The Tool Desk
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First identify what looks wrong
Look at the vMix preview or output and distinguish the visible problem before changing settings:
- Black bars above and below widescreen footage: this is the letterboxing scenario vMix documents when widescreen inputs are used with an output set to Normal (4:3). [vMix support, last updated January 20, 2021]
- Image edges cut off: vMix’s streaming guide says a custom square or vertical stream aspect ratio crops the image to fit by cutting off the sides. Check the intended output shape and source framing before choosing a crop. [vMix help26 streaming guide]
- Only one playlist item looks wrong: compare that file’s dimensions and framing with other items. vMix List Input supports lists of video, audio, and M3U playlist files played as one input, but the cited documentation does not describe a separate aspect-ratio control for List Input. [vMix training]
If vMix’s own output already looks wrong, start with its output settings. If it looks correct locally but differs on YouTube, first verify the outgoing encode dimensions. The sources cited here do not establish YouTube’s exact handling of mismatched dimensions, so do not assume YouTube is applying a particular correction or causing the defect.
Set vMix’s output aspect ratio
- In vMix, open Settings from the top right.
- Select Display.
- Find Output Aspect Ratio. For widescreen content intended for a 16:9 output, select Widescreen (16:9), rather than Normal (4:3).
- Check the output again. vMix’s support explanation says widescreen inputs can appear letterboxed when Output Aspect Ratio is set to Normal (4:3). [vMix support]
This setting determines the shape of vMix’s output; it does not change the original video file. If the source itself has bars or unusual framing, changing the output shape may not remove them without cropping content.
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Check Output Size and the stream encode dimensions
Confirm the master output size
In Settings > Display, inspect Output Size along with the aspect ratio. vMix describes Output Size as the master resolution to which inputs are scaled before they reach Fullscreen, Recording, External Output, or Streaming. [vMix help29 Display documentation]
Make the stream dimensions match the selected shape
The stream’s encode width and height should use the same aspect ratio as the vMix output. The vMix help26 guide gives 640×360 as a widescreen example and 640×480 as a Normal (4:3) example. These are examples from that guide, not universal recommendations for current YouTube streams; choose dimensions appropriate to your production and ensure their ratio matches the vMix setting. [vMix help26 streaming guide]
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For example, 1920Ă—1080 source footage is 16:9. If the intended output is widescreen, select Widescreen in vMix and use stream encode dimensions with a 16:9 ratio. Changing only one side of the setup can leave a mismatch to investigate.
Work through playlist-specific cases
If every item has bars
Check the overall vMix Output Aspect Ratio first, then Output Size and the stream dimensions. A shared output setting is a sensible first check when the same symptom appears across different inputs.
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If only one item has bars or a different shape
Compare the affected file with a known-good playlist item. Check its width, height, and whether the bars or letterboxing are already part of the image. This is a diagnostic approach, not a documented List Input-specific repair: the cited vMix training page confirms List Input can play video, audio, and M3U files as one input but does not establish an aspect-ratio setting for individual playlist entries. [vMix training]
If the issue appears only in YouTube playback
Verify the outgoing stream’s encoded dimensions and compare them with the vMix output shape. If the local vMix output is correct and the encode matches, the available vMix documentation does not identify the cause of a YouTube-only difference. Consult current YouTube guidance or support before attributing it to platform-side handling.
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Troubleshooting checklist
| What you see | Check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Widescreen image with bars above and below in vMix | Settings > Display > Output Aspect Ratio | For a widescreen output, use Widescreen (16:9), not Normal (4:3). [vMix support] |
| Image sides are cut off | Whether a custom square or vertical stream aspect ratio is selected | Recheck the intended output shape and source framing; the vMix guide describes cropping for custom square or vertical stream ratios. [vMix help26 streaming guide] |
| Every input looks wrong | Master Output Size and Output Aspect Ratio | Check the shared vMix output configuration before investigating individual files. [vMix help29 Display documentation] |
| One playlist item looks wrong | That file’s dimensions and built-in framing | Compare it with another item; a distinct List Input aspect-ratio fix is not established by the cited documentation. [vMix training] |
| vMix looks right, YouTube does not | Outgoing encode dimensions and their ratio | Confirm they match vMix, then consult current YouTube guidance; the cause of a YouTube-only difference is not established here. [vMix help26 streaming guide] |
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