Dual Format Streaming
Dual Format Streaming in both horizontal and vertical orientations helps you reach more viewers across platforms and optimize the viewing experience on different devices. Horizontal video is the primary format on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, while vertical video is native to mobile apps like TikTok and Instagram. By streaming in both orientations, you can maximize discoverability and tailor the viewing experience to each platform and device.
Streamrun supports dual format streaming (horizontal and vertical live) in three ways:
Method 1: Automatically generated vertical video from the horizontal stream
Stream horizontal video from your device and use the Vertical Frame element to automatically generate a vertical version. By default, the horizontal video is centered in the vertical frame with a blurred background. Add overlay graphics around the video for a near-native portrait experience.
Automatically generated vertical video is the simplest way to get started with dual format streaming. Add a PNG overlay for additional graphics, such as a recommendation to view the horizontal stream.
Method 2: Dual HD streaming by combining Landscape and Portrait on same canvas
Use the Dual HD 2640 resolution (2640x1280), which contains Full HD for horizontal streaming and 720p portrait for vertical streaming, side by side on the same canvas. Works with any broadcasting software and simplifies layout creations for both orientations, without requiring any specific GPUs.
Dual HD is an easy method to create fully customized and professional horizontal and vertical streams using any broadcasting software.
Setting up Dual HD in OBS (Dual HD 2640 example)
1. Adjust OBS Settings
- Video -> Base (Canvas) Resolution: 2640x1280
- Video -> Output (Scaled) Resolution: 2640x1280
- Output -> Rescale output: Disabled
- If you don't have the processing capacity or bandwidth for 2640×1280 streaming, select Dual HD 2000 or Dual HD 1760 size
2. Download Dual HD 2640 template
- Add Image source to your OBS canvas using the Dual HD template
- Build your horizontal and vertical layouts on top of the template
How Dual HD Works
Dual HD video stream contains both horizontal and vertical videos side by side. Streamrun automatically splits the Dual HD and sends the appropriately orientated video to each connected output.
Use simultaneous horizontal and vertical streaming for multistreaming (e.g., horizontal to Twitch and Kick, vertical to TikTok and Instagram), or within the same platform. For example, YouTube shows vertical live streams along YouTube Shorts and horizontal live streams on the home page, so you'll maximize your reach with two formats with only two separate YouTube streamkeys required.
Read more about Dual HD at dualhd.org.
Method 3: Two Streamrun Inputs
The third method is to add two Input elements, one with Input type horizontal and one vertical. You can use two streaming devices, two OBS instances, or the Aitum Vertical plugin to stream different orientations to each input. Connect outputs for horizontal and vertical multistreaming accordingly.
Twitch Dual Format streaming
Twitch currently has Dual Format streaming in alpha stage. If you’re part of the alpha, Streamrun lets you stream in Dual Format from any device or software, while also multistreaming in both orientations. This helps you reach more viewers with an optimized experience on every device. Desktop and TV viewers will see your standard horizontal stream, while mobile viewers get a full-screen vertical view when holding the phone upright, or a horizontal view when rotated. Read more about Twitch dual format on Twitch.tv or our Dual Format documentation.
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