Here’s everything you need to know to get started and what’s new.

Getting Into the Live Studio

Starting a live session is straightforward. Head to the Create menu on the left and select Live. From there, you’ll land in a clean studio interface where you can instantly configure your microphone and camera, including virtual cameras from tools like Ecamm if you want to level-up your production quality.

Schedule Your Stream in Advance

One of the great new additions is the ability to schedule your livestream for a future date and time. Substack will even send a calendar invite email to your subscribers when you set it up, building anticipation and boosting attendance before you ever hit the “Go Live” button. If you’d rather keep it low-key, you can turn that notification off, total control, zero friction.

Native Streaming vs. Third-Party Tools

Already have a streaming setup you love? Substack supports third-party software through a stream key option. This is perfect for OBS, Ecamm, Zoom, StreamYard, or any other broadcast tool you’ve built a workflow around. For less experienced video creators, though, the native “Continue” option is all you’ll need, and it’s gotten significantly more capable.

Mobile vs. Desktop: Know the Frame

Here’s a pro tip most people miss: mobile viewers only see a cropped vertical slice of your live feed. Substack now shows you exactly where those boundaries are with a gray overlay in the preview, so you can position yourself correctly before you go live. No more accidentally cutting off your face for half your audience.

Invite Other Substackers to Join You Live

Collaboration is also now an option. You can now invite other Substack creators to appear on your livestream. Think co-hosted conversations, expert interviews, or community roundtables, all without leaving the platform. It’s the kind of cross-pollination that helps build audiences and community on both sides.

Share Your Screen (Audio Coming Soon)

Want to walk your audience through a document, slide deck, or website? You can now share your screen directly during a livestream. Your camera feed shrinks to a picture-in-picture view while your screen takes center stage. One caveat: audio sharing isn’t live yet, but it’s on the roadmap. For visual walkthroughs, this feature is ready to go now.

The Bottom Line

Substack is quietly becoming a serious livestreaming video platform. And these updates: scheduled streams, screen sharing, co-hosting, and smarter mobile framing, continue to show exactly where it’s headed. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to go live with your audience, the time is here. Let me know what questions you have or would like for me to explore further on the subject of video on Substack.

"Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you."

Why Go Live Natively in Substack

Going live natively in Substack is similar to the experience of using the Substack app on your mobile device. At the time of this recording and writing, you can’t schedule streams using the desktop. I would imagine Substack will roll that out in the not-too-distant future.

An advantage of native streaming in Substack is that you can pick your microphone and camera source, whereas with your mobile device, you may feel limited. There is one disadvantage at the present time with this feature. Your video feed, when shown on mobile, will only show the middle third of your landscape video to viewers. I show this in depth in the video to prepare you for this.

The other advantage is you can invite other Substack accounts to join you in your live, similar to what is currently available in the mobile app. This will allow the broadcast to be viewed on your account and the invitees account.

Overall, this current native feature is a simplified way to go live without needing to use a mobile device.

Going live with 3rd Party Streaming Tools

Substack still allows you to go live with 3rd Party streaming tools like Ecamm, StreamYard, Restream, and Zoom by using RTMP. The change is that you will have to start the process of going live as if you were going to stream natively, but in step 1, as shown in the 3rd part of the video, you will pick go live with stream key.

The 3rd party streaming process will allow you to schedule your livestream to a future date, or you can setup your streaming software to go live when you choose to if you don’t want to schedule.

The important thing to remmber here is that the Stream URL remains constant for Substack. The stream key for Substack changes each time you want to go live and you will need to update the key in your streaming software.

The advantage of 3rd party streaming is you can upgrade the quality of your streams with the extras these tools bring in to include guests, screen and video sharing, as well as the ability to add other features not currently available with the native streaming feature.

Final Thoughts

Substack continues to improve the capabilities for video content creation, repurposing, and community growth. Remember that your live video goes to drafts when you are done, so you don’t have to make it part of your publication, but it will give you some potentially great content to share both with Notes and on other social platforms. Let me know if you have questions or need help moving forward with your video content creation journey.

What MARS Really Means for Content Creators

Having worked extensively with various streaming platforms, I can confidently say that MARS addresses one of the most persistent challenges in modern content creation: the landscape versus portrait dilemma. We’ve all been there, should we optimize for desktop viewers who prefer widescreen content, or mobile users who increasingly consume vertical videos? StreamYard’s MARS feature addresses this issue, but I don’t know that we have eliminated it entirely.

