Broadcast 3D Side-by-Side Video with OBS Studio

This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step walkthrough on how to configure OBS Studio for broadcasting a true stereoscopic 3D side-by-side (SBS) video feed. You will learn how to set up your canvas resolution, position your left and right eye camera sources, and adjust your encoder settings to deliver a seamless 3D live stream or recording.

Step 1: Configure the Canvas Resolution

To broadcast side-by-side 3D, your canvas must accommodate two video feeds (left eye and right eye) positioned horizontally next to each other. You can choose between Full SBS (double width, lossless quality) or Half SBS (standard width, squished quality). Full SBS is highly recommended for true 3D.

  1. Open OBS Studio and click on Settings in the bottom right corner.
  2. Select the Video tab from the left-side menu.
  3. Change the Base (Canvas) Resolution to match your 3D format:
    • For Full SBS (1080p): Enter 3840x1080 manually into the box.
    • For Half SBS (1080p): Enter 1920x1080.
  4. Change the Output (Scaled) Resolution to match your Base Resolution exactly to prevent unwanted scaling artifacts.
  5. Set your desired Common FPS Values (typically 30 or 60 fps) and click Apply.

Step 2: Add and Position Your Camera Sources

You will need two distinct video inputs: one capturing the left-eye perspective and one capturing the right-eye perspective.

  1. Under the Sources dock, click the + icon and select Video Capture Device to add your Left Eye camera. Name it “Left Eye”.

  2. Repeat the process to add your Right Eye camera. Name it “Right Eye”.

  3. Position the sources on the canvas depending on your SBS format:

    • If using Full SBS (3840x1080 canvas):
      • Right-click the Left Eye source, go to Transform > Edit Transform. Set the Size to 1920x1080 and the Position to X: 0, Y: 0.
      • Right-click the Right Eye source, go to Transform > Edit Transform. Set the Size to 1920x1080 and the Position to X: 1920, Y: 0.
    • If using Half SBS (1920x1080 canvas):
      • Right-click the Left Eye source, go to Transform > Edit Transform. Set the Size to 960x1080 (this will horizontally compress the image) and the Position to X: 0, Y: 0.
      • Right-click the Right Eye source, go to Transform > Edit Transform. Set the Size to 960x1080 and the Position to X: 960, Y: 0.

Step 3: Configure Streaming and Encoding Settings

Because a Full SBS stream handles double the horizontal pixel count, you must adjust your bitrate and encoder settings to ensure a smooth broadcast without buffering or dropped frames.

  1. Go back to Settings and select the Output tab.
  2. Set the Output Mode to Advanced.
  3. Under the Streaming tab, select a hardware encoder (such as NVIDIA NVENC H.264 or AMD AMF H.264) to reduce CPU strain.
  4. Set the Rate Control to CBR (Constant Bitrate).
  5. Adjust the Bitrate according to your resolution:
    • For Full SBS (3840x1080 at 60fps): Set the bitrate between 12,000 Kbps and 18,000 Kbps.
    • For Half SBS (1920x1080 at 60fps): Set the bitrate between 6,000 Kbps and 8,000 Kbps.
  6. Click OK to save all settings.

Step 4: Start the Broadcast

Input your streaming service credentials (such as YouTube or custom RTMP) in the Stream tab of the settings menu. Once configured, click Start Streaming. The video will broadcast as a single, wide frame containing both eye perspectives, which 3D-enabled video players or VR headsets will automatically decode into a true 3D stereoscopic image.