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The host creates the room, chooses the vocal source, manages the setlist, and controls the shared backing timeline.

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Before you start

  • Install the current vAudioLink Music Collab plugin on both computers.
  • Add your microphone as an OBS audio source and verify its meter.
  • Prepare supported YouTube links or local Ogg/Opus files with an .ogg or .opus extension.
  • Use headphones on both computers.
  • Sign in with an account that can create hosted rooms.
1

Open Music Collab

In OBS, select Docks → vAudioLink Music Collab.The dock opens on What are you doing today?. The rail across the top follows Role / Room / Configure / Live.
Music Collab Role page showing Host a session selected and Join as a guest

Music Collab starts with the shared four-step workflow and sends no audio on the Role page.

2

Select Host a session

Select Host a session, then Continue as host.If this computer is not already authorized, finish the browser sign-in and return to OBS. Use Reopen browser if needed.Expected result: the dock advances to Choose room mode.
3

Choose the room mode

Select Direct OBS Room, then Next.Follow Discord is a separate workflow for accounts and communities where it is enabled.
4

Set up the room and your setlist

On Set up the room and your setlist:
  1. Under Room setup, select the relay, your Vocal source, and the audio quality.
  2. Confirm the vocal meter responds.
  3. Under OBS scene sources, select the target scene.
  4. Select Add Music Collab to scene.
The scene step is required before the room can be created. It adds plugin-owned vAudioLink Output, vAudioLink Backing (monitor), and vAudioLink Backing Video sources without changing global OBS settings.
5

Build or reopen a saved setlist

The setlist is optional, so you can create a room without a backing track.
  • Select + Add songs to add one or more YouTube links or local Ogg/Opus files.
  • YouTube links are checked before they are added. A link labelled Audio only remains usable; its backing audio prepares normally and vAudioLink Backing Video displays the branded fallback.
  • Select Prepare all to prepare queued songs before creating the room.
  • Select View all songs to search or reorder the setlist. Its menu includes Open saved setlist, Rename setlist, and Save a copy.
Setlists and prepared songs stay on this PC. Only the active song is synchronized with the partner.
6

Create the room

Select Create room.Expected result: the rail advances to Live, the shared Live bar appears, and the room provides a guest key.
7

Share the guest key privately

Select Guest key to copy it, or expand Session tools and select Copy beside Guest key. Send it in a private message and ask your partner to follow Join a Music Collab session.Wait until the participant card changes from Waiting for your partner… to Your partner is connected.
8

Ready and play a song

Select a prepared song from the setlist or Up next. Wait for the song to report Ready on both before using the Play control.Playback uses a shared count-in. The Previous, Next, Pause, and Restart controls update both peers. Ready the next song when this one finishes readies the next item but never starts it automatically.
9

Open Music View and test the mix

Select Music View ↗ for the simplified performance display.Record a short test. Keep vAudioLink Output in the program mix and keep vAudioLink Backing (monitor) on the intended local monitor path. Verify the backing is not also entering through Desktop Audio or another capture.

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End the session

Select End session. Music Collab pauses its managed sources and leaves the plugin-owned scene group in OBS; use Remove scene sources only when you want to delete that group. If OBS closes while a room or preparation task is active, the plugin stops capture, media workers, relay transport, and its local media service before scene teardown. The local setlist is saved, and an interrupted preparation is reset so it can be retried after OBS starts again.
Keep the guest key private. If it is exposed, use Rotate guest key or end the room and create a new one.

Music troubleshooting

Fix setlist preparation, transfer, audio-only fallback, managed-source, and synchronization problems.