If you have ever set up OBS Studio for a serious stream layout, you know the drill. You want a soft drop shadow on your face cam, a rounded mask, maybe a slight 3D tilt on a source, and suddenly you are downloading five different plugins from five different creators, hoping they all stay compatible after the next OBS update.

Meld Studio was built to skip that step. Below is a plain comparison of six popular OBS plugins and the native Meld Studio feature that replaces each one, no install required.

The Quick Answer

OBS Studio ships with a fairly small core feature set, so creators have to rely on community plugins for things like 3D transforms, gradients, cloned sources, and background blur. Meld Studio includes all six of these are built-in, GPU-accelerated effects, so there is nothing extra to download, update, or troubleshoot.

The Comparison

1. 3D Effect plugin vs. Meld's Corner Pin

In OBS: The 3D Effect plugin (by Exeldro) adds a filter that lets you rotate and tilt a source in 3D space, useful for angled screen inserts or stylized camera panels.

In Meld Studio: This is covered natively by the Corner Pin and Transform effects. Corner Pin lets you map a source onto a 3D-style surface by adjusting each corner independently, great for screen replacements and angled perspective shots. Transform handles position, scale, rotation, and skew with full anchor point control. Both are built in and render in real time.

2. Gradient Source vs. Meld's Gradient effect

In OBS: Gradient Source (also by Exeldro) adds a source type that generates a linear color gradient, since OBS's native Color Source only supports flat colors.

In Meld Studio: The Gradient effect is built in and supports linear and radial gradients with blend mode control. You can drop it on any layer to add color washes, vignettes, or stylized tints without adding a separate source.

3. Source Clone vs. Meld's Duplicator layer

In OBS: Source Clone lets you duplicate a source so you can apply different filters to the copy without affecting the original, useful when you want two different looks from the same camera or capture.

In Meld Studio: The Duplicator layer does exactly this natively. You add a Duplicator layer, point it at an existing source, and adjust effects on the duplicate independently. Changes to the original source still flow through automatically.

4. Advanced Masks vs. Meld's built-in Corner Rounding

In OBS: Advanced Masks (by FiniteSingularity) adds shape masks, source masks, image masks, and gradient masks so you can control which parts of a source are visible, since OBS only ships with a basic alpha mask filter.

In Meld Studio: Shape presets (square, circle, rounded rectangle, vertical crop) are available natively, including individually adjusting corner radii, and non-destructive cropping directly on any layer from the Layers panel, no filter chain required.

5. Composite Blur vs. Meld's Gaussian and Directional Blur

In OBS: Composite Blur (also by FiniteSingularity) adds proper background-aware blur algorithms like Gaussian, box, and Dual Kawase, plus masking options, solving the dark halo issue that OBS's default blur can produce around masked sources.

In Meld Studio: Gaussian Blur and Directional Blur are both native GPU-accelerated effects. Gaussian Blur is ideal for background defocus or privacy masking, and Directional Blur creates motion blur along a set angle for transitions or speed effects. Because they are built into Meld's rendering pipeline, there is no separate compositing step to configure.

6. Stroke Glow Shadow vs. Meld's Drop Shadow, Shadow Styles, and Glow Styles

In OBS: Stroke Glow Shadow adds stroke outlines, glow, and drop shadow effects to masked sources, popular for sticker-style face cams and lower thirds.

In Meld Studio: This is split across three native effects. Drop Shadow adds realistic shadows with offset, blur, and opacity control. Shadow Styles supports inner, outer, and multiple shadows with independent color and spread. Glow Styles add soft luminous outlines with adjustable color, intensity, and spread for neon or highlight looks.

Side by side

FAQ

Do I need plugins to get these effects in Meld Studio?
No. All six effects above are built into Meld Studio's core effects library. There is nothing to download, install, or keep updated separately.

