listing requires OBS Studio 31.1.1 or newer and supports 64-bit Windows, macOS, and Linux. OBS plugins can have additional operating-system or architecture limits, or may lag behind a newer OBS release.
  • DistroAV: NDI says it does not provide an official OBS plugin; it identifies DistroAV, formerly OBS-NDI, as the third-party option for NDI workflows in OBS. The DistroAV listing identifies version 6.2.0, last updated April 21, 2026.
  • NDI runtime: DistroAV’s 6.2.0 release notes specify NDI SDK 6.3.0 or newer; NDI’s OBS overview describes the requirement as NDI Runtime 6.3 or newer. Follow the matching release’s install instructions and requirements, since these can change.
  • A receiving device or application: NDI carries audio and video over IP, so the destination must be able to discover or receive the NDI feed on your network. A new cable is not inherently required; an existing network may be sufficient.

Check the DistroAV listing, its release notes, and NDI’s OBS documentation just before installing. Requirements and installer behavior are release-specific.

Choose the correct DistroAV feature

Feature Direction What it does
NDI Output OBS to the network Sends OBS’s main program view over NDI. Choose this to transmit the composed OBS output.
NDI Source Network into OBS Receives an external NDI feed as an OBS source. This is not the outgoing program feed.
NDI Filter A selected OBS source or scene to the network Outputs its parent source or scene. The plugin listing says audio works only with video capture sources, media sources, and VLC sources.

The DistroAV listing describes the plugin as adding audio/video input and output over IP using NDI technology. For a full OBS program feed, use NDI Output; use a filter when you specifically need to send one source or scene.

Install DistroAV and enable an NDI Output

  1. Check your OBS version and platform. In OBS, check the installed version from its Help/About area, and confirm that your system is 64-bit Windows, macOS, or Linux. Compare these with the current DistroAV requirements before downloading.
  2. Install DistroAV using the current instructions for your operating system. Meet the release’s NDI runtime or SDK requirement as part of setup. DistroAV 6.2.0 notes describe a one-click installer for missing requirements on Windows and macOS. Earlier 6.1.1 notes documented Winget for Windows, Homebrew for macOS, and Flathub for Linux; treat those as routes documented for that release, not permanent instructions.
  3. Remove an older OBS-NDI installation before moving to DistroAV 6.x. NDI’s documentation directs users to remove the old plugin to avoid conflicts. DistroAV’s 6.0.0 update says the project was renamed and old OBS-NDI should be uninstalled for the 6.x migration; it says settings transfer automatically.
  4. Restart OBS. After installation, reopen OBS and look for DistroAV’s NDI output controls. The exact dialog labels and menu sequence are not established consistently across operating systems and versions, so use the instructions for your installed release and the labels shown in the app rather than relying on an old guide’s Tools-menu path.
  5. Enable NDI Output for the main program view. Use DistroAV’s NDI Output control to transmit the main OBS program feed. If your goal is to send only one scene or source, use the NDI Filter feature instead. Confirm the receiving application or device is looking for the NDI sender on the network.

OBS’s plugin guide notes that plugins may be constrained by platform or architecture, may not yet support your OBS version, and can require a different installation target for portable or custom installations. Prefer DistroAV’s current installer and documentation to manually copying plugin files.

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Troubleshoot a missing output or undiscovered feed

NDI controls do not appear in OBS

  • Confirm that DistroAV is installed and loaded, then restart OBS.
  • Compare your OBS version and NDI runtime/SDK with the requirements for the installed DistroAV release. The minimums have changed: 6.1.1 notes cited OBS 31+ and NDI 6+, while 6.2.0 specifies OBS 31.1.1 and SDK 6.3.0.
  • Check operating system and architecture compatibility. For a portable or custom OBS installation, check whether the installer needs its target changed to the custom data/plugins directory.
  • If OBS-NDI was previously installed, remove it before installing DistroAV 6.x to avoid plugin conflicts.
  • On Windows or macOS, consult the 6.2.0 installer notes about missing requirements; that release describes a one-click installer and improved handling of missing requirements.

The receiver cannot find the NDI feed

  • Verify that the output is enabled and that the receiving application is set up to discover or receive NDI on the network.
  • Check firewall and network permissions on both ends. DistroAV 6.1.1 release notes mention adding Windows firewall rules, but installing the plugin alone does not guarantee discovery.
  • Use the current DistroAV troubleshooting guidance for network discovery issues. A wired Ethernet connection is an optional network choice, not a stated plugin prerequisite.

The receiver sees the wrong picture or no audio

  • If the receiver needs OBS’s complete composed program, confirm that you enabled NDI Output rather than adding an NDI Source or applying an NDI Filter to a different source.
  • If using NDI Filter, note its audio limitation: the listing specifies audio support only for video capture, media, and VLC sources.
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