How to Set Up Twitch Vertical/Horizontal Dual Format Streaming in OBS (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Teacher Nine
- Jun 28
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
How to Stream in Vertical + Horizontal on Twitch Using OBS
Twitch streaming has evolved far beyond a single horizontal layout. Viewers are now split between traditional desktop watching and mobile-first discovery, which means creators need setups that work in both directions at the same time.
That’s where dual format streaming comes in.
With the right OBS setup, you can broadcast a horizontal stream for traditional viewers while simultaneously pushing a vertical Twitch stream for mobile audiences. This allows you to stay discoverable on modern short-form placements while still maintaining a full desktop stream experience.
The setup takes a bit of configuration, but once it’s done correctly, it becomes a powerful long-term streaming workflow.
What Do You Need to Set Up Twitch Dual Format Streaming?
Before you start configuring OBS, make sure you have the following:
OBS Studio (latest version recommended)
A Twitch account connected to OBS
A stable internet connection (dual encoding increases load)
A reasonably capable CPU/GPU (dual output requires more resources)
Important: OBS Studio does not include the Aitum Vertical plugin by default, even if you're running the latest version of OBS. If you've never set up vertical streaming before, you'll most likely need to install it before continuing.
You can download the official Aitum Vertical plugin from the OBS Project here:
Once the plugin is installed and OBS has been restarted, you'll have access to the additional vertical canvas used for dual-format streaming.
Optional but helpful:
Second monitor (for layout testing)
Smartphone (for live vertical preview testing)
How Do You Install the Aitum Vertical Plugin for OBS?
Aitum Vertical is the plugin that adds a dedicated vertical canvas to OBS for creating 9:16 layouts alongside your standard horizontal stream.
Download the official Aitum Vertical plugin from the OBS Project:https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/aitum-vertical.1715/
Run the installer.
Follow the installation prompts.
Restart OBS Studio.
Verify that Aitum Vertical is now available when configuring an Additional Canvas.
Once installed, OBS can use a separate vertical canvas for dual-format streaming to platforms like Twitch.
Nova's Tip: If you don't see Aitum Vertical after installing it, restart OBS before troubleshooting anything else. Most plugin installation issues are simply caused by OBS still running during installation.
How Do You Enable Enhanced Broadcasting in OBS?
Enhanced Broadcasting allows OBS to send multiple outputs, such as horizontal and vertical streams, at the same time.
Open OBS Studio.
Click Settings.
Select Stream.
Enable Enhanced Broadcasting.
Under Additional Canvas, select Aitum Vertical.
Click Apply, then OK.
Restart OBS if prompted.
If the Aitum Vertical option doesn't appear under Additional Canvas, the plugin isn't installed yet. Go back to the installation section above, install the plugin, restart OBS, and then continue with the setup.
This is the foundation that allows dual-format output to function properly.
Nova's Tip: If you don't see Enhanced Broadcasting at all, update OBS Studio first. Older versions of OBS don't support Enhanced Broadcasting or multi-canvas output.
How Do You Create a Vertical Canvas in OBS?
Now you’ll build your mobile layout.
Open OBS
Go to Docks / Layout options
Select Vertical Canvas (Aitum)
Set resolution to 1080x1920 (9:16)
Align canvas to portrait orientation
Create a new scene collection for vertical layout (recommended)
This canvas is what mobile viewers will see.
Nova’s Tip: Don’t overbuild your vertical layout at first. Keep it simple—webcam, gameplay crop, and alerts are enough to start.
How Do You Link Your Horizontal and Vertical Scenes?
This is where the dual format setup becomes powerful.
You’ll essentially map your existing scenes into a vertical version.
Open your horizontal scene collection
Duplicate key scenes (Just Chatting, Gameplay, BRB)
Switch to Vertical Canvas view
Reposition elements for portrait framing
Crop gameplay instead of scaling
Move webcam higher or lower depending on focus
Stack alerts vertically instead of side-by-side
Sync audio sources across both canvases
Ensure both scenes are active in dual output mode
Think of this as translating your stream—not rebuilding it.
