Live streaming both horizontal and vertical videos on YouTube allows creators to cater to different viewing preferences and device orientations.
- Horizontal video provides a cinematic experience ideal for traditional screens like TVs and desktops.
- Vertical video is optimized for smartphones, delivering a full-screen mobile experience that often boosts viewer retention and engagement (63% of YouTube views come from mobile devices).
By combining both formats with the help of a vertical streaming software and tools such as the aitum vertical plugin, creators can maximize audience reach, improve engagement, and ensure content feels native across devices. The plugin allows OBS users to manage both horizontal and vertical outputs simultaneously, making it easier to stream to mobile-first audiences without maintaining separate production setups.
This tutorial walks you through how to stream vertical and horizontal on YouTube at the same time using a vertical streaming software. You’ll learn the complete process of streaming both orientations simultaneously to deliver a seamless viewing experience across devices.
Why Use the Aitum Vertical Plugin for Dual Streaming?
Streaming both horizontal and vertical video formats simultaneously can be difficult using standard OBS settings alone. The aitum vertical plugin simplifies the process by adding a dedicated vertical canvas that works alongside your traditional horizontal layout.
For creators targeting YouTube, TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, the aitum vertical plugin provides a practical way to create platform-specific layouts without duplicating scenes or rebuilding an entire streaming workflow.
Benefits include:
- Dedicated 9:16 vertical scenes
- Independent control of portrait and landscape layouts
- Better optimization for mobile viewers
- Faster content repurposing for short-form platforms
- Streamlined multistreaming workflows
Prerequisites
Before we get started, please ensure:
- You’ve created a YouTube channel.
- You’ve activated live streaming on YouTube.
- You’ve downloaded and installed the OBS on your PC.
- You've downloaded and installed the aitum vertical plugin for OBS. If you haven't already installed it, follow our guide on setting up vertical video in OBS before continuing.
Step-by-Step Guide To Stream Horizontal And Vertical Videos Together
Step 1: Access YouTube Studio
Type studio.youtube.com into your web browser and press Enter.
Sign into your Google account using an Email ID or your registered phone number. Once entered, click Next.
Enter your password and click Next.
Click Not now to move ahead.
Step 2: Schedule The Horizontal Stream
You’ve now entered the dashboard of your YouTube channel. Click the Go live icon below the Create icon at the top-right corner.
Again, at your right, click the Schedule Stream icon.
Fill out the Create stream form. You don’t necessarily have to fill out every field. Only those labelled with required needs to be filled.
For Details:
- Provide a catchy title for your stream.
- Write down a resonating description.
- Choose a broadcast type for your stream (In the present case, it’s Streaming software).
- Select a category.
- Provide a thumbnail
- Add playlist(s).
- Choose your audience
Click Next after the required fields under Details are filled.
For Customization:
- Select live chat.
- Choose participant modes.
- Select reactions.
- Decide how long you want participants to wait between sending messages.
Click Next to complete Customization.
For Visibility:
- Decide who can see your stream.
- Select the date and time you want to go live.
Click Done.
As per your Visibility settings, the stream has been scheduled. Under Stream settings, you can find the Stream Key and Stream URL. Both will be used in connecting your live streaming software to YouTube.
Step 3: Schedule The Vertical Stream
Considering the current stream will be displayed in horizontal format, we need to add another stream in the vertical format. Click the Manage arrow sign to go back.
Once again, click Schedule Stream and repeat Step 7 thoroughly. After successfully scheduling the stream, click the dropdown menu under the Stream key and select the Create new stream key option.
In the following form, provide the name (mandatory) and description. Click Create.
Go back and click the Manage arrow to see that both streams have been successfully scheduled.
Step 4: Configure OBS For Dual Streams
Open OBS. At the start of this tutorial, we've already discussed downloading and installing the aitum vertical plugin for OBS as a compulsory step. The plugin enables OBS to generate and manage dedicated vertical outputs that can be streamed alongside your primary horizontal broadcast.
Click Settings under Controls.
Select Stream from the left panel.
Go back to the YouTube Studio, where both streams can be seen scheduled. Select the stream on top. Copy its Stream key and Stream URL and paste them into the Stream Key and Server fields of OBS, respectively. Click Apply and then OK at the bottom.
Click the Vertical Settings option.
Select Streamings.
From the bottom stream (vertical format) in the YouTube Studio, select Stream Key and Stream URL and paste both into the Key and Server fields of OBS, respectively. Click OK at the bottom.
Step 5: Start Streaming
Since we’re using a virtual webcam output in this tutorial, we’ll click Start Virtual Camera in Controls.
Finally, after setting everything up, we’ll click Start Streaming in Controls.
Click Yes.
The horizontal format is ready to stream.
Click the first icon (Stream all vertical outputs) to start streaming the vertical format as well.
Step 6: Go Live On YouTube
In the YouTube Studio, click the Stream icon.
If you see the error message, click Change dashboard.
Click the Go live button at the top-right corner. You’re now live streaming the horizontal format on YouTube using OBS.
Click the Manage arrow to go back.
Click on the second stream (vertical) as well.
Click the Go live button at the top-right corner.
You’re now live streaming horizontal and vertical videos together on YouTube.
How To Stop YouTube Streaming?
Click Stop Streaming in Controls on your OBS to stop the default (horizontal) streaming.
The vertical streaming will also be stopped by clicking the first icon (used to start the stream).
How the Aitum Vertical Plugin Enables Simultaneous Horizontal and Vertical Streaming
The aitum vertical plugin creates a secondary vertical output within OBS, allowing creators to stream portrait and landscape formats at the same time. This eliminates the need to run multiple OBS instances or maintain separate streaming setups.
For YouTube creators, this means viewers can enjoy content in the format that best suits their device. Desktop users benefit from a widescreen experience, while mobile viewers receive a full-screen vertical presentation optimized for smartphone viewing.
Why Stream In Both Formats?
Streaming horizontal and vertical videos together allows creators to:
- Engage mobile and desktop audiences simultaneously.
- Optimize content for both widescreen and mobile-first platforms.
- Create a native, accessible viewing experience across all devices.
By following this guide, you’ll discover how to stream vertical and horizontal on YouTube at the same time using a vertical streaming software. This approach not only enhances your YouTube live streaming strategy but also ensures your content looks professional, platform-ready, and visually engaging for every viewer—whether they’re watching on a phone, tablet, or desktop.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I stream horizontal and vertical video at the same time using OBS?
Yes. With the aitum vertical plugin, OBS can manage both portrait and landscape outputs simultaneously, allowing creators to stream different orientations from a single setup.
2. Is the Aitum Vertical Plugin required for dual-format streaming?
While there are alternative methods, many creators use the aitum vertical plugin because it simplifies vertical scene management and reduces workflow complexity.
3. Does the Aitum Vertical Plugin work with YouTube Live?
Yes. The aitum vertical plugin can be configured to stream vertical video to YouTube Live while simultaneously managing a horizontal broadcast.
4. Can I use the Aitum Vertical Plugin for TikTok and YouTube at the same time?
Yes. Many creators use the aitum vertical plugin to create dedicated vertical layouts for TikTok while maintaining horizontal streams for YouTube and other platforms.
5. Does streaming vertical and horizontal video require two OBS installations?
No. The aitum vertical plugin was specifically designed to help creators manage both formats from a single OBS installation.
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