In Socialive, overlays can be audio effects, images, or videos added to your scenes to make your video more dynamic. You can add audio overlays to add background music or sound effects, and video overlays for animated logos, countdowns, and more.

The Overlays tab houses all audio, video, and static graphics available as overlays.

This article goes over the following topics:

• Supported File Formats
• Uploading Overlays
• Applying Overlays to a Scene
• Removing Overlays from a Scene
• Downloading or Deleting an Overlay

Process

Supported File Formats

• Audio: 
  • MP3
• Video:
  • MP4
  • MOV (without HEVC)
  • WebM (only file format that supports Alpha Transparency)
• Images:
  • JPG (not JPEG)
  • PNG
  • GIF

NOTE:

• The maximum file size is 1 gigabyte (GB) and the maximum image/video size is 1920 x 1080p.

• Apple ProRes files are not supported. Files uploaded in this format will not appear in the Overlays tab.

• HEVC stands for High Efficiency Video Coding.

• Alpha Transparency or Alpha Channel is a color component that allows you to adjust an image's opacity levels and make parts of it translucent or see-through.

Video Tutorial

Uploading Overlays

1. In Studio, in the Overlays tab, click the cloud icon.
   
2. Select the file to upload. If there are multiple files, you have to upload them one by one.
3. The file will start uploading to Socialive. It may take a few moments for the file to upload and appear in the Overlays tab.

Applying Overlays to a Scene

1. Click the Scene where you want to add Overlays.
2. In the Overlays tab, use the drop-down to filter between the types of graphics: All Types, Graphic, Video, or Audio.
3. Select the overlay you want to apply. You can add multiple overlays (static, video, and audio) to a single scene. A yellow border will appear around the selected overlay(s) and the overlays will appear in the Preview Scenes area.
   • For all types of overlays, you can change its name, assign a hotkey, and add to favorites from the Info tab of each overlay. To view your favorites, click the star icon.
     
   • For Video Overlays, you can:
     • Preview the video if the scene is not live by clicking the play button on the overlay thumbnail. When you send the scene live, the video will start automatically.
     • Edit the position, padding, and size from the Size & Position tab of each video overlay.
       
     • Edit the opacity, volume, or choose to: pause on the last frame, loop, or hide the video after the video ends from the Settings tab of each video overlay.
       
   • For Audio Overlays, you can:
     • Preview the audio if the scene is not live by clicking the play button on the overlay thumbnail. When you send the scene live, the audio will play automatically.
     • Choose to play once or loop the audio and adjust the volume from the Settings tab of each audio overlay.
       
   • For Graphic Overlays, you can adjust the position, padding, and size from the Size & Position tab of each graphic overlay.
     
   • Change the opacity from the Settings tab of each graphic overlay.
     
4. Once you are satisfied with the appearance of the overlays in the scene Preview, click the Send Live button to apply the selected overlays. The selected overlays will appear in the monitor and will be visible to your audience.

Removing Overlays from a Scene

To remove all overlays on the selected scene, press CTRL + \ (on Windows) or ⌘ + \ (on Mac).  Learn about other keyboard shortcuts in Studio.

1. Select the scene from where you want to remove the overlays.
2. Open the Overlays tab and click to deselect an overlay and remove it from the scene.
3. During a session, you need to click the Send Live button to apply the changes. The overlays will disappear from the monitor and will no longer be visible to your audience.

Downloading or Deleting Overlays

For all types of overlays, you can download or delete them by:

1. Click the caret at the top-right corner of an overlay.
2. Click the three-dot icon on the far right.
3. Select Download or Delete.

Still looking for an answer?

Contact Socialive Support via live chat, email at support@socialive.us, or submit a support ticket.