How to Stream 3D SBS VR Video with OBS Studio

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to configure and use OBS Studio to broadcast stereoscopic 3D side-by-side (SBS) video feeds for virtual reality (VR) platforms. You will learn how to set up the correct canvas resolution, align your dual-camera inputs, and configure encoder settings to ensure a seamless 3D viewing experience for VR headset users.

Step 1: Set Up the Canvas Resolution

To broadcast in 3D SBS, you need to combine two separate video feeds (one for the left eye, one for the right eye) into a single wide frame. This requires a custom aspect ratio, typically 32:9 instead of the standard 16:9.

  1. Open OBS Studio and go to Settings > Video.
  2. Change the Base (Canvas) Resolution to double the horizontal width of your target single-eye resolution. For example, if your input feeds are 1920x1080, your canvas must be 3840x1080.
  3. Set the Output (Scaled) Resolution to match the Canvas Resolution (3840x1080) to avoid scaling artifacts.
  4. Set the Common FPS Values to 60 FPS for a smoother VR viewing experience.
  5. Click Apply.

Step 2: Import and Align Your Left and Right Video Feeds

You need two video inputs representing the perspectives of your left and right eyes. These can come from a 3D camera rig, dual capture cards, or a single capture card outputting a combined feed.

  1. In the Sources dock, click the + icon and add your left-eye video source (e.g., Video Capture Device).
  2. Right-click the source, go to Transform > Edit Transform.
  3. Set the Size of the source to match half of your canvas (e.g., 1920x1080).
  4. Set the Position to X: 0 and Y: 0.
  5. Repeat the process for your right-eye video source.
  6. For the right-eye source, set the Size to 1920x1080 and set the Position to X: 1920 and Y: 0.

Your canvas preview should now show the left-eye video on the left half of the screen and the right-eye video on the right half.

Step 3: Configure Streaming Encoder Settings

Streaming at high resolutions requires optimized encoder settings to prevent buffering and dropped frames.

  1. Go to Settings > Output and set the Output Mode to Advanced.
  2. Select the Streaming tab.
  3. Choose a hardware encoder (such as NVIDIA NVENC H.264 or AMD HW H.264) to reduce CPU load.
  4. Set the Rate Control to CBR (Constant Bitrate).
  5. Adjust the Bitrate according to your target resolution and internet upload speed. For a 3840x1080 at 60fps stream, a bitrate of 10,000 Kbps to 15,000 Kbps is recommended.
  6. Set the Keyframe Interval to 2 seconds.

Step 4: Broadcast and View on VR Platforms

Once your stream is configured, you can broadcast to platforms that support custom aspect ratios or 3D metadata.

  1. Copy your stream key from your destination platform (such as YouTube, Twitch, or a custom RTMP server).
  2. Go to OBS Settings > Stream, select your service, paste the stream key, and click OK.
  3. Click Start Streaming in OBS.

To view the broadcast in VR, viewers must open the stream using a VR-capable media player (such as Virtual Desktop, Skybox VR, or YouTube VR) and manually select the 3D Side-by-Side (SBS) projection mode in their player settings.