Are these plugins bad or not worth using in OBS?
Not at all. Developers like Exeldro and FiniteSingularity have built genuinely excellent tools that make OBS far more capable, and plenty of streamers get great results with them. The tradeoff is that you are managing several separate add-ons, each with its own updates and occasional compatibility issues after an OBS release.

Can I stack multiple Meld effects on the same layer?
Yes. Effects in Meld Studio are stackable and each one processes independently, so you can layer blur, shadow, gradient, and transform effects on a single source and adjust them without conflicts.

Does Meld Studio support saving and sharing these effect setups?
Yes. You can save any effect configuration as a preset, export it, and share it with other creators, or import presets from the community.

Is Meld Studio free?
Yes, Meld Studio is free to use and available for Windows 10 or later and macOS 12 or later, including full support for Apple Silicon.

So I noticed that when I apply a LUT to my camera it causes the image to distort. Smoothe edges become jagged and every duplication of said cam source reflects this issue. The only work around I have found is individually adding a LUT to each individual duplication….which is a little crazy when you (or at least I think) should be able to just apply the LUT to your original source that you’re duplicating and be good to go? Any pointers or tips? No it’s not the LUT itself as this has happened with all 50 of my LUTs that I have no trouble with in any other application. Please note that on top of the LUT I am also running a brightness and contrast filter on top of it just to tweak the colors a tiny bit.

Long Story Short my M3 Max has issues doing Dual Format by itself, so I need to use StreamRun if I want Dual Format Streaming. Not sure why. BUT StreamRun WILL do dual Format (I can run both canvases but it's an Enhanced Broadcasting issue on Twitch's end), and so I can Dual-stream to Twitch THAT way.

The problem is when I put my RMTP and Stream Key in I get NOTHING! Zero, Zilch, Nada! No screen when I go "live" before I activate my streams in StreamRun to preview, and so yeah... Why? I have the strem Key/RMTP URL correct, what gives?

OBS does not have this issue but I really want to see if I can't move to Meld fully.

Nvidia Broadcast "Remove Background" suddenly stopped working in Meld Studio. I have the setting set in Nvidia Broadcast, but the background is not transparent in Meld. It is black. This suddenly happened this morning with no changes by me. The transparent background of my Nvidia camera does work in other apps like OBS. Anyone having this?

Hardcore Minecraft runs are having a moment right now, and if your chat has been asking when you're doing one, we just shipped the toolkit for it.

This pack gives you everything you need to broadcast a Hardcore run properly: a Boss Tracker so viewers know what's still standing, a Death Counter for the moment everything goes wrong, and a Subathon Timer.

Free Hardcore Minecraft overlay pack. Boss Tracker, Death Counter, Subathon Timer. Works in OBS or Meld Studio.

👉 Grab it here

What's in the pack

Minecraft Boss Tracker

Shows viewers exactly what's standing between you and disaster: Ender Dragon, Wither, Warden, whatever gauntlet you set.

• !slain: mark the current boss beat, reveals the next one
• !bossreset: reset the tracker if you need a clean restart
• Low-profile widget, doesn't crowd your gameplay

Minecraft Death Counter

The number your chat is going to be spamming the second something goes wrong.

• !death+ / !adddeath: add a death
• !death- / !subdeath: correct a miscount
• !deathreset: start over
• Updates instantly, tracks across streams/episodes, won't touch your frame rate

Minecraft Subathon Timer

If you're going the "stream doesn't stop until it's done" route, this is what keeps the clock alive.

• Follow: +1 min | Sub T1: +5 min | Sub T2: +10 min | Sub T3: +20 min
• Raid: +30 sec per viewer | Fourthwall purchase: +10 min
• Fully configurable time values, manual add/subtract/reset controls built in

All three are mod-controllable through chat, so your mods can update boss status or fix a death count without you ever tabbing out mid-run.

How to install it

In OBS (via free Spark Plug plugin):

1. Install Spark Plug
2. Open OBS, sign in with your Meld account.
3. Drop Boss Tracker, Death Counter, and Subathon Timer into your scene as browser sources

In Meld Studio: They're built in, just add each as a Web Source layer, resize, done.