MARS lets you broadcast simultaneously in both landscape and portrait orientations to different channels, including your YouTube channel, as separate streams, all from a single studio session. This isn’t just convenient; it’s revolutionary for creators who want to maximize their reach without doubling their workload.

Setting Up MARS: My Step-by-Step Experience

Let me walk you through the actual setup process I used during my initial MARS test:

Creating Your Multi-Format Stream

The setup begins exactly as you’d expect with any StreamYard broadcast. I started by creating a new live stream, selected my YouTube channel as the destination, and gave it a straightforward title: “Test of MARS with StreamYard.” The description matched the title for simplicity.

Here’s where things get interesting and where MARS really gives you some choices. In the stream setup, you’ll encounter three orientation options:

- Landscape: Traditional horizontal streaming

- Portrait: Vertical format optimized for mobile

- Both: The magic option that enables dual-format streaming

I selected “Both” to experience the full MARS capability.

A Pro Tip from My Testing

Based on my initial experiments, I strongly recommend setting your first MARS streams to “unlisted” on platforms like YouTube. This approach gives you the freedom to test the feature thoroughly, review how your content appears in both formats, and make adjustments before making your streams public. Once you’re comfortable with the dual-format presentation, you can always change the visibility settings later through your YouTube Studio.

Inside the MARS Studio: How to Navigate this new feauture

The Dual-Preview Interface

Upon entering the StreamYard studio with MARS enabled, the interface immediately reveals its enhanced capabilities. You’ll see both landscape and portrait previews displayed simultaneously, giving you real-time visibility into how your content appears to different audience segments.

During my testing, I experimented with the “two-person look” layout, which demonstrated how MARS adapts existing StreamYard layouts for dual-format streaming. Each layout option provides different approaches to framing your vertical content, ensuring optimal presentation regardless of orientation.

Screen Sharing in Dual Format

To thoroughly test MARS capabilities, I demonstrated screen sharing by displaying the actual StreamYard MARS webpage. This real-world test revealed how the system handles shared content across both formats. The screen share functionality adapts intelligently; what you see in landscape view gets optimized differently for portrait viewers, maintaining readability and visual appeal across both orientations. I will say, though, that vertical readability needs to be considered when sharing written content.

The standard layouts handle this adaptation seamlessly, though I also experimented with custom configurations, including switching the side positioning of presenters to see how these changes affected both viewing experiences.

The Game-Changing Dual Assets Feature

Understanding Dual Looks

Perhaps the most sophisticated aspect of MARS is what StreamYard calls “dual looks”—the ability to use different media assets for each orientation. During my testing, I discovered you can switch backgrounds independently for vertical viewing while maintaining a different background for landscape viewers.

This capability extends beyond simple background changes. I tested various animated backgrounds and overlays, observing how they could be customized separately for each format. This level of control ensures that mobile viewers aren’t just seeing a cropped version of desktop content; they’re getting a specifically optimized experience.

Technical Considerations I Discovered

Through hands-on experimentation, I uncovered several important technical aspects:

Navigation Precision: The studio interface includes maximize controls that allow you to expand your view within specific orientations. However, I learned that you need to be careful about where you click within the interface. If you’re not precise with your selections, you might inadvertently affect resolution quality or target the wrong viewing format.

Preview Management: There’s a toggle feature that lets you switch between viewing both orientations simultaneously or focusing on a single format. During longer streams, I found this flexibility could be valuable for monitoring specific audience experiences without distraction.

Real-World Applications and Strategic Benefits

Expanding Your Reach Without Doubling Your Work

From a content creator’s perspective, MARS eliminates the need to choose between audience segments. Whether you’re an educator reaching both classroom and mobile learning environments, a business presenter addressing a conference room and individual audiences, or an entertainer building followings across traditional and social media platforms, MARS enables you to potentially serve all viewers optimally from a single broadcast.

Platform Optimization Strategy

The strategic implications extend beyond convenience. MARS allows creators to optimize simultaneously for YouTube’s desktop audience and Instagram’s mobile-first user base, for example. This dual-format approach means you’re no longer sacrificing engagement on one platform to optimize for another.

