Question / Help Dropping frames out of nowhere.

T

tranQ

New Member
So, I streamed for a solid 4 months without any problems, everything working perfectly even on my wireless connection with the speed of 12mb down, 5mb up.

But suddenly, around 2 weeks ago, I started dropping 50% frames every time I stream XbL games. Streaming PC games like Loadout, CS:GO or anything else online works perfectly, but the if I get on XbL and stream, frames drop like mad, but does not affect my in-game connection at all. When running the log check on this site, it tells me there's a connection issue - but that doesn't make sense. Just thought I'd check in here as well, why not.
 
T

tranQ

New Member
Yes - I've checked through everything there, and tried everything. Still doesn't add up to the inconsistencies. Online PC games can be streamed perfectly, Online Xbox games can not.

Also, when trying to stream the Xbox games, it's only the frames dropping, the audio is still perfect.

I usually refrain from starting a new thread because it's usually answered somewhere else or in FAQs or something similar, but I've literally tried 15 sites through Google, as well as other streamers with OBS and been through that thread, and nothing adds up or helps, so I'm a desperate man I guess.
 
T

tranQ

New Member
Yes, OBS is reporting up to 50% dropped frames. It also usually works perfectly for about 2 minutes before frames starts dropping. Here is the log.

Code: 
17:48:46: =====Stream Start: 2014-03-17, 17:48:46===============================================
17:48:46:   Multithreaded optimizations: On
17:48:46:   Base resolution: 1280x720
17:48:46:   Output resolution: 1280x720
17:48:46: ------------------------------------------
17:48:46: Loading up D3D10 on NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 (Adapter 1)...
17:48:46: ------------------------------------------
17:48:46: Audio Format: 48000 Hz
17:48:46: ------------------------------------------
17:48:46: Audio Channels: 2 Ch
17:48:46: Playback device {0.0.0.00000000}.{97840c0d-4ac4-4446-bdb8-97d49f712d88}
17:48:46: ------------------------------------------
17:48:46: Using desktop audio input: Speakers (2- Z-10 USB Speaker)
17:48:46: ------------------------------------------
17:48:46: Using auxilary audio input: Microphone (Blue Snowball)
17:48:46: ------------------------------------------
17:48:46: Audio Encoding: AAC
17:48:46:     bitrate: 128
17:48:46: Using Window Capture
17:48:46: Using text output
17:48:46: Scene buffering time set to 700
17:48:46: ------------------------------------------
17:48:46: Video Encoding: x264
17:48:46:     fps: 30
17:48:46:     width: 1280, height: 720
17:48:46:     preset: veryfast
17:48:46:     profile: main
17:48:46:     keyint: 60
17:48:46:     CBR: yes
17:48:46:     CFR: yes
17:48:46:     max bitrate: 2000
17:48:46:     buffer size: 2000
17:48:46: ------------------------------------------
17:49:12: Total frames encoded: 766, total frames duplicated: 23 (3.00%)
17:49:12: Total frames rendered: 759, number of late frames: 3 (0.40%) (it's okay for some frames to be late)
17:49:12:
17:49:12: Profiler time results:
17:49:12:
17:49:12: ==============================================================
17:49:12: video thread frame - [100%] [avg time: 5.496 ms] [children: 86.2%] [unaccounted: 13.8%]
17:49:12: | scene->Preprocess - [84.2%] [avg time: 4.626 ms]
17:49:12: | GPU download and conversion - [2%] [avg time: 0.11 ms] [children: 1.44%] [unaccounted: 0.564%]
17:49:12: | | flush - [1.13%] [avg time: 0.062 ms]
17:49:12: | | CopyResource - [0.273%] [avg time: 0.015 ms]
17:49:12: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [0.0364%] [avg time: 0.002 ms]
17:49:12: Convert444Threads - [100%] [avg time: 0.471 ms] [children: 98.9%] [unaccounted: 1.06%]
17:49:12: | Convert444toNV12 - [98.9%] [avg time: 0.466 ms]
17:49:12: encoder thread frame - [100%] [avg time: 0.797 ms] [children: 0.251%] [unaccounted: 99.7%]
17:49:12: | sending stuff out - [0.251%] [avg time: 0.002 ms]
17:49:12: ==============================================================
17:49:12:
17:49:12:
17:49:12: Profiler CPU results:
17:49:12:
17:49:12: ==============================================================
17:49:12: video thread frame - [cpu time: avg 1.52 ms, total 1154.41 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
17:49:12: | scene->Preprocess - [cpu time: avg 1.089 ms, total 826.805 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
17:49:12: | GPU download and conversion - [cpu time: avg 0.041 ms, total 31.2 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
17:49:12: | | flush - [cpu time: avg 0.02 ms, total 15.6 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
17:49:12: | | CopyResource - [cpu time: avg 0 ms, total 0 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
17:49:12: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [cpu time: avg 0.021 ms, total 15.6 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
17:49:12: Convert444Threads - [cpu time: avg 0.51 ms, total 748.804 ms] [avg calls per frame: 2]
17:49:12: | Convert444toNV12 - [cpu time: avg 0.51 ms, total 748.804 ms] [avg calls per frame: 2]
17:49:12: encoder thread frame - [cpu time: avg 0.146 ms, total 109.2 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
17:49:12: | sending stuff out - [cpu time: avg 0 ms, total 0 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
17:49:12: ==============================================================
17:49:12:
17:49:12: =====Stream End: 2014-03-17, 17:49:12=================================================
 
Sapiens

Sapiens

Forum Moderator
Put it on pastebin if the log uploader complains about it being too large. Also if you see a large number of the same error message repeating over and over again you can cut some of that out to make it fit.
 
dodgepong

dodgepong

Administrator
Community Helper
You said you tried everything on that thread? What was the ShaperProbe result? What alternate site did you try streaming to, and how did it go?
 
