Pair OBS with SermonWave Beta

Last updated October 1, 2026 For: Dashboard admins and the tech volunteer at the OBS computer

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Pairing links one OBS computer to your SermonWave organization. After pairing, that OBS is a SermonWave device: it shows up in the Dashboard, has its own languages and listener page, and starts translating with your stream or recording.

Who it's for#

  • The person at the OBS computer, who reads the code from the dock.
  • A SermonWave admin of your organization, who confirms the code in the Dashboard. (Only users who can manage devices see the Connect OBS button.)

Before you start#

  • The plugin is installed and the SermonWave dock is open in OBS. See Install the SermonWave OBS plugin.
  • You can sign in to the Dashboard (dashboard.sermonwave.com) as an admin.
  • Your plan has room for another device, or you will reuse an existing web device. See Plans and free trial.

Step 1 — Get the code in OBS#

  1. Open the SermonWave dock (Docks → SermonWave).
  2. The dock says "Connect this OBS to SermonWave. A SermonWave admin enters this code in the dashboard (or scans the QR code):" and shows an 8-character code like K7QM-4TXD and a QR code.
  3. Codes last 10 minutes. If it runs out, the dock says "The code expired. Get a new code." Click Get a new code.
SermonWave dock in OBS showing the pairing code, QR code, and the "Open in browser" and "Get a new code" buttons

Step 2 — Confirm in the Dashboard#

Use whichever way is easiest:

  • On the OBS computer: click Open in browser in the dock. The Dashboard opens with the code filled in.
  • On a phone: scan the QR code. Sign in if asked; you come straight back to the pairing screen.
  • On any computer: in the Dashboard go to Devices, click Connect OBS, type the code into Pairing code (upper or lower case both work) and click Continue.

The Connect OBS Studio screen then shows "This computer is asking to connect" with the computer name, operating system, OBS version, plugin version and time of the request.

  1. Check that the code matches the one shown in OBS.
  2. If you manage more than one organization, choose the Organization. Live sessions, the listener page and recordings from this OBS belong to it.
  3. Choose what this OBS becomes:
    • Create a new OBS device — enter a Device name (for example "Main sanctuary OBS"). OBS devices send the original audio to listeners by default; you can change that later in Device settings.
    • Use an existing web device — pick a web device you already have. Its settings, languages and past recordings are kept. If a browser tab was running that device, OBS replaces it. If it was already paired with another OBS, that other OBS is disconnected.
  4. Click Confirm and connect. (Click Deny if you don't recognize the request; OBS then shows "Pairing was denied in the dashboard.")
Dashboard "Connect OBS Studio" screen with computer details, "Create a new OBS device" selected and the "Confirm and connect" button

Within a few seconds the dock switches from the code to the device view, with the status Connected.

What pairing creates#

  • A device in your Dashboard's Devices list, marked with an OBS badge and the computer name, showing Connected or Not connected.
  • It counts as a web device for your plan's device limit. If you're at the limit, the Dashboard says so; remove a device or reuse an existing web device.
  • A secure device key stored on the OBS computer only (the Mac Keychain, or the protected Windows user store). It is never written to a settings file.

Next step: Set up audio, languages and start/stop.

Unpair or re-pair#

From OBS: click Unpair at the bottom of the dock and confirm "Forget this device's key on this computer? You will need to pair again. (The device stays in the dashboard.)" The dock shows a new pairing code.

From the Dashboard: on the device's card in Devices, click Unpair OBS. OBS stops translating and shows a new pairing code. The device, its settings and past recordings are kept, and it becomes a regular web device.

Move to a new OBS computer: install the plugin on the new computer, then pair it and choose Use an existing web device with your old OBS device. The old computer is disconnected automatically.

Troubleshooting#

"No pairing is waiting for that code." The code was mistyped, expired, or replaced by a newer one. Check the code in the dock, or click Get a new code.

"Too many pairing attempts from this network. Retrying in a minute…" Too many codes were requested from your network in a short time. Wait; the dock retries by itself.

"Could not reach the server (…). Retrying…" OBS cannot reach SermonWave. Check the computer's internet connection and any firewall. In Advanced ▾, the server should be SermonWave (default).

The dock says "In use by another client (e.g. a browser tab)". The same device is open in a browser tab as a Web device. Click Take over this device to make OBS the one in charge, or close the browser tab.

The dock says "Unpaired — pair again". Someone clicked Unpair OBS in the Dashboard, or the device key was revoked. Pair again with a new code.

FAQ#

Do I need to pair again after updating the plugin or restarting OBS?#

No. The pairing stays on that computer until you unpair.

Can one OBS be paired with two organizations?#

No. One OBS is one device in one organization. Pair a second OBS computer if you need a second device.

Can I change the device name later?#

Yes, in the Dashboard's Device settings.