Settings
Configure resolution, encoder, framerate, transitions, recording, Stream Deck, and more.
Open Settings from the gear icon in the Title Bar. The Settings panel has six tabs:
| Tab | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| General | Canvas resolution, framerate, encoder, bitrate, language, smart guides, Control Island |
| Account | DualStream account, subscription, platform profiles, streaming stats |
| Connections | Platform authentication for Twitch, YouTube, Kick, Discord |
| Collections | Create, import, rename, duplicate, and switch scene collections |
| Recording | Output directory, stem bitrates, auto-start, file splitting, hotkeys for full-session recording |
| About | Version, updates, support links |
General
Canvas Resolution
The canvas defines the base resolution for streaming and recording. DualStream supports:
| Resolution | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| 480p | 854×480 |
| 720p | 1280×720 |
| 1080p (default) | 1920×1080 |
| 1440p | 2560×1440 |
| 2160p (4K) | 3840×2160 |
To change: Settings → General → Main Canvas → Canvas dropdown.
The vertical canvas (9:16) is automatically derived from your horizontal resolution. Not all platforms support 4K streaming — check your platform's limits.
Framerate
Choose between 30 FPS and 60 FPS in Settings → General.
Hardware Encoder
When enabled and a compatible GPU is available, DualStream uses hardware encoding:
- NVENC — NVIDIA GPUs
- AMF — AMD GPUs
- QuickSync — Intel integrated graphics
When disabled (or no compatible GPU found), DualStream falls back to x264 software encoding.
Video Bitrate
Video bitrate controls stream quality. Higher bitrate = better quality, but requires more upload bandwidth.
| Platform | Recommended Range |
|---|---|
| Twitch | 3,000 – 6,000 kbps |
| YouTube | 3,000 – 40,000 kbps |
| Kick | 1,000 – 8,000 kbps |
You can also set per-canvas bitrates (horizontal and vertical independently) using the bitrate button in the Toolbar.
Audio Bitrate
Higher bitrates produce clearer, more detailed audio. 160 kbps is a solid default for most streams.
Quality Preset
Presets balance encoding quality, latency, and resource usage:
| Preset | Description |
|---|---|
| Low Latency HQ | Best for live streaming — high quality with minimal delay |
| High Quality | Maximum visual quality, higher encoding latency |
| Low Latency | Fastest encoding, lower quality — good for weaker systems |
| Default | Balanced settings for general use |
Setup
Click Run setup again to measure your PC, connection and channels again and see what would change. See Guided Setup.
Stream Deck Integration
Click Install Stream Deck Plugin to add DualStream to the Elgato Stream Deck app. See Stream Deck.
External Control
Local apps and AI assistants, like the Stream Deck plugin or an MCP client, can control DualStream. Every new client asks for your approval first. Connected clients and Remembered clients list who can control DualStream, and Remove forgets one.
Scene Transitions
Transition settings live in the Inspector Panel when a scene is selected (not in Settings). DualStream supports three transition types:
| Transition | Description |
|---|---|
| Automagic | Intelligent transition that picks the best effect |
| Cut | Instant switch, no visual effect |
| Fade | Smooth dissolve between scenes |
Select a scene in the Scene Island, then choose a transition in the Inspector Panel.
Smart Guides
Customize snapping behavior when positioning layers:
- Snapping Line Color — Change the color of alignment guides
- Snapping Threshold — Control how close a layer needs to be before it snaps (in pixels)
Account
Manage your DualStream account, view subscription status, and access billing. Connected platform cards (Twitch, YouTube, Kick) show your profile, follower/subscriber counts, and recent stats.
Connections
Authenticate with streaming and chat platforms. Use the platform sidebar to connect Twitch, YouTube, Kick, and Discord accounts independently — you can be logged into as many as you want and stream to them in any combination.
Collections
Manage your Scene Collections:
- View all collections and switch between them.
- Create empty collections.
- Duplicate or rename existing ones.
- Import from file — OBS (
.json), XSplit (.bpres), and MELD (.json) scene collections are supported, with a preview step before anything is written. - Detected collections — DualStream auto-scans the default install locations for OBS, XSplit, and MELD and lists any collections it finds for one-click import.
Recording
Configure full-session recording: output directory, audio bitrates for stems and master, hotkeys (F8 toggle, F11 highlight by default), auto-start on stream, auto-stop caps, and optional file splitting for long sessions.
About
Version information, update channel, release notes, and links to support resources.
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