Question / Help OBS Studio Dropped Frames (Please Help!)

[Marcus Vega-Eisenhart]

Hey everyone! I'm new here so bare with me....

I am having some serious Dropped Frames issues from OBS Studio to Twitch

This happened a little over a week ago; dropped frames from OBS Studio to Twitch. So, what I did was just uninstalled and reinstalled OBS Studio and within minutes I was up and running like I normally had been. Awesome!

Well.....I haven't touched my CPU in about 4 or 5 days and now suddenly I'm back to square one....Dropped frames no matter what I do....

This is what I have done to troubleshoot....
1. Power Cycled Router (this Router is brand spanking new from the ISP only about 2 to 3 months old, CPU is also plugged in Ethernet)
2. Checked all Windows Updates, OBS Updates, GameCapture HD updates = Everything is good and up to date
3. Did a fresh install of OBS Studio
4. I switched then tested OBS Studio on my YouTube and Beam.pro as well - all were having Dropped Frames issues (Why?)
5. I used my PS4 streaming capabilities - works completely and perfectly fine, streams directly to my channel from PS4 to Twitch w/o interruption or issues.

So my question is - Why is my PS4 able to stream to Twitch w/ no issues and runs smooth but the second I'm using OBS Studio I am getting dropped frames and an incredible delay to my channel or just lag in general.

Last Question is - I've read and seen that when it comes to Dropped Frames it has ZERO to do w/ OBS Studio or OBS....if this is true then why is the PS4 streaming capabilities able to stream perfectly fine then because clearly it wouldn't be an ISP issue correct?

Note: I've checked Twitch Test and have posted a screen shot and it seems very, very odd. ALSO, my OBS Studio settings have been the same for the last 2 months and I've had no issues up until about a week ago.

Any advice or comments are appreciated! Thanks community!

LOG FILE LINK: http://pastebin.com/eLjXEdDS
TWITCH TEST IMAGE: http://pasteboard.co/6QmhNNnJw.png

 

[Adrian Schofield]

Your log doesn't include a stream - we got the start but not the end which is what we need to help us understand what happened during the stream, you should see this in the log to indicate the end of a stream:

==== Streaming Stop ================================================

Anyway dropped frames are usually not related to OBS in any way, I know it seems like they are but they aren't. What usually causes problems is your network or your ISPs network to your Twitch ingest server, Try the tool at this location and post your results along with a log of a stream where you see the above.

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/tech-support/478845-twitchtest-twitch-bandwidth-tester

 

[Marcus Vega-Eisenhart]

ALSO some other side notes....

- Windows Firewall is OFF
- No AntiVirus Software running/none even installed
- Below is my Internet Speeds

Thank you for anyone who is offering to help!!!

 

[Marcus Vega-Eisenhart]

Your log doesn't include a stream - we got the start but not the end which is what we need to help us understand what happened during the stream, you should see this in the log to indicate the end of a stream:

==== Streaming Stop ================================================

Anyway dropped frames are usually not related to OBS in any way, I know it seems like they are but they aren't. What usually causes problems is your network or your ISPs network to your Twitch ingest server, Try the tool at this location and post your results along with a log of a stream where you see the above.

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/tech-support/478845-twitchtest-twitch-bandwidth-tester

So that's the thing! I click "Start Stream" and right away....it shows Dropped Frames w/ high numbers. I check my Dashboard on Twitch...still shows I'm offline, about 5 minutes later it'll show my stream but it's incredible delayed and it's always buffering. Then, I'll click "Stop Stream" on OBS Studio and it will literally sit there for minutes saying "Stopping Stream..." Well, it sits there and doesn't go away or even technically end the stream, so I have to Click "Exit" for it to actually physically stop the stream.

 

[Marcus Vega-Eisenhart]

Your log doesn't include a stream - we got the start but not the end which is what we need to help us understand what happened during the stream, you should see this in the log to indicate the end of a stream:

==== Streaming Stop ================================================

Anyway dropped frames are usually not related to OBS in any way, I know it seems like they are but they aren't. What usually causes problems is your network or your ISPs network to your Twitch ingest server, Try the tool at this location and post your results along with a log of a stream where you see the above.

