Solution 08
Preview vs Live
Learn when to stage in Preview and when to go Live.
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Preview Mode vs Live Mode in Ecamm
If you are new to Ecamm, Preview Mode can feel confusing at first.
Many beginners click the Preview button accidentally and suddenly see a second Program window appear, a yellow border around the screen, and a Publish button they are unsure about.
The important thing to understand is this:
What Preview Mode actually does
Preview Mode is designed to let you prepare changes before your audience sees them.
This becomes most useful when you are already live streaming or recording.
Instead of making changes directly in front of your viewers, Ecamm lets you build the next version of your scene safely inside the Preview window first.
The large yellow-bordered window becomes your Preview area.
What the Program window means
The smaller Program window shows what your audience is currently seeing live.
This means you can prepare overlays, scene changes, layouts, or media without immediately sending those changes to your stream.
What Publish actually does
Only when you click Publish do those prepared changes get sent to the live output.
This workflow is what makes Ecamm feel more like a professional live production system.
How Preview Mode Works in Ecamm
- Click the Preview Mode button inside Ecamm.
- Notice the yellow border appear around the large Preview window.
- Look at the smaller Program window that appears below.
- Make a change inside Preview, such as adding an overlay.
- Confirm the change appears only in Preview.
- Click Publish when you are ready for viewers to see the update.
- Watch the Program window update to the new version.
Common mistake
Many beginners think the Publish button starts their livestream.
It does not.
Publish simply sends your prepared Preview changes to the live Program output.
If you are already live, your audience will see the update immediately after clicking Publish.