# Program Outputs

Source: https://mimolive.com/user-manual/using-mimolive/program-outputs/  
Last updated: 2026-10-25  
Section: Core Interface & Show Basics  

The program output is the video mimoLive renders from the [Layer Stack](https://mimolive.com/user-manual/using-mimolive/layers-and-variants/): all live layers, composited in the order of the Layer Stack. [Output Destinations](https://mimolive.com/user-manual/playout-output-destinations/) send it to a recording, a live stream, the network or another app.

Every document has one program output, the **main program output**. You can add more program outputs with their own size and aspect ratio, for example a 9:16 version for mobile viewers next to a 16:9 show. All program outputs render the same layers at the same time.

### The Main Program Output

The size and frame rate of the main program output are the **Size** and **Video Frame Rate** in the [Show Settings](https://mimolive.com/user-manual/using-mimolive/show-settings/). The main program output can’t be renamed or removed.

You see it in the Program Output area at the top of the right column of the document window. **View > Show Program Output in Window** shows it in a separate window.

### Additional Program Outputs

> **Note:** Additional program outputs are available in mimoLive 7.0b1 and newer.

An additional program output renders the same Layer Stack at its own size. What it shares with the main program output and what it has of its own:

|  | Additional program output |
| --- | --- |
| Layers and their order, Layer Variants, live states, Layer Sets | Shared |
| Frame rate and program audio | Shared |
| Name and size | Own |
| Parameter values of layers | Follow the main program output, unless you unlock them |

#### Adding a Program Output

- In the [Show Settings](https://mimolive.com/user-manual/using-mimolive/show-settings/), click **+** in the **Program Outputs** section. mimoLive adds a program output with the main size turned on its side, named “Vertical” (or “Horizontal” for a portrait document).
- Or choose **Show > Add Program Output…**, enter a name and a size, and click **Add**.

Width and height can each be 10 to 7680 pixels.

#### Changing and Removing Program Outputs

In the Program Outputs section of the Show Settings:

- Click the name, width or height of a program output to change it. Press Return to apply the change.
- Drag the rows to change the order in which program outputs appear in menus. The main program output always comes first.
- Click **–** to remove a program output. You can also choose **Show > Remove Program Output…**.

> **Important:** Removing a program output can’t be undone
>
> Output destinations that used it switch to the main program output, and the parameter values unlocked for it are lost.

### Adjusting Layers for a Program Output

Layers are added, removed, reordered and switched live in the Layer Stack, and this applies to all program outputs. Only parameter values can differ.

1. Select a layer in the Layer Stack.
2. Choose the program output in the popup menu in the header of the layer preview column. The preview shows the frame of that program output.
3. Click the lock icon left of a parameter to unlock it, then change the value.

| Lock | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| Closed lock, dimmed control | The parameter follows the main program output. |
| Open white lock | The parameter has its own value in this program output. |

- Click an open lock to follow the main program output again. The parameter takes the main value immediately; Undo restores the lock but not the previous value.
- To lock or unlock a whole parameter group, right-click the parameter group bar and choose **Unlock … Attributes For Program Output** or **Lock … Attributes (Follow Main Program Output)**.
- Locks belong to a Layer Variant. Unlock and adjust every variant you use in that program output.
- Font, size and color of a text field share one lock.
- Dragging an on-screen control in the preview of an additional program output unlocks that parameter automatically.
- Signal buttons (such as Next or Reset) and their keyboard shortcuts work in the main program output and reach all program outputs.

### Viewing Program Outputs

With more than one program output, a popup menu in the header of the Program Output area selects what it shows:

| Option | Shows |
| --- | --- |
| Fit All | All program outputs side by side at the same height. |
| All to Scale | All program outputs at the same pixel scale. |
| Follow Layer Preview | The program output selected in the layer preview column. |
| (name of a program output) | Only that program output. |

In the [Multiview](https://mimolive.com/user-manual/using-mimolive/multiview/), click the name tag of a view and choose **Program Out – (name)**. The Program Output window shows the main program output only.

### Sending a Program Output

Each output destination sends one program output: choose it in the **Video** popup menu of the output destination, for example **Program Output – Vertical (1080×1920)**. See [Output Destinations](https://mimolive.com/user-manual/playout-output-destinations/).

> **Important:** “Same As Program Output” is the main size
>
> In the video size settings of output destinations, “Same As Program Output” means the size of the main program output. For an additional program output, choose “Same as Video Source” or a custom size.

### Things to Know

- **Performance:** Every program output renders the whole Layer Stack for every frame. If an additional program output can’t finish a frame in time, it drops that frame.
- **Audio and actions happen once:** Only the main program output contributes audio and carries out media playback commands, PTZ moves and volume changes. The [Automation Layer](https://mimolive.com/user-manual/remote-control-automation/automation/) runs its script in the main program output only.
- **Third-party layers** run once per program output. Layer developers can check [tvIn\_SecondaryPipeline](https://mimolive.com/user-manual/custom-layers/custom-layer-api/#tvIn_SecondaryPipeline).
- **Sources sized to the document,** such as the Web Browser Capture Source, use the main size.
- **Older mimoLive versions** show a warning when opening a document saved with mimoLive 7.0b1 or newer and only know its main program output.
- **Remote control:** Program outputs are called render pipelines in the [HTTP API](https://mimolive.com/user-manual/remote-control-automation/http-api/endpoints/#render-pipelines), the [WebSocket API](https://mimolive.com/user-manual/remote-control-automation/http-api/websocket-api/) and the [MCP tools](https://mimolive.com/user-manual/remote-control-automation/ai-agents/).