Stream 3D Video Across Your Network

Use Stream to convert video on the Windows PC and send the stereoscopic output across the local network to a compatible media player. The receiving device does not run Stream to 3D; it only needs a suitable player and support for the selected stream and 3D layout.

Choose the correct workflow: use Play when a headset application such as Virtual Desktop or Bigscreen is showing the converted Windows desktop. Use Stream when a compatible media player on another device will open the network stream. Use Convert to create a reusable file.

Quick start with a video file

1. Connect the Windows PC and receiving device to the same local network. Temporarily exclude VPN routing while proving the first connection.
2. Choose a short, familiar 2D video file without black borders for the first test and click Stream.
3. Use the Configuration Wizard if enabled, or keep HTTP as the simplest first streaming protocol.
4. Start the stream and note the URL shown by Stream to 3D.
5. Open that URL in a compatible media player on the receiving device.
6. Select the same Side-by-Side or Top-and-Bottom layout in the receiving player that Stream to 3D is producing.

If the 3D views do not align: select the matching layout manually in the receiving player and use its default or best-fit aspect ratio. For top-and-bottom source borders, try a supported SBS output; for left-and-right borders or padded 4:3 material, try TB/OU. Also check the streaming device's display calibration and the TV or projector's overscan or 1:1 pixel setting. Establish a clean stereo image before changing depth settings. See Player, streaming-device and display scaling.

Need help? Start with User FAQ & Troubleshooting. See Logs & Diagnostics, Error Codes (LVE0xx), and Licensing & Activation.

If the stream does not play: start with Streaming first checks to verify local playback, the Wi-Fi or LAN connection, VPN routing and firewall access.

Stream a 2D video in 3D

Stream to 3D must run on a Windows PC, but the receiving device only needs a compatible network media player. The receiver can be a headset, phone, tablet, television, SteamOS device or another computer.

This mode is accessed via the "Stream" menu button. Stream to 3D includes first-class support for video streaming, which means that you can stream your real-time converted 2D to 3D videos to a host of devices including your phone, tablet, laptop, Smart TV or Projector (both 3D and 2D devices are supported), as well as stream directly to your VR headset.

To stream a video and have it converted to 3D as it is streamed, click Stream in the main menu and select the file. If you have the Configuration Wizard enabled, then you will be prompted for your preferences on how you would like conversion and streaming to be handled, see here for detail on the Configuration Wizard prompts that will be presented. You can enable and disable the Configuration Wizard or put it in "auto" mode from Settings. When disabled, or in "auto" mode, the Wizard preference questions are not displayed.

The video below provides a comprehensive set of streaming examples to a range of devices and media players using the various supported protocols. Note that streaming with subtitles is only supported over the HTTP Streaming protocol:

Settings → Streaming

HTTP is the recommended default. RTSP, RTP and UDP are also available through Settings > Streaming for receiving players or local-network workflows that require them.

Choose a streaming protocol

Start with HTTP unless the receiving player requires another protocol. See the detailed protocol comparison when choosing an alternative.

RTSP requires MediaMTX. Download the current Windows release and run mediamtx.exe while Stream to 3D is streaming. The default MediaMTX configuration is sufficient for the standard Stream to 3D RTSP settings.

Audio-stream selection is available for every protocol by choosing the required stream index. Subtitle streaming is available only with HTTP, again using the required stream index.

Advanced video-coding, hardware-acceleration and FFmpeg options are covered in Streaming and Conversion Options. Settings > Streaming also controls the port for each protocol.

The Output section of the Settings Summary page shows the full URL for the selected protocol, including the Windows PC address. Open this URL in the receiving media player:

Example media players that support streaming include; VLC for Desktop and PotPlayer on the PC, the Pigasus VR Media player (on an Oculus Quest 2 or later headset) and VLC for Fire (for a Fire TV Stick) as well as Kodi. Examples for these media players are provided below, for more comprehensive coverage, see the video above.

