What is an OBS Browser Source?

A Browser Source embeds a web page inside an OBS scene. By default OBS applies custom CSS that makes the page background transparent, which is why it works well for lyric and scripture overlays.

Do I need a plugin to get lyrics into OBS with a Browser Source?

No. Browser Source is built into OBS on Windows, macOS and Linux. NDI, by contrast, needs the DistroAV plugin and the NDI runtime.

Can the livestream show different lyrics styling from the room?

Yes. In OpenMico each output can have its own theme and layout, so the room can show full-screen lyrics while the stream shows a lower-third style.

Do we need a licence to show lyrics on our livestream?

Generally, yes. CCLI's Streaming Licence, an add-on to the Church Copyright Licence, covers covered songs performed in online services, including lyrics on screen. Check CCLI's terms for your church; this is not legal advice.

Church Livestream Lyrics in OBS: Browser Source Setup Guide

The simplest way to add church livestream lyrics in OBS is to use a Browser Source: your presentation software serves the lyrics as a web page, and OBS overlays that page on your camera shot with a transparent background. OpenMico includes a Network/Browser Source output for exactly this, and because each output has its own theme, you can give the stream a tidy lower-third style while the room keeps its full-screen lyrics.

This guide covers why lower thirds work better online, how to set up the Browser Source step by step, how to design a separate stream theme, how to test it, and how to fix the problems volunteers most often run into.

Why do livestream lyrics need a different look?

In the room, people look at the screen when they want the words and at the band when they do not. Online, the screen is all they have. If you send full-screen lyric slides to the stream, viewers lose sight of the people leading worship, and the service feels more like a karaoke video than a gathered church.

A lower third solves this. The lyrics sit in a band across the bottom of the frame, usually one or two lines at a time, while the camera shot stays visible above. Viewers can sing along and still see faces, which keeps the stream feeling personal.

Element	In the room	On the livestream
Position	Full screen	Lower third of the frame
Lines per slide	2 to 4	1 to 2
Background	Image, video or solid colour	None (transparent) or a subtle band
Text size	Large enough for the back row	Large enough for a phone screen
Credits	First or last slide	Small, or shown once at the start

What do you need before you start?

OpenMico installed on the presentation computer, with the songs in the library and the service in the Schedule.
OBS Studio on the streaming computer. This can be the same machine, but a separate streaming computer is more reliable for most churches.
A network connection between the two, ideally wired Ethernet, if you use separate computers.
A stream theme in OpenMico designed for the lower third (we cover this below).

If you have not projected lyrics before, start with our guide on how to project song lyrics in church and come back once the room setup is working.

How do you add OpenMico lyrics to OBS with a Browser Source?

Follow these steps. The exact location of each setting in OpenMico is described in the outputs documentation.

Add a Network/Browser Source output in OpenMico. This output serves your presentation over HTTP so OBS can load it as a web page.
Assign the stream theme to that output. Each output can have its own theme and layout, so choose your lower-third theme here rather than the room theme.
Copy the output's address. You will paste this into OBS.
In OBS, open the scene you use for worship (for example, "Worship – wide shot").
Add a source. Click the plus button under Sources, choose Browser, and give it a clear name such as "OpenMico lyrics".
Paste the address into the URL field. Make sure Local file is unticked.
Set the width and height to match your OBS canvas, for example 1920 × 1080 for a 1080p stream. The default of 800 × 600 will not line up with a full-HD canvas.
Leave the default Custom CSS in place. By default it sets a transparent background, no margins and no scrollbars, which is what you want for an overlay.
Consider unticking "Shut down source when not visible". If it is ticked, OBS unloads the page when you switch away from the scene and reloads it when you come back, which can cause a short gap.
Make sure the Browser Source sits above the camera in the Sources list, so the lyrics draw on top.
Click OK, then send a lyric slide to Live in OpenMico. The words should appear over your camera shot.

Repeat the Browser Source in every scene that needs lyrics, or add it once to a nested scene and reuse that scene, so you only ever have to change the settings in one place.

How do you design a lower-third stream theme?

Create a separate theme in OpenMico's theme designer for the stream, then assign it only to the Network/Browser Source output. Some guidelines:

Put the text in the bottom quarter of the frame, leaving safe space at the edges so nothing is cut off on phones or smart TVs.
Use one or two lines at a time. Shorter lines suit a lower third; the room slides can stay longer.
Remove the full-screen background so the camera shows through. If you need extra legibility, use a subtle text shadow or a semi-transparent band behind the words rather than a solid block.
Pick a strong, simple typeface and test it on a phone, which is where many people watch.
Keep it consistent with your church's look, but prioritise readability over branding.

Because the room and stream themes are independent, the operator only drives one set of slides. When they advance a slide, both outputs change together, each in its own style.

How should you test the livestream lyrics?

Test before Sunday, not during the first song. A short routine:

Run a full song through Live with OBS open and check every slide fits the lower third without wrapping onto three lines.
Check a long line. Find the wordiest line in your set and make sure it still fits.
Switch scenes in OBS and confirm the lyrics are there when you return.
Watch a private or unlisted test stream on a phone. What looks fine on a 24-inch monitor can be tiny on a phone.
Clear the screen in OpenMico and confirm the overlay disappears completely, leaving only the camera.
Restart both computers and check the Browser Source reconnects. This tells you what will happen if something reboots on a Sunday.

What are the most common Browser Source problems?

Problem	Likely cause	What to try
Source is blank	Wrong address, OpenMico closed, or output not enabled	Recheck the address, confirm the output is running, press Refresh in the source properties
Works on one computer, not across the network	Firewall blocking the connection, or the computers are on different networks	Allow OpenMico through the firewall on the presentation computer; put both on the same wired network
Solid block covering the camera	The stream theme has a full-screen background	Remove the background in the stream theme, and check the default Custom CSS is still in place
Lyrics cut off or in the wrong place	Browser Source size does not match the canvas	Set width and height to the canvas size, then reset the transform in OBS
Short gap when switching scenes	"Shut down source when not visible" is on	Untick it, or use a nested scene
Lyrics look stuttery during transitions	Low frame rate, or a busy streaming computer	Check the custom FPS setting and the computer's load
Address stopped working after a reboot	The presentation computer's network address changed	Give the presentation computer a fixed address on your network, or update the URL

If you are still stuck, the troubleshooting guide covers further checks.

Should you use Browser Source or NDI?

For most churches, Browser Source is the easiest place to start. It is built into OBS, needs no plugin, and is light on the network. NDI is worth considering if you use other production software, want to send the same feed to several machines, or already run NDI cameras. Note that OpenMico's NDI output is video only, needs a compatible NDI runtime, and audio is routed separately. Our beginner's guide to NDI for churches compares the options in detail.

A note on streaming licences

Showing worship lyrics online is not covered by the standard Church Copyright Licence alone. CCLI's Streaming Licence is an add-on that covers live performance of covered songs in online services, including lyrics on screen. It does not override platform terms, so takedown notices can still happen. In the UK, check whether you also need any further licence for your streaming platform. This is general information, not legal advice; check CCLI's terms for your church.

Getting your stream lyrics live

A Browser Source and a dedicated lower-third theme are usually all a church needs for clear, professional-looking livestream lyrics. Set it up once, test it on a phone, and your online congregation can sing along without losing sight of the people leading them.

OpenMico's Network/Browser Source output, NDI output and per-output themes are part of the free core app, and you can read more on the worship lyrics projection page. When you are ready, download OpenMico and try it with your own stream.