Getting Started

Welcome to Now Playing

Now Playing is a real-time track display application built for DJs and live streamers. It bridges the gap between your DJ software and your stream: automatically detecting the track you’re playing and broadcasting that information to a web overlay your audience can see in OBS or any browser-source-compatible streaming tool.

Whether you’re a hobbyist streaming on Twitch, a professional broadcasting a live set, or a club DJ who wants an automated tracklist for Mixcloud uploads afterward, Now Playing handles the entire pipeline for you. You stay focused on your mix. Now Playing handles the rest.

Guide Landing

How It Works

Now Playing is built around three interconnected components that work together in real time:

1. The Desktop App

The desktop app runs on your Mac or Windows machine alongside your DJ software. It connects directly to your DJ application, reading which track is currently on air, and forwards that information to the Now Playing cloud service over the internet.

The desktop app supports a wide range of DJ software and hardware, including Rekordbox, Serato DJ, djay Pro, and StageLinq-compatible Pioneer DJ hardware. It runs quietly in the background and requires no manual input once it’s configured.

2. The Cloud Service

The Now Playing cloud service acts as the relay between your desktop app and your overlays. When the desktop app sends a track update, the cloud service broadcasts it instantly to every overlay and destination connected to your account.

This architecture means your overlays work even if your streaming computer and your DJ computer are separate machines. They just need to be connected to the internet.

3. The Web Overlay

The web overlay is a browser-source URL you add to OBS (or any streaming tool that supports browser sources). When a new track is detected, the overlay updates automatically, displaying the track title, artist name, and album artwork. No manual intervention needed.

You manage your overlays from the web dashboard at app.nowplayingapp.com, where you can customize the appearance, copy the browser-source URL, and preview how the overlay looks before going live.

Desktop App  →  Now Playing Cloud  →  Web Overlay (in OBS)
(reads DJ software)   (relays data)    (shows viewers)

What You’ll Need

Before you get started, make sure you have the following:

A Mac or Windows computer (Linux is not supported)
One of the supported DJ software applications or hardware setups
An internet connection on the machine running the desktop app
OBS Studio (or another streaming tool that supports browser sources)
A free Now Playing account (created during installation)

System Requirements

Requirement	Minimum
Operating system	macOS 12 Monterey or later
	Windows 10 (64-bit) or later
RAM	4 GB (8 GB recommended)
Internet	Broadband connection required
DJ software	See supported sources list
Streaming tool	OBS Studio or any browser-source-compatible app

Supported DJ Software

Now Playing connects to a growing list of DJ applications and hardware. The current lineup includes:

Source	Type
Rekordbox (Pioneer DJ)	Software
Serato DJ	Software
djay Pro (Algoriddim)	Software
StageLinq	Hardware (CDJs, DJM mixers)
VirtualDJ	Software
Traktor	Software
Mixxx	Software

For the full and up-to-date list, see the Track Sources section of the guide.

The Overall Workflow

Here is the end-to-end flow from installation to a live, updating overlay in your stream:

Download and install the Now Playing desktop app from nowplayingapp.com.
Create a free account (or sign in) when the app first launches.
Complete the onboarding wizard: select your DJ software and verify the connection.
Open the dashboard at app.nowplayingapp.com in your browser.
Copy your overlay URL from the Overlays section.
Add the URL as a browser source in OBS.
Start playing music. Your overlay updates automatically.

Once you complete steps 1 through 6 once, your stream is set up permanently. Every future session is just: open DJ software, open Now Playing, start streaming.