How to Read Live Text Logs in OBS Studio

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to display a live-updating text log file from an external server using the “Text (GDI+)” source in OBS Studio. Because OBS requires a local file path to read text dynamically, you will learn how to continuously sync the remote log file to your local machine and configure OBS to display those real-time updates on your stream.

Step 1: Sync the Remote Log File to Your Local Machine

The “Text (GDI+)” source in OBS Studio cannot natively read a raw text URL from an external server; it must reference a local file. To bridge this gap, you need a simple script to download and update the log file locally in the background.

For Windows users, you can use a basic PowerShell script to fetch the file at regular intervals:

  1. Open Notepad and paste the following script:
$url = "http://yourserver.com/log.txt"
$localPath = "C:\OBS_Logs\live_log.txt"
$interval = 2 # Time in seconds between updates

while ($true) {
    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $url -OutFile $localPath
    Start-Sleep -Seconds $interval
}
  1. Replace http://yourserver.com/log.txt with the URL of your remote log.
  2. Replace C:\OBS_Logs\live_log.txt with your desired local file destination.
  3. Save the file as sync_log.ps1.
  4. Right-click the saved file and select Run with PowerShell to start the sync process.

Step 2: Add the Text (GDI+) Source in OBS Studio

Once the local text file is being updated by your script, you can configure OBS to read it.

  1. Launch OBS Studio.
  2. In the Sources dock, click the + (Add) icon and select Text (GDI+).
  3. Name the source (e.g., “Live Server Log”) and click OK.
  4. In the properties window, check the box labeled Read from file.
  5. Click Browse and navigate to the local file path where your script is saving the text (e.g., C:\OBS_Logs\live_log.txt).
  6. Click OK.

Step 3: Customize the Display and Refresh Settings

OBS Studio automatically monitors the local text file for changes. When the PowerShell script overwrites the file with new data from the external server, OBS will instantly update the text on your screen.