Overview
Templates are pre-configured settings created at the competition level that automatically generate streams and overlays when you create a match. When you set up stream and overlay templates in Competition Settings, any new match created under that competition inherits those templates. This saves time by auto-creating streams and overlays with all settings already configured.
What Are Templates
Stream templates and overlay templates are pre-configured settings stored at the competition level in Assets > Competitions > Additional Settings > Streams and Overlays. When you create a match under a competition that has templates configured, those templates take effect automatically. Stream templates create streams with pre-configured inputs, destinations, output settings, overlay, automation and recording settings. Overlay templates create overlays with a pre-configured theme profile, ad settings, background, watermarks and playout settings. This means you don't have to configure the same stream and overlay settings for every match in a competition.
How to Create Stream and Overlay Templates
Templates are created in the competition's Additional Settings section. Start by clicking Assets in the left sidebar, then click Competitions and select the competition you want to add templates to. From there, click Additional Settings > Streams and Overlays, then click Add New Stream to create a stream template.
This opens the CREATE STREAM SETTINGS window. A section list runs down the left (Stream, Input, Destinations, Output, Overlay, Automation and Recording), each showing its current value. Click a section to jump to it, or scroll, and fill in the settings you need. Once you're done, choose Create to save the template to the competition only, or choose Create and Apply to Unstarted Matches to also apply it to existing matches that haven't started yet. You can repeat this process for overlays if needed by adding overlay configurations. Overlays use the CREATE OVERLAY window, with the sections Overlay, Graphics, Ads, Background, Watermarks and Playout. Any future matches created under this competition will automatically inherit these stream and overlay settings.
How Templates Work During Match Creation
When you create a match and select Create and Configure Streams and Overlays after filling in match details, the templates are applied automatically. If the competition has stream templates, those streams are created for the match with all settings pre-configured. If the competition has overlay templates, those overlays are created and assigned to the streams. All template settings, including inputs, destinations, resolution, theme profile and ad settings, are inherited from the competition-level configuration. You can still modify these auto-created streams and overlays after the match is created. The templates simply provide the starting configuration.
Applying Templates to Existing Matches
When you create or update a template at the competition level, you have two options. Choosing Create saves the template to the competition only. Future matches will inherit it, but existing matches are unaffected. Choosing Create and Apply to Unstarted Matches saves the template and also applies it to existing matches under this competition that haven't started yet. Note that matches which have already started cannot have competition-level templates applied retroactively.
What Settings Are Included in Templates
Stream templates include the settings from each section of the stream settings window:
Stream: Stream Name, Stream Size, Region and the Available To Club Portals toggle
Input: Stream Input Source, Stream Input, Initial Input Stream Volume, Mix Input Audio Channels and Mute Input Audio Channels
Destinations: Stream Destinations Source and Stream Destinations (up to 4)
Output: Idle Image, Resolution, Frames Per Second and Video Bitrate
Overlay: the overlay on the stream, Initial Overlay Volume and the Start Overlay Hidden toggle
Automation: the Auto Stream toggle (start, go live and stop on a schedule)
Recording: the Generate Highlights, Auto Publish Highlights and Store Match Recording toggles
Overlay templates include the settings from each section of the overlay window:
Overlay: Overlay Name and For Stream (the stream the graphics go on)
Graphics: Theme Profile (the theme and control room the graphics come from)
Ads: Ad Type (Brands or No Brands) and the Enable Ads toggle
Background: the Auto Background toggle, Live Background, Preview Background and Monitoring Background
Watermarks: the Show Primary Watermark and Show Secondary Watermark toggles
Playout: the Auto Mode toggle, Encoding Delay and Leader Overlay
Modifying Auto-Created Streams and Overlays
After templates auto-create streams and overlays for a match, you can still modify them. To access stream settings, expand the match in the Matches table, click the three-dot action menu next to the stream, and select Configure. This opens the UPDATE STREAM SETTINGS window. To access overlay settings, click the three-dot action menu next to the overlay and select Configure. This opens the UPDATE OVERLAY window. Make your changes and click Update. Changes made to individual streams and overlays do not affect the competition-level template. The template only determines the initial configuration when the match is created.
Tips
Set up templates before creating matches for a competition to save time on every match.
Use Create and Apply to Unstarted Matches when updating templates if you want existing scheduled matches to receive the new configuration.
Templates are particularly valuable when running a full season or tournament where every match needs the same stream and overlay configuration.
You can create multiple stream templates and multiple overlay templates for one competition if you need different configurations for different match types.
Remember that templates only provide the starting configuration. You can always modify individual streams and overlays after they're created.