Obs Drops 50-60% of frames until restarted

[CaptainWetx]

This is a "newer" issue that's be getting worse and worse. I believe the issue started a few months ago where sometimes when starting my stream I would drop roughly 50% of my frames. It would occur like once in 5 streams. After the following few OBS updates the issue seems to have gotten worse to where every single time I start stream it happens. I've tried streaming for around 2 hours to zero change before calling it quits before. If I end the stream, and immediately fire it back up the issue entirely vanishes and everything is absolutely fine.

During this time i have reinstalled OBS and also purchased an entirely new PC and still have the issue. I'm not sure if its a setting I have that used to work but no longer does with more recent updates. My network clearly isn't the issue as restarting the stream leads to a perfect 0 frames lost stream, even for long 10-12 hour streams.

If logs or pc specs are relevant I can fetch them but this issue persisted between entire pc swaps so I couldn't imagine that's the case. The new PC is Windows 11, I believe the previous one transitioned to windows 11 from 10 around the time the issues began too so its possible that's related to the issue, but like I said it started spotty so I can't pinpoint the exact start of the issue, I do know the most recent update to obs made it become an every stream occurrence though.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Harold]

Unfortunately, this IS a connection issue, regardless of what you had in the past.
Some internet issues are intermittent and completely out of your control.

Stream Connection Troubleshooting | OBS

OBS Knowledge Base. Dropped frames? Your stream is disconnecting? This guide will help you troubleshoot common connection issues.

obsproject.com

 

[CaptainWetx]

Unfortunately, this IS a connection issue, regardless of what you had in the past.
Some internet issues are intermittent and completely out of your control.

Stream Connection Troubleshooting | OBS

OBS Knowledge Base. Dropped frames? Your stream is disconnecting? This guide will help you troubleshoot common connection issues.

obsproject.com

I fail to understand how this is a connection issue if simply restarting the stream fixes it permenamt and I can do 12 hour streams without any other issue... the fact that your that confident makes me feel like you didn't even read my post...

 

[CaptainWetx]

To elaborate incase it isn't exceedingly clear on the above post this issue is as follows: every time I start my stream I drop 50% frames. Every single time no matter what. If I end the stream, for 10 seconds, then press go live again, everything is fixed and no other errors occur.

This issue isn't a huge problem as far as streaming goes, but it's an extra step I'd rather not have to deal with, and it causes a double notification to go out to my viewers which I feel is unprofessional. At no point do I have any connection issues mid stream. This is NOT a network issue, unless it's more of a firewall flag or something. It is NOT spotty internet and just internet things. I've been doing this for long enough to recognize when internet is just being internet.

Small edit: I have researched the issue quite extensively and found many people that have had this issue occur starting with the OBS 29 update. I might try downgrading back to 28 and see if that solves my issue, but it seems every other person who's had this issue is unresolved as well.

 

[koala]

Look into your log. If you find entries like "Number of dropped frames due to insufficient bandwidth/connection stalls: 4850 (92.4%)" at the end of a streaming session, it's a bandwidth/general internet issue as Harold wrote.

 

[Harold]

Downgrading obs basically never solves underlying connection issues. I am unsurprised that people downgrade and their problem persists.
The dropped frames reported in your log indicate a connection issue with precisely zero leeway for doubt.
The above provided connection troubleshooting guide covers EVERYTHING you as an end user has control over that could be the cause. Yes firewall software is included in it.

 

[TypicalOutlaw]

I've been having this same issue for the past 60 days and it's made streaming miserable. I've never had an issue in over 6 years. Can anyone please help?

 

[Hughdoo]

Any fix found? I’m having the same exact problem in April 2024 on OBS 31(?). Drop 50-65% until I restart OBS.

 

[qhobbes]

Use an encoder that supports Dynamic Bitrate and enable Dynamic Bitrate.

 

[Hughdoo]

Any fix found? I’m having the same exact problem in April 2024 on OBS 31(?). Drop 50-65% until I restart OBS.

I fixed my specific issue. I use Restream to stream to twitch and youtube at the same time. In my OBS settings > Stream i had the Restream Server set to autodetect. Dont do that. Use the speed test tool on Restreams website (Settings > Streaming Setup), find the server that gives you the best upload over all, then set OBS to that server.

 

[Hughdoo]

I fixed my specific issue. I use Restream to stream to twitch and youtube at the same time. In my OBS settings > Stream i had the Restream Server set to autodetect. Dont do that. Use the speed test tool on Restreams website (Settings > Streaming Setup), find the server that gives you the best upload over all, then set OBS to that server.

Update: this was not a permanent fix. Back to dropping 50-60% frames and now I have several disconnects during streams.

 

[qhobbes]

@Hughdoo have your tried using an encoder that supports Dynamic Bitrate and enabling Dynamic Bitrate?

 

[uberkaiden]

This problem just started for me out of the blue a few weeks ago. Restarting the stream will eventually settle it out, but it's very unpredictable. Any clues?

 

[qhobbes]

@uberkaiden please post a log