T

tranQ

New Member
I tried streaming on YouTube as well, and the same thing happened. Perfectly fine when streaming online PC games, dropping frames when streaming XbL games.

ShaperProbe is here:

DiffProbe release. January 2012. Build 1008.
Shaper Detection Module.

Connected to server 217.163.1.74.

Estimating capacity:
Upstream: 5186 Kbps.
Downstream: 5925 Kbps.

The measurement will take upto 2.5 minutes. Please wait.

Checking for traffic shapers:

Upstream: No shaper detected.
Median received rate: 2984 Kbps.

Downstream: No shaper detected.
Median received rate: 5786 Kbps.

For more information, visit: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~partha/diffprobe

And here is the pastebin of the OBS log, I think it's the correct one.

http://pastebin.com/EJYkVfcH
 
dodgepong

dodgepong

Administrator
Community Helper
I see in your log you're streaming over wireless, which is not terribly stable. Have you tried plugging directly into the network via ethernet?
 
T

tranQ

New Member
I wish I could, but it's not possible for me to do, unless I move my entire setup. I've always played and streamed on wireless, and there has been no problem about it until recently, then this came up. Basically, I don't think the connection is the problem, as streaming PC games works fine.

The only difference about a cable and my wireless is I get 20/5 speed instead of 12/5. Other than that it is fairly unstable every now and again, but I've never had a problem streaming with it before either..
 
Krazy

Krazy

Town drunk
Well, is your XBox also playing over wireless? This could explain why. You are gaming *and* streaming over wireless from two completely different devices. I would not be surprised if both wireless adapters trying to use bandwith intensive tasks at the same time wasn't the problem.
 
T

tranQ

New Member
I thought that was going to be a problem when I started streaming, but what baffles me is that it worked perfectly for 4 consecutive months with the same setup - wireless PC & wireless Xbox while streaming, and then suddenly one day, 50% dropped frames, but no problem connectionwise on the game, nor if I would just "surf the web" or watch YouTube videos etcetc

And as stated, the audio of the stream is perfectly fine, both from the game and from my microphone. I'm just confused by the inconsistencies, can't find a logical reason as to why the problem started.
 
FerretBomb

FerretBomb

Active Member
Might have a neighbor on the same channel. Or they got a new fridge or other appliance that's sending out interference on the band you're using. Or any number of other reasons, because Wifi is NOT designed for constant throughput, high data applications; it was designed for mobile devices (like laptops) that could be a problem to haul a cable around with you all the time, but you still wanted to maintain connectivity. It's extremely vulnerable to interference from any number of sources.

I would recommend doing a test-stream on a wired connection (for ALL DEVICES involved in streaming) and then picking up a box of Cat-5 cable. It's easy to terminate with about five minutes' practice. Haul some copper if you'd rather not move your setup.

As a second-best (and I strongly dislike these as well) look into Powerline adapters. Dirties your home three-phase, but it's a step up from wifi if you absolutely, positively cannot run cables AT ALL, even along the baseboards.
 
Boildown

Boildown

Active Member
I would buy a 100ft network cable or however long you need and string it between your computer and your router every time you stream.

As for your log file, it only shows a few seconds, which makes it statistically near-meaningless. Do a test stream of high action content of at least five minutes in length and post the log file from that.
 
T

tranQ

New Member
Sorry for not responding, been busy the last couple of days.

Here is a log file of 20 minutes streamed, I'll add another one where I stream PC games instead so you can see the difference. I'll try to get a hold of an extremely long ethernet cable and drag it through all the doors, but I don't think it will be possible. I'm moving in a couple of months and will have a wired, 50/25mb connection then, so I guess I'll just have to wait until then if nothing works.

XbL Log - http://pastebin.com/KFXpK19V
PC Log - Coming Soon
 
Boildown

Boildown

Active Member
That log file is incomplete. It does show a ton of lines complaining about unstable connections.

My guess is that something is interfering with your ability to use your wireless connection. Wifi (and pretty much every other wireless technology) is a half-duplex technology, like the old-school "hubs" instead of modern "switches". If any other device in range transmits data at the same time as your stream (and your stream is constantly transmitting, so this is pretty much guaranteed), a collision will result and all devices will be instructed to wait a random amount of time and re-send the data. This is horrible for your stream.

To sum up: Your only hope to stream with wireless is to ruthlessly shutdown all other wifi devices in range, and hope that your neighbors aren't using anything on the same channels.
 
V

vbdkv

Member
Pick a new server. I was getting 600+ frame drops in less than 4 minutes. Picked another server and streamed for about an hour and a half with 0 drops.
 
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