Video Routing Window

Last updated 5 August 2026

The Video Routing window connects Projectors and Displays to physical and virtual outputs. Every Projector or Display in your scene must be routed to an output before it produces a visible signal.

Overview

Video Routing is a matrix with Projectors and Displays as rows and Outputs as columns.

  • Rows list every Projector and Display in your scene, organised by their scene group hierarchy. Expand or collapse groups to find the device you need.

  • Columns list every output slot: GPU outputs, NDI outputs, DeckLink outputs and others. If an output has been split — a 4K GPU output split into four HD quadrants, say — the sub-outputs appear as nested columns beneath the parent.

  • Cells contain checkboxes. Check a cell to route that Projector or Display to that output; uncheck it to remove the route.

Each output can be routed to one Projector or Display at a time, and each Projector or Display to one output. A blue checkmark indicates an active route.

Opening the window

Video Routing is a tab in the main workspace area, alongside the Scene View and Node Editor. Click the Video Routing tab to open it; if the tab is not visible, enable it from the View menu.

Routing a Projector or Display to an output

1. Open the Video Routing window

Click the Video Routing tab in the main workspace.

2. Locate your Projector or Display

On the left of the matrix, find the Projector or Display you want to route. If your scene uses groups, expand the group to reveal its children.

3. Locate your output

Along the top of the matrix, find the output you want to use. Output names are displayed vertically. If an output is split, expand it to see the individual sub-outputs.

4. Check the intersection

Click the checkbox where the row and column meet. A blue checkmark appears, confirming the route, and the Projector or Display now renders to that output.

Outputs can also be routed from the right-click context menu on a Display or Projector in Scene Objects: right-click the device, select Video Routing, and check the output you want.

Column header controls

Each output column header carries the output name and up to two icon buttons.

Control

What it does

Turn on / Turn off (eye icon)

Enables or disables the output signal. Turned off, the output produces no image — a way to black out an output temporarily without removing the route

Mesh Warp (warp icon)

Opens Output Warping for the routed Projector output. Available only when a Projector is routed to this output

Split root outputs — the parent before splitting — show no routing checkboxes. Route to the individual sub-outputs instead.

Working with split outputs

When a GPU output is split — a UHD output divided into 2×2 HD quadrants for a video splitter such as a Datapath FX4 — the parent appears as an expandable column. Expand it to reveal the sub-outputs and route Projectors or Displays to those individually.

To split an output, select it in the Outputs panel and configure the Split section in the Inspector. The routing matrix updates by itself.

Hover preview

Hovering an output column header shows a live preview of the Projector's rendered view, which helps identify which physical projector belongs to which output in a multi-projector setup.

Hovering also highlights the corresponding physical output on the connected display or projector, so outputs can be identified in the real world.

Clicking row and column headers

  • Clicking a row header selects that Projector or Display in Scene Objects and shows its properties in the Inspector.

  • Clicking a column header selects that output in the Outputs panel and shows its properties in the Inspector.

Common Mistakes

Symptom

Cause and fix

No outputs appear as columns

GPU outputs are detected at startup. Connecting a display or projector after Backstage launched means restarting it so the output is found

No checkbox on a split output

You are on the parent (split root) column. Expand it and route to the sub-outputs

Routed, but the projector shows black

The output may be turned off — check the eye icon in the column header. Also confirm a sequence is playing content aimed at the surface this projector covers

The warp icon is missing or greyed out

It appears only for outputs with a Projector routed to them. Route the Projector first

Tips

  • GPU outputs are detected only at startup, so connect every display and projector before launching Backstage.

  • Use the colour labels on scene groups and devices to match rows to the physical installation — the coloured indicator appears beside the device name in the matrix.

  • During setup, hover the output columns to trigger the physical output highlight. It flashes the corresponding display or projector, which confirms which cable goes where.

  • The Video Routing context menu in Scene Objects shows the same checkboxes plus an arrow to reach output properties inline — useful for adjusting an output without leaving the scene tree.

GPU Output — properties of physical GPU output slots

Visual Output Default Properties — properties shared by all visual outputs

Output Warping — mesh warping for keystone correction and blend alignment

Audio Routing Window — routing audio streams to mixers and outputs

NDI Routing Window — routing NDI sources to NDI devices