OBS Inconsistent Frames... at a loss what to do

[Marth]

Hello, I'm getting pretty desperate for solutions on what is causing my frames to be so inconsistent. This started happening about 3 days ago. I've tried messing with the bitrate, lowering settings, firewall settings ect ect... I called my internet service provider and a technician even came over to replace the cables running to our router. I have 40 upload and I'm only trying to stream at 6,000 kbps. I'm not really sure what is causing the problem. The last stream I did was choppy. I was doing a casting stream and during the stream the video will freeze for .5 seconds as a stutter and then continue forward. If it's a hardware issue I'd like to know if it is my GPU or CPU that I would need to replace because I can't really afford to just pick up random parts and hope they work. I'll post the log. If you guys catch anything please let me know <3 I feel so sadge.

https://obsproject.com/logs/B0I0YvBNv2tuaEJd

 

[rockbottom]

Not using Wi-Fi & LAN looks OK but something is up between you/YT.

02:33:34.655: Output 'adv_stream': Number of dropped frames due to insufficient bandwidth/connection stalls: 418 (11.4%)

Stream Connection Troubleshooting | OBS

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

obsproject.com

 

[Marth]

So you think maybe it's not a hardware or internet issue on my end but an issue with me and youtube?

 

[rockbottom]

Your network looks OK so nothing on your end appears to be the cause. Like I said it's happening between you & YT. Try a different YT server, if it's still bad, I would call my ISP & place another service ticket.

 

[qhobbes]

Start with enabling Dynamic Bitrate and monitor your log to see how low it's going. Without Dynamic Bitrate enabled, if you only have 5999 Kbps of bandwidth available, then you'll drop frames. With it enabled, it should just lower the bitrate to 5900 Kbps or something close to that.

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

The OBS Studio log won't indicate if there is something else on your computer using upload bandwidth, causing contention. Or if your router is getting overwhelmed (due to rules/filters/ACLs, or whatever) or if other devices on network consuming upload bandwidth. You need to check your LAN and WAN bandwidth consumption yourself [I won't get into how, because .... it depends], preferably in real-time

 

[Marth]

The OBS Studio log won't indicate if there is something else on your computer using upload bandwidth, causing contention. Or if your router is getting overwhelmed (due to rules/filters/ACLs, or whatever) or if other devices on network consuming upload bandwidth. You need to check your LAN and WAN bandwidth consumption yourself [I won't get into how, because .... it depends], preferably in real-time

I thought maybe it was a router or modem issue. I bought both of them just over a year ago so I'd be surprised but I guess it wouldn't be the oddest thing to happen. How abouts would I check to see if it were that as an issue? I already had a spectrum technician come to the house and change the cable running up to us. He told me the signal to the port was really consistent and strong. However, that was just to the port. Is there a reliable way I can check to make sure I'm not getting bottlenecked from my router or modem?

 

[qhobbes]

Since your router and modem are separate devices, you can make sure your router is not bottle-necking your connection by connecting your computer directly to your modem.

 

[Marth]

Okay I'll give that a try. I've been also getting a Max Audio Buffering critical warning in my logs. It says the source affected or potential cause is my elgato camlink 4k. Could some integration between that and OBS be causing bitrate fluctuations though?

 

[rockbottom]

Stop running 2 streams, barely enough bandwidth for 1....