Future-Proofing Content Strategy

As mobile video consumption continues rising while desktop viewing remains significant in many contexts, MARS positions creators to succeed regardless of how viewing preferences evolve. You’re not betting on one format over another—you’re covering all bases.

Technical Performance and Practical Insights

Studio Management

During my testing sessions, I paid close attention to how MARS handles studio management. The system maintains smooth operation while processing dual formats, though creators should be mindful of their internet bandwidth when streaming to multiple formats simultaneously.

Quality Considerations

One aspect I monitored carefully was resolution management across both formats. MARS maintains quality standards for both orientations, but creators need to understand how their interactions with the studio interface affect each format to avoid unintended quality degradation.

Recommendations for Fellow Creators

Getting Started with MARS

Based on my experience, I recommend this approach for creators new to MARS:

• Start with test streams: Use the unlisted feature in YouTube to familiarize yourself with the dual-format interface

• Experiment with layouts: Try different StreamYard layouts to see how they adapt to vertical viewing

• Plan your assets: Consider creating orientation-specific graphics and backgrounds in advance

• Practice navigation: Become comfortable with the preview toggles and maximization controls

Strategic Implementation

For creators ready to fully leverage MARS:

- Audit your current content: Identify which existing content would benefit from dual-format presentation

- Plan dual asset libraries: Develop background and overlay collections optimized for both orientations

- Consider platform-specific strategies: Think about how different platforms might benefit from format-specific optimization

Looking Forward: The Evolution of Content Creation

After my initial testing, I believe MARS represents more than just a new feature—it’s an indication of where content creation is heading. The ability to simultaneously serve multiple audience preferences without compromising content quality or increasing production workload addresses one of the fundamental challenges in modern digital content creation.

As platforms continue evolving and viewing preferences shift, tools like MARS provide creators with the flexibility to adapt without completely restructuring their content strategies. This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about building sustainable, scalable content creation workflows that remain effective regardless of technological changes.

Final Thoughts

StreamYard’s MARS feature delivers on its promise to simplify multi-format content creation while maintaining professional quality standards. After my initial testing, I’m convinced this technology will become standard in the content creation toolkit, not because it’s novel, but because it solves real problems that creators face daily.

For anyone serious about maximizing their content reach and engagement across diverse viewing preferences, MARS isn’t just worth trying—it’s becoming essential. The question isn’t whether you’ll eventually use multi-format streaming, but whether you’ll be an early adopter who gains a competitive advantage or wait until it becomes an industry standard.

I encourage fellow creators to experiment with MARS and discover how dual-format streaming can enhance their content strategy. The learning curve is minimal, but the strategic benefits are substantial.

I am sure it will be only a matter of time before the other streaming platforms jump on the MARS rocketship.

How do you see yourself implementing MARS into your video workflow?

Getting Started with Substack Live Video

The process of going live with third-party tools on Substack is straightforward:

1. Navigate to your Substack dashboard

2. Click on "Create New"

3. Select "New Live Video"

Setting Up Your Live Stream

When you create a new live video, you'll be presented with several options:

Select Your Channel

If you have admin privileges on multiple Substack channels, you'll need to choose which one you want to broadcast from. This allows for flexibility when managing multiple publications.

Configure Your Stream

Next, you'll need to configure your stream with the following settings:

Title: Create a descriptive title for your live stream (e.g., "How to Go Live with Substack and Third-Party Tools")

Subscriber Notifications: Choose whether to notify your subscribers by email when you go live

Scheduling: Optionally schedule your stream for a future date and time

One advantage Substack offers over some other platforms is the ability to schedule streams well into the future, without the 7-day limitation found on some other services.

Generating Your Stream Key

The most crucial step in the process is generating your stream key:

1. Click "Generate Stream Key"

2. You'll receive both a Server URL and a Stream Key

**Important note**: Similar to Instagram, your Server URL remains constant across all your streams, but the Stream Key changes for each new live broadcast. This means you'll need to update your stream key in your third-party software before each broadcast, but the server URL can be saved as a preset.

