Output OBS Multiview to a Monitor via DeckLink

This guide explains how to route the OBS Studio Multiview layout to an external physical monitor using a Blackmagic Design DeckLink PCIe card. Because DeckLink cards do not act as standard OS graphics card outputs, you cannot simply drag the OBS Multiview window onto them. Instead, you must configure OBS Studio’s DeckLink integration to send a custom multiview scene or a preview feed directly to the card.

Step 1: Prepare Your Hardware and Drivers

Before configuring OBS Studio, ensure your Blackmagic hardware and drivers are correctly installed.

  1. Install the DeckLink card into your computer’s PCIe slot.
  2. Connect the SDI or HDMI output of the DeckLink card to your physical monitoring screen.
  3. Download and install the latest Blackmagic Desktop Video drivers from the Blackmagic Design website.
  4. Open the Blackmagic Desktop Video Setup utility to confirm your computer detects the DeckLink card and that the output format matches your monitor’s resolution and refresh rate (e.g., 1080p at 59.94Hz).

Step 2: Create a Custom Multiview Scene in OBS

Since the native OBS “Multiview” window cannot be directly selected in the DeckLink output tool, the most reliable method is to create a dedicated “Multiview Scene” using nested scenes.

  1. Open OBS Studio and create a new scene named “DeckLink Multiview”.
  2. Click the + icon in the Sources dock and select Scene.
  3. Choose one of your existing camera or media scenes to nest inside this new scene.
  4. Resize and position the nested scene to fit into one quadrant of your canvas.
  5. Repeat this process for all the scenes/inputs you want to monitor, arranging them in a grid (e.g., a 2x2 or 3x3 layout).
  6. (Optional) Add audio bars, labels, or a clock to the scene using text and browser sources to complete your custom multiview layout.

Once your custom multiview scene is built, you need to route it through the DeckLink card.

  1. Ensure Studio Mode is enabled in OBS Studio (click the “Studio Mode” button in the Controls dock).
  2. In the transitions bar or settings, ensure your DeckLink Multiview scene is set to the Preview window (left side), while your active broadcast remains in the Program window (right side).
  3. Go to the top menu and select Tools > DeckLink Output.
  4. In the DeckLink Output settings window, configure the following:
    • Device: Select your connected DeckLink card from the dropdown menu.
    • Mode: Match the resolution and frame rate of your physical monitor (e.g., 1080p59.94).
    • Output: Change this setting from “Program” to “Preview”.
  5. Click the Start button.

The custom multiview layout visible in your OBS Preview window will now be broadcast in real-time over the physical SDI/HDMI connection of your DeckLink card to your monitor.