Frame freezes when using two iPhone as cameras

[db9197]

We've been streaming with one iPhone, using the OBS camera app, and a standard webcam for the other camera. Today, we decided to switch out the webcam for another iPhone using the same OBS camera app for better quality. When switching scenes, the newer iPhone's frame would freeze and I would have to constantly reconnect the device.

Is it possible the two iPhone are fighting each other in a way? This never happened when the one iPhone and webcam were used.

Any feedback is appreciated, we have another stream tomorrow night and I'm trying to prevent this from happening again.

 

[Ladysun1969]

Tagging along to add: I am also having trouble with OBS while using 2 iOS devices (in my case, an iPhone 7 Plus and a 5th gen iPad). I would love to hear if there's a fix for this!

Thanks!
-Michèle in California

 

[Ladysun1969]

Hey, I found something that might explain this behavior!

Over on this thread: https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/avoiding-a-3-or-4-camera-limit.139423/
tripletopper wrote: "I searched and found a weird restriction on obs that you're only allowed one USB camera per main USB port."

I was connecting both of my iOS devices via a USB-C hub, using Lightning to USB A-Type sync cables (the USB A-Type plugs into the hub, which then connects to the Mac via one USB-C port -- does that make sense?). If OBS does indeed have a limit of only one USB cable per USB port, then the fact that the hub is routing both through a single USB-C port could be the issue.

I can't try it tonight (because I don't have any Lightning to USB-C cables, but can get some tomorrow afternoon), but the next step would be to connect both iOS devices each into separate USB-C ports on the Mac, and see if that solves the problem.

If you happen to try this before I do, could you please post the results here?

Thanks!
-Michèle in California

 

[db9197]

Hey, I found something that might explain this behavior!

Over on this thread: https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/avoiding-a-3-or-4-camera-limit.139423/
tripletopper wrote: "I searched and found a weird restriction on obs that you're only allowed one USB camera per main USB port."

I was connecting both of my iOS devices via a USB-C hub, using Lightning to USB A-Type sync cables (the USB A-Type plugs into the hub, which then connects to the Mac via one USB-C port -- does that make sense?). If OBS does indeed have a limit of only one USB cable per USB port, then the fact that the hub is routing both through a single USB-C port could be the issue.

I can't try it tonight (because I don't have any Lightning to USB-C cables, but can get some tomorrow afternoon), but the next step would be to connect both iOS devices each into separate USB-C ports on the Mac, and see if that solves the problem.

If you happen to try this before I do, could you please post the results here?

Thanks!
-Michèle in California

Thank you for sharing this link to the other forum post! My setup is using two iPhone 5c's (2014 models) each are connected by the standard lightning to USB and then to two 10 foot USB cords because the original cords aren't long enough to reach the computer (filming in a large room) They both connect to separate USB ports, so I feel it should be working in that case. So, for your case, it may be because both are essentially going to one USB that could be the problem it's giving you. What's odd is we used the one iPhone setup since November, and it's working perfectly fine, however, yesterday we added my old iPhone and that device is having issues. I did have to download the OBS camera app for ios, so I almost wonder if it's a newer version, and that version is not communicating properly with OBS. I will do some more investigating with that and report back if the versions are different and maybe that is causing the issue. Let me know if you find any solutions too and I'll let you know what I find out!

Thanks for including your info too and for the link to the other thread!

 

[db9197]

Hey, I found something that might explain this behavior!

Over on this thread: https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/avoiding-a-3-or-4-camera-limit.139423/
tripletopper wrote: "I searched and found a weird restriction on obs that you're only allowed one USB camera per main USB port."

I was connecting both of my iOS devices via a USB-C hub, using Lightning to USB A-Type sync cables (the USB A-Type plugs into the hub, which then connects to the Mac via one USB-C port -- does that make sense?). If OBS does indeed have a limit of only one USB cable per USB port, then the fact that the hub is routing both through a single USB-C port could be the issue.

I can't try it tonight (because I don't have any Lightning to USB-C cables, but can get some tomorrow afternoon), but the next step would be to connect both iOS devices each into separate USB-C ports on the Mac, and see if that solves the problem.

If you happen to try this before I do, could you please post the results here?

Thanks!
-Michèle in California

Okay, so I figured it out. I contacted OBS camera app and they forwarded me to this article: https://obs.camera/docs/faqs/#is-the-app-disconnecting-when-using-multiple-scenes-in-obs-studio

That fixed my direct issue. I hope it helps with yours!

 

[Ladysun1969]

Okay, so I figured it out. I contacted OBS camera app and they forwarded me to this article: https://obs.camera/docs/faqs/#is-the-app-disconnecting-when-using-multiple-scenes-in-obs-studio

That fixed my direct issue. I hope it helps with yours!

Thanks for that link! I didn't even know that app existed, LOL. I'll have to try it out and see how it works. I haven't read all the docs there yet, but I'm hoping it allows for audio to be passed from the iOS device(s) to OBS? If not, then how is it better than plugging the iOS device(s) directly into OBS via Video Capture Device? (other than solving your problem, of course!)

As for my issue, I did some testing today & it's MUCH more stable with the 2nd iOS device plugged into the 2nd USB-C port on the M1.

(So I have one iOS device plugged into a 9-in-1 hub (which has 3 USB Type-A ports) via a Lightning to USB Type-A cable, then the hub is plugged into one of the USB-C ports on the M1. I then plugged a 2nd iOS device directly into the other USB-C port on the M1. The reason I'm using a hub is because I also want to plug in my Yeti USB mic, and that requires a free USB port, which the hub provides.)

First of all, OBS was able to keep track of which iOS device was which, even when I swapped cables on them without quitting OBS. It was also able to restore the connections when I dismounted the devices via Finder (then unplugged & re-plugged with the same cable, or with the other cable). I was able to switch between different scenes with no problem - OBS kept track of everything just fine.

I really don't think my particular issue has anything to do with OBS. I think plugging both iOS devices into effectively the same USB-C port confused the M1, which trickled down & caused problems with OBS. After I was done with today's testing & quit OBS, the M1 had a moment or two where it seemed confused (Finder "flickered" one of the iOS mount points), but unplugging & replugging the iOS devices seemed to make it settle down again. At that point, I started OBS again & it was happy as a clam, no problems.

Thanks again! :-)

-Michèle in California