Question / Help Really confused.. Stream video super choppy/freezing

Schwagbert · Nov 4, 2013

I use to stream nothing but League of Legends, and my stream was 100% okay. I never got complaints about lag or anything. However, I've started streaming Diablo 3 and Hearthstone, and all of a sudden now my stream is having severe issues.

The audio is completely fine. The video, however, freezes for long periods of time and when it's not frozen, it's extremely choppy. Sounds like dropping frames, right? Well, according to the display on OBS I'm not dropping any frames at all, and my kbps is staying absolutely fine. Now, that could be an issue with the application itself, so I used the log analyzer on here and this is all I got:

Excessive bitrate

Your bitrate is very high. For live streaming, your viewers must also be able to download at the bitrate you specified. Setting too high of a bitrate will cause your viewers to experience lag and your stream may also drop frames if the streaming service you use does not support such high bitrates.

1 issues found (1 major, 0 minor).

I'm trying to run 3500 for my bitrate because I'm trying to stream 1080p30-60, but after trying to find out how to set this up I've changed to downscaling into 720p60. So I've been playing with the bitrate. I started at 1500 when I was streaming League, went up to 4500 to accommodate 1080p60, and now am dropping it steadily to try and find the sweet spot. None of this helped the issue at all, by the way.

So now, since I've tweaked every single setting multiple times and found no issue, I'm going to include my log, and hopefully you all can help me. Here, also, is a link to my stream VoD's so that you can see the issue.

Code:

11:41:25: Open Broadcaster Software v0.583b - 64bit (　^ω^)
11:41:25: -------------------------------
11:41:25: CPU Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770K CPU @ 3.50GHz
11:41:25: CPU Speed: 3500MHz
11:41:25: Physical Memory:  16334MB Total, 12794MB Free
11:41:25: stepping id: 9, model 58, family 6, type 0, extmodel 1, extfamily 0, HTT 1, logical cores 8, total cores 4
11:41:25: monitor 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1920, 1080}
11:41:25: Windows Version: 6.1 Build 7601 S
11:41:25: Aero is Enabled
11:41:25: -------------------------------
11:41:25: OBS Modules:
11:41:25: Base Address     Module
11:41:25: 000000003FFC0000 OBS.exe
11:41:25: 00000000F00B0000 OBSApi.dll
11:41:25: 00000000F73D0000 DShowPlugin.dll
11:41:25: 00000000F8880000 GraphicsCapture.dll
11:41:25: 00000000F8860000 NoiseGate.dll
11:41:25: 00000000F8840000 PSVPlugin.dll
11:41:25: ------------------------------------------
11:41:25: Adapter 1
11:41:25:   Video Adapter: AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
11:41:25:   Video Adapter Dedicated Video Memory: 1051422720
11:41:25:   Video Adapter Shared System Memory: 4000688128
11:41:25:   Video Adapter Output 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1920, 1080}, attached=true
11:41:25: =====Stream Start: 2013-11-04, 11:41:25===============================================
11:41:25:   Multithreaded optimizations: On
11:41:25:   Base resolution: 1920x1080
11:41:25:   Output resolution: 1280x720
11:41:25: ------------------------------------------
11:41:25: Loading up D3D10 on AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series...
11:41:25: ------------------------------------------
11:41:25: Audio Format: 48000hz
11:41:25: Playback device Default
11:41:25: ------------------------------------------
11:41:25: Using desktop audio input: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
11:41:25: ------------------------------------------
11:41:25: Using auxilary audio input: Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
11:41:25: ------------------------------------------
11:41:25: Audio Encoding: AAC
11:41:25:     bitrate: 128
11:41:25: Using Window Capture
11:41:25: Scene buffering time set to 200
11:41:25: ------------------------------------------
11:41:25: Video Encoding: x264
11:41:25:     fps: 60
11:41:25:     width: 1280, height: 720
11:41:25:     preset: veryfast
11:41:25:     profile: high
11:41:25:     keyint: 120
11:41:25:     CBR: yes
11:41:25:     CFR: yes
11:41:25:     max bitrate: 4500
11:41:25:     buffer size: 4500
11:41:25: ------------------------------------------
11:41:25: MMDeviceAudioSource: Frequency for device 'Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)' is 1536000, samples per sec is 192000
11:41:25: MMDeviceAudioSource: Frequency for device 'Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)' is 1536000, samples per sec is 192000
11:41:26: Using RTMP service: Twitch / Justin.tv
11:41:26:   Server selection: rtmp://live-iad.justin.tv/app
11:41:26:   Interface: Intel(R) 82579V Gigabit Network Connection (ethernet, 100 mbps)
11:41:26: Completed handshake with rtmp://live-iad.justin.tv/app in 221 ms.
11:41:27: SO_SNDBUF was at 8192
11:41:27: SO_SNDBUF is now 65536
11:48:54: Total frames encoded: 26924, total frames duplicated: 24401 (90.63%)
11:48:54: Total frames rendered: 2736, number of late frames: 62 (2.27%) (it's okay for some frames to be late)
11:48:55: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Graceful loop exit
11:48:56: Average send payload: 403589 bytes, average send interval: 758 ms
11:48:56: Number of times waited to send: 301, Waited for a total of 1137248 bytes
11:48:56: Number of b-frames dropped: 852 (3.2%), Number of p-frames dropped: 583 (2.2%), Total 1435 (5.4%)
11:48:56: Number of bytes sent: 237714441
11:48:56: 
11:48:56: Profiler time results:
11:48:56: 
11:48:56: ==============================================================
11:48:56: video thread frame - [100%] [avg time: 150.858 ms] [children: 99.7%] [unaccounted: 0.28%]
11:48:56: | scene->Preprocess - [99.6%] [avg time: 150.214 ms]
11:48:56: | GPU download and conversion - [0.146%] [avg time: 0.221 ms] [children: 0.123%] [unaccounted: 0.0232%]
11:48:56: | | flush - [0.117%] [avg time: 0.176 ms]
11:48:56: | | CopyResource - [0.0053%] [avg time: 0.008 ms]
11:48:56: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [0.00133%] [avg time: 0.002 ms]
11:48:56: Convert444Threads - [100%] [avg time: 0.432 ms] [children: 99.3%] [unaccounted: 0.694%]
11:48:56: | Convert444toNV12 - [99.3%] [avg time: 0.429 ms]
11:48:56: encoder thread frame - [100%] [avg time: 0.786 ms]
11:48:56: ==============================================================
11:48:56: 
11:48:56: 
11:48:56: Profiler CPU results:
11:48:56: 
11:48:56: ==============================================================
11:48:56: video thread frame - [cpu time: avg 0.655 ms, total 1794.01 