Start the stream and connect a player

To initiate streaming, click the Stream button. You will be prompted to select either a 2D video to convert to 3D and stream, or if the video is already in 3D format, as determined by the same file name pattern check as used for playback and conversion, then the video will be streamed only. You can also provide a .txt file containing one full video path per line. Stream to 3D processes the list in order for every supported streaming protocol, including HTTP:

For HTTP Streaming, Stream to 3D will wait until the client opens the stream before streaming the video, for the other protocols Stream to 3D will start streaming the video(s) immediately and the media player will pick up the video stream from the point it has reached when opened by the player, rather than the start:

As the video is streamed, you will be shown a progress bar detailing the time taken to convert and stream the video, with an estimate of the time remaining to complete, the percentage progress and the name of the file being streamed. The streaming process attempts to stream the video at the frame rate of the converted source, not faster. If your system cannot handle converting and streaming the video at the required frame rate, then playback may be interrupted or intermittent. The Cancel button presented will allow you to cancel a video that is in the process of being streamed:

VLC for Desktop

The video stream is Opened in VLC for Desktop via the "Media/Open Network Stream..." menu option as illustrated below:

This will then lead to the "Open Media" dialog box, in which you should enter the streaming URL shown by Stream to 3D. Pressing play will cause VLC to initiate playback of the video stream. VLC will remember the URL for later sessions, which will then be available in the network url drop down list. VLC for Desktop also supports the RTP and RTSP streaming protocols in addition to HTTP:

The screen shot below shows the streamed video being played in VLC:

Pigasus VR Media Player

The video below provides an example of HTTP Streaming with the Pigasus VR Media player, running on an Oculus Quest 2 headset. N.B. for use with Pigasus it is most effective to open the HTTP Streaming URL in Pigasus before selecting the video in the Stream to 3D UI. Pigasus also supports RTSP:

Kodi Media Player

Kodi essentially requires the creation of a ".strm" file containing the Stream to 3D streaming URL. Opening the ".strm" file with Kodi will then cause Kodi to initiate streaming from Stream to 3D, provided Stream to 3D is up and running and ready to stream. For more details, see Kodi setup for Stream to 3D here. The use of Kodi for playback, via streaming or indeed from a converted file, on a 3D Projector or TV (via installation on a Fire TV Stick for example), is a very effective solution for 3D Playback.

VLC for Fire (with 3D TV)

The example below uses the VLC for Fire app, on a 4K Fire TV stick plugged into a 4K LG passive 3D TV. Begin with the Streams option in the VLC for Fire app. The VLC for Fire app supports both HTTP and RTSP streaming:

On the next screen either enter the HTTP (or RTSP) streaming URL or select from a previously used URL:

The video will then play back in a 3D format on the TV (in this example). If you have a 2D rather than a 3D TV, you can experiment with the Anaglyph 3D output format, as this is viewable with Red/Cyan glasses on a 2D device:

This particular LG TV supports 3D HSBS and HTB formats, the next screen shows selection of the HSBS format:

The video then plays back in 3D and is viewable with passive 3D polarised glasses on this particular TV:

Stream a Live Source

Streaming an existing 2D video file is the primary Stream workflow described above. As an additional option, editions that include Stream can send a PC screen, camera or capture-device Live Source over the network to a compatible media player. The Real-Time edition does not include network Stream for either video files or Live Sources.

For Virtual Desktop or Bigscreen showing the converted Windows desktop, use Play instead.

1. Choose Stream and select the Live Sources shortcut in the source browser.
2. Create the default sources if prompted, then select the required screen, camera or capture-device source.
3. Confirm Live Capture Details and, for screen capture, the display or region.
4. Complete the normal streaming settings for the receiving player and start the stream.

See Live Sources quick start for source creation and Streaming first checks for the receiving-player and network route.

Return to Stream to 3D Documentation.