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Understanding Canvas: How to Decide What to Stream

Updated

Disclaimer! SE.Live Multi-Streaming is currently in its testing phase, and we're working hard behind the scenes to improve its features and functionalities. Our developers are constantly making improvements based on your feedback from the community. At the moment, multi-streaming to X isn't fully operational, but please know it's a top priority for us. We're committed to getting it up and running as soon as possible!

Be sure to follow our social media channels for the latest updates!


What is it?

SE.Live Multistreaming lets you create special Canvases that work separately from your main OBS canvas.

Why is this useful?

  • Vertical Streams: Easily create 9x16 Canvases perfect for platforms like TikTok or YouTube Shorts.
  • Platform-Specific Designs: Create different Canvases for each platform. For example, have one setup for TikTok and another for YouTube Shorts.

This feature helps you make your streams look great on multiple platforms at the same time!

Step-by-Step Instructions: Adding a Source

  1. Click the ●●● Menu:
    • Locate the ●●● (three dots) menu on any output. 
  2. Select Add Source:
    • From the dropdown menu, choose Add Source.
  3. Choose Source Type:
    • Select the type of source you want to add (e.g., Video Capture Device, Media Source, etc.).

You’ve now added a source to your Canvas!

Creating Your First Vertical Canvas

  1. Open the Canvas Menu:
    • Click the three dots menu next to any output in your Multistreaming panel.
    • Select Canvas and then click Create New Canvas.

  1. Name and Set Resolution:
    • A new window will pop up.
    • Give your Canvas a name.
    • For vertical platforms like TikTok or YouTube Shorts, select the 1080x1920 resolution.

  1. Save the Canvas:
    • Once you've named your Canvas and selected the resolution, click OK to create it.

In the Canvas window:

  • Viewers' Preview:
    At the top, you’ll see a preview of what your viewers will see during the stream.
  • Create Scenes and Add Sources:
    At the bottom, you can create Scenes and add Sources, just like you would in OBS.

This allows you to fully customize your stream layout and content before going live!

TIP!
If you accidentally close the StreamElements Canvas panel, you can always reopen it by going to the StreamElements menu and selecting SE.Live Docks.

Creating and Managing Scenes and Sources in SE.Live

Step 1: Creating a New Scene

  1. Click the Plus (+) button at the bottom left of the screen to create a new scene.
  2. A window will pop up where you can name your new scene.
  3. Once you're done, click Add Scene to save it.

Step 2: Adding Sources to Your Scene

  1. Next to the newly created scene, click the three dots (●●●) menu on the right side.
  2. Choose Add Source and select the type of source you want to add (e.g., Video Capture, Image, etc.).

  1. You can either use existing sources or create a new one. You can also choose whether to make the source visible right away, which is helpful if you want to set things up while live.

    Important note on performance: The existing sources reuse the same objects, making them more efficient.

Step 4: Configuring Canvas Settings

  1. Go back to the Settings menu.
  2. From here, you can select which Canvas you want to configure if you have more than one.
  3. You can also rename the Canvas, change its resolution, and check which output is linked to this Canvas.

Step 5: Advanced Encoding Options

  • In the Advanced section at the bottom, you can choose the encoding method you want to use for the Canvas.

Step 6: Using Linked Scenes for Multistreaming

  1. To make streaming easier, you can link your scenes across platforms.
  2. For example, if you have a Just Chatting scene in OBS, you can link it to the same scene in your Vertical Canvas.
  3. To link a scene, click the three dots (●●●) menu on the scene, then select Link Scene and link it to your existing scene in OBS.

Note: Once linked, whenever you switch to a scene in your Multistreaming tool, it will automatically change across all platforms without you needing to do anything.

This also works with your StreamDeck—you don’t need to update any configurations!

Going Live with SE.Live

Step 1: Start Streaming

  • When you're ready to go live, click the Start Streaming button.
  • A new window will pop up, asking you to set or confirm the titles and categories for all the platforms you've enabled.

Step 2: Confirm and Go Live

  • After setting up the titles and categories, click Start Streaming again to begin your broadcast.

Step 3: Check Your Live Status

  • Once you're live, you can see the Live indicator next to each platform in the Multistreaming panel to confirm that you're streaming on each platform.

Step 4: View All Chats in One Place

  • You can also use the MultiChat feature to view all chats from different platforms in one window.
  • To access MultiChat, click the StreamElements menu at the top and select MultiChat.

Now you're all set to stream on multiple platforms at once and manage everything in one place!

FAQs

Q: Why is nothing happening after I created a new canvas?
A: Sometimes, OBS opens a new panel or dock behind other panels. Try selecting the canvas dock from the StreamElements top menu to bring it to the front.

Q: Why do I see two YouTube outputs for every YouTube channel I connect?
A: YouTube supports streaming multiple streams simultaneously, which allows streamers to broadcast both horizontal and vertical streams at the same time. This feature helps increase exposure across different viewing formats.

Q:  Can I set audio channels per output?
A: Yes, you can set audio channels for each output in the output settings screen.

Additional Resources and Links:

What is SE.Live Multi-Streaming?

Getting Started with SE Live Multi-Streaming: Setup Guide

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