22:11:18.542: codec: H264
22:11:18.542: rate_control: CBR
22:11:18.542: bitrate: 10000
22:11:18.542: cqp: 20
22:11:18.542: keyint: 120
22:11:18.542: preset: p6
22:11:18.542: tuning: hq
22:11:18.542: multipass: qres
22:11:18.542: profile: high
22:11:18.542: width: 1920
22:11:18.542: height: 1080
22:11:18.542: b-frames: 2
22:11:18.542: lookahead: true
22:11:18.542: psycho_aq: true
22:11:18.542:
22:11:18.625: ---------------------------------
22:11:18.626: [FFmpeg aac encoder: 'adv_stream_audio'] bitrate: 160, channels: 2, channel_layout: stereo
22:11:18.626:
22:11:18.627: [rtmp stream: 'adv_stream'] Connecting to RTMP URL rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2...
22:11:18.632: [rtmp stream: 'adv_stream'] Interface: Realtek Gaming 2.5GbE Family Controller (ethernet, 1000↓/1000↑ mbps)
22:11:18.975: [rtmp stream: 'adv_stream'] Connection to rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2 (2607:f8b0:4006:80a::200c) successful
22:11:18.976: [rtmp stream: 'adv_stream'] Socket send buffer is 65536 bytes
22:11:18.990: ==== Streaming Start ===============================================
22:11:18.996: ---------------------------------
22:11:18.996: [FFmpeg aac encoder: 'Track1'] bitrate: 160, channels: 2, channel_layout: stereo
22:11:18.996:
22:11:18.997: ==== Replay Buffer Start ===========================================
22:11:19.001: Output 'Vertical Backtrack': Tried to use obs_output_set_mixers on an encoded output
22:11:19.002: Output 'Vertical Backtrack': Tried to use obs_output_set_media on an encoded output
22:11:19.002: ---------------------------------
22:11:19.002: [x264 encoder: 'vertical_canvas_video_encoder'] preset: veryfast
22:11:19.002: [x264 encoder: 'vertical_canvas_video_encoder'] settings:
22:11:19.002: rate_control: CBR
22:11:19.002: bitrate: 6000
22:11:19.002: buffer size: 6000
22:11:19.002: crf: 23
22:11:19.002: fps_num: 60
22:11:19.002: fps_den: 1
22:11:19.002: width: 1080
22:11:19.002: height: 1920
22:11:19.002: keyint: 250
22:11:19.002:
22:11:19.010: ---------------------------------
22:11:19.010: [FFmpeg aac encoder: 'Track1_vertical'] bitrate: 160, channels: 2, channel_layout: stereo
22:11:19.010:
22:11:19.659: ---------------------------------
22:11:19.659: [FFmpeg aac encoder: 'vertical_canvas_audio_encoder'] bitrate: 160, channels: 2, channel_layout: stereo
22:11:19.659:
22:11:19.660: [rtmp stream: 'vertical_canvas_stream'] Connecting to RTMP URL rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2...
22:11:19.664: [rtmp stream: 'vertical_canvas_stream'] Interface: Realtek Gaming 2.5GbE Family Controller (ethernet, 1000↓/1000↑ mbps)
22:11:19.985: [rtmp stream: 'vertical_canvas_stream'] Connection to rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2 (2607:f8b0:4006:80a::200c) successful
22:11:19.986: [rtmp stream: 'vertical_canvas_stream'] Socket send buffer is 65536 bytes
22:11:20.034: Output 'Replay Buffer': stopping
22:11:20.034: Output 'Replay Buffer': Total frames output: 2
22:11:20.034: Output 'Replay Buffer': Total drawn frames: 63
22:11:20.034: ==== Replay Buffer Stop ============================================
22:11:20.035: warning: 2 frames left in the queue on closing
22:12:11.833: ---------------------------------
22:12:11.833: [DShow Device: 'Video Capture Device 2'] settings updated:
22:12:11.833: video device: Cam Link 4K
22:12:11.833: video path: \\?\usb#vid_0fd9&pid_0066&mi_00#7&2b0afa12&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global
22:12:11.833: resolution: 3840x2160
22:12:11.833: flip: 0
22:12:11.833: fps: 29.97 (interval: 333667)
22:12:11.833: format: NV12
22:12:11.833: buffering: disabled
22:12:11.833: hardware decode: disabled
22:12:11.865: using video device audio: no
22:12:11.865: separate audio filter
22:12:11.865: sample rate: 44100
22:12:11.865: channels: 2
22:12:11.865: audio type: Capture
22:15:05.508: [rtmp stream: 'vertical_canvas_stream'] User stopped the stream
22:15:05.508: [rtmp stream: 'vertical_canvas_stream'] Socket send buffer is 262144 bytes
22:15:05.508: Output 'vertical_canvas_stream': stopping
22:15:05.509: Output 'vertical_canvas_stream': Total frames output: 13277
22:15:05.509: Output 'vertical_canvas_stream': Total drawn frames: 13548 (13551 attempted)
22:15:05.509: Output 'vertical_canvas_stream': Number of lagged frames due to rendering lag/stalls: 3 (0.0%)
22:15:05.510: warning: 2 frames left in the queue on closing
22:15:10.267: [rtmp stream: 'adv_stream'] User stopped the stream
22:15:10.267: [rtmp stream: 'adv_stream'] Socket send buffer is 524288 bytes
22:15:10.268: Output 'adv_stream': stopping
22:15:10.268: Output 'adv_stream': Total frames output: 11653 (13815 attempted)
22:15:10.268: Output 'adv_stream': Total drawn frames: 13896 (13899 attempted)
22:15:10.268: Output 'adv_stream': Number of lagged frames due to rendering lag/stalls: 3 (0.0%)
22:15:10.268: Output 'adv_stream': Number of dropped frames due to insufficient bandwidth/connection stalls: 2162 (15.6%)
22:15:10.269: Video stopped, number of skipped frames due to encoding lag: 3/13876 (0.0%)
22:15:10.277: ==== Streaming Stop ================================================
22:15:10.480: warning: 2 frames left in the queue on closing

