Setting up the FiM AV System

  1. Setting up the Hardware
  2. Setting up the FiM AV Software
    1. 1. Check Network Configuration
    2. 2. Launch vMix
    3. 3. Launch Audience Display (note FIRST updates may slightly change the operation)
    4. 4. Sponsor PowerPoint / Video
    5. 5. Verify Stream
  3. Next Steps

Setting up the Hardware

  • Remove the front and back covers from the AV cart.
  • Check all the power cables are firmly connected to the UPS in the bottom of the cart.
  • Connect the UPS power cord to a source separate from the field system.
  • Connect a keyboard and mouse to the AV computer usb ports.
  • Note: the monitor power and DisplayPort cables should be already connected and coiled. Please do not disconnect and pack these. Simply connect the monitor to the power and DisplayPort cables.
  • If using the network box (UDM Pro)
    • Connect the network box to port 7 of the AV switch for both internet and field access.
  • If an FTA decides to use an alternative network setup, click to expand
    • Connect the school internet to port 1 of the network switch.
    • Connect the FIRST field internet to port 2 of the network switch.
    • Connect the FIRST field network (10.0.100.0/5) to port 7 of the network switch.
  • Connect the PTZOptics camera ethernet to port 14 on the switch.
  • Connect the Sony camera ethernet to the red “SonyCam” port
  • Connect the projector coax to the HDMI to SDI converter output.
  • Power on the UPS.
    • If it does not power, the battery cable has most likely disconnected. Simply remove the four Philips screws on the cover to access the Anderson connector. You may have to push it in gently with a flat blade screwdriver. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this on your own, reach out to the #av-help channel on Slack.
  • Power on the computer.
  • Log on to the computer. If you don’t know the password, ask an FTA.
  • It may take a few minutes for all of the networking equipment to start up and connect. Let the machine sit for 5 minutes after logging in for the first time before moving on.

Setting up the FiM AV Software

1. Check Network Configuration

When you log in to the computer, FiM AV Assistant should automatically pop up. Click next and let it perform hardware checks for the network.

As you step through AV Assistant, it will show errors or warnings for unexpected network configurations. If you need help with networking, please send along a picture of those errors, as it will help with troubleshooting.

2. Launch vMix

Put a copy of the default configuration into your event folder. It can be found in Google Drive at “FiM-AV > Cart-Setup > vMix > 2026-Rebuilt-FiMVideo#.vmix”. If you have difficulty finding this please reach out for help in the #av-help channel on Slack. Double check that you’re using the copy in your event folder, so you don’t overwrite other events’ configs.

This will open several inputs and input tabs:

  • Field Cam
  • PTZ Cam
  • Audience Display (Desktop capture). Please note that we recommend instead utilizing the web-based version of the Audience Display. See the Launching Audience Display section for more information.
  • Virtual – Game input (chroma key of Audience Display layered on top of a copy of Field Cam input)
  • Several Opening videos
  • Audio In 17+18

For rankings: Your cart should have received a DM on slack with your pit display event key. Follow the instructions in that message to log in to the FiM Queueing app on the AV cart, and use the instructions on the “Manage Options” page to add the rankings display and stream graphics to vMix.

vMix is a video switching application. Basic use:

  • The second monitor is the projector. The top right window in vMix is the input that’s currently live.
  • The Preview window is the top left.
  • Selecting various inputs will put them in the Preview screen.
  • Select a transition button between the Preview and Live screens to change the input.
  • Buttons are available on the StreamDeck to immediately cut to commonly used inputs

vMix provides an extensive library of tutorial videos on YouTube for greater detail.

Opening video input tips:

  • Click the Cog icon to edit properties
  • General (top selection)
  • Check the boxes
  • Automatically Play with Transition
  • Automatically Restart with Transition
  • Automatically Pause after Transition
  • The video will always start at the beginning no matter where it was left for testing

3. Launch Audience Display (note FIRST updates may slightly change the operation)

2026 has a brand new audience display! Even if you’ve volunteered before please read this section.

