Using vMix Playlists

A great way to automate your productions in vMix is by using the playlist feature. This feature allows you to create a playlist of inputs and automatically transition between camera, videos, and other inputs you have created.

playlist button

Getting Started

Once you have your input sources set up in vMix, click on the gear icon next to the PlayList button at the bottom of the interface. This will bring up the PlayList dialog box. Click New PlayList and give it a name. If you have an existing playlist that you would like to work from, you can check the Copy Current PlayList box. Once you have multiple playlists, you can select the one you want to work with from the dropdown menu in the dialog box’s upper right corner. Keep in mind that playlists are connected to presets. So, if you want to save your playlists, be sure to save your preset.

Adding to the PlayList

Adding inputs to the playlist is as simple as clicking on the available inputs in the left window and then clicking the right arrow. Remove them from the playlist by clicking on the input in the right window and click the left arrow. Once you have multiple inputs on the playlist, you can select any one of them and move them up and down in the list. 

Playlist Tools

Adjusting Input Settings

Once you have added your playlist items, you can click on them to adjust their individual settings. This will open another dialog box. For videos, you can set the starting position to the point in the video you want it to begin. You can also set the duration. For videos, this would set how long the video would play after the starting point. For cameras or other sources, this determines how long the playlist will stay on this input before moving to the next item. You can set the transition type to any of the available vMix transitions and set that transition length. Finally, the display type will determine whether the input will be shown in full screen or assigned to one of the pre-configured overlay channels. Now we can click OK and repeat this process for each of our inputs. 

Playlist Options

Pro Tip: If you choose inputs with PTZ camera presets, you can effectively automatic PTZ camera operations. In this way, you can have cameras move to various locations with PTZ presets that are called in a looping playlist.

Changing PlayList Settings

When you are done configuring our inputs, we have a few more options in the PlayList dialog box. At the bottom, you can choose if you want the playlist to loop. Ticking the Begin from Selected item box will begin the playlist from any selected input instead of from the beginning of the list. Clear overlays will clear any overlays on the inputs between transitions. Finally, manual mode will keep the playlist from advancing from input to input instead only advancing when the previous and next buttons are pressed. When you are done, click close.

Starting the Playlist

To start the playlist, just click on the PlayList button at the bottom of the interface. If you want the option of making adjustments or manually advancing the playlist, you can simply click the gear icon again to reopen the PlayList dialog box.

Start Learning vMix

• What is vMix. Learn here
• Getting Started with the vMix interface here
• Learn how to work with vMix inputs here
• Mixing Inputs Together with vMix Multiview here
• Learn about vMix titles here
• Learn how to mix Audio in vMix here
• Learn how to use VST3 audio plugins with vMix here
• Learn all about vMix settings here
• Learn about how to use vMix Full Screen and Multiview here
• Learn how to record video with vMix here
• Learn how to live stream with vMix here
• Learn how to use vMix video overlay channels here
• Learn how to make Stinger Transitions in vMix here
• Learn how to use social media comments in your live stream with vMix Social here
• Learn how to use vMix shortcuts here
• Learn how to use GT Title Editor to make custom vMix titles here
• How to use vMix Call to bring guests in your live stream here
• How to control vMix remotely with the web controller here
• How to use vMix color correction tools here
• How to use virtual sets with vMix here
• How to use NDI with vMix here
• How to control PTZ cameras in vMix here
• Learn how to connect vMix with Zoom using the virtual webcam output here
• Learn how to use automated playlists with vMix here
• Learn how to use data sources with vMix here
• Learn how to use vMix triggers here