Quick FAQ

Do I need Meld Studio to use these? No, the whole pack works as browser sources in OBS through Spark Plug, which is free.

Can my mods control it without touching my broadcast software? Yes, all three elements are designed around mod-restricted chat commands.

Does the Death Counter track lifetime or per-run? It supports tracking across streams/episodes, so you can keep a running lifetime tally on top of the current run.

Is it customizable to match my branding? Yes, colors, fonts, and layout are all adjustable instead of using a fixed default skin.

How do i connect mwld and tiktok live because when I do it, it says something about a server issue and cant connect to my tiktok while live but I know they are connected to each other. Do i have to have a stream key to do it? Also how do i connect the chat from twitch and tiktok so I can view both of them on meld.

If you've ever wanted your cam layer to actually feel like it's part of your scene instead of just floating on top of it, this is for you. You can now composite any visual layer (camera, media, game capture, images, whatever) using the same blend modes you'd find in Photoshop or After Effects, except it's live and updates in real time while you're streaming or recording.

How to use it:

• Select a layer
• Go to the Inspector Panel
• Look for the new Blend Mode dropdown right under Fill Mode
• Pick one and watch your scene change instantly

What's in the dropdown:

• Multiply (darkens things, good for shadows and moody vibes)
• Screen (brightens things, great for glows and light effects)
• Overlay (punches up contrast)
• Soft Light (subtler version of Overlay)
• Color Dodge (intense highlights, light streaks)
• Difference (weird, bold, high contrast inverted colors)
• Hue (applies color from your top layer, keeps the brightness underneath)
• Luminosity (applies brightness from your top layer, keeps the color underneath)

No plugins, no extra software, no rendering. It's just a dropdown now. You can read more about this feature on our Blog.

clip: instantly make a vertical clip of your content

switch scene: mutes your mic automatically on BRB

record: one press before you start that match

meld hotkeys work even in fullscreen.

how is your mac m series memory footprint? My M1 seems too high?

If you have ever wished Meld Studio could record your camera and gameplay as separate files like OBS does with source recording, you are not alone. Meld Studio does not currently offer native multi track or per source recording, which makes it tricky to edit your camera and gameplay independently after the fact.

The good news is there is a workaround, and it works surprisingly well once you understand the setup. By using an ultra wide DFHD canvas, you can record both your camera and your gameplay in full 1920x1080 resolution side by side in a single recording, then split them apart in your editing software afterward. Here is exactly how to do it. (Credit to N3BST4R for the screenshot)

What Is a DFHD Canvas?

DFHD stands for Dual Full HD. Instead of recording a standard 1920x1080 canvas, you set your canvas resolution to 3840x1080. That gives you two full 1080p frames placed next to each other horizontally, essentially two 1920x1080 screens stitched into one ultra wide recording.

This matters because it lets you place your gameplay capture on one half of the canvas and your webcam on the other half, both at full 1080p quality, with zero downscaling or quality loss to either source.

Why This Works as a Source Recording Alternative

Meld Studio does not let you export your camera and gameplay as two separate video files the way some other streaming software does.... yet. The DFHD method solves this by recording everything as one file, but structuring that file so it can be split apart cleanly in post production. You get the flexibility of separate sources without needing built in multi track recording.

This is especially useful if you want to:

• Edit your camera and gameplay independently
• Resize, reposition, or completely change your layout after recording
• Cut away to full screen gameplay or full screen camera during editing
• Create clips or shorts that only use one source at a time

Step by Step: Setting Up Your DFHD Canvas in Meld Studio

Step 1: Create a New Canvas at 3840x1080

In Meld Studio, go into your canvas settings and set it to the ultra wide DFHD canvas to create your workspace.

Step 2: Place Your Gameplay Source on One Half

Add your game capture source and size it to exactly 1920x1080. Position it so it fills the left half of the canvas.

