Streamlabs Desktop

This module controls Streamlabs Desktop (formerly Streamlabs OBS) through its built-in remote control API: scenes, scene collections, source visibility, streaming, recording, replay buffer, studio mode and audio sources, with live feedback and performance stats on your buttons.

Requirements

• A recent Companion 4.x (developed and tested against 4.3.4)
• Streamlabs Desktop running on the same machine as Companion (or reachable on your local network)
• Remote Control enabled in Streamlabs Desktop (Settings > Remote Control)

Getting the API token

1. In Streamlabs Desktop, open Settings > Remote Control.
2. Click the QR code, then click Show details.
3. Copy the API token and paste it in the module configuration.
4. The port is shown there too (default 59650).

If you ever need to revoke access, use Generate new token in the same screen, then update the module configuration.

Configuration

Field	Description
Host	IP of the machine running Streamlabs Desktop. Keep 127.0.0.1 when it runs next to Companion.
Port	Remote control port, default 59650.
API token	The token from Settings > Remote Control (see above). Stored as a secret.
Audio sources list	"All audio sources" targets any source of the collection. "Current scene only" keeps lists short but follows the active scene.
Performance stats	Polls CPU, FPS and dropped frames every 2 seconds into variables.
Safety lock	When enabled, the Streaming start/stop/toggle actions do nothing. Handy during rehearsals or on shared setups.

Actions

Action	Description
Scene: Set active scene	Switch to a scene picked from a dropdown (a custom scene id is accepted too).
Scene: Set active scene by name	Switch to the scene matching this name, with an optional "ignore case" mode. Supports variables.
Scene collection: Switch	Loads another scene collection (Streamlabs reloads all scenes and sources).
Streaming: Toggle / Start / Stop	Control the stream. Start and Stop check the live status first, so they are safe to retrigger.
Recording: Toggle / Start / Stop	Control the recording, same behaviour as streaming.
Replay buffer: Toggle / Start / Stop / Save replay	Control the replay buffer and save it to disk while it is running.
Audio: Mute / unmute source	Mute, unmute or toggle any audio source.
Source: Show / hide scene item	Show, hide or toggle any source of any scene, on the horizontal, vertical or both displays.
Studio mode: Toggle / Enable / Disable / Execute transition	Control studio mode and send the preview to program.

Feedbacks

Feedback	Description
Scene is active	Button style changes while the selected scene is on air (default red).
Streaming is active	Active while the stream is starting, live, ending or reconnecting.
Recording is active	Active while the recording is starting, running, stopping or writing.
Replay buffer is running	Active while the replay buffer runs (default green).
Audio source is muted	Active while the selected audio source is muted.
Scene item is visible	Active while the selected source is visible on the chosen display (default green).
Scene collection is active	Active while the selected collection is loaded.
Studio mode is enabled	Active while studio mode is on (default orange).
Dropped frames above threshold	Active when the dropped frames percentage reaches your threshold (default 1%).

Variables

Variable	Description
current_scene	Name of the active scene
current_scene_id	Id of the active scene
current_collection	Name of the active scene collection
streaming	true / false
streaming_status	Raw status: offline, starting, live, ending, reconnecting
stream_duration	Time since the stream went live, HH:MM:SS
recording	true / false
recording_status	Raw status: offline, starting, recording, stopping, writing
recording_duration	Time since the recording started, HH:MM:SS
replay_buffer	true / false
replay_buffer_status	Raw status: offline, running, stopping, saving
studio_mode	true / false
cpu_usage	CPU usage of Streamlabs Desktop (%)
fps	Current output frame rate
dropped_frames	Number of dropped frames
dropped_frames_percent	Percentage of dropped frames
mute_<source name>	true / false, one variable per audio source

Everything updates in real time, including when you act directly in Streamlabs Desktop.

Presets

• Scenes: one ready-made button per scene, wired to switch to it and turn red while it is active.
• Streaming and recording: STREAM and REC toggles with live timers, replay buffer toggle and SAVE REPLAY.
• Audio: one mute toggle per audio source, red while muted.
• Studio mode: studio mode toggle and TAKE (transition) buttons.

Drop them from the Presets tab onto your buttons and you are done.

Status and troubleshooting

• Connecting: the module is trying to reach Streamlabs Desktop.
• OK: authenticated and synced.
• Authentication failure: the token was rejected. Re-copy it from Settings > Remote Control (Show details), or generate a new one.
• Disconnected / Connection failure: Streamlabs Desktop is closed or unreachable. The module reconnects automatically with a progressive backoff and resynchronizes everything as soon as Streamlabs is back.
• Bad configuration: the host, port or API token is missing in the module configuration (the status message says which).

Notes:

• Studio mode is refused by Streamlabs Desktop when dual output is enabled; the module logs a warning in that case.
• A scene collection that has ever used dual output keeps a horizontal and a vertical copy of each source, even once dual output is turned off. The scene item dropdowns list each source once, with its folder path; the Display option picks the copy to control (horizontal by default, the main output) or keeps both in sync.
• The replay buffer must be enabled in the Streamlabs output settings for the replay actions to do anything.
• Switching scene collections reloads all scenes and sources; the module resynchronizes itself once the new collection is loaded.