Connecting Third-Party Software

The real power of Substack's live video feature comes from compatibility with third-party streaming tools such as:

Ecamm

StreamYard

Zoom

These tools allow you to:

• Bring in multiple guests, including those who aren't on Substack

• Enhance your graphics capabilities

• Create a more professional streaming experience

To connect these tools to Substack:

1. Enter the Substack Server URL in your streaming software's destination settings (often labeled as "RTMP" or "Custom RTMP")

2. Add your current Stream Key

3. Configure your streaming software settings as desired

4. When ready, use your software's "Go Live" function to begin streaming to Substack

Current Limitations

While you can see comments on your Substack Live broadcast, there isn't a built-in way to share these comments on screen. Advanced users may find workarounds, but this is a limitation to be aware of when planning your interactive elements.

Conclusion

Substack's integration with third-party streaming tools represents a significant opportunity for creators to enhance their live video capabilities. By leveraging familiar streaming software, you can create more dynamic, professional broadcasts that help grow and engage your community.

Stay tuned for more content about maximizing video capabilities on Substack and building your audience through engaging multimedia content.

Going live on Substack has become one of the platform's most engaging features, allowing creators to connect with their audience in real-time. Whether you're hosting a Q&A session, sharing breaking news, or simply wanting to build a stronger community, Substack's live streaming feature through the mobile app makes it incredibly easy to broadcast directly to your subscribers.

In a recap of the video, I'll walk you through every step of the process, from setting up your live stream to managing the post-broadcast options.

Getting Started: Accessing the Live Feature

To begin your live streaming journey on Substack, open the Substack app on your mobile device. You can be on any tab – your home page, publications, or settings – it doesn't matter which one you're currently viewing.

You may need to have 10 subscribers before you will be able to go live, but I am sure you can find 10.

Step 1: Initiate a New Live Stream

Look for the plus (+) button in the lower right corner of your screen and tap it. This will open a menu with several content creation options.

Step 2: Select "Go Live"

From the menu that appears, select the "Go Live" option. This will take you to the live stream setup page, where you can configure your broadcast settings.

Once you've selected "Go Live," you'll see a setup screen with several important options to customize your broadcast:

Title and Audience Selection

• Add a Title: Give your live stream a descriptive title that will help your audience understand what to expect

• Choose Your Audience: If you have multiple publications, you can select which audience you want to broadcast to

• Email Notifications: Toggle whether you want an email notification sent to your subscriber list about the upcoming live stream

Scheduling Your Live Stream

One of Substack's standout features is the ability to schedule live streams well in advance. By tapping on the "when you want to go live" option, you can:

• Schedule anywhere from 15 minutes to three months in advance

• This is particularly advantageous compared to other platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn, which typically only allow scheduling up to seven days ahead

• Scheduled streams will automatically send email notifications to subscribers and app notifications

• Subscribers can add the event to their calendars with a direct link to join when you go live

Camera and Audio Features

Before going live, you have several technical options to optimize your broadcast:

• Camera Controls

  • Front/Back Camera Toggle: Switch between your front-facing and rear-facing camera using the circular button

  • Camera On/Off: You can disable video entirely while keeping audio active – your avatar will display instead of video feed

  • Real-time Switching: All camera controls work during the live broadcast, giving you flexibility to change your setup mid-stream

• Audio Settings

  • Microphone Mute: Toggle your microphone on and off as needed

  • Wide Spectrum Audio: Enable this feature if you plan to play music during your broadcast for better audio quality

  • Standard Audio: For regular talking, the standard audio setting works perfectly

• Collaboration Features: Inviting Co-hosts

  • Substack's live streaming supports multiple participants, making it perfect for interviews, panel discussions, or collaborative content:

• Pre-broadcast Invitations

  • Before going live, you can invite co-hosts to join your stream

  • Simply search for the person(s) on Subtack, choose and send the invitation(s)

• Live Invitations

  • During the broadcast, you can invite viewers to join as co-hosts

  • Invited participants need to have the Substack app and be active users

  • This feature enables spontaneous conversations and audience participation

Step 3: Going Live: The Broadcasting Experience

When you're ready to broadcast, hit the "Go Live" button. Here's what happens:

Automatic Notifications

• Substack sends notifications to your subscribers within the app

• If enabled, email notifications go out to your subscriber list

• You'll see real-time viewer counts and participant names

Interactive Features During Live Streaming

• Live Chat: Viewers can comment in real-time, and you'll see messages appear on your screen

