The official NDI Tools are a free download for Windows and macOS, with no trial, watermark or time limit, according to the NDI website as of October 2026. Download them only from the official NDI site.

How do I receive NDI in OBS?

Install the DistroAV plugin (formerly obs-ndi) and the NDI 6 Runtime, then add an NDI Source to your scene. As of October 2026, DistroAV 6.2.2 requires OBS 31.1.1 or later.

Does OpenMico's NDI output include audio?

No. OpenMico's NDI output is video only and needs a compatible NDI runtime installed. Route your sound to the stream separately, usually from the mixing desk.

Can NDI run over Wi-Fi?

It may work, but Wi-Fi is widely reported to be unreliable for NDI. Use wired Ethernet between the computers and devices that send and receive NDI.

NDI for Churches: A Beginner's Guide to Video Over Your Network

Q: What does NDI stand for?

NDI stands for Network Device Interface. It is a standard for sending video, audio and metadata over an ordinary IP network with low latency.

NDI for churches is a way to send video from one computer or device to another over your ordinary network cable, instead of running HDMI or SDI leads and buying capture cards. A typical worship setup uses it to send a lyrics or scripture feed from the presentation computer to the livestream computer running OBS. It is powerful and flexible, but it is not always the simplest option, so it is worth knowing when to use it and when a Browser Source or an HDMI capture card will do the job with less fuss.

This guide explains NDI in plain English, compares it with the alternatives, and gives practical network advice for church buildings.

What is NDI?

NDI stands for Network Device Interface. It is a standard for sending video, audio and metadata across a normal IP network with low latency. In practice, that means any NDI-capable device on your network, such as a presentation computer, a camera or a streaming PC, can publish a video feed, and any other NDI-capable device can pick it up by name.

Think of it as a video cable that runs through your network switch. Instead of one fixed cable from A to B, every source is available to every receiver on the network.

What are NDI Tools?

NDI Tools is the official free toolkit for working with NDI. According to the NDI website, as of October 2026 the tools are free to download and use, with no trial, no watermark and no time limit, and the current version is 6.3.2. The Windows tools include Studio Monitor (for viewing NDI feeds), Screen Capture, Webcam Input, Router, Bridge and Test Patterns. The macOS tools include Video Monitor, Scan Converter and Virtual Input.

Studio Monitor or Video Monitor is especially useful for church teams: it lets you check whether an NDI feed is reaching a computer before you start troubleshooting OBS. Always download NDI Tools from the official NDI website.

How do churches use NDI in worship?

The most common pattern is this:

The presentation computer runs your worship software and sends a lyrics or lower-third feed over NDI.
The livestream computer runs OBS, vMix or similar and receives that feed.
The streaming software overlays the lyrics on the camera shot and sends the result to your streaming platform.

This avoids running a capture card and long video cables between the two machines. Many worship presentation apps offer NDI output for this reason, including ProPresenter, EasyWorship (version 7.3 and later, as a subscription feature), Proclaim and FreeShow, as well as OpenMico. Renewed Vision publishes its own tutorial for sending ProPresenter lower thirds to OBS via NDI, which shows how established this pattern has become.

Other church uses include sending NDI camera feeds to the streaming computer, sending a programme feed to a screen in an overflow room, or monitoring the presentation output from the sound desk.

NDI vs Browser Source vs HDMI capture: which should you use?

There are three common ways to get lyrics from a presentation computer into OBS. Each has a place.

	OBS Browser Source	NDI	HDMI capture card
How it works	OBS loads a web page served by the presentation app	Video sent over the network	Video cable from the presentation computer into a capture device
Extra hardware	None	None beyond a good wired network	Capture card or USB capture device, plus cable
Extra software	None (built into OBS)	DistroAV plugin and NDI 6 Runtime for OBS	Usually none
Transparent overlay	Yes, OBS's default CSS gives a transparent background	Possible, depending on what the sender provides	No; you would need chroma or luma keying
Network load	Light	Higher; needs wired Ethernet	None
CPU/GPU load on stream PC	Light	Adds load when receiving	Light to moderate
Works with other production software	OBS and other apps with a browser input	Wide support in production tools	Universal
Best for	Most small and medium churches starting out	Multi-machine setups and existing NDI workflows	Simple, cable-based rooms, or when the network is unreliable

When should you choose a Browser Source?

