Tally Arbiter is a powerful open-source tally light system that integrates directly with vMix, OBS, ATEM, Ross, and other production switchers. If you need automatic tally signals from your switcher, it's one of the best free options available.
This guide walks through the full Tally Arbiter setup process — and also covers a simpler browser-based alternative for teams who don't need switcher integration.
What Tally Arbiter Does
Tally Arbiter sits between your video switcher and your tally displays. It receives the tally state from your switcher (which camera is live, which is in preview) and broadcasts that state to connected devices — phones, tablets, or dedicated tally hardware.
The key advantage over hardware tally is that the displays are browser-based — any phone can show the tally state without dedicated hardware.
What You Need Before Starting
- A computer that will run the Tally Arbiter server (must stay on during production)
- Node.js installed (v14 or higher)
- Your video switcher on the same local network
- Phones or tablets for display devices
Important: The computer running Tally Arbiter must stay awake for the entire production. If it sleeps, crashes, or loses network connection, all tally displays go dark. Plan accordingly.
Step-by-Step Tally Arbiter Setup
Step 1 — Install Node.js
Download and install Node.js from nodejs.org. Verify the installation:
npm --version
Step 2 — Install Tally Arbiter
Step 3 — Start the server
The server starts on port 4455 by default. Open a browser and go to http://localhost:4455 to access the admin interface.
Step 4 — Add your switcher as a source
In the Tally Arbiter admin interface, go to Sources and add your switcher. For vMix, you'll need the vMix IP address and port. For ATEM, you'll need the ATEM IP address. For OBS, you'll need the obs-websocket plugin installed and configured first.
Step 5 — Add tally devices
Add each camera or position as a Device. Assign each device to a source input (Camera 1, Camera 2, etc.).
Step 6 — Connect display devices
On each phone or tablet, open a browser and navigate to http://[server-ip]:4455/tally. Select the device to monitor. The tally display shows live/preview states automatically from the switcher.
Common Tally Arbiter Problems
- Displays not connecting: Check that all devices are on the same local network. Tally Arbiter is LAN-only.
- Server crashes on sleep: Configure your OS to never sleep while Tally Arbiter is running.
- OBS not connecting: Make sure obs-websocket plugin is installed and the server is enabled in OBS Tools menu.
- ATEM not detected: Verify the ATEM IP address in your router settings, not just what ATEM Setup shows.
When Tally Arbiter Is the Right Choice
Tally Arbiter is worth the setup complexity if:
- You need automatic tally — the signal changes when you switch cameras without any manual input
- You run a permanent studio where the server can always stay on
- You need multi-source support (multiple switchers feeding one tally system)
- You're technically comfortable with Node.js and local server management
When a Browser Tally Is Easier
If you don't need switcher integration — or if the 1–2 hour setup is more than your team wants to manage — a browser-based tally like Cue Light is significantly faster:
- No Node.js, no server, no configuration
- Works over the internet — no LAN dependency
- Director taps a button instead of the signal being automatic
- Setup takes 30 seconds, not 1–2 hours
- Works even if the "server" computer (the director's phone) goes offline — cloud infrastructure keeps the last state
Want tally lights without the server setup?
Cue Light is free, browser-based, and live in 30 seconds. No Node.js required.
Start free — no signup