OBS Setup Guide

Connect Flowmaster to OBS via WebSocket

Understanding the Connection Status Light

The colored dot in Flowmaster's header shows your OBS connection status:

  • Green - Connected to OBS
  • Red - Not connected
  • Yellow - Connecting...

✓ No plugins required!

Flowmaster connects directly to OBS using the built-in WebSocket server. No need for Advanced Scene Switcher or external executables.

1 Enable WebSocket Server in OBS

OBS has a built-in WebSocket server that Flowmaster uses to detect when you start and stop recording.

  1. 1.1 Open OBS Studio
  2. 1.2 Go to Tools → WebSocket Server Settings
📸 Screenshot needed OBS menu: Tools → WebSocket Server Settings
  1. 1.3 Check "Enable WebSocket server"
  2. 1.4 Note the Server Port (default is 4455)
  3. 1.5 If you want a password, check "Enable Authentication" and set one (optional)
  4. 1.6 Click Apply or OK
📸 Screenshot needed OBS WebSocket Server Settings panel with "Enable" checked

2 Configure Flowmaster

Tell Flowmaster how to connect to your OBS WebSocket server.

  1. 2.1 Open Flowmaster
  2. 2.2 Click the Settings gear (⚙️) in the top right
📸 Screenshot needed Flowmaster header - highlight the settings gear icon
  1. 2.3 Scroll to the OBS Connection section
  2. 2.4 Enter the Port (same as OBS, default 4455)
  3. 2.5 If you set a password in OBS, enter it here. Otherwise leave blank.
📸 Screenshot needed Flowmaster Settings - OBS Connection section with Port and Password fields

3 Test the Connection

Verify that Flowmaster can talk to OBS.

  1. 3.1 Make sure OBS is running
  2. 3.2 In Flowmaster Settings, click Test Connection
📸 Screenshot needed Flowmaster Settings - "Test Connection" button highlighted

What to expect:

  • Success: The status light turns green, and you'll see "Connected to OBS"
  • Failed: Check that OBS is open and the port/password match
📸 Screenshot needed Flowmaster showing green connection status + "Connected to OBS" message

4 Start Recording & Mark Highlights

Once connected, Flowmaster automatically detects when you start and stop recording.

  1. 4.1 Click Start Recording in OBS (or use your hotkey)
  2. 4.2 Flowmaster will automatically switch from "Idle" to "Recording"
📸 Screenshot needed Flowmaster Mark tab showing "Recording" status (not "Idle")
  1. 4.3 Press your hotkey (default F9) to mark highlights during gameplay
  2. 4.4 Stop recording in OBS - Flowmaster will save your timestamps automatically
📸 Screenshot needed Flowmaster showing timestamps list with several marks

Troubleshooting

Connection stays red even though OBS is open

Check these common issues:

  • Make sure WebSocket Server is enabled in OBS (Tools → WebSocket Server Settings)
  • Verify the port numbers match (default is 4455)
  • If you set a password in OBS, make sure it's entered in Flowmaster
  • Try restarting both OBS and Flowmaster
  • Check if a firewall is blocking the connection
Flowmaster doesn't detect when I start recording

If the connection light is green but recording isn't detected:

  • Make sure you're clicking "Start Recording" (not "Start Streaming")
  • Try the Simulate Live button in Flowmaster to test without OBS
  • Check the Flowmaster logs for any error messages
I was using Advanced Scene Switcher before - do I still need it?

No! Flowmaster now connects directly to OBS via WebSocket.

You can safely:

  • Remove the start/stop macros from Advanced Scene Switcher
  • Delete flowmaster-start.exe and flowmaster-stop.exe if you have them
  • Keep Advanced Scene Switcher if you use it for other things, but it's not needed for Flowmaster
What port should I use?

The default port 4455 works for most people.

Only change it if:

  • Another application is already using port 4455
  • You changed it in OBS for a specific reason

If you change the port in OBS, make sure to update it in Flowmaster too.

Still having issues? Check our full troubleshooting guide (coming soon) or join our Discord for help.

✓ You're all set!

Flowmaster will now automatically detect your OBS recordings. Just start recording, press your hotkey to mark highlights, and stop recording - Flowmaster handles the rest.

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