Setup OBS SRT Listener for Low Latency LAN Stream

This guide explains how to configure OBS Studio to broadcast high-quality, low-latency video across your local area network (LAN) using the Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) protocol in listener mode. You will learn how to configure OBS as an SRT host, optimize your encoder settings for sub-second delay, and connect receiving devices on your network to view the broadcast.

Step 1: Find Your Local IP Address

To connect other devices to your OBS stream, you need the local IP address of the computer running OBS.

Keep this IP address ready for the final step.

Step 2: Configure OBS Stream Settings

Instead of pushing the stream to an external server, you will configure OBS to wait for incoming connections from your local network.

  1. Open OBS Studio and go to Settings > Stream.
  2. Set the Service dropdown to Custom….
  3. In the Server field, enter the following URL: srt://0.0.0.0:9999?mode=listener&latency=120000
    • Note: 0.0.0.0 tells OBS to listen on all available network adapters. 9999 is the port number (you can change this if needed). latency=120000 sets the SRT latency buffer to 120 milliseconds (measured in microseconds).
  4. Leave the Stream Key field completely blank.
  5. Click Apply.

Step 3: Optimize Encoder Settings for Low Latency

To achieve the lowest possible latency over your LAN, you must optimize your video encoder settings to prevent frame buffering.

  1. In the OBS Settings window, navigate to Output.
  2. Change the Output Mode dropdown at the top to Advanced.
  3. Under the Streaming tab, select your hardware encoder (such as NVIDIA NVENC H.264 or AMD HW H.264) or x264 if hardware encoding is unavailable.
  4. Set Rate Control to CBR (Constant Bitrate).
  5. Set the Bitrate according to your network capability. For a high-quality 1080p60 local stream, 6000 Kbps to 10000 Kbps is recommended.
  6. Set Keyframe Interval to 1s or 2s.
  7. Set your Preset to a low-latency option (e.g., Low-Latency or Fastest / Speed).
  8. Set Max B-frames (or B-frames) to 0. Disabling B-frames is critical for achieving sub-second latency.
  9. Click OK to save and close the settings.
  10. Click Start Streaming in the main OBS window. OBS is now running as an active SRT listener on your network.

Step 4: Receive the SRT Stream on Other Devices

You can now connect to your OBS stream from any computer, tablet, or media player connected to the same local network.

Option A: Viewing in VLC Media Player

  1. Open VLC on the receiving device.
  2. Go to Media (or File on macOS) > Open Network Stream.
  3. Enter the SRT URL using the IP address of the OBS computer: srt://[OBS-Computer-IP]:9999?mode=caller (Example: srt://192.168.1.50:9999?mode=caller)
  4. Click Play to start the low-latency stream.

Option B: Viewing in another OBS Studio instance

  1. Open OBS Studio on the receiving computer.
  2. Add a new Media Source to your Sources list.
  3. Uncheck the box for Local File.
  4. In the Input field, enter: srt://[OBS-Computer-IP]:9999?mode=caller
  5. In the Input Format field, type mpegts.
  6. Set Network Buffering to 1 MB (or the lowest setting) to keep latency minimal.
  7. Click OK to view the incoming network stream.