> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.daydream.live/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Using Syphon

> Share real-time video with other applications on macOS

# Sharing real-time video between macOS applications with Syphon

Scope supports near-zero latency video sharing with other local applications on macOS via [Syphon](http://syphon.v002.info/). This enables powerful workflows like sending Scope's AI-generated output to TouchDesigner, Resolume, OBS, or MadMapper in real-time, all without leaving the GPU.

<Warning>
  **macOS only.** Syphon is the macOS equivalent of [Spout](/scope/guides/spout) (Windows). If you are on Windows, see the [Spout guide](/scope/guides/spout) instead.
</Warning>

***

## What is Syphon?

Syphon is a real-time video sharing framework for macOS that allows applications to share GPU textures with minimal overhead. The texture never leaves the GPU, so there is no readback to CPU, no encoding, no decoding, and no re-upload. This results in:

* **Near-zero latency** (sub-millisecond)
* **Full quality** with no compression artifacts
* **Minimal CPU overhead** since all processing stays on the GPU

Syphon is bundled with Scope, so there is nothing extra to install.

***

## Syphon Receiver

Configure Scope to receive video from other applications via Syphon. This is useful for using external video sources (like TouchDesigner or MadMapper) as input for your generations.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Set input mode to Video">
    Under **Input and Controls**, set **Input Mode** to **Video**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Syphon as source">
    Set **Video Source** to **Syphon**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a Syphon source">
    Scope automatically discovers available Syphon servers on your Mac. Select the one you want from the dropdown. A live preview thumbnail shows the current frame from the selected source.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/dd/TwPRIgBnft1cG4AM/images/scope/guides/syphon/syphon-receiver-settings.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=TwPRIgBnft1cG4AM&q=85&s=2511a4547fff9021a546c85b9dfb96aa" alt="Syphon receiver settings showing the source dropdown with discovered servers" width="600" height="276" data-path="images/scope/guides/syphon/syphon-receiver-settings.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  If your source does not appear, click the **refresh** button next to the dropdown. Syphon servers are discovered automatically, but it may take a moment for new sources to show up.
</Tip>

<Note>
  When selecting a Syphon source, Scope automatically probes the source's native resolution and adjusts the pipeline dimensions to match. This avoids stretching or compression artifacts.
</Note>

***

## Syphon Sender

Configure Scope to send its output to other applications via Syphon. This is useful for post-processing in TouchDesigner, recording in OBS, or using Scope's output in other creative tools.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Outputs panel">
    In the Scope interface, find the **Outputs** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable Syphon Output">
    Toggle **Syphon Output** to **On**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure sender name (optional)">
    The default sender name is `Scope`. You can change this if you need to identify multiple Scope instances. The name you set here is what appears in other applications when they look for Syphon sources.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/dd/TwPRIgBnft1cG4AM/images/scope/guides/syphon/syphon-sender-settings.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=TwPRIgBnft1cG4AM&q=85&s=13c02cd1ef18555a14105937864fcc86" alt="Syphon sender settings showing the enable toggle and sender name field" width="638" height="290" data-path="images/scope/guides/syphon/syphon-sender-settings.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Compatible applications

Scope can share real-time video with any application that supports Syphon. The following applications have been tested:

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="TouchDesigner" icon="bezier-curve" href="https://derivative.ca/">
    Use [Syphon Spout In](https://derivative.ca/UserGuide/Syphon_Spout_In_TOP) and [Syphon Spout Out](https://docs.derivative.ca/Syphon_Spout_Out_TOP) TOPs
  </Card>

  <Card title="MadMapper" icon="display" href="https://madmapper.com/">
    Built-in Syphon input/output for projection mapping
  </Card>

  <Card title="VDMX" icon="video" href="https://vidvox.net/">
    Built-in Syphon support for live VJ performance
  </Card>

  <Card title="Resolume Arena / Avenue" icon="display" href="https://resolume.com/">
    Built-in Syphon input/output
  </Card>

  <Card title="OBS Studio" icon="video" href="https://obsproject.com/">
    With the [mac-syphon plugin](https://github.com/zakk4223/obs-mac-syphon)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Blender" icon="cube" href="https://www.blender.org/">
    With the [TextureSharing add-on](https://github.com/maybites/TextureSharing)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Tip>
  Any application that supports Syphon should work with Scope. Check your application's documentation for Syphon integration instructions.
</Tip>

***

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Syphon source not appearing in the dropdown">
    * Click the refresh button to re-scan for sources
    * Make sure the sending application is running and has Syphon output enabled
    * Both applications must be running on the same Mac
    * Try restarting the sending application after launching Scope
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Syphon sender not appearing in other apps">
    * Verify Syphon Output is enabled in the Outputs panel
    * Try restarting the receiving application after enabling Syphon in Scope
    * Check that the receiving application supports Syphon (not just Spout)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Performance issues">
    * Syphon sharing is GPU-memory based and should have minimal overhead
    * If you see frame drops, check GPU memory usage with Activity Monitor
    * Close other GPU-intensive applications if memory is limited
    * On Apple Silicon Macs, GPU memory is shared with system memory, so keep total memory usage in check
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## See also

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Using Spout" icon="share-nodes" href="/scope/guides/spout">
    The Windows equivalent of Syphon for sharing real-time video between applications
  </Card>

  <Card title="Using NDI" icon="network-wired" href="/scope/guides/ndi">
    Send and receive real-time video over the network across machines
  </Card>
</CardGroup>