How do you feel about streams with Vertical or horizontal bars?

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

Im trying to get into the whole streaming thing. I bought an Elgato 4k60 mk.2 recently and ive been experimenting with streaming at 3440x1440 screen resolution but outputting it to 1080p. From my personal opinion, you can tell that there is a bit of a "smush" in the video when viewing it on Twitch.

Ive included a poll on this thread as I am very interested in peoples opinions. If I were to stream 3440x1440 and output that same resolution to twitch without compressing it to 1080p, there would be visible lines above and below the picture.

Please let me know your thoughts. Does it bug you? Does it not bother you at all so long as you are enjoying the content? Something else?

Edit: I have some videos over on my YT channel linked in my sig that have been recorded with shadow play at 3440x1440. Anything between now and 3 years was recorded with Shadowplay on my Acer Predator x34. I did try to record some of the more 1080p looking videos with the 1080p setting in Shadowplay. So if anyone needs a reference.

 

[Vya Domus]

The content should match the display's aspect ratio for optimal viewing. That's the only objective thing I can say.

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

The content should match the display's aspect ratio for optimal viewing. That's the only objective thing I can say.

So if im playing any game in 3440x1440, you want the stream output to be the same? Am i understanding this correctly?

 

[Vya Domus]

If I have a 3440x1440 monitor then I would sure like if the stream was also 3440x1440. Thing is few do, so probably most would want 16:9 streams.

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

If I have a 3440x1440 monitor then I would sure like if the stream was also 3440x1440. Thing is few do, so probably most would want 16:9 streams.

That is the purpose of this poll. To try and find out what most people would like. It's impossible to please everyone, but id like to see what the majority thinks.

 

[lmille16]

Need a less hostile option than the "i hate it". That's what I voted, but it's more of a "i'm not a fan, but can deal with it"

edit: guess I could have also gone with "other"...

 

[bubbleawsome]

I put "Please output video to 1080p" though I guess any 16:9 standard would work.

I also think it has a lot to do with the type of content. If it's something sensitive to aspect ratio like a racing game or a flight simulator I'd actually vote to keep ultrawide.

 

[Papahyooie]

I would personally much rather see black bars than "smooshing".

That being said, that card can output to two different streams at once. Send the signal to OBS, use OBS to crop the stream into whatever aspect ratio you like.

 

[Toothless]

I capture the very middle for 1080p even though I game in 3440x1440. All the viewer needs is the basics like map and items.

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

I would personally much rather see black bars than "smooshing".

That being said, that card can output to two different streams at once. Send the signal to OBS, use OBS to crop the stream into whatever aspect ratio you like.

Thats what I think I am doing. Playing the games at 3440x1440, having OBS stream it back out to 1080p. Unless im missing something?

 

[Solaris17]

I much prefer people that stream or produce content in the native res. I am more likely to adjust my stream settings to match if I have a quality problem than I am to watch someone broadcasting with bars.

 

[Papahyooie]

Thats what I think I am doing. Playing the games at 3440x1440, having OBS stream it back out to 1080p. Unless im missing something?

Play at 3440x1440, but only capture a cropped piece of the screen to your canvas, so that it captures a proper aspect ratio (though it will cut off your image, obviously)

 

[newtekie1]

If a stream has black bars, I'm not watching the stream.