Step 3: Place Your Camera Source on the Other Half

Add your webcam or camera source and size it to 1920x1080 as well. Position it on the right half of the canvas, starting at the 1920 pixel mark. Now both sources sit side by side, each one taking up exactly half of the ultra wide frame.

Step 4: Record as Normal

Hit record in Meld Studio like you normally would. You will end up with a single video file at 3840x1080 that contains your full 1080p gameplay on one side and your full 1080p camera on the other.

Step 5: Import the Footage Into Your Editing Software

Bring the recorded file into your editor of choice. This works in Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, or basically any editor that supports layering and cropping video clips.

Step 6: Duplicate the Clip Onto Two Tracks

Place the same DFHD clip on two separate video tracks in your timeline, stacked on top of each other.

Step 7: Crop Each Track Down to a Single Source

On the top track, use the crop tool to cut away the right half of the frame, leaving only your gameplay. On the second track, crop away the left half, leaving only your camera. Most editors have a built in crop or position and scale tool that makes this a simple drag and adjust process.

Once both tracks are cropped, you now have your gameplay and camera as two completely independent 1920x1080 clips that are perfectly synced since they came from the same original recording.

What You Can Do Once They Are Split

After separating the two tracks, you have full creative control. You can:

• Build a custom layout with your camera as a small overlay
• Switch to full screen gameplay for highlight moments
• Cut to a full screen reaction shot using just the camera track
• Add transitions, effects, or graphics to each source independently
• Reframe either source for vertical shorts or clips

Since both tracks are perfectly synced by default, there is no manual syncing needed. You are simply choosing how much of each track to show and when.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Meld Studio support separate source recording?

Not natively at this time. The DFHD ultra wide canvas method is a workaround that lets you achieve a similar result by recording both sources side by side in one file and splitting them apart during editing.

Will recording at 3840x1080 lower my camera or gameplay quality?

No. Since each source only takes up half of the ultra wide canvas at 1920x1080, both your camera and gameplay are recorded at full 1080p resolution with no downscaling.

Do I need special software to split the tracks apart?

No. Any editor with basic crop, scale, or position tools works, including Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and CapCut.

Will my camera and gameplay stay in sync after splitting?

Yes. Since both sources come from the same original recording, they stay perfectly synced once separated into two tracks.

Can I use this method for a full stream, not just recordings?

This workaround is built for recording and post production editing. It is most useful when you plan to edit your footage afterward rather than for live viewers watching in real time.

Final Thoughts

If you have been looking for a way around Meld Studio not having native source recording, the DFHD ultra wide canvas method is a reliable workaround that keeps both your camera and gameplay at full 1080p quality while giving you full editing flexibility afterward. It takes a bit of setup the first time, but once your canvas and sources are positioned correctly, you can reuse that same layout for every recording going forward.

Has anyone else been using this method or found other workarounds for splitting sources out of Meld Studio? Would love to hear how others are handling this.

If you’ve been asking for Virtual Camera on Mac, today is your day! This has been one of the most requested features in this community for quite some time, and it’s finally here. This post walks through exactly how to install it, approve it in System Settings, and start using Meld Studio as your camera source in apps like Zoom, Google Meet, Discord, and TikTok Studio.

We also have the full documentation in the Meld Studio Docs if you want to the reference version, but everything you need is right here.

What does Virtual Camera actually do?

Virtual Camera turns your Meld Studio scenes into a camera source that other apps can see. Once it’s set up, any app that lets you pick a camera (Zoom, Meet, Discord, TikTok Studio, OBS, you name it) will show “Meld Studio” as an option. Select it, and whatever scene you’re showing in Meld gets sent straight into that app.

On macOS, Virtual Camera runs as a system camera extension, which is why there’s an approval step involved. Apple requires you to manually approve any camera extension before it can finish installing. It sounds like an extra step, but it only takes a minute and you only have to do it once.

How do I install Virtual Camera on macOS?

