How to Set Up Dual PC Streaming with OBS NDI

Setting up a dual-PC streaming configuration allows you to dedicate one computer to gaming and another to broadcasting, ensuring maximum gaming performance and optimal stream quality. This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough on how to connect your gaming and streaming PCs using the NDI (Network Device Interface) plugin in OBS Studio. By utilizing your local network, this method eliminates the need for a physical capture card while delivering high-quality, low-latency video and audio from one machine to the other.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure both your gaming and streaming PCs are connected to the same local network using wired Ethernet cables. A Gigabit network switch or router is highly recommended, as Wi-Fi does not have the stable bandwidth required for high-bitrate NDI video transmission.

Step 1: Install OBS Studio and the NDI Plugin

You must install the necessary software on both the gaming and streaming computers.

  1. Download and install OBS Studio on both PCs.
  2. Download the obs-ndi plugin. You will need to download two components: the NDI core runtime and the obs-ndi plugin installer matching your operating system.
  3. Install both the runtime and the plugin on both computers.
  4. Restart both computers after installation to ensure the system recognizes the NDI integration.

Step 2: Configure the Gaming PC (Sender)

The gaming PC will capture your gameplay and send the audio and video feed over your network.

  1. Open OBS Studio on your gaming PC.
  2. Set up your game capture, overlays, and audio sources exactly how you want them to appear.
  3. Click on Tools in the top menu bar and select NDI Output Settings.
  4. Check the box for Main Output.
  5. Give your output a recognizable name, such as “Gaming PC”.
  6. Click OK. OBS Studio is now broadcasting your gaming screen and audio to your local network.

Step 3: Configure the Streaming PC (Receiver)

The streaming PC will receive the network broadcast from your gaming PC and encode it to your streaming platform (such as Twitch or YouTube).

  1. Open OBS Studio on your streaming PC.
  2. Under the Scenes box, create a new scene.
  3. Under the Sources box, click the + (Add) icon and select NDI Source.
  4. Name the source (e.g., “Gaming PC Input”) and click OK.
  5. In the properties window, click the Source Name dropdown menu. You should see the name of your gaming PC output (e.g., “Gaming PC”) listed. Select it.
  6. Set the Bandwidth to Highest to ensure maximum video quality.
  7. Click OK. Your gaming PC’s screen feed should now appear in the preview window on your streaming PC.

Step 4: Sync Audio and Optimize Settings

To ensure smooth playback and prevent audio sync issues:

  1. On the streaming PC, open the properties of your NDI Source.
  2. Ensure the Sync setting is set to Network or Source Timing depending on which provides smoother playback for your network configuration.
  3. Configure your stream encoding settings (bitrate, encoder, and resolution) in the Settings > Output menu of the streaming PC.
  4. Click Start Streaming on the streaming PC to begin your broadcast.