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/tech-support/478845-twitchtest-twitch-bandwidth-tester

I also posted 2 links in my original post - A LOG FILE and as well as a link to the TWITCH TEST. Please check those out. The Twitch Test is incredibly odd. And like I said previous...I can stream using my Playstation 4 streaming capabilities that are built in the PS4, everything runs smooth there....but when I try to stream from OBS Studio, Nothing works.

 

[Adrian Schofield]

Sorry I missed that - there's your problem right there a Quality of zero to all ingest servers :-(

What that tells you is that the quality of your network is very poor, Rich says this needs to be over 80 for a clean streaming experience. There's not a lot you can do inside your house apart from make sure you get the same issue with wired if you are not already and reboot your router which you already did.

Next step is to have that complicated discussion with your broadband provider about what's going on with their network.

 

[Marcus Vega-Eisenhart]

Sorry I missed that - there's your problem right there a Quality of zero to all ingest servers :-(

What that tells you is that the quality of your network is very poor, Rich says this needs to be over 80 for a clean streaming experience. There's not a lot you can do inside your house apart from make sure you get the same issue with wired if you are not already and reboot your router which you already did.

Next step is to have that complicated discussion with your broadband provider about what's going on with their network.

Here we go.....I was able to click "START STREAM" and successfully click "STOP STREAM" without clicking exit or any interuptions....

Attached is the NEWER LOG FILE or click the link here for the log file: http://pastebin.com/aMKZupmV

 

[Adrian Schofield]

Output 'adv_stream': Number of dropped frames due to insufficient bandwidth/connection stalls: 883 (29.6%)

It's a networking problem of some kind like I say I expect it's a problem with your broadband provider :-(

 

[Marcus Vega-Eisenhart]

Output 'adv_stream': Number of dropped frames due to insufficient bandwidth/connection stalls: 883 (29.6%)

It's a networking problem of some kind like I say I expect it's a problem with your broadband provider :-(

I posted the newer log files....but in reply to what you said.....if that's true....then why am I able to stream from my PlayStation 4 to Twitch without any issues what so ever???

I understand OBS is showing Bandwidth issues and Twitch Test shows a low score and what not but then why is a Playstation 4 w/ the streaming capabilities able to stream to my channel without interruption? =(

 

[Adrian Schofield]

No idea - I knew you'd ask that :-) I don't actually know how PS4 streaming works but it's possible that the stream takes a different route to the Twitch servers rather than going direct. The Twitch test tells you your direct throughput to the ingest servers which is how OBS works and that is telling you there's a network problem :-(

It's a real issue trying to have this conversation with your provider but that's what you've got to do. It's also worth heading to the Twitch subreddit and posting there to see if anyone else in your area with the same provider is having problems.

 

[Marcus Vega-Eisenhart]

No idea - I knew you'd ask that :-) I don't actually know how PS4 streaming works but it's possible that the stream takes a different route to the Twitch servers rather than going direct. The Twitch test tells you your direct throughput to the ingest servers which is how OBS works and that is telling you there's a network problem :-(

It's a real issue trying to have this conversation with your provider but that's what you've got to do. It's also worth heading to the Twitch subreddit and posting there to see if anyone else in your area with the same provider is having problems.

What's odd is.....I uninstalled and reinstalled OBS Studio. This time, instead of using Advanced Settings for Output...I just used Simple. Well, I bumped up the Video Bitrate a bit just to push it....2900....and it's working perfectly fine w/o Dropped Frames now. Then, when I go back into Advanced Settings in Output and switch it up a little bit....then the Dropped Frames madness begins all over again. Been at this the last 30 minutes.

Also, spoke w/ my ISP. Had 2 techs get on the phone w/ me and they said my Down/Up speeds have been incredible with no drops or delays or anything negative that would make them say "Something's wrong here..."

Isn't it funny how, OBS says "it's not the application" yet, if you look at all the other trouble shooting that I just did - Streaming from a PS4 works completely fine (CLEARLY not an ISP issue), other devices in household perfectly fine, talked to ISP, etc. etc. BUT as soon as I delete and reinstall OBS Studio and change the settings to just "Simple" it works fine.....I think something is being overlooked here.....wouldn't you agree?

