Question / Help Dropped frames on NDI Dual PC Stream

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tarikcelik

New Member
Hi everyone,

I stream using NDI Dual PC stream & I've been having a problem with dropping frames around every 15-20 minutes that lasts about 10 seconds.
I average around 1% dropped frames during any given stream and go up to around 10,000+ dropped frames after a 8 hour stream.

I have tried changing my server location (based off TwitchTest by r1ch), lowering my bitrate, and plan on changing my Ethernet cable as my next way of troubleshooting. My internet speeds are 300 Download/35 upload. My main PC is a i9-9900k with a 2080TI and my Stream PC is a i7-5820k with a 1080TI. I have tried lowering my bitrate to 5k and still suffer from these frame drops.

One thing that I noticed is that on my Stream PC my CPU Usage can spike up to anywhere from 60-80% while Gaming, but I'm not sure if this would have anything to do with it.

Another problem that might be happening cause of these dropped frames is that my audio has been getting desynced with the video on my stream, and everytime this happens I have to restart OBS on my Game PC. I currently have filters setup for my PC Audio / Mic Audio to help avoid desync issues, but still running into the desync regardless.

This is the router that I have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0192911RA/ - Both PCs are connected to my router with an Ethernet cable.

I stream using 1080p @ 60 FPS.

Game PC Logs: https://obsproject.com/logs/qM3m6DP0ekYy5sIc
Stream PC Logs: https://obsproject.com/logs/6SMaFxZlsR9oukhC
Twitch stream: www.twitch.tv/tarik

Thank you in advance,
Tarik
 
Narcogen

Narcogen

Active Member
There's no stream session in the log for the Streaming PC.

Lag on the gaming PC seems to be minimal.

17:45:21.935: Output 'NDI Preview Output': Number of lagged frames due to rendering lag/stalls: 29 (0.3%)
17:45:21.944: Output 'NDI Main Output': Number of lagged frames due to rendering lag/stalls: 29 (0.3%)
 
Narcogen

Narcogen

Active Member
How many NDI feeds are you running?

  • 06:05:50.513: [obs-ndi] started A/V threads for source 'DESKTOP-SUFMRSQ (OBS Main PC)'
  • 06:05:50.513: [obs-ndi] A/V thread for 'NDI™ Source 2' started
  • 06:05:50.515: [obs-ndi] started A/V threads for source 'DESKTOP-SUFMRSQ (OBS Main PC)'
  • 06:05:50.516: [obs-ndi] A/V thread for 'NDI™ Source' started

It looks like you're running two video capture feeds, plus a game audio feed and a microphone feed, all as separate NDI sources.
 
Narcogen

Narcogen

Active Member
These lines indicate either a problem with a specific audio device, or general system overload:

  1. 18:48:45.373: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 21 milliseconds
  2. 18:48:45.646: adding 42 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 64 milliseconds
  3. 18:48:45.771: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 85 milliseconds
  4. 18:48:46.443: adding 42 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 128 milliseconds
  5. 18:48:46.611: adding 42 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 170 milliseconds
  6. 18:48:47.115: adding 42 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 213 milliseconds
  7. 18:48:47.851: adding 42 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 256 milliseconds
  8. 18:48:52.519: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 277 milliseconds
  9. 18:48:57.730: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 298 milliseconds
  10. 18:48:58.067: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 320 milliseconds
  11. 18:49:00.672: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 341 milliseconds
  12. 18:49:06.743: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 362 milliseconds
  13. 18:49:08.633: adding 42 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 405 milliseconds
  14. 18:49:28.133: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 426 milliseconds
  15. 18:49:39.918: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 448 milliseconds
  16. 18:50:10.529: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 469 milliseconds
  17. 18:50:14.438: adding 42 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 512 milliseconds
  18. 18:50:23.915: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 533 milliseconds
  19. 18:50:42.717: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 554 milliseconds
  20. 18:51:01.031: adding 21 milliseconds of audio buffering, total audio buffering is now 576 milliseconds
 
Narcogen

Narcogen

Active Member
Most of your lag seems to come from a problem with your network connection.

  1. 20:49:55.771: Output 'simple_stream': Number of dropped frames due to insufficient bandwidth/connection stalls: 7623 (3.5%)
  2. 21:27:37.853: Output 'simple_stream': Number of dropped frames due to insufficient bandwidth/connection stalls: 876 (0.6%)
Lag from other sources is minimal.

  1. 21:27:37.853: Output 'simple_stream': Number of lagged frames due to rendering lag/stalls: 1 (0.0%)
  2. 21:27:56.445: Output 'NDI Preview Output': Number of lagged frames due to rendering lag/stalls: 23 (0.0%)
 
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tarikcelik

New Member
So, is this something I should talk to my ISP about? Or can I troubleshoot it on my own?

If I were to call my ISP, do I straight up tell them I'm dropping frames during my live stream?
 
Narcogen

Narcogen

Active Member
You can troubleshoot on your own if you think the problem is on your side of the router-- your switch, your computers, your cabling. If it is upstream of your router, then yes, you will need to address with them.

Sorry I'm not able to advise on what you should or shouldn't tell your ISP.
 
Narcogen

Narcogen

Active Member
Limit the number of NDI feeds you need to create and use to achieve your goals, as they consume a lot of bandwidth.

I generally set up my game capture only on the gaming machine, and then turn on just one NDI output-- the Program output. You don't need both the Preview and Program outputs on, and you don't need to capture everything separately.

NDI will output audio from your scene along with video, but only on Track 1; so any audio devices not assigned to Track 1 will be omitted from an NDI feed.

So if you make a scene on your gaming PC with your game capture, system audio, and microphone in it, assign all audio devices to Track 1 in the mixer (Edit> Advanced Audio Properties) then everything you need will be in just one NDI feed.

Then add that NDI feed as an input on your streaming machine, and switch scenes and sources from that machine.

The logs make it seem like you've got Program and Preview NDI outputs running, plus two audio sources also making NDI feeds.

The "Dedicated Output" NDI filter can be useful, but in my experience it is less performant, especially with video, than just using the main output.

Also don't turn on the NDI output on the Streaming machine, you don't need it. You need the plugin installed, of course, but you only need the outputs turned on for the gaming machine.
 
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tarikcelik

New Member
Did everything you said but didn't fully understand what I have to do for the audio stuff.

I have a separate source for my mic, desktop audio, game capture, desktop capture on my Gaming PC.

Made sure they are only visible on Track 1. Testing the audio on my stream PC now but it comes out super choppy.

I only have an NDI Source on my Stream PC opposed to before where I had separate filters for my mic/desktop audio.

Edit: I think I did everything right, but its coming out super choppy for some reason.
 
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tarikcelik

New Member
Ah, got it fixed. I had to change my sample rate from 48khz to 44.1 on OBS Audio settings.

Thanks man. Will try all this out tonight and see how the stream goes. Appreciate it :)
 
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