The Stream settings in Meld Studio are the core configuration options that impact the quality and performance of your streams and recordings.
Main Canvas
Section titled “Main Canvas”The Main Canvas defines the base resolution of your scene. It supports landscape and portrait resolutions. The stream resolution is a separate setting, so reducing the stream resolution does not require reducing the canvas.
Supported Resolutions (Main Canvas)
Section titled “Supported Resolutions (Main Canvas)”- 4K UHD
- 1440p
- 1080p (Default)
- 864p
- 720p
- Portrait 4K
- Portrait 1080p
- Portrait 720p
Ultrawide presets are also available, including DFHD (3840×1080).
Set the Main Canvas Resolution
Section titled “Set the Main Canvas Resolution”- Navigate to Settings → General.
- Choose the Main Canvas resolution using the Canvas dropdown menu.
Stream Resolution
Section titled “Stream Resolution”Independent stream resolution is available in Meld Studio on Windows and macOS. It lets you stream at a lower resolution while keeping the Main Canvas and an independent recording at full resolution.
- Stop streaming before changing the stream resolution. Stop recording and the virtual camera as well if you need to change the canvas size.
- Open Settings → General and choose the Main Canvas resolution.
- In Stream Settings, choose Resolution. The menu lists supported resolutions that have the same aspect ratio as the Main Canvas and are no larger than it.
- Check the resolution again after changing the Main Canvas. The available choices depend on the canvas size.
This setting applies to streams and clips that use the Main Canvas stream settings. It does not resize the Portrait Canvas.
Resolution by Output
Section titled “Resolution by Output”The table describes the standard output configuration. If you have changed an output's advanced encoding or sync settings, check its actual video tracks in Encoder View.
| Output | Without Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting | With Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting |
|---|---|---|
| Main Canvas | The base scene size selected in Settings → General | The canvas remains the scene's base size; Twitch chooses encoded track resolutions |
| Main Canvas stream | Uses Stream Settings → Resolution | Twitch chooses the encoded track resolutions; the local Resolution control is hidden |
| Main Canvas recording | Uses the canvas resolution by default, with its own recording encoder settings | Follows a compatible Twitch track for that canvas; the file format can affect track or codec selection |
| Main Canvas clip | Follows the Main Canvas stream resolution, including when you are not live | Follows a compatible Twitch track for that canvas; the file format can affect track or codec selection |
| Portrait Canvas outputs | The Portrait Canvas is fixed at 1080×1920; reducing the Main Canvas stream resolution does not resize these outputs | The Portrait Canvas must be enabled in the Twitch output; Twitch chooses its encoded tracks |
Streams and clips normally inherit the stream settings for their canvas. Recordings have their own encoder settings outside Enhanced Broadcasting. An output that inherits another output's settings follows that source instead of its own local encoding values.
Example: Record in 4K and Stream in 1080p
Section titled “Example: Record in 4K and Stream in 1080p”With Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting turned off:
- Set Main Canvas to 4K UHD (3840×2160).
- Set Stream Settings → Resolution to 1080p (1920×1080).
- Under Recording, edit the recording output and select the Main canvas. Keep the default canvas-sized recording and choose your recording encoder settings.
- Check Encoder View and make a short local recording. Confirm that the file is 3840×2160 before using the setup for a full session.
The configured Main Canvas stream is 1920×1080, the default Main Canvas recording remains 3840×2160, and Main Canvas clips use 1920×1080. Independent recording settings can require additional encoding resources.
Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting
Section titled “Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting”When Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting is enabled, Twitch controls the encoded resolutions. The local stream Resolution control is hidden. Recordings and clips follow a compatible Twitch track for their canvas, so their file format can affect the selected track and resolution. If none of the track codecs is supported by the output, Meld uses H.264 with synchronized settings. This may require a separate encoder; sharing settings does not always mean sharing the same encoded video. Check Encoder View for the actual configuration. The 4K recording with a 1080p stream example above does not apply in this mode.
Outputs can only use canvases included in the Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting output. To use both canvases, enable Multi Canvas and select Dual Format for that Twitch output. See Enhanced Broadcasting Limitations.
Framerate
Section titled “Framerate”Framerate refers to the frequency at which frames are captured or displayed. Meld Studio supports streaming and recording framerates of 30fps or 60fps.
Configure the Framerate
Section titled “Configure the Framerate”- Navigate to
Settings → General. - Choose the Framerate using the dropdown menu.
Video Bitrate
Section titled “Video Bitrate”Video bitrate represents the amount of data processed per second to determine the quality of your video stream or recording. A higher bitrate ensures smoother playback and better video detail, while a lower bitrate may lead to pixelation or visual artifacts.
Set the Video Bitrate
Section titled “Set the Video Bitrate”- Navigate to
Settings → General. - Edit the Video Bitrate field.
Multi Canvas Bitrate (When Enabled)
Section titled “Multi Canvas Bitrate (When Enabled)”When Multi Canvas is active, bitrate fields appear separately for the Main Canvas and Portrait Canvas.
Platform Video Bitrate Recommendations
Section titled “Platform Video Bitrate Recommendations”- Twitch: 3,000 to 6,000kbps.
- YouTube: 3,000 to 40,000kbps.
- Kick: 1,000 to 8,000kbps.
- Facebook: 600 to 15,000kbps.
Audio Bitrate
Section titled “Audio Bitrate”Audio bitrate measures the amount of data used to transmit audio per second. Higher bitrates result in clearer, more detailed sound.
Check the platform's recommendations for Audio Bitrate to ensure compatibility and avoid unnecessary strain on your setup.
Hardware Encoder
Section titled “Hardware Encoder”When hardware encoding is disabled, Meld Studio defaults to using x264.
Windows
Section titled “Windows”Meld Studio supports hardware encoding on compatible NVIDIA and AMD GPUs. Available codecs depend on your GPU.
Meld Studio uses the hardware encoder available on your Mac.
Encoder View
Section titled “Encoder View”The Encoder View provides a real-time visual overview of how content flows through Meld Studio—from canvases and audio sources, through encoders, and out to each output destination.
The view is split into three columns:
- Sources (left): Canvases, plus Master and VOD audio sources.
- Encoders (center): The encoding pipeline for both video and audio.
- Outputs (right): All active outputs (e.g., Twitch, YouTube, Recording, Clipping) with their associated audio and video tracks.
Each connection line represents a video or audio path, showing exactly what is being routed where.
Access Encoder View
Section titled “Access Encoder View”- Navigate to the View menu.
- Select the Encoder View option to open the view.
Press Escape or click the Close button on the left to leave the Encoder View.
Can I adjust my stream settings while live?
Section titled “Can I adjust my stream settings while live?”No, stream settings cannot be adjusted while live. To make changes, stop the broadcast, update the settings, and then start streaming again.