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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTo live-stream a tracked puppet from Adobe Character Animator, open your scene, choose a live output in the Stream workspace’s Live Output preferences, and click Stream Live at the bottom of the Scene panel. Send that output to a receiving application or video device, route audio, and rehearse the complete chain before broadcasting. The exact output options depend on the devices and software installed.
What you need before you start
- An Adobe Character Animator project with a puppet placed in a scene. A scene can contain puppets, audio files, and recorded takes.
- A camera and microphone if you want facial tracking and voice input to drive the puppet. Character Animator also supports mouse input for puppet controls. Calibrate the camera’s tracking rest pose before performing.
- A destination for the live video, such as a receiving application or compatible video hardware. Adobe documents Mercury Transmit, NewTek NDI output, and third-party video hardware; availability depends on your installed setup.
- A microphone and, if useful for monitoring, headphones. Adobe says most USB microphones and audio interfaces work for a single-character broadcast.
Adobe’s documentation surfaced for this workflow does not establish a current application release number, operating-system requirements, or compatibility for every combination of OBS, NDI, and hardware. Check the current requirements and compatibility information for your specific setup before relying on a particular device or software version.
Set up and send the scene to a live output
- Open or build your puppet and scene. Confirm the puppet is in the scene you intend to perform. Character Animator streams the current scene displayed in the Scene panel; it does not render material outside that panel.
- Set your performance inputs. Choose the camera and microphone you intend to use, then calibrate the camera tracking rest pose. Check that the puppet responds as expected before you move on.
- Open the Stream workspace. In Live Output preferences, select the relevant output for your setup: Mercury Transmit, NewTek NDI, or third-party video hardware, as available.
- Frame and inspect the Scene panel. The receiving output contains only the current scene as shown in that panel. Arrange and frame the scene there; do not assume other content in the project will appear in the broadcast.
- Click Stream Live. The control is at the bottom of the Scene panel. Verify that the expected scene is open and that the selected output is active.
- Select the output in the receiving application or device. Add or select the corresponding Character Animator video source, then compose it with any other broadcast elements you need.
- Route and monitor audio. Decide whether the receiving application gets audio separately or combined with video, and verify that it is receiving the intended microphone signal. Wear headphones if monitoring will help the performer hear cleanly without adding room sound to the microphone.
- Rehearse the whole chain. Test with the actual voice talent and on the platform you plan to use. Check framing, puppet tracking, audio, sync, and the final composition before a live performance.
Choose output and background behavior
Character Animator’s output includes alpha transparency; the Scene panel’s background color setting is not sent as a filled background. If the receiving application or device cannot handle alpha, the transparent area appears black. Check the receiver’s alpha handling and add a background in the receiving application if you need a solid color or designed scene behind the puppet.
For a basic single-character broadcast, make sure your microphone input, Character Animator, and the receiving application can work together in the audio arrangement you chose. The receiver must also composite the character output the way you expect. Adobe’s category-level guidance is that most USB microphones and audio interfaces work for this kind of single-character setup; it does not certify every model or configuration.
#1 Best Overall
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Plan audio and lip-sync timing
Live video output can introduce a small delay. When audio and video travel together, Adobe says an audio delay adjustment is usually around 60 milliseconds. Treat that figure as a starting estimate, not a universal setting: the correct offset depends on the actual computer, output path, receiver, and broadcast chain.
Check sync during rehearsal by speaking or performing a clear, visible action while monitoring the receiving application’s output. If the voice arrives before the corresponding movement, add audio delay in the receiving application or through external audio hardware where supported. Adobe names OBS Studio and Telestream Wirecast as examples of streaming applications that can add delay. Adjust in small increments and check again at the platform output, not only in Character Animator.
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Use NDI for a multi-character setup
For a multi-computer NDI workflow, Adobe recommends a wired microphone and professional audio interface for each machine, with Gigabit Ethernet over Cat 5e or Cat 6 between the computers and a switch. Plan the arrangement around the number of machines, how audio will be routed, and whether the network supports the required connections. Confirm that each machine’s output is visible to the intended receiver before rehearsal.
Troubleshoot common live-output problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The receiver shows the wrong scene or misses objects. | Only the current scene displayed in the Scene panel is streamed; content outside it is not rendered. | Open the intended scene and arrange the visible content in the Scene panel before selecting the output again. |
| The puppet’s transparent area is black. | The receiving device or application does not handle the output’s alpha channel. | Check alpha support in the receiver, or place a background in the receiving application. |
| Speech and mouth movement look out of sync. | The live video path may add delay, or the audio and video paths have different latency. | Rehearse through the complete chain and adjust audio delay in the receiver or external hardware. Adobe’s around-60-millisecond figure is only a starting estimate. |
| The receiver does not show a video source. | The selected live output may not match the device or application being monitored, or the needed output setup may not be installed. | Recheck Live Output preferences in the Stream workspace, then verify that the receiver is looking at the corresponding source. Confirm compatibility for the specific software and hardware versions. |
| The performance audio is noisy or difficult to monitor. | Room noise, microphone choice, or monitoring through speakers may affect the signal. | Use a high-quality microphone with background-noise rejection in a quiet environment; monitor with headphones when appropriate. |
Or let it run in the cloud
Character Animator is for performing a tracked puppet live. If your separate goal is to keep a YouTube channel live around the clock using uploaded videos, StreamNeo is a different workflow: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It plays uploaded videos rather than broadcasting a live camera performance, and it streams to YouTube only.
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- Each slot includes one always-on stream, 10 GB storage per slot pooled across active slots, looping and playlists, automatic recovery, and StreamNeo team support. The same product is included on every plan; only the billing length changes.
The Monthly price is $9.99 per month. Visit StreamNeo for details, or start the free first day.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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