Static overlays are a thing of the past. Today's top streamers use audio reactive visuals that pulse, morph, and explode in sync with their gameplay audio, music, and voice. In this guide, we'll walk you through setting up Vortexia's audio reactive fractal engine in OBS Studio so your stream looks alive.
What You'll Need
- OBS Studio (version 28 or later recommended)
- A Vortexia account (free tier works)
- A microphone or audio source
- Google Chrome or any Chromium-based browser
Step 1: Create Your Visual Preset
Head to the Vortexia dashboard and choose a fractal algorithm. Popular choices for Twitch streamers include Flux (smooth flowing motion), Spiral (hypnotic tunnel effect), and Pulse (explosive burst reactions). Adjust the color shift, zoom, and iteration count until you have a look that matches your stream branding.
Step 2: Enable Audio Reactivity
Click the microphone icon in the dashboard to enable audio input. Vortexia uses your browser's Web Audio API to analyze incoming audio in real-time, extracting bass, mid, and treble frequencies. The fractal responds instantly — bass makes it pulse, mids add motion, and treble creates fine detail shifts.
Step 3: Copy Your OBS Viewer URL
In the dashboard, find the "OBS Link" section. This generates a unique token-authenticated URL that you'll paste into OBS as a Browser Source. The viewer receives visual state updates via server-sent events, so changes you make in the dashboard appear instantly in OBS.
Step 4: Add a Browser Source in OBS
- In OBS, click the "+" under Sources and select "Browser"
- Name it something like "Vortexia Visuals"
- Paste your viewer URL into the URL field
- Set width to 1920 and height to 1080 (or match your canvas)
- Check "Shutdown source when not visible" to save resources
- Click OK
Step 5: Position and Layer
Drag your Vortexia source behind your webcam and game capture. Most streamers place it as the bottom layer so it acts as a living background. You can also resize it to fill just a portion of the screen — like behind your facecam or in a dedicated "visual zone" on your layout.
Bonus: Connect Platform Events
Connect your Twitch account in the Vortexia dashboard to unlock event-reactive visuals. When someone subscribes, donates bits, or raids your channel, the fractal will spike and flash in response. It's an incredible way to acknowledge your community without needing additional alert overlays.
Ready to make your stream come alive? Create your free account and start customizing your visuals today.