If you stream with OBS and only need lyrics or scripture over your camera shot, start with a Browser Source. It needs no plugin and is light on the network, and OBS's default custom CSS gives a transparent background. OpenMico's Network/Browser Source output is built for this, and we walk through it in our guide to church livestream lyrics in OBS.

When should you choose NDI?

NDI makes sense when:

you use production software other than OBS, or several machines need the same feed;
you already have NDI cameras or an NDI-based workflow;
you want to route the presentation feed to an overflow room or monitor it elsewhere on the network.

When is HDMI capture better?

A capture card is the most predictable option when your network is unreliable, shared with heavy guest traffic, or simply not available where the computers sit. It also suits churches that already have the cable runs in place.

How do you set up OpenMico's NDI output?

OpenMico includes NDI output in the free core app. Things to know before you start:

It is video only. OpenMico does not send audio over NDI. Route your sound to the stream separately, usually from the mixing desk into the streaming computer or audio interface.
It needs a compatible NDI runtime installed on the presentation computer.
Each output has its own theme and layout. You can give the NDI output a lower-third stream theme while the projector shows full-screen lyrics, and even a different Bible translation if your online audience needs one.

A basic setup looks like this:

Install a compatible NDI runtime on the presentation computer.
Add an NDI output in OpenMico and choose the theme and layout it should use. The outputs documentation describes the settings.
On the streaming computer, install the NDI 6 Runtime and the DistroAV plugin for OBS. As of October 2026, DistroAV 6.2.2 requires OBS 31.1.1 or later.
Optional check: open NDI Studio Monitor (Windows) or Video Monitor (macOS) on the streaming computer and confirm the OpenMico feed appears.
In OBS, add an NDI Source to your worship scene and select the OpenMico feed from the list.
Place the source above the camera in the Sources list and send a lyric slide to Live to test it.

What network setup does NDI need?

NDI depends on your network, so a little care here prevents most problems.

Use wired Ethernet. Wi-Fi is widely reported to be unreliable for NDI. Run a cable to both the presentation and streaming computers.
Keep production traffic separate if you can. If the building's network is shared with guest Wi-Fi and office computers, consider a dedicated switch, or a separate network, for your media desk.
Put sender and receiver on the same network. NDI discovery works most simply when both machines are on the same local network.
Allow NDI through firewalls on both computers. A blocked firewall is a common reason a source never appears.
Watch the streaming computer's load. Receiving NDI adds CPU and GPU work. If your stream stutters, close other programs or reduce the number of NDI sources.
Label your sources clearly so a volunteer can pick the right one quickly.

What are common NDI problems in churches?

Symptom	Likely cause	What to try
Source does not appear in OBS	Plugin or runtime missing, firewall, or different network	Check DistroAV and the NDI 6 Runtime are installed; allow through the firewall; confirm both machines are on the same network
Source appears in Studio Monitor but not OBS	OBS plugin not installed, or OBS version too old	Update OBS and DistroAV
Feed stutters or freezes	Wi-Fi, a busy network, or an overloaded stream PC	Move to wired Ethernet; reduce other traffic; check CPU and GPU load
No sound from the presentation computer	Expected with OpenMico's video-only NDI	Route audio from the desk or another audio path
Feed disappears after a reboot	Runtime or app not running on the sender	Start OpenMico and check the NDI output is enabled

For more help, see the troubleshooting guide.

Is NDI right for your church?

NDI is a flexible way to move video around a building, and once a church has a good wired network it can simplify a growing media setup. For a small team that simply wants lyrics on the livestream, a Browser Source is often the quicker start, with NDI available when you need it. Whichever you choose, write the setup down so any volunteer can repeat it; our Sunday media team checklist is a good place to record it.

OpenMico includes full-screen outputs, stage displays, a Network/Browser Source output and NDI output in the free core app, each with its own theme and layout. You can see how these fit together on the features page, or download OpenMico and test it on your own network.