I needed a new computer to run theatrical lighting on. I am using the ChauvetDJ ShowXpress software, through the ChauvetDJ Xpress-24 USB interface. This program controls the lights via the DMX protocol.
I also decided to livestream using OBS on this computer. I am using 3 cameras with HDMI output captured using 2 elgato HD60 S+ devices, an elgato Cam Link 4K. I am also capturing video from a simple USB webcam. All of the elgato devices are on separate USB root controllers. The webcam shares a USB controller with one of the elgato devices.
My Lighting USB device sits alone on its own USB controller.
My problem is that my theatrical lighting flickers and the moving lights move particularly when I am switching cameras, but at other times too.
I assume the DMX signal controlling the lights is getting interrupted or delayed.
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Okay, so 15 min ago I had an insight into the problem so I stopped typing for a period.
I looked at my computer resources and noticed 100% CPU usage on my Intel i5-9600K cpu.
Obviously a problem. So I opened all of my camera properties in OBS and deactivated them when not in use. CPU usage fell dramatically and my DMX lights stopped flickering. Yay!
I posted this question anyway, hoping that someone else might learn from it.
Also, what are the downsides to deactivating all of my cameras when not in use.
One issue I noticed is that color correction for my USB webcam is reset to defaults when it is deactivated.
Any other problems I should look for?
Sincerely,
Bob
Log File Here
I also decided to livestream using OBS on this computer. I am using 3 cameras with HDMI output captured using 2 elgato HD60 S+ devices, an elgato Cam Link 4K. I am also capturing video from a simple USB webcam. All of the elgato devices are on separate USB root controllers. The webcam shares a USB controller with one of the elgato devices.
My Lighting USB device sits alone on its own USB controller.
My problem is that my theatrical lighting flickers and the moving lights move particularly when I am switching cameras, but at other times too.
I assume the DMX signal controlling the lights is getting interrupted or delayed.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Okay, so 15 min ago I had an insight into the problem so I stopped typing for a period.
I looked at my computer resources and noticed 100% CPU usage on my Intel i5-9600K cpu.
Obviously a problem. So I opened all of my camera properties in OBS and deactivated them when not in use. CPU usage fell dramatically and my DMX lights stopped flickering. Yay!
I posted this question anyway, hoping that someone else might learn from it.
Also, what are the downsides to deactivating all of my cameras when not in use.
One issue I noticed is that color correction for my USB webcam is reset to defaults when it is deactivated.
Any other problems I should look for?
Sincerely,
Bob
Log File Here