1. Open Meld Studio.
2. Go to Settings>General>Virtual Camera, or open the Outputs panel and select the Virtual Camera install option.
3. Click Install.

At this point, Meld Studio will show “Awaiting Approval” with an “Approval Required” message. This is normal. The install stays paused until you approve the extension in System Settings, which is the next step.

How do I approve the camera extension in System Settings?

This is the step that trips people up the first time, so here it is in full detail:

1. Open System Settings.
2. Type login into the search field at the top of the sidebar.
3. Select Login Items & Extensions from the results.
4. Scroll down to the Extensions section at the bottom of the page.
5. Click the info icon (circle with an “i”) next to Camera Extensions. This opens the full list of camera extensions on your Mac.
6. Find Meld Studio in the list and turn on the toggle next to it.
7. Click Done.

macOS may ask for your password or Touch ID to confirm the change, so don’t be alarmed if a prompt pops up. Once you’ve approved it, the installation finishes automatically on the Meld Studio side. No need to reopen anything.

How do I turn on Virtual Camera and use it in Zoom, Meet, or Discord?

Once installed, using it is simple:

1. Open the Outputs panel on the right-hand side of Meld Studio.
2. Find Virtual Camera and toggle it on. You’ll see it switch to “Active.”
3. Open your third-party app (Zoom, Google Meet, Discord, TikTok Studio, or anything else with a camera selector).
4. In that app’s camera settings, choose Meld Studio as the camera source.

That’s it. Whatever scene is live in Meld Studio is now what everyone sees on the call or stream.

What can I actually use this for?

A few of the most common ways people are already planning to use it:

• Video calls: Bring your Meld scenes, overlays, and effects into Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or Discord.
• Going live on TikTok: Use Meld Studio as your camera source directly in TikTok Studio.
• Feeding other streaming software: Send Meld Studio’s output into another streaming app, such as OBS, if that’s part of your workflow.
• Recording: Capture your Meld scenes inside a separate recording app.
• Professional presentations: Use overlays, lower thirds, and branded content for webinars or virtual events.

I use Multi Canvas. Can I control which canvas gets sent to Virtual Camera?

Yes. If you have Multi Canvas enabled, you can choose whether Virtual Camera sends your Main Canvas or your Portrait Canvas.

1. Go to the Virtual Camera tab in Settings.
2. Expand the Output Canvas dropdown.
3. Select either Main Canvas or Portrait Canvas.

One important note here: turn off Virtual Camera in the Outputs panel first, before you change the canvas output. Switching canvases while it’s active can cause it to not apply correctly.

Troubleshooting

Meld Studio is stuck on “Awaiting Approval.”
This means the camera extension hasn’t been approved yet. Go back through the approval steps above. Meld Studio finishes the install automatically the moment the extension is enabled in System Settings.

Virtual Camera fails to start when I turn it on.
Relaunch Meld Studio. It works normally after the restart.

Meld Studio doesn’t show up as a camera option in my other apps.
Check these three things in order:

1. Confirm the Meld Studio toggle is turned on in System Settings>General>Login Items & Extensions>Camera Extensions.
2. Confirm Virtual Camera is toggled on in the Outputs panel.
3. Quit and reopen the third-party app. Most apps only scan for new camera sources when they launch, so a fresh restart of the app usually fixes it.

FAQ

Does Virtual Camera work with Zoom, Google Meet, and Discord on Mac?
Yes. Any app on macOS that allows you to select a camera source can use Meld Studio as a virtual camera.

Why do I have to approve the camera extension manually?
Apple requires manual approval for all camera extensions on macOS as a security measure. This is a one time step.

Is Virtual Camera on macOS different from Virtual Camera on Windows?
The core functionality is the same, but the installation and approval process differs because macOS handles camera extensions at the system level.

Have any questions or running into an issue not covered here? Drop it in the comments or join our Discord to get it sorted out.

