There are tools in vmix to combine different elements together to make a layout that has everything you want on the screen at once. Whether you are using the multiview settings to arrange your sources how you want them, or a premade virtual set to get a little fancy, it’s important to know how these tools work so you can get the most out of them for your service.
Let’s start with using the multiview Settings. You can do this directly on the source you are using but often it is better to make a blank source to combine all your elements onto. To do that go to add input, but click on the little arrow beside the main button instead of bringing up the full menu. This short menu has an option for a blank input so choose that one. To find the multiview settings go into the gear icon of the source, and choose the multiview menu along the side. Here you will see the dropdown menus allowing you to add any other input you have in vmix as a layer in this one place. Remember that the topmost number is the back layer, the thing that will be underneath every other one. So use the dropdown menus to bring in any input you want and then adjust it with the edit button right beside the layer you wish to edit. Play around with different input combinations to add interesting elements to a scene!
The other way to combine inputs is with a premade virtual set. Go to add input and find the virtual set option. Choosing that will bring up a list of many premade sets with different numbers of possible inputs. There are two basic types of sets, the input grid and the scene. Chose whatever set catches your eye and has the number of input spaces you need. The input will have its usual preview and then a sidebar. Choose setup and you will see two dropdown menus, layer and input. Layer has each part of the virtual set. Choose the layer you wish to alter, then go to the input dropdown to choose an input you have in vmix. If you need to adjust the input once it’s in the set, you can then go to the gear and multiview setting to edit the input, but it needs to be brought in through the setup menu first to make sure the layers are under the correct transparency.
The tools to combine elements in vmix really let you make your service feel professional and unique, so play around with them until you find something that speaks to you and your congregation. We know that each church is unique, so let it shine through with your online service!
Companion articles:
Using a green screen (as shown briefly in this tutorial)
Happy streaming and God bless.