• Heart Reactions: Both you and the viewers can send heart reactions

• Share Options: Generate and share links to your live stream across other platforms

• Viewer Engagement: See exactly who's watching and interact with them by name

Real-time Controls

All the setup features remain available during your broadcast:

• Switch between front and back cameras

• Turn video on/off while maintaining audio

• Mute/unmute your microphone

• Invite new co-hosts mid-stream

Step 4: Post-Broadcast Options: Maximizing Your Content

After ending your live stream, Substack provides several options to repurpose your content:

Your live stream is automatically processed and can be:

• Saved as a Draft: This allows you to edit and polish the content before publishing

• Sent as Email: Automatically distributes to your subscriber list

• YouTube Integration: While available, this feature may need some refinement, I have not had success with this yet, so I have the draft sent to the web, where it is a draft on the publication I went live on.

Content Repurposing

• Automatic Clips: Substack generates social media clips from your live stream

• Full Video Access: Download or embed the complete recording

• Blog Post Integration: Use the recording alongside written content for comprehensive posts. That is what I did here, plus I integrated the livestream in with screenshots in the video for better explanation.

Technical Considerations and Tips

Internet Connection

• WiFi Recommended: For best quality, use a stable WiFi connection

• Cellular Backup: The app works on cellular data, but test your connection strength first

• Hotspot Option: Consider mobile hotspots for outdoor or remote broadcasting

Equipment Recommendations

• External Microphone: For improved audio quality, consider using an external microphone. Check out my Dealcaster YouTube, where we have several video demos of mics to choose from based on your preferences and budget

• Stable Setup: Ensure your phone is properly positioned before going live. Consider a gimble or tripod.

• Good Lighting**: Natural light or proper lighting setup improves video quality significantly

Best Practices for Successful Live Streaming

Preparation

1. Test Your Setup: Do a quick test run to familiarize yourself with the controls

2. Plan Your Content: Have a rough outline of what you want to cover

3. Promote in Advance: Use the scheduling feature to build anticipation

4. Engage Your Audience: Respond to comments and use viewers' names when possible

During the Stream

1. Monitor Comments: Keep an eye on the chat for questions and engagement

2. Use Camera Features: Don't hesitate to switch between front and back cameras for variety

3. Keep Energy High: Live streaming rewards authenticity and energy

4. Technical Backup: Know how to quickly address common issues like audio problems

After the Stream

1. Save as Draft First: This gives you editing control before final publication or in the case of a quick popup live, you don’t need to publish at all!

2. Create Follow-up Content: Use the automatic clips for social media promotion

3. Engage with Comments: Respond to any questions or comments that came in during the live stream or even consider that for future topics for content

Conclusion

Substack's live streaming feature through their mobile app offers creators a powerful tool for real-time audience engagement. With its intuitive interface, advanced scheduling capabilities, and robust post-broadcast options, it provides everything needed for professional-quality live streaming.

The ability to schedule up to three months in advance, invite co-hosts on the fly, and automatically generate repurposable content makes Substack's live feature particularly attractive for content creators looking to build stronger community connections.

Whether you're a seasoned broadcaster or new to live streaming, Substack's app-based approach removes technical barriers while providing professional features that help you create engaging, interactive content for your audience.

Ready to go live? Open your Substack app, hit that plus button, and start connecting with your audience in real-time. The platform's user-friendly approach means you'll be broadcasting like a pro in no time.

Let me know when you go live, would love to see what you are creating!

With Facebook recently having live videos deleted after 30 days and the previous decision to make it difficult to go live to Facebook groups with 3rd party software, it seems like Facebook (Meta) does not have an interest in promoting live videos without causing extra work on the creator’s end.

Substack allows you to go live via the app on your phone but this new way (in Beta) will allow you to use 3rd party software like StreamYard, ECamm, Riverside, OneStream Live, and even Zoom to go live on your Substack page.

What does this mean? You can produce high-quality lives, interact with your audience you are building on Substack, and even gate the content. You could go live to just your paid subscribers.

Another advantage is the ability to build community with Substack. Your subscribers provide you with their emails and you can email them via Substack. I plan use this to build my community as I continue to evolve my writing and video journey in this space.

Let me know what you think of this feature and how you could see using it.