StreamLive ProOverlay channels 1 to 8 and their keys (F1 to F8)
Overlay channels 1 to 8 in the browser studio: what each one holds, how to put an input on and off air with clicks or keys, staging, order, and the F1 to F8 profile.
An overlay channel is a layer that sits on top of Program and stays there whatever camera you take to air. The browser studio has eight of them, numbered 1 to 8, as in vMix. Each channel holds one input: a logo, a title, a picture, a video, even a camera. You put an input on a channel with the numbers on its tile or with the keyboard: Shift+1 to Shift+8 in the default profile, or F1 to F8 in the Like vMix profile.
The rules
| Rule | What it means on air |
|---|---|
| One input per channel | Putting a new input on a channel replaces the one that was there |
| Same input, several places | One input can sit on several channels and on Program at the same time |
| Order | Higher numbers are drawn above lower ones. Channel 8 covers channel 1 |
| In and out | On = a 0.5 second fade in. Click again = a 0.5 second fade out. Shift+click = off at once |
| Transitions leave them alone | A fade or the T-bar between cameras never mixes the overlays; they stay sharp |
| Staging | A staged overlay shows dashed on Preview only and goes on air with the next Take or Cut |
| All off | Takes every channel off, staged ones included |
Clicks
| Where | Left click | Right click |
|---|---|---|
| Overlay number on an input's tile | That input on or off this channel now | Stage that input on this channel |
| Channel number in the studio's channel bar | The channel's last input back on, or the channel off | Stage the channel's last input |
Keys
| Action | StreamLive profile (default) | Like vMix profile |
|---|---|---|
| Overlay N on or off (a live channel goes off; an idle one brings back its last input, or the Preview input) | Shift+1 to Shift+8 | F1 to F8 |
| Overlay N off | The same key again | Shift+F1 to Shift+F4 |
| Stage overlay N for the next Take | Alt+1 to Alt+8 (Option on a Mac) | Alt+1 to Alt+8 |
| Take / Cut | Space / Enter | Space / Enter or Num Enter |
| Input N to Preview | 1 to 9 | 1 to 9 or the number pad |
Switch profiles in the key list: press ? in the studio (or Ctrl+/ on Windows, Cmd+/ on a Mac) and choose StreamLive (default) or Like vMix. vMix itself ships with no preset keys; this profile follows the layout many vMix operators set up. If the browser keeps an F key for itself, Shift and the number does the same. The full key list: Keyboard shortcuts in the browser studio.
What to put on which channel
There is no fixed rule; the order is the only thing that matters. For example:
| Channel | For example | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | A picture-in-picture camera or a video layer | Low, so titles can sit above it |
| 3-5 | Titles and lower thirds | Above pictures, below the logo |
| 7 | A sponsor card or a QR code | Shown for a minute, then off |
| 8 | The logo | Always on top, never covered |
Graphics that are not inputs (the news ticker and comments shown on screen) are drawn by the studio after the main picture: Add a news ticker to your live stream and Show a viewer's comment on screen during a live.
Guests on layers
A guest who joins waits off air. In the guest's settings (gear on the tile, Guest tab) the row Push live to layer puts the guest on air on layer 1 to 6 with the layout you chose; clicking the same layer again takes them off: Talk to a guest off air, then bring them on.
What can go wrong
- The overlay vanished when I switched cameras. The input went to Program instead of an overlay channel. Put it on a number.
- A title hides the logo. The title is on a higher channel. Move the logo to 8.
- F1 opens the browser's help. Some browsers keep F keys. Use Shift and the number.
- Something is staged and I did not mean it. Staged overlays go on with the next Take. Press All off before the Take, or right-click the number again.
The desktop app StreamLive Pro Studio, not released yet, uses the same 8 overlay channels: StreamLive Pro Studio: the facts about the desktop app for Mac and Windows. Coming from vMix: Coming from vMix? Feel at home.
Frequently asked questions
How many overlays can I use at once?
Eight overlay channels, plus the ticker and the comment card, which the studio draws separately.
Can I use F1 to F8 like in vMix?
Yes. Press ? in the studio and switch the key profile to Like vMix. F1 to F8 then turn overlays on and off.
What is the difference between Program and an overlay?
Program is the main picture and changes with every Take or Cut. An overlay stays on top of Program until you take it off.
Can the same logo be on two channels?
Yes. One input can sit on several channels and on Program at the same time, as in vMix.
Keep reading
Bring an OBS or vMix scene into the browser studio as a camera: start the virtual camera, pick it in Add camera, add its sound, and fix a black or missing virtual camera.
Control the browser studio with an Elgato Stream DeckRun the browser studio from an Elgato Stream Deck with Hotkey keys: Take, Cut, inputs to Preview, overlays, fade to black and mute, with the studio window in focus.
Keyboard shortcuts in the browser studioKeyboard shortcuts for the browser studio: Space to take, Enter to cut, numbers to Preview, overlays, mute, B for black, and a profile with F1 to F8 like vMix.
Live stream checklist: before, during and afterA printable live stream checklist: test broadcasts, stream keys, sound check, backup internet, what to do if the stream drops, and the work after it ends.
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