 

[Simes]

If the problem lies with your ISP's connection to the Twitch ingest servers, all other devices in your house will work perfectly fine, because none of them are attempting to connect to the Twitch ingest servers. If the conversation you had with your ISP was purely about the connection between you and them, you've missed out the most important part.

And obviously there isn't just a problem with OBS, because the TeamLiquid connection tester also told you there was an issue. As for the PS4, I think it's likely the consoles get their own ingest servers in order to avoid contention with PC streamers, but that's just a guess.

But, to be clear, are you saying that if you switch back and forth between Simple and Advanced, it always works in Simple and never in Advanced?

 

[Marcus Vega-Eisenhart]

If the problem lies with your ISP's connection to the Twitch ingest servers, all other devices in your house will work perfectly fine, because none of them are attempting to connect to the Twitch ingest servers. If the conversation you had with your ISP was purely about the connection between you and them, you've missed out the most important part.

And obviously there isn't just a problem with OBS, because the TeamLiquid connection tester also told you there was an issue. As for the PS4, I think it's likely the consoles get their own ingest servers in order to avoid contention with PC streamers, but that's just a guess.

But, to be clear, are you saying that if you switch back and forth between Simple and Advanced, it always works in Simple and never in Advanced?

So I tested it out in Simple....Zero dropped frames.Did it in Advanced....and then for a bit there it was fine, then boom, the dropped frames started to happen. I went back to Simple and then it worked fine. I was moving back and forth between 2800 to 2950 upload. So I stuck w/ Simple, and just let the stream run and no dropped frames noticed (I stared at that sucker for a good 10 minutes lol)

Anyways...do you mind explaining this Twitch Test server now? I just got it done a few minutes ago and would like your input....

Lastly, what could I possibly say to my ISP to have this be fixed or helped or looked into for optimal streaming performance?

ALSO, thank you for the replies I am very grateful you guys took time out of your day to share your thoughts/offer help/anything

 

[RytoEX]

If I recall correctly, OBS Studio specifically uses a TCP Window Size of 64k, and your ISP, or any system between you and Twitch, may not handle that well. It's possible the PS4 uses a different process to handle its streaming than OBS Studio, but it being different by itself does not mean that OBS Studio is doing something wrong.

Try re-running the Twitch Test with a 64k TCP Window Size and a Medium Test Duration.

 

[Marcus Vega-Eisenhart]

If I recall correctly, OBS Studio specifically uses a TCP Window Size of 64k, and your ISP, or any system between you and Twitch, may not handle that well. It's possible the PS4 uses a different process to handle its streaming than OBS Studio, but it being different by itself does not mean that OBS Studio is doing something wrong.

Try re-running the Twitch Test with a 64k TCP Window Size and a Medium Test Duration.

Here are my Results yet again....

What am I to do in this instance? What or how should I explain to my ISP to help this situation out? Also, I normally connect to Ashburn, VA or the Chicago servers; as mentioned I've been streaming a good 2 months without interruption but as of last week, dropped frames and nothing has changed.

 

[Marcus Vega-Eisenhart]

If I recall correctly, OBS Studio specifically uses a TCP Window Size of 64k, and your ISP, or any system between you and Twitch, may not handle that well. It's possible the PS4 uses a different process to handle its streaming than OBS Studio, but it being different by itself does not mean that OBS Studio is doing something wrong.

Try re-running the Twitch Test with a 64k TCP Window Size and a Medium Test Duration.

So up above I posted the new Twitch Test results that you mentioned to have 64k/Medium.

I began streaming on my page and I'm just having it set there streaming - no dropped frames and doing it at 2900 bitrate on the Ashburn, VA server. Again, zero dropped frames. I'm not entirely sure why this keeps happening. Sure, if its the ISP what is there I can say or do to help relieve this situation because all I keep seeing is Quality of 0 in Twitch Test and of course I'd like that to be up more!

Here is the log file too for the approx. 10 minute stand still stream. Again, zero dropped frames on this one w/ those results posted above for the Ashburn, VA server.

 

[RytoEX]

ISPs change stuff all the time. Call them and tell them that you stream to Twitch and that it has worked fine for months, but as of last week you're suddenly unable to do so. Ask if there have been any regional issues or changes lately that could affect that, and see if they'll run through some tests with you.

That's what I'd recommend at this point, unless someone else has any ideas.