While you can use platforms like Zoom or Google Meet to screen share or stream Premiere Pro, they lack optimized consumer defaults for casting professional-grade video software like Premiere in real time. 

Most editors have probably experienced the inevitable lag when trying to showcase their editing workflow without a specialized solution, which can be frustrating or even embarrassing in front of clients or collaborators.

Fortunately, you can use a few proven workarounds to help you stream Premiere Pro effectively without lag. In this guide, we share some of these strategies and tips so you can edit remotely in Premiere without issue. 

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Why streaming your Premiere Pro causes lag

Streaming professional video editing software and high-level content requires distinct specifications. This level of technical horsepower is missing from consumer-grade software, which makes it difficult to collaborate over Premiere Pro on platforms like Google Meet or Zoom. 

By default, most consumer-grade software downgrades your video to 1080p, often with a sliding scale of compression for both audio and video, to retain a consistent connection. When you bypass these defaults, the software has to work much harder on limited bandwidth, which leads to interruptions, lag, or delays in your NLE stream. 

Premiere Pro does pair nicely with tools like Frame.io (also owned by Adobe) for remote editing in post, but the software doesn’t provide a native real-time editing collaboration solution. However, you can circumvent these common software challenges with Premiere in several ways to stream without or with significantly less lag while editing remotely. 

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6 ways to stream your Premiere Pro without lag

Consider the following streaming solutions to help you eliminate or reduce lag while live streaming Premiere Pro.  

Zoom with OBS 

If you want to use traditional video conferencing services to stream your workflow, you can use the OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) virtual camera feature, as explained here. 

Essentially, you configure a “scene” with OBS that showcases a screen capture of Premiere Pro. You can then select OBS Virtual Camera as your input source on Zoom. Finally, return to OBS and click Start Virtual Camera to send your Premiere feed through Zoom.

Pros:

• Both Zoom and OBS are free resources.
• You can use this method to showcase any video editing software or workflow. 

Cons:

• Moving between OBS and Zoom can be time-consuming. 
• Security protocol not specified for use on studio pre-release content
• You have to configure a webcam feed separately for face-to-face conferencing.
• Zoom doesn’t support 4K video streaming. 

OBS + NDI

One of the most common ways to showcase a Premiere Pro workflow over the internet is to utilize OBS and Network Device Interface (NDI) to stream several devices simultaneously, as explained in depth here. 

After you install OBS, NDI, and NDI core tools, connect OBS and NDI within OBS using the NDI OBS bridge plugin. Once the plugin is active, you can navigate to the NDI access manager and configure Premiere Pro as your streaming source. 

From there, add an NDI Source to your scene within OBS. You are then ready to start streaming from OBS or connect within Zoom using the Virtual Camera toggle. 

Pros:

• Both OBS and NDI are free. 
• You can use both software components to configure several sources simultaneously.

Cons:

• This workflow has several steps and configurations, which can come with a learning curve.
• You have to create a webcam or video feed separately for remote communication. 
• NDI and OBS have limited security features. 

Zoom + NDI

If you wish to cut out the middleman of OBS in an NDI to OBS to Zoom workflow, you can use Zoom Rooms to connect to NDI directly. You’ll need to have NDI installed as well as a Zoom Rooms subscription, and a compatible controller with the Zoom Rooms’ companion app downloaded. 

Before your session, navigate to the Zoom Web Portal, where you’ll find Zoom Rooms under Room Management. Under the Meeting Tab, toggle Allow Network Device Interface (NDI®) usage to On. 

During your session, select Change View and then Add Output within the Zoom Room’s controller app. These views can be found under the Live on NDI section, allowing you to switch between your Premiere Pro and camera view as needed. 

Pros: 

• Streaming NDI directly via Zoom is convenient and affordable
• Zoom Rooms has several compatible controllers allowing you to switch from your NDI feed to camera feed

Cons: 

• Setup can be convoluted and must be repeated for each session
• You need an additional paid Zoom Rooms subscription and a compatible controller
• Video is still limited to 1080p resolution

Use a web presenter workaround 

Some editors stream Premiere Pro to clients and collaborators using a web presenter, like Blackmagic Design’s Web Presenter. 

This presenter connects to your computer via USB and allows you to stream any source (in this case, your editing workflow) to any streaming software or within Zoom as a virtual camera. The presenter has built-in monitoring software to help you configure and customize your video feed before your session starts. 

Pros:

• Web presenter allows you to stream to any software, 4G or 5G phone, or act as a virtual camera. 
• Stream in 4K with compatible output software. 

Cons:

• Investing in professional hardware comes at a cost and with a learning curve.
• You need to configure a separate audio or video feed to communicate while conferencing. 

Remote desktop

Another streaming workaround for sharing Premiere Pro with a colleague is using a service like Splashtop, Jump Desktop, or other remote desktop solutions. These remote desktop apps allow you to access another desktop from another device. 

Your session guest could log in to a remote desktop app, allowing them to view your Premiere Pro workflow in real time. Both parties need to download the corresponding remote desktop app on their respective devices. 

Pros:

• This simple workflow allows guests to view Premiere Pro remotely.
• Remote desktop solutions are typically fairly affordable. 

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Cons:

• Most of the remote desktop programs require payment.
• You have to set up video conferencing and audio communication separately. 
• Security protocol is not tested for a broadcast environment. 
• You can only use this solution with one other session participant at a time. 

Evercast

Instead of juggling multiple tools at once for lackluster results, many professionals invest in software designed specifically for streaming studio-grade software like Premiere Pro. Evercast offers an all-in-one solution for editors to stream workflows in real time, with a 4K, 60fps frame-accurate feed, built-in video conferencing, and other helpful tools like annotations and recording. 

This single, secure software suite is approved by all major Hollywood studios and trusted by top-of-the-line editors and directors, such as the team on Netflix’s Maya and the Three:

“As if created by the editing gods, Evercast saved our production on ‘Maya and the Three!’ Our brilliant editor Myra López and I loved collaborating on it so much we might never be in the same room again."

— Jorge Gutiérrez, creator/writer/director of Maya and the Three