What size should the Browser Source be?

Match your canvas — usually 1920 by 1080. OBS renders the page at the size you declare and then scales the result, so a small source stretched to fill the screen looks soft. Set the size properly rather than resizing the box in the preview.

Why is there no sound reaction?

The OBS source only draws; the Vortexia dashboard does the listening. Check that the dashboard tab is still open (minimised is fine, closed is not), that audio is turned on there, and that Listening to is set to where your sound actually comes from: Microphone, or Music / system in Chrome or Edge on Windows. If the dashboard shows an error, it is usually a microphone permission.

Should I tick "Shutdown source when not visible"?

No. It saves a little GPU while the scene is hidden, but the visual restarts from the beginning each time you switch back, which is visible on camera. Leave it off unless you are genuinely short of GPU headroom.

Can I change the visual without stopping the stream?

Yes. The dashboard pushes changes to your viewer URL over server-sent events, so switching preset, colour or engine appears in OBS within a couple of seconds. There is no need to touch the Browser Source again after the first setup.

It is token-authenticated and unique to your account, so treat it like a password: anyone with the link can see your visual. It only shows your visual, and nobody can change your settings with it, but keep it out of screen shares all the same.

What does the red “UNSYNCED - RECONNECTING...” badge mean?

The source in OBS cannot reach Vortexia’s server, or its link is no longer valid. Check your internet connection first; if it stays, copy your OBS link again from the dashboard and paste it into the Browser Source. The visual keeps drawing meanwhile, but stops following your dashboard until it reconnects.

Is it safe to copy my OBS link again?

Yes. Copy OBS Link always gives you the same link, so the one already in OBS keeps working. You can paste it into a second scene or an OBS dock as well.

AUDIO-REACTIVE VISUAL · UPDATED 2026-09-28

OBS Browser Source Audio Visualizer

Name: Vortexia
Author: Vortexia

Paste one URL, and it follows your music live

Vortexia is a free OBS Browser Source visualizer that renders GPU-accelerated, audio-reactive fractals, up to 60 fps on Plus. Paste one URL into OBS Studio and the visuals react to your music. No plugin.

Open the dashboard · Watch it live · All presets · Pricing

What is OBS Browser Source Audio Visualizer?

A Browser Source is a web page rendered inside OBS as a video layer, and it is the cleanest way to get audio-reactive visuals into a stream because it needs no installation. Vortexia is a visual engine built for exactly that: you configure a look on a dashboard, copy one token-authenticated URL, and paste it into OBS Studio. Three settings decide whether it behaves. Width and height should match your canvas, normally 1920 by 1080, because OBS renders the page at the size you declare and then scales it — declaring 1280x720 and stretching it up is the usual cause of a soft-looking background. The listening happens in the Vortexia dashboard, not in OBS, so keep that tab open with audio on; "Control Audio via OBS" makes no difference. And "Shutdown source when not visible" should be left off, otherwise the visual restarts from scratch every time you switch scenes. Changes you make in the dashboard reach the Browser Source live over server-sent events, so you can change preset mid-stream without touching OBS. Free at 720p with a watermark; Plus at $4.99 a month unlocks 1080p at 60fps.

How to use OBS Browser Source Audio Visualizer

Copy your viewer URL. In the Vortexia dashboard, click Copy OBS Link. The URL is unique to your account.
Create the Browser Source. In OBS: Sources -> Add -> Browser -> Create new. Paste the URL and set Width 1920, Height 1080.
Set the checkbox. Leave "Shutdown source when not visible" unticked so it does not restart on scene changes. "Control Audio via OBS" does not matter for Vortexia.
Position it. Drag the source to the bottom of your source list so it sits behind your game capture, webcam and alerts.

Specs & output

Engine	Bass Tunnel
Render Mode	rhythm
Iteration Depth	120
Default Zoom	2.50
Colour Shift	280°
Output (Free)	720p / 30fps + watermark
Output (Plus)	1080p / 60fps, no watermark
Output (Pro)	4K / 60fps, brand-kit logo overlay
Audio Source	Browser tab audio (FFT, real-time)
Last Updated	2026-09-28

Frequently asked questions

What size should the Browser Source be?: Match your canvas — usually 1920 by 1080. OBS renders the page at the size you declare and then scales the result, so a small source stretched to fill the screen looks soft. Set the size properly rather than resizing the box in the preview.
Why is there no sound reaction?: The OBS source only draws; the Vortexia dashboard does the listening. Check that the dashboard tab is still open (minimised is fine, closed is not), that audio is turned on there, and that Listening to is set to where your sound actually comes from: Microphone, or Music / system in Chrome or Edge on Windows. If the dashboard shows an error, it is usually a microphone permission.
Should I tick "Shutdown source when not visible"?: No. It saves a little GPU while the scene is hidden, but the visual restarts from the beginning each time you switch back, which is visible on camera. Leave it off unless you are genuinely short of GPU headroom.
Can I change the visual without stopping the stream?: Yes. The dashboard pushes changes to your viewer URL over server-sent events, so switching preset, colour or engine appears in OBS within a couple of seconds. There is no need to touch the Browser Source again after the first setup.
Is the URL private?: It is token-authenticated and unique to your account, so treat it like a password: anyone with the link can see your visual. It only shows your visual, and nobody can change your settings with it, but keep it out of screen shares all the same.
What does the red “UNSYNCED - RECONNECTING...” badge mean?: The source in OBS cannot reach Vortexia’s server, or its link is no longer valid. Check your internet connection first; if it stays, copy your OBS link again from the dashboard and paste it into the Browser Source. The visual keeps drawing meanwhile, but stops following your dashboard until it reconnects.
Is it safe to copy my OBS link again?: Yes. Copy OBS Link always gives you the same link, so the one already in OBS keeps working. You can paste it into a second scene or an OBS dock as well.

About the author

The Vortexia team — Makers of the Vortexia engine.

The Vortexia team builds a browser-based, GPU-accelerated audio-reactive visual engine used by streamers and DJs on Twitch, Kick, YouTube Live and TikTok Live.