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To show the current Gurbani track, send track metadata to the audio stream server; to show it over an OBS video, read the current title into a text file and display that file as an OBS text source. These are separate outputs, so configure both if listeners need the name in audio players and viewers need it on screen. The title must update whenever the playlist changes.
Choose where the track name should appear
- Audio players and radio directories: Your playout software or encoder sends current-track metadata to the streaming server. A video overlay does not update this information.
- On-screen in OBS: A plugin or other reader obtains the current title and writes it to a text file, which OBS displays in the scene.
- Both: Set up and test both paths. Neither one automatically configures the other.
There is no Gurbani-specific metadata standard in the documentation cited here. Use the track, shabad, raagi, or transliteration labels supplied by your trusted playlist or metadata source; do not guess missing details.
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Send Now Playing metadata to an Icecast audio stream
1. Identify your server, mount, and metadata source
- Check whether your stream server is Icecast or SHOUTcast and identify the active mount point (the path for the live audio stream).
- Check whether your playout or encoder application already sends title changes. Some setups transmit metadata automatically; others need a manual update or a host-supported endpoint.
2. Verify automatic updates first
Play a track and check its title in a compatible player or in Icecast’s status data. Icecast documents /status-json.xsl as a basic JSON statistics endpoint since version 2.4.0. Available fields can vary with stream type and runtime. Icecast advises against treating its HTML statistics page as a stable API; use the JSON endpoint, raw XML, or custom XSLT instead. Icecast Server Statistics documentation.
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If your encoder does not send titles, use its metadata-update feature or the authenticated endpoint provided by your streaming host. An Icecast metadata update generally needs an active mount, an update action, the metadata string, and valid credentials. The exact endpoint and authentication format depend on the host. SharpStream’s example requires URL-encoded metadata and documents UTF-8 handling; follow your own provider’s instructions rather than copying another host’s endpoint. SharpStream metadata endpoint guidance.
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Keep administrator credentials private. Do not put them in browser-visible overlay code, a public webpage, or a text file exposed to viewers.
4. Automate track changes or update them manually
For unattended 24/7 operation, connect title changes to the playlist or playout system so each new item triggers an update. A manual field is suitable only when an operator is present: SoundCast, for example, documents a Now Playing field where artist and title can be entered and sent to Icecast. Manual metadata must be changed again when the program changes. SoundCast user manual.
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Show the current title on an OBS video
1. Choose a source OBS can read
The metadata reader needs access to current track information. That can come from a media player, Icecast status data, or a playout system output. If the playback source does not expose title information, an OBS text source cannot infer the correct title on its own.
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2. Write the title to a text file
Configure a supported reader or plugin to format the available artist and title fields and write them to a text file. Tuna’s documentation describes file outputs and formatting placeholders such as {artists} - {title}; which fields work depends on the selected source. Keep the plugin running for updates to continue. Tuna on the OBS Project Forums.
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3. Add and position the file in OBS
- In OBS, open the scene that carries the Gurbani stream.
- In Sources, add a text source and select the option to read text from a file.
- Select the file maintained by the metadata reader, then place and style the text in the scene.
- Start playback and confirm that the displayed title changes when the next track begins.
Keep a neutral fallback such as “Live Gurbani stream” for times when the current metadata is missing. Do not present an unverified audio-recognition guess as an authoritative track attribution.
Choose the metadata route that fits your setup
| Route | Where it appears | What it depends on | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encoder or playout sends metadata | Compatible audio players and server status | Application support and correct track data | Automatic when configured correctly |
| Authenticated server update | Compatible audio players and server status | Active mount, host-specific endpoint, credentials, and correctly encoded metadata | More control, but credentials and endpoint handling need care |
| Manual Now Playing update | Audio players and server status | An operator to enter each change | Simple, but unattended tracks can leave stale titles |
| OBS text file overlay | Video image only | A reader that can access metadata and keep the file current | Visible on screen; does not update audio-player metadata |
Stream format also matters. What’s Now Playing says it can read tags carried by Ogg Vorbis and Ogg Opus streams; for MP3 and other formats, its reader needs metadata sent separately. Check that your chosen reader and broadcaster support the format and fields in your setup. What’s Now Playing: Icecast input.
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Troubleshoot a title that does not change
- Check the source data: Confirm that the playout application shows the correct current title. If it does not, fix the playlist or metadata source first.
- Check how the update is sent: Verify that the encoder sends metadata, or that a separate host-supported update endpoint is configured.
- Check the mount: Make sure the update targets the active mount, not an old or inactive stream.
- Check the request: For an endpoint update, confirm the required credentials, metadata encoding, and character handling against your host’s instructions.
- Check the server: Look for the changed title in the stream player or Icecast status data.
- Check OBS separately: Confirm the reader is running, is watching the correct source, and is writing to the same file selected by the OBS text source.
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