 

[rockbottom]

For the audio buffering, the CamLink is in 4 Scenes. Did you create new or add existing for the last 3 scenes? Filters could be causing issues too.

 

[rockbottom]

Avast at play too, known to be a Debbie Downer. I use Defender, never have any issues with it.

 

[Marth]

I don't have enough bandwidth for the two? I just upgraded my internet so it's running at like 40 up and a Gig down now. I really want to be able to run both stream since one is youtube shorts which gets a lot of traction and one is Youtube live which I can use for Vod purposes for people to watch after/some people enjoy the regular aspect of landscape for the ttrpg that I run so they can see everything.

 

[Marth]

For the audio buffering, the CamLink is in 4 Scenes. Did you create new or add existing for the last 3 scenes? Filters could be causing issues too.

For the Cam Link 4K it was in a locked resolution and I think it might have been messing with things. I changed it to 1920x1080 and I haven't gotten the audio critical error since. Still losing frames on network but OBS hasn't given me any crit errors or anything for my most recent stream test. Here be the log. This was when I was streaming to shorts and youtube live. https://obsproject.com/logs/EprQrROEnnNFcHds

EDIT: I opened up OBS and haven't even attempted to run stream and this is the log for that as well. Looks like the crit error is still looming: https://obsproject.com/logs/3OB0lrM4T8XJZKln

 

[qhobbes]

I see the error "YT: InitYTUserUrl() User is not signed". I'm not entirely sure what that means by try signing out/disconnecting and signing back in/connecting your YouTube stuff. Make sure your vertical-canvas plug-in is up to date.

 

[rockbottom]

The audio lag on the CamLink happened in both logs. No changes were made so not sure what you're expecting to happen. If you added it as new in every Scene that may be the issue but until you figure out what's wrong with it, remove it.

Last log still has Avast & the filters in play.

 

[Marth]

Avast at play too, known to be a Debbie Downer. I use Defender, never have any issues with it.

As far as Avast goes I made an exception for OBS. Can it still cause issues after that?

The audio lag on the CamLink happened in both logs. No changes were made so not sure what you're expecting to happen. If you added it as new in every Scene that may be the issue but until you figure out what's wrong with it, remove it.

Last log still has Avast & the filters in play.

Unfortunately I can't remove the Camlink because it's the only way I can use my camera for streaming. I only have one instance of it running in every scene and it's under the same Video Capture Device not a bunch of new ones. And I'll look into avast again and see what I can do with that

 

[Marth]

I see the error "YT: InitYTUserUrl() User is not signed". I'm not entirely sure what that means by try signing out/disconnecting and signing back in/connecting your YouTube stuff. Make sure your vertical-canvas plug-in is up to date.

Alright, it's worth a try. I'll also try streaming to twitch and seeing if that makes a difference as well. The vert plugin is up to do date atm.

 

[rockbottom]

I would disable it until you get straightened out.

Try Isolating the CamLink, create a new Profile with 1 Scene & the CamLink as the only source. See if the lag still happens.

 

[Marth]

I would disable it until you get straightened out.

Try Isolating the CamLink, create a new Profile with 1 Scene & the CamLink as the only source. See if the lag still happens.

Bet. I'll give this a try when I get out of work.