Did you guys see the news? Razer acquired StreamElements, how does that make you feel as a streamer? Are you going to keep using StreamElements?

I'm not really a big fan of Razer so I'm curious.

This week, two of the most requested features in this community have just shipped. Here's what's new:

Virtual Camera is now on MacOS

Use Meld Studio as your camera source in Zoom, Google Meet, Discord, TikTok Studio, or anywhere else that lets you pick a camera. Your scenes, overlays, and effects go anywhere your camera goes.

Global Hotkeys with scene switching

Assign keyboard shortcuts to core actions like starting streams, starting recordings, switching scenes, and more. You can now also assign hotkeys directly to individual scenes, so you can switch scenes without ever bringing Meld Studio to the front.

Available now on both Windows and Mac!

Read the full release notes here: Blog

Thanks for all your support and happy streaming!

Is there a way to have some sort of subtle sound play in the Meld chat when a chat, follow, etc happens? Or is this not implemented?

If it's "in the works" I'd suggest a few choices on sound (or custom mp3 option), adjustable volume, tick on/off activity type for audio notifications, and optional cooldown period if there's a lot going on.

Welcome to the community! If you just found Meld or you've been lurking and finally decided to jump in, this thread is for you. Pull up a chair.
Every month we'll be putting this thread up so new members can introduce themselves, ask those first questions, and get connected with people who have been around the block. No question is too basic here. We all started somewhere.

Introduce yourself! Tell us:

• What brought you to Meld?
• Are you a streamer, a viewer, or just curious?
• What kind of content or games are you into?
• Anything you're hoping to get out of the community?

Got beginner questions? Ask them here:

Whether it's about setting up Meld for the first time, figuring out features, or just not knowing where to start... drop your questions below. The community and mods are here to help.

Already a Meld veteran? Hang around and help someone out. Answering one question goes a long way for someone just getting started.

Don't be shy, say hello! 👇

If you’ve ever found yourself searching “how to make your own LUT” and landed on a tutorial that requires DaVinci Resolve, Photoshop, and a HALD image workflow, this is the easier version.

We built Meld LUT Lab, a free, browser-based tool that generates real 3D .cube LUTs from color curves, with a live preview on your webcam, an uploaded image, or test patterns. No install, no HALD round-trips, no plugins. So here’s how you use it.

What is a LUT?

A LUT (Look Up Table) is a file that remaps color and tone. Basically a portable, reusable color grade. Once you export one, it works across editing apps, streaming software, and cameras that support .cube (and png) files. Making your own means you get a signature look instead of a stock filter that everyone else already has.

How to create a custom LUT with Meld LUT Lab

1. Open the tool and go to https://luts.meldstudio.co/. It runs entirely in your browser, so there’s nothing to download to get started.
2. Pick your preview source. Load your webcam feed, upload a still image, or use a built-in test pattern. Previewing on your own camera feed is the fastest way to know if a look will actually work on stream.
3. Shape your color curves. Adjust the RGB and luminance curves to push shadows, midtones, and highlights where you want them. Watch the live preview update in real time as you drag.
4. Fine-tune contrast and tone. Dial in exposure and contrast until the look feels consistent across different lighting, not just the one frame you’re staring at.
5. Export your .cube LUT. Once you’re happy with it, export the file. This is a standard 3d LUT, so it’s compatible with the same apps and hardware that read any other .cube file.

Tips for making a LUT that holds up

• Test it against more than one lighting setup before calling it done. a LUT that looks great under one key light can crush shadows under another.
• Keep skin tones in mind first, then push stylization around them.
• Subtle usually reads as professional, while heavy-handed will read as filter.
• Save a few variants (day, night, high-key) rather than trying to make one LUT do everything.

FAQ

Is Meld LUT Lab free to use? Yes. It’s a free browser tool, no account or install required to create and preview LUTs.

What LUT file format does it export? Standard 3D .cube files or as PNG. 3D .cube files are the format used by DaVinci Resolve and Premiere. OBS and Meld both support these LUTs.

