Introduction: Lyrics Overlay on OBS Studio Using OpenLP
In this instructables, I will show you how to have lyrics and Bible verses display over your video on a livestream using two free open source softwares.
Step 1: Have OBS Studio & OpenLP Installed
OBS studio is a free live streaming software that will allow you to stream to platforms like Facebook Live and Youtube. OpenLP is a free church presentation software to display Bible verses, song lyrics, pictures, and other content.
OBS Studio download: https://obsproject.com/
OpenLP download: https://openlp.org/#downloads
Step 2: Create a Transparent Theme in OpenLP
In OpenLP there is a Theme Wizard to design backgrounds for your text. You want to find the "Theme Manager" and click the small button on the left. When you hover over it, it will say "Create New Theme". When you click the button you'll see a pop window that says "Welcome to the Theme Wizard" and then you'll want to click "next".
Step 3: Setup Background
The next part of making the theme is to go to where it says "background style". When you click here a drop down menu will show you several options, and you'll want to select "transparent".
Step 4: Format You Fonts & Colors
The next window will bring you to options to where you can adjust your font types, colors, and sizes. I recommended using bold text and keeping the color white if your video background is going to be a darker color.
Step 5: Text Formatting Details
I would change the settings here to make "Horizontal Align" = center and "Vertical Align" = middle.
Step 6: Output Area Locations
This is the most important part as it will determine the location of where your box of text will display on the screen.
Important Note: This is configured for a display of 1920x1080. The pixels location are put in for this. If your display is bigger or smaller you'll have to adjust the dimensions.
To have the text shown at the bottom center of the screen I set the following dimensions:
X position = 560px
Y position = 850px
Width = 800px
Height = 200px
To make sure my text box was "centered", I had to do a little math.
A 1920x1080 display or 1080p display means it's a rectangle with a width (X axis) of 1920px and a height (Y axis ) of 1080px.
The center of the width is 1920 divided by 2 so 960. My text box's width is 800 and half of that is 400. To make sure the box is perfectly center I take 960-400 which equals 560, and that how I obtained that number above. If you are using a different type of display just find out the resolution an example would be a 720p display so that would be 1280x720, and calculate to center using my above steps.
Step 7: Give Your Theme a Name
The last step is to give your theme a name & you're all done making your transparent theme.
Step 8: Configure Remote Access in OpenLP
On the top right of OpenLP you'll see "Settings".
Select Settings then "Configure OpenLP"
When the window pops up, you should see "Remote" as the last option in the list.
You must make sure the IP address listed there is the same as the computer you are using to run OpenLP. This IP number will change if you are using WifFi and not ethernet so be sure to double check this between uses. On Windows you can run a command prompt by selecting the windows button and typing cmd. Type: ipconfig in the command line and you want to us the IPv4 Address.
Copy the "Live view URL" link.
Tip: This is also where you can download the iOS or Android app to control the lyrics from your phone. It works quite well.
Step 9: OBS Studio Setup
When you open OBS Studio you want to click the "+" plus sign symbol at the bottom left of the "Sources" window. You'll be displayed a list of options, and you'll want to select "Browser".
Give it a name and press ok.
In the URL box paste the link you copied from OpenLP.
In the width put 1920, and the height put 1080. (For a 1080p display, also make sure you OBS settings is for a 1080p display).
Step 10: You're Done!
The browser window will pop up on your video source. Make sure you have a Bible verse or lyric on live view in OpenLP so you'll see it in OBS. Make sure to drag the browser window so it fills your preview screen. To test if it works change the song or verse in OpenLP and watch to see if it changes in OBS.
I hope this helps you all. I discovered this in my attempt to find an affordable solution for my church to use as a result of the coronavirus.
Hope you all continue to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through any means necessary.
God Bless!
