Integrate Sports Radar or Timer Overlay in OBS Studio

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to integrate external sports radar data or live timer overlays into OBS Studio. You will learn how to connect these external tools using browser sources, window captures with chroma keying, and specialized NDI connections to elevate the production value of your sports broadcasts.

Most modern sports radar systems, speed guns, and digital timers generate a web-based overlay hosted on a local network IP address or a public URL. This is the cleanest and most efficient way to bring data into OBS.

  1. Obtain the Overlay URL: Open your sports radar or timer software and locate the “web overlay,” “HTML output,” or “OBS link” settings. Copy the provided URL.
  2. Add Source in OBS: Open OBS Studio, go to the Sources dock at the bottom, click the + icon, and select Browser.
  3. Configure the Source:
    • Name the source (e.g., “Speed Radar”) and click OK.
    • In the URL field, paste the link you copied from your radar/timer software.
    • If the overlay is a file saved on your computer, check the Local file box and browse to select the HTML file.
  4. Set Dimensions: Match the width and height to your stream resolution (e.g., 1920x1080) or the specific dimensions recommended by the software.
  5. Apply and Position: Click OK. The overlay will appear on your screen with a transparent background. Drag and resize it to your desired position.

Method 2: Using Window Capture with Chroma Key

If your radar or timer software runs as a traditional desktop application without a web output, you can capture the program window directly and filter out the background.

  1. Prepare the Software: Launch your sports radar or timer application. If possible, set the application’s background color to a solid green, blue, or black.
  2. Add Window Capture in OBS: In OBS Studio, click the + icon in the Sources dock and select Window Capture. Name it and click OK.
  3. Select the Window: Choose your radar/timer application from the Window dropdown menu and click OK.
  4. Apply a Chroma Key Filter:
    • Right-click the Window Capture source you just created and select Filters.
    • Click the + icon under Effect Filters and select Chroma Key (or Color Key if using a black/white background).
    • Select your key color type (Green or Blue) to make the background transparent.
    • Adjust the Similarity and Smoothness sliders until only the numbers and text of your radar/timer remain visible.
    • Click Close.

Method 3: Using NDI (Network Device Interface)

For professional timing and graphics systems (such as those running on a separate computer), NDI allows you to send high-quality, transparent video overlays over a local network.

  1. Install OBS-NDI: Download and install the obs-ndi plugin for OBS Studio.
  2. Enable NDI in Timing Software: Turn on NDI output in your external sports graphics or timing application.
  3. Add NDI Source in OBS: In OBS Studio, click the + icon in the Sources dock and select NDI Source.
  4. Select the Source: Click the Source name dropdown, select your timing software feed, and click OK. The graphics will render instantly in OBS with alpha-channel transparency.