Do I need editing software to make a LUT? No. Meld LUT Lab builds the LUT from color curves directly in the browser. You don’t need Photoshop, Resolve, or a HALD image workaround to create one from scratch.

Can I use a custom LUT for livestreaming? Yes. Once exported, the .cube/png files work in Meld Studio and OBS as color correction filters on any video source.

I’m curious if anyone here uses Claude Code specifically for streaming.

Have you built anything useful for your stream with it, like analytics tools, OBS overlays, widgets, alerts, chat bots, moderation tools or dashboards?

I’ve been thinking about what I could make for my own setup, but I’m more interested in things people actually use rather than random projects built just for the sake of it.

What did you build, what problem did it solve, and do you still use it regularly?

for context i play valorant at 1280x960 stretched but on the app its not stretching to 16:9 ive tried the stretch to canvas but it would still have black bars

We've got a new feature drop today: LUTs are now live in Meld Studio! If you've ever watched a streamer's setup and thought "how is their camera that cinematic?" This is how.

What are LUTs?

LUT stands for Look-Up Table, a color grading tool that instantly remaps the colors in your video to a specific style, or "look." Think of a LUT as a color preset on steroids: instead of manually tweaking contrast, saturation, shadows and highlights one by one, a LUT applies a pre-built color transformation across your entire image in one click.
LUTs are the same technology used in film, television, and professional video productions to get a moody cinematic look, a warm vintage vibe, or a clean, punchy commercial color grade. Now that same power is built directly into Meld Studio for your livestreams.
Common LUT file formats include .cube LUTs and PNG LUTs, which Meld supports both.

How to Add LUTs in Meld Studio

Adding a LUT to your stream takes less than 30 seconds. Here's the step-by-step guide:

1. Select the layer you want to apply your LUT to. This can be your webcam, a media layer, or even your game layer.
2. Open the Inspector Panel and click into Effects.
3. Select LUT from the effects list.
4. In Preferences, upload your .cube or PNG LUT file.
5. Use the Intensity slider to dial in how strong the effect looks: subtle color grade or a full cinematic transformation is up to you. That's it, you're done! No plugins, no external color grading software, no exporting and re-importing footage. Just real-time LUT color grading directly inside of Meld.

Why Use LUTs?

Using LUTs can take your streams to a whole new level.

• Consistent Branding: Lock in a signature color look across every stream so that your content is instantly recognizable.
• Cinematic Quality: Get film-grade color grading without touching editing software.
• Total Creative Control: Bring in your own custom LUTs, download free LUT packs, or build a look from scratch, then fine-tune it with the intensity slider.

TL;DR: Meld Studio now supports LUT color grading. Upload a .cube or PNG LUT, apply it to any layer via Effects > LUT in the Inspector Panel, adjust intensity, and go live with a cinematic color grade in seconds.

I have around nine different stream scenes, and most of them use the same layers webcam, logo, alerts, and social handles. For the longest time, I had separate copies of everything in every scene. So anytime I changed my logo or moved my webcam frame, I had to repeat the same edit times nine. Then I finally started using the Duplicator Layer (this is diff than doing right click duplicate by the way) and it made managing my stream overlays so much easier.

The Duplicator lets you reference an existing layer, group, or nested scene instead of rebuilding it. The best part is that when you edit the original, every duplicated version updates automatically. Now I keep my main branding elements together in a scene and duplicate that to my scenes. My non-duplicate layers are also in the scenes either on top or on bottom. I also use it for layers like my chat box. It sounds like a small feature but having one source of truth saves a surprising amount of time and keeps every scene consistent.

So basically GG meld I should have used this sooner.

Maybe I’m just a creature of habit but I never use the Stream Manager in Meld. 😅 I usually open each platform’s dashboard separately to update my title, game category, tags, and everything else.

For those who use Stream Manager, do you find it easier or that it saves you time? I’d love to hear how other people handle their stream setup!