One IRL signal, two picture formats
Aitum Vertical adds a separate portrait canvas to OBS. Your normal 16:9 stream stays as it is, while sources and scenes can be rearranged for 9:16.
Mobile IRL stream → OBS main canvas 16:9 → Twitch / YouTube
└→ Aitum Vertical 9:16 → TikTok / vertical output / recordingContents
1. Aitum Vertical or Aitum Multistream?
Vertical provides the extra canvas, vertical scenes, and its own portrait recording or output. Multistream manages several streaming targets from one OBS instance. If you want to send several targets and formats at the same time, you can combine both functions or look at the newer Aitum Stream Suite.
| Aitum Vertical | Aitum Multistream | |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Extra portrait canvas with its own vertical scenes | Several streaming targets from one OBS instance |
| Output | Its own portrait recording or output | Manage several outputs in one place |
| More | this page | Aitum Multistream |
2. Installation on Windows, macOS, or Linux
- Close OBS and back up your current scene collection with Scene Collection → Export.
- Open Aitum Vertical on the official product page.
- Download the installer that matches your operating system and run it.
- Restart OBS and show the Aitum docks through Docks or the Aitum menu entries.
- Under Help → Log Files → View Current Log, check that the plugin loaded.
Other sources: Aitum Vertical on the official OBS forum and source code and releases on GitHub.
3. Setting up the portrait canvas correctly
| Setting | Starting value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 | Portrait format |
| Resolution | 1080 × 1920 | if performance is tight, try 720 × 1280 |
| FPS | 30 | 60 FPS only with enough performance and bandwidth |
| Video encoder | Hardware encoder | check encoder sessions and GPU load |
The target platform's requirements can change. So take bitrate, keyframe interval, and codec from the current live dashboard of each platform.
4. Redesigning horizontal scenes for 9:16
- For each important main scene, create a linked vertical scene.
- Crop the IRL picture so your face and the action stay visible.
- Don't just copy chat, alerts, the GPS map, and text over from the 16:9 canvas. Reposition them for the narrow space.
- Prepare BRB, connection, and offline scenes in the vertical layout too.
- Check text and overlays on a real smartphone.
5. Streaming vertically or just recording
For Shorts and other edited content, a local vertical recording is often the easiest start. For a parallel live stream, the target needs valid live access, a server address, and a stream key. Aitum Vertical produces the format; Aitum Multistream can manage several outputs centrally.
- Never show your stream key in screenshots or logs.
- Before going public, run a private or unlisted test.
- Route audio to each output exactly once.
- Check the platform rules for parallel broadcasts and content.
6. Aitum Vertical in an IRL workflow
The mobile encoder still sends only one stream to the relay server or OBS. Cropping and the vertical output happen on the production PC. So the phone out in the field doesn't need a second Aitum connection.
7. Testing and troubleshooting
Go through the steps in order. Only move to the next one when the previous one runs cleanly.
- Bring OBS and the plugin to a compatible current version.
- First, record only the vertical canvas locally.
- Watch the whole recording on your smartphone.
- Then test exactly one vertical streaming target.
- Only after that, start the horizontal and vertical streams at the same time.
| Step | What you check | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Record locally | Record only the vertical canvas | Check layout and sound without anything going live |
| 2. Watch on your phone | Watch the whole recording on your smartphone | Look at edges, text size, and the safe area |
| 3. Test one target | Exactly one vertical streaming target, private or unlisted | Test access and stream key without broadcasting publicly |
| 4. Both at once | Start the horizontal and vertical stream together | Watch the load on encoder, GPU, and upload |
If the dock is missing, restart OBS and search the log file for aitum. For stutter, check GPU load, encoder sessions, resolution, FPS, and total bitrate. After an OBS crash, generate a new log file and look for help through the Aitum Help Centre or the vendor's community. For general stream problems, the IRL troubleshooting guide helps. Bitrate & quality explains bitrate and resolution.
8. Common questions about Aitum Vertical
Do I need Aitum Vertical if I only want to cut Shorts?
Not necessarily. To start, a local vertical recording is often the easiest. You record the portrait canvas and edit afterward. You only need a server address and stream key if you go live in parallel.
Does my phone have to send two streams when I'm out?
No. The mobile encoder still sends only one stream to the relay server or OBS. Cropping and the vertical output happen on the production PC. That gives the production PC more to do: encoder, GPU, and upload.
My picture is cut off in portrait format. What do I do?
Create a separate vertical scene for your important main scenes. Crop the IRL picture so your face and the action stay in frame. Reposition chat, alerts, and the map, and check the result on a real smartphone.
The dock is missing or it stutters. Where do I start?
Restart OBS and search the log file for aitum. For stutter, look at GPU load, encoder sessions, resolution, FPS, and total bitrate. General causes are in the IRL troubleshooting guide.
Can I use Vertical and Multistream together?
Yes, according to this guide, if you want to send several targets and formats at the same time. Don't install the Aitum Stream Suite on top of the individual plugins without backing up your scene collection and profile first.
Thanks to the Aitum team
Thanks to the developers and contributors at Aitum for the Vertical plugin and the freely accessible project resources. This IRL4YOU page is an independent practical guide and not official Aitum documentation.