VMix Title Controller

A low-latency lower-thirds title controller for VMix, built as a local Node.js server. Replaces Google Sheets / Cloud API (~5 second latency) with a local web server (~1–5ms latency).

Built for live production environments — church services, conferences, events, broadcasts.

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Screenshots

Operator View

The main operator interface. Search names, type an ID, click a card to cue into preview, then send data only or take live with VMix control.

Setup Page

Configure VMix connection, overlay channel, timing, mix routing across all 16 mixes, and fully reassignable keyboard shortcuts with named profiles.

Session Log

Full session history with timestamps, event types (LIVE / CLEARED), and one-click Excel export.

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Features

• Near-zero latency — local server responds in 1–5ms vs 5+ seconds via Google Sheets
• Two operating modes — Remote Operator (web UI) or StreamDeck (HTTP endpoints)
• Preview / Live workflow — cue a speaker to preview, then send data only or take live automatically
• VMix API integration — trigger overlay in/out directly from the web interface
• Real-time overlay status — polls VMix every 2 seconds to show whether the graphic is actually on screen
• Multi-mix routing — send the overlay to any combination of Master + up to 16 mixes
• Mix presets — save named mix configurations for quick recall per venue
• Keyboard shortcuts — fully reassignable, with named profiles (e.g. Remote Op, StreamDeck Op)
• Shortcuts enable/disable toggle — turn off shortcuts without losing configuration
• Session logging — full log of every take/clear with operator name and timestamp
• Excel export — exports session log as a formatted .xlsx file per session
• Scene presets — save complete configuration (VMix settings + routing + shortcuts) as named scenes
• Config export/import — back up or transfer all settings as a .json file
• Reset to defaults — one-click factory reset
• Operator names — saved to server, persist across sessions and appear in logs
• Companion / StreamDeck feedback — WebSocket events for button flash integration
• Mobile responsive — full UI works on phones and tablets for remote operators
• Live names database — edit data/names.csv and the server reloads automatically

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Requirements

• Node.js v18 or higher — download from nodejs.org (LTS version)
• VMix (any version with Data Sources and API support)
• All devices on the same local network

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Installation

1. Download or clone this repository
2. Open a terminal / command prompt in the project folder
3. Run:

npm install
node server.js

Or on Windows, double-click START.bat

4. Open http://localhost:3000 in your browser

The server prints your network IP on startup — remote operators use that address.

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VMix Setup

Data Sources (for text polling)

In VMix: Settings → Data Sources → Add New → Text

Add three data sources:

Field	URL
Name	http://localhost:3000/vmix/name
Title / Role	http://localhost:3000/vmix/title
Organisation	http://localhost:3000/vmix/organisation

Set polling interval to 500ms on each.

Map each data source to the corresponding text field in your lower-thirds title template.

API (for overlay control)

In VMix: Settings → Web Controller — ensure the API is enabled on port 8088 (default).

In the VMix Title Controller Setup page, set:

• VMix IP → 127.0.0.1 (if VMix is on the same PC) or the VMix machine's IP
• VMix input name → the exact name of your lower-thirds GT input in VMix
• Overlay channel → whichever overlay channel your lower-third uses

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Names Database

Edit data/names.csv:

id,name,title,organisation
1,John Smith,Senior Pastor,First Baptist Church
2,Sarah Johnson,Worship Leader,First Baptist Church
3,Dr. Michael Chen,Guest Speaker,City College

The server watches this file and reloads automatically when saved — no restart needed.

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Operating Modes

Mode A — Remote Operator

A remote operator opens http://YOUR-PC-IP:3000 on any device on the network.

Workflow:

1. Type an ID number or click a name card → sends to Preview slot
2. Press Send data only → loads text into the graphic, VMix operator controls when it goes live
3. Press Send + go live → loads text AND triggers the VMix overlay automatically after the configured delay
4. Press Clear data + hide → clears text and hides the overlay

Mode B — StreamDeck

Configure StreamDeck buttons to POST to these endpoints:

Action	Method	URL
Next title	POST	http://localhost:3000/next
Previous title	POST	http://localhost:3000/prev
Clear / blank	POST	http://localhost:3000/clear
Set specific ID	POST	http://localhost:3000/set/5

Use the HTTP Request plugin in StreamDeck software.

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Status Indicator

The status bar at the top of the operator view shows two chips:

State	Meaning
Grey "No data"	Nothing loaded, overlay off
Amber "Data loaded"	Text sent to graphic, overlay not triggered
Teal "~ On screen in VMix"	Overlay is live (polls VMix every 2s)

The overlay status is approximate — it polls VMix every 2 seconds. Manual changes in VMix may take up to 2 seconds to reflect.

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Default assignments (all reassignable in Setup):

Key	Action
D	Send data only (from preview)
G	Send + go live
C	Clear data + hide graphic
→	Next name (StreamDeck mode)
←	Previous name (StreamDeck mode)
I	Overlay in
O	Overlay out
Enter	Take preview live

Shortcuts are active when you are not typing in a text input. They can be disabled entirely via the toggle in Setup.

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Companion / Bitfocus Integration

Connect Companion to the WebSocket at ws://localhost:3000.

Events sent:

{ "type": "title_changed", "isBlank": false, "live": { "name": "John Smith", "title": "Senior Pastor" }, "updatedBy": "Yusuf" }
{ "type": "overlay_state", "overlayLive": true }
{ "type": "preview_changed", "preview": { ... } }

Recommended setup:

• On title_changed where isBlank = false → flash button green
• On title_changed where isBlank = true → flash button red
• On overlay_state where overlayLive = true → button solid green

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API Reference

Method	Endpoint	Description
GET	/vmix/name	Current name (plain text for VMix)
GET	/vmix/title	Current title/role (plain text)
GET	/vmix/organisation	Current organisation (plain text)
POST	/set/:id	Set live data by ID (no VMix trigger)
POST	/take/:id	Set data + trigger VMix overlay
POST	/preview/:id	Send to preview slot
POST	/take-preview	Take preview to live + trigger overlay
POST	/clear	Clear data + hide overlay
POST	/vmix/in	Trigger overlay in
POST	/vmix/out	Trigger overlay out
POST	/next	Next in list + take live
POST	/prev	Previous in list + take live
GET	/db	Full names database (JSON)
GET	/status	Server health + current state
GET	/config	Current configuration
POST	/config	Save configuration
POST	/export	Export session log to Excel
GET	/logs	List saved log files
GET	/logs/:filename	Download a log file
POST	/new-session	Reset session log and history
GET	/operators	List saved operator names
POST	/operators	Save an operator name

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Project Structure

vmix-titles/
├── server.js           # Express + WebSocket server
├── package.json
├── config.json         # Saved configuration (auto-created)
├── START.bat           # Windows launcher
├── data/
│   ├── names.csv       # Names database — edit this
│   └── operators.json  # Saved operator names (auto-created)
├── logs/               # Exported Excel session logs
├── public/
│   └── index.html      # Full web UI
└── docs/
    ├── screenshot-operator.png
    ├── screenshot-setup.png
    └── screenshot-log.png

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Latency Comparison

Method	Typical latency
Google Sheets + Cloud API	3–8 seconds
This server (local network)	1–10ms

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License

MIT — free to use, modify, and distribute.