Use Meld Studio with Kick
Meld Studio works with Kick, and Kick lists MELD as supported streaming software (How to stream on Kick.com). In Meld, open the Outputs panel, click +, choose Kick and click Login. You sign in to Kick in your browser, and you do not need to copy a stream key. Kick overlays, such as KickBot widgets, go into a Browser layer.
Meld Studio is free, with no watermark and no time limit, and runs on Windows and macOS (meldstudio.co). This guide covers the Kick setup from Meld’s own Kick docs, and how to add KickBot overlays.
What you need
Section titled “What you need”- Windows: 64-bit Windows 10 version 2004 or later, or Windows 11, on an Intel or AMD processor. Windows on Arm is not supported.
- macOS: macOS 12 or later, on Intel or Apple Silicon.
- A Kick account. Meld Studio is not available for Linux, Chromebooks, phones or tablets.
Source: Install Meld Studio.
Connect Meld Studio to Kick
Section titled “Connect Meld Studio to Kick”- Open the Outputs panel in the top-right corner of Meld Studio.
- Click the + icon and choose Kick.
- In the Kick output settings, click Login.
- Your browser opens. Sign in to the Kick account you want to stream to, check that it is the right account, and allow the connection.
- Go back to Meld and check the output’s details. The Kick Channel field shows a label that you can edit. Changing the label does not change the connected account.
Meld gets your Kick server and stream key for you. If you prefer to use a stream key, add a Custom RTMP output and paste the server URL and stream key from your Kick Creator Dashboard. See Find your Kick stream key.
Stream settings for Kick
Section titled “Stream settings for Kick”Meld recommends these settings for Kick:
| Setting | Meld’s recommendation |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1920×1080 |
| Frame rate | 60 fps |
| Hardware encoder | On (for example NVENC on an NVIDIA GPU) |
| Video bitrate | Up to 8,000 kbps |
| Audio bitrate | 160 kbps or higher |
| x264 (CPU encoder) | Quality preset Fast or Standard |
Kick’s own limits are H.264 only, constant bitrate (CBR), 1,000 to 8,000 kbps, up to 1920x1080 at 60 fps, and a keyframe interval of 2 seconds (Kick help center). If your upload speed is low, pick a lower bitrate. Best OBS settings for Kick explains how to choose; the values are the same in Meld.
Kick may show smaller channels to viewers at up to 720p60 until the channel reaches an engagement threshold, even when you send 1080p. You do not need to change your settings for this (Kick help center).
For a vertical stream, assign the Kick output to a portrait canvas in Meld.
Go live
Section titled “Go live”- Set your stream title and category. Kick says your stream may not start correctly without them. If Meld’s Go Live Review window shows a title and category for Kick, check them there. If not, set them in your Kick Creator Dashboard.
- In the Outputs panel, check that the Kick output is on.
- Click Go live. If the review window opens, confirm your details.
Meld shows a confirmation when the stream is live and stable. To stop, click Go Offline, or turn off one output to stop only that platform (Meld: Going Live).
Add KickBot overlays to Meld
Section titled “Add KickBot overlays to Meld”Every KickBot overlay is a web link that you add as a Browser layer. This works for the chat overlay, alerts, goals, TTS, tip alerts and AI images.
- Copy the link in KickBot:
- Widgets (chat, alerts, counts, goals): Saved widgets, Copy URL. Install them first from the widget library.
- TTS: the widget URL on TTS settings.
- Tip alerts: Tipping > Widget.
- In Meld, click + in the Layers panel and choose Browser. You can also paste the link straight onto the canvas.
- Paste the link in the URL field in the Inspector.
- Set the size to the widget size shown in KickBot, for example 800 × 600 for an alert.
- For anything with sound (alerts, TTS, tip alerts), turn on Add an audio track for the source under the URL field. Meld does not add an audio track for a browser layer by itself. Turn on CUE on that track if you want to hear it yourself.
Use the reload icon next to the URL field to reload an overlay. Meld’s layers docs have more about browser layers, including Lock Size, which keeps the page size the same when you resize the layer.
For the same steps in OBS and Streamlabs Desktop, and for troubleshooting, see Add a browser source. Widget settings are on Chat overlay, On-screen alerts and Set up TTS.
Meld widgets or KickBot widgets?
Section titled “Meld widgets or KickBot widgets?”Meld has built-in widgets, such as a chat widget and an activity widget, that react to events on Kick, Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Meld says the events you can use differ per platform (Meld widgets).
KickBot widgets are made for Kick only. They have alerts for gifted subs and KICKs with a minimum and maximum, raid alerts, sub and follower goals, TTS with 3,000+ voices, and a Kick chat overlay.
You can use both. Use one tool for each kind of alert, so a follow does not show two pop-ups.
Kick chat in Meld
Section titled “Kick chat in Meld”Meld’s Stream Chat panel shows your Kick chat, and you can reply to Kick messages from Meld (Meld Multi Chat). Log in to the Kick output first.
KickBot’s chat bot does not run in Meld. It runs on KickBot’s servers and posts in your Kick chat, whatever app you stream with. KickBot must be a moderator in your channel. See Add KickBot as a moderator and Set up a chat bot on Kick.
Stream to Kick and other platforms
Section titled “Stream to Kick and other platforms”Meld can stream to Kick, Twitch, YouTube and other platforms at the same time. Add one output for each platform. Kick Partners must turn on Kick’s Multistreaming toggle when they also stream to Twitch or YouTube. See Multistream to Kick and Twitch.
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”A KickBot overlay is empty. Many overlays only show something when there is an event, for example a follow or a chat message. Click the reload icon next to the URL. Check that you pasted the full link.
No sound from alerts or TTS. Turn on Add an audio track for the source on the browser layer, and check that the track is not muted in the Audio Mixer.
The overlay is cut off or blurry. Set the layer to the widget size in the Inspector instead of stretching it on the canvas.
The stream does not start on Kick. Check that the title and category are set on Kick, that the Kick output is on, and that your bitrate is 8,000 kbps or lower. Then try to log in to the Kick output again.
The stream goes to the wrong Kick channel. The Kick Channel field is only a label. Click Login in the Kick output again and sign in with the right Kick account in your browser.
Does Meld Studio work with Kick?
Yes. Meld Studio has a built-in Kick output. Add it in the Outputs panel and click Login to connect your Kick account.
Do I need a stream key for Meld and Kick?
No, if you use the Kick output with Login. You need the stream key only for a Custom RTMP output.
Is Meld Studio free?
Yes. Meld says Meld Studio is free with no watermarks, time limits or hidden fees. It runs on Windows and macOS.
Can I use KickBot with Meld Studio?
Yes. Add KickBot overlays as Browser layers. The chat bot works with any streaming app, because it runs on KickBot’s servers.