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evmux Knowledge Base

Scenes

Scenes are the fundamental building blocks of your evmux broadcast. A scene is a complete visual layout that can be displayed to your viewers.

In Dual Streaming mode each scene is shown twice, once in landscape and once in portrait with its own preset positions. You can show, hide or lock each layer separately in the portrait orientation; see Portrait layer controls and Dual Streaming.

What is a scene?

A scene is a container that holds multiple layers arranged in a specific layout. Think of it as a “preset” or “view” that you can switch to instantly during your broadcast.

Scene types

Dynamic Scene (formerly Simple Scene)

The Dynamic Scene is a special scene that always exists and provides automatic layouts.

Properties:

  • Cannot be deleted
  • Always first in the scene list and cannot be moved
  • Offers 8 layout presets
  • Auto-arranges participants in grid layouts
  • Best for quick switching between layouts

Layout presets:

LayoutDescription
Solo / Full ScreenSingle centred speaker
Side by SideTwo speakers horizontally
Split VerticalTwo speakers vertically (50/50 split)
Main + StackedLarge left, two stacked right
Picture-in-PictureFull screen with a small overlay in the corner
Gallery TopLarge main area with a row of thumbnails below
Gallery SideLarge main area with a column of thumbnails on the side
Grid with LinesBrady Bunch style grid with decorative lines

Pro Scenes

Custom scenes with full creative control.

Properties:

  • Manual positioning of each layer
  • Support complex compositions with any layer type
  • Can be created, duplicated, deleted and reordered
  • Can contain a Dynamic Grid layer for automatic participant layout inside the Pro Scene

Scene operations

Creating a scene

  1. Click the Add Scene button (with the plus icon) in the Scenes panel.
  2. In the “Create new Pro scene” dialog, enter a scene name.
  3. Choose from templates.

Template categories:

  • Popular: commonly used layouts, marked with a star icon
  • Speakers: based on speaker count (1-12)
  • Starting Soon: pre-stream screens
  • Breaks: “Be Right Back” screens
  • Stream Ending: ending screens
  • Countdowns: countdown timers
  • Welcomes: welcome screens

Options:

  • Empty Scene: a blank scene (default)
  • Import Scene: enter a share code to import a scene
  • Add to End of List: optional checkbox

Scene context menu

Right-click a Pro Scene to access:

  • Rename: change the scene name
  • Duplicate: create a copy with a “(Copy)” suffix
  • Delete: remove the scene (confirmation required)
  • Export: generate a shareable scene code
  • Move Up/Down: reorder in the list

Reordering scenes

  • Drag scenes using the drag handle that appears on hover.
  • The order is shared with every editor in the session.
  • The Dynamic Scene is always first and cannot be moved.

Scene states

Preview scene

  • The scene you are currently editing
  • Changes are visible only to editors
  • Blue border in the Scenes panel when selected
  • Select it by clicking in the Scenes panel

Program / live scene

  • The scene currently being broadcast
  • Visible to all viewers
  • Red border with a “Playing” label in the Scenes panel
  • Switch to it with a stinger/transition or by double-clicking

Studio Mode

  • Splits the editor into two views: editor/preview (left) and live/program (right)
  • Lets you edit and prepare scenes without affecting what viewers see
  • A “Play” button (▶) appears on hover in the Scenes panel; click it to transition the scene live
  • Changes only go live when you click the Transition/Play button
  • Works with stingers and transitions for smooth scene switching
  • Toggle it with the “Studio mode” button at the top centre of the editor
  • See How to Use Studio Mode for the full guide

Dynamic Grid in Pro Scenes

A Pro Scene can contain a Dynamic Grid layer that brings Dynamic Scene behaviour into the Pro Scene.

Constraints:

  • Only one Dynamic Grid per Pro Scene
  • Cannot be hidden in portrait mode

Controls:

  • Fit/Fill toggle
  • Vertical alignment (top/centre/bottom)
  • Horizontal alignment (left/centre/right)

Spotlight

Any participant layer can be spotlighted:

  • Hides all other participants
  • Shows a “Cancel Spotlight” button
  • Works in both the Dynamic Scene and a Dynamic Grid

Synchronisation and thumbnails

Scene changes are shared live between all editors in the session and saved on the server. Scene thumbnails in the Scenes panel are generated automatically, in landscape and in portrait; a placeholder is shown if a thumbnail cannot be generated.

Transitions

When switching scenes during a live broadcast you can use:

  • Transitions: fade, slide, zoom effects
  • Video stingers: custom video transitions with cue points
  • No transition: an instant cut

Best practices

  1. Prepare scenes in advance. Set up all scenes before going live.
  2. Name scenes clearly. Use descriptive names like “Interview” or “Screen Share”.
  3. Use stingers. Add transitions for professional scene switches.
  4. Test switching. Verify scene transitions look smooth in Studio Mode.
  5. Limit the scene count. Keep it manageable (5-10 scenes typically).
  6. Use the Dynamic Scene for quick layout changes while live.
  7. Use a Dynamic Grid in Pro Scenes for custom layouts with automatic participant arrangement.
  8. Assign hotkeys for quick scene switching during the broadcast.