Horizontal and Vertical Live Streaming

Streaming in both horizontal and vertical orientations simultaneously helps you reach more viewers across different platforms. Horizontal video is ideal for platforms like YouTube and Twitch, while vertical video performs better on mobile-first apps like TikTok and Instagram. By streaming in both formats, you maximize discoverability, tailor the viewing experience to each platform, and get more value from every broadcast.

Example of horizontal and vertical streaming

Streamrun supports simultaneous Horizontal and Vertical live streaming in three ways:

Method 1: Two Streamrun Inputs

Two Streamrun Inputs Add two Input elements, one with Input format horizontal and one vertical. Use two streaming devices, two OBS instances, or the Aitum Vertical plugin to stream different orientations to each input. Add outputs for horizontal and vertical multistreaming accordingly, like Twitch&YouTube for horizontal and TikTok&Instagram for vertical.

Great for fully customized horizontal and vertical streaming with multistreaming capabilities. Requires a powerful computer or two broadcast devices.

Method 2: Create vertical stream automatically from horizontal video

Vertical frame example Stream horizontal video from your device and use the Vertical Frame element to automatically convert it to vertical. By default, the horizontal video will be centered in the vertical frame, with a blurred video background.

A simple way to create vertical video automatically. Add a PNG overlay for additional graphics, such as a recommendation to view the full horizontal stream on your main channel.

Method 3: Combined Landscape and Portrait stream (Dual HD)

Dual HD 2640 example Use the Dual HD 2640 resolution (2640x1280), which includes Full HD for horizontal streaming and 720p portrait for vertical streaming, side by side on the same canvas.

An easy method to create professional horizontal and vertical streams from one computer.

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

Dual HD 2640 template

Streamrun supports following resolutions for combined horizontal/vertical streaming:

  • Dual HD 1760
  • Dual HD 2000
  • Dual HD 2640

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.

Dual HD organization Read more about Dual HD at dualhd.org.