Nova’s Tip: Don’t try to make both layouts identical. Horizontal is “wide storytelling,” vertical is “focused attention.”
What Should You Expect After Setup?
Once everything is configured, dual-format streaming works mostly behind the scenes. Your standard horizontal stream remains your primary production, while Aitum Vertical handles your mobile-friendly layout separately.
You don't need to keep the Aitum Vertical dock open while you're live. It's simply a workspace for building and editing your vertical scenes. Once your layout is ready, you can hide the dock and stream normally.
If you plan to stream to other vertical-friendly platforms like TikTok or YouTube, your vertical canvas can be reused there as well. The plugin isn't limited to Twitch, making it a great long-term addition to your OBS workflow.
Nova's Tip: Build your vertical scenes with simplicity in mind. Mobile viewers have less screen space, so clean layouts are usually easier to read than crowded ones.
How Do You Test Your Twitch Dual Format Stream?
Testing is where most streamers catch issues early.
Open OBS in Studio Mode
Activate both canvases
Start a private test stream (or local recording)
Open stream on your phone
Check vertical alignment, cropping, and readability
Test alerts, transitions, and scene switches
Adjust spacing as needed
Nova’s Tip: Always test on an actual phone—not just OBS preview. Mobile viewing reveals spacing problems instantly.
What Should You Do If Twitch Dual Format Streaming Isn't Working?
If something breaks, it’s usually one of these issues:
OBS is outdated
Aitum plugin not installed correctly
Hardware not handling dual encoding
Enhanced Broadcasting not enabled
Scenes not properly duplicated between canvases
Fix checklist:
Restart OBS
Reinstall Aitum Vertical
Update OBS to latest version
Disable unnecessary plugins temporarily
Test single canvas first, then re-enable dual output
If all else fails, rebuild the vertical scene from scratch instead of troubleshooting endlessly.
Should You Start Streaming in Dual Format Right Away?
Not necessarily.
Dual format streaming is powerful, but it adds complexity and CPU/GPU load. If you’re new to OBS or still refining your content flow, it may be better to:
Start with horizontal only
Build consistent scenes
Then layer vertical streaming on top
However, if you’re already comfortable streaming and want growth across mobile discovery platforms, dual format is absolutely worth implementing early.
Nova’s Tip: Your first goal isn’t perfection—it’s consistency. Dual format works best when your base stream already runs smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to keep the Aitum Vertical dock open while streaming?
No. The dock is only used to build and edit your vertical scenes. Once everything is set up, you can hide it and stream normally.
Does OBS include the Aitum Vertical plugin?
No. Aitum Vertical is a separate plugin that must be installed before you can create a vertical canvas.
Can I use Aitum Vertical with platforms besides Twitch?
Yes. Because it's an OBS plugin, your vertical layout can also be used for platforms that support vertical streaming, such as TikTok and YouTube.
Why don't I see Aitum Vertical under Additional Canvas?
The plugin probably isn't installed yet, or OBS needs to be restarted after installation.
Do OBS keyboard shortcuts work inside the vertical canvas?
Not always. Some familiar shortcuts don't behave the same way inside the Aitum Vertical workspace. If a shortcut doesn't work, right-click the source and use the context menu instead.
Can I use the same scenes for both horizontal and vertical streaming?
You can, but most creators get better results by creating a simplified vertical version that's easier to view on a phone.
Dual format streaming in OBS isn’t just a technical upgrade—it’s a shift in how your content exists across platforms. Instead of treating mobile and desktop audiences as separate, this setup lets you serve both at the same time without duplicating your entire workflow.
Once it’s properly configured, the system becomes mostly maintenance instead of daily setup. That’s where the real advantage kicks in—you spend less time rebuilding scenes and more time actually streaming.
If you take your time setting it up correctly the first time, everything after that becomes significantly easier to scale.
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