How to use Virtual Sets in vMix

With built-in virtual sets, vMix makes it possible to create a professional-looking set for your production with nothing more than a green screen and some decent lighting. Virtual sets are easy to use and they can look great. You can even have a custom virtual set built specifically for your needs.

Virtual Set Inputs

Getting Started

To start out, just make sure you have a green screen behind you or whoever your talent is for the production. Green screens can be purchased online in fixed and portable formats. You can even create a permanent solution by painting a wall. You will need to get your lighting right so that your talent and green screen are well lit. This will allow the keying feature to remove the entire background appropriately.

Color Key

The first step is to set up an input with the camera you wish to use for the talent. Then, go into your camera input settings and choose Color Key from the options on the left side. Use the eyedropper to select a sample of the green screen. You can adjust the presets to get it perfect or set one of the presets that will often give you excellent results. Close out of that menu and you should now have a camera input with your talent and no background. Now you are ready to add a virtual set input. 

Pro Tip: If your green screen does not cover the entire picture that your camera is capturing, use the crop feature to remove unwanted areas on the sides. 

Adding a Virtual Set Input

Click on Add Input and select Virtual Set from the options on the side. Now you get to choose your virtual set. Click OK and the virtual set will show up in your inputs.

Virtual Set Input

Customizing Your Set

Now it is time to start customizing. Next to your virtual set input you will see your customization options. When you select “Camera” you will have access to the various zoom options for your set. When you click “Setup” you can access all the various layers in the set. Those may include the backdrop, virtual screen, talent, and any other customizable parts of your set that can be assigned to an input. Select the layer and then assign the input you wish to use. For instance, for the talent layer, you will want to assign the camera you just set up with a green screen and color key.

Virtual Set Setup

With the layer selected, you can also customize the position of the input in the set. For example, to get the talent in the right position, just click and drag in the preview window and to resize just hold down shift while dragging. Continue to assign layers and make adjustments until you have completed all the features of the set you want to use. 

Once you understand how the virtual sets work, there are multiple set options, the ability to create your own from scratch, and the option to import custom sets from third-party sellers. You can also use the export button at the bottom of the virtual set input to save all of your settings to use the set later or import to another instance of vMix. 

Note: The online course available on Udemy includes over 15 additional virtual sets that you can use for vMix. These virtual sets have been designed for sales, marketing, houses of worship, finance, and educational purposes. 

Start Learning vMix

• What is vMix. Learn here
• Getting Started with the vMix interface here
• Learn how to work with vMix inputs here
• Mixing Inputs Together with vMix Multiview here
• Learn about vMix titles here
• Learn how to mix Audio in vMix here
• Learn how to use VST3 audio plugins with vMix here
• Learn all about vMix settings here
• Learn about how to use vMix Full Screen and Multiview here
• Learn how to record video with vMix here
• Learn how to live stream with vMix here
• Learn how to use vMix video overlay channels here
• Learn how to make Stinger Transitions in vMix here
• Learn how to use social media comments in your live stream with vMix Social here
• Learn how to use vMix shortcuts here
• Learn how to use GT Title Editor to make custom vMix titles here
• How to use vMix Call to bring guests in your live stream here
• How to control vMix remotely with the web controller here
• How to use vMix color correction tools here
• How to use virtual sets with vMix here
• How to use NDI with vMix here
• How to control PTZ cameras in vMix here
• Learn how to connect vMix with Zoom using the virtual webcam output here
• Learn how to use automated playlists with vMix here
• Learn how to use data sources with vMix here
• Learn how to use vMix triggers here