To add the web-based Audience Display to vMix, the easiest way is to do so via AV Assistant. Open the AV Assistant window and under the vMix menu, click “Add Audience Display (Web) input”. It should pop up a dialog with some further instructions, follow those. That will add a new input to vMix and set it up so audio is always enabled on it. Bring that input up in preview and hover your mouse over it. Click on “Open Settings”. Make sure it’s set to 1920x1080 for the resolution, and we recommend the following graphics settings:

  • Real-Time Score Type: Full Width Bar
  • Award Display Type: Live Stream Bug
  • Background Type: Transparent
  • Display Chroma box on Alliance Selection: Checked
  • Horizontal Orientation: (this should match your camera’s perspective)
  • Vertical Orientation: Top of Screen (Bottom of Screen is okay too if you’re sure the audience will be able to see it)

Once you’re done, disable the mouse on the browser input so the settings overlay doesn’t show up. You can do this by right clicking on the input and then selecting “Mouse Enabled”.

Audience Display Web graphics settings

Some FAQs if you’re running into trouble:

Q: I can’t hear anything: Ensure that “Automatically Mix Audio” is unselected on the input in vMix, and that the audio is on and routed to bus M.

Q: There’s a white background instead of transparent: You’re probably missing the custom CSS from the input. Right click on the input in vMix, go to properties and add the following custom CSS body {background: transparent;}. You do not need to use the pink chroma key.

Q: Scores didn’t appear when the scorekeeper posted scores: Have them go into Match Review and try re-posting. If it still doesn’t work reach out for support.

Q: I changed settings from Chrome but they didn’t update in vMix: It’s possible to change settings for an Audience Display configuration in a web browser and then use them in vMix by going to the FMS Web Server, but configuration changes won’t automatically sync across browsers. Refresh the browser input in vMix and it should pick up the changes.

Legacy desktop-based Audience Display instructions, click to expand

Only use the legacy Audience Display app if directed to do so by an FTA, HQ, or an AV Lead

  • Use the FIRST Audience Display shortcut located on the Windows desktop or search “Primary Display” in the Start menu.
  • Ctrl-Shift-C accesses the Audience Display dialog box to set options. Options should be set as follows:
    • Chroma Background Fuchsia
    • 720p or 1080p
    • Center On Screen
    • Real-Time Score Type: “[Default] Full Width”
    • Real-Time Score Vertical: “[Flipped] Top of Screen”
    • Real-Time Score Horizontal: Whatever matches your camera’s perspective
    • Award Display Type: “[Default] Live Stream Bug”
    • Click Save Changes or Cancel to exit the dialog box

If you see pink shadows on Audience Display in vMix even after setting up the chroma key, set the “Red”, “Green”, and “Blue” sliders to about a third of the way up in the vMix color key settings.

  • Copy the sponsor slideshow from the FiM Official Media folder to your event folder. For instructions on finding this, see Google Drive Layout.
  • Update the copied slideshow to add your event name wherever called for, and remove any event-specific sponsors that are not for your event, then save the file.
  • After complete, drag the file from the folder in Explorer and drop it over vMix (it may take a few seconds to load in)
  • Also drag in the ‘FIRST SPONSOR 2026 captions_no audio’ video from the FIRST Official Media > Videos folder
  • Go into the slideshow settings in vMix and set the transition to 5 seconds
  • Set up vMix so that neither input loops, and one ending triggers a transition into the other

Image showing trigger setup

5. Verify Stream

  • Load in your stream keys with FIMAV Assistant. Open FIMAV Assistant, and in the vMix menu click on “Set Stream Keys”.
  • In the stream settings window (the gear next to the stream icon) check that your quality includes “1080p” and “BusA”.
  • Click the Stream button. After a few seconds, it should turn red and stay red until stopped by clicking the button again. A notification should be sent to the #av-alerts channel in Slack saying that your channel went live on Twitch. If that alert is not sent, or it shows the wrong Twitch channel, it means something is wrong with your stream.
  • Notes about streaming
    • The Audio input 17+18 sends the mixer output from Bus 1 into vMix assigned to Bus A
    • Bus A is configured for both the Stream and Record functions.
    • There is a sound diagram in the AV folder shortcut on the desktop

Next Steps

You’re ready to run an event! Before you go home for the night, take a look at Day 1 and 2. It has a few quick steps you’ll want to follow to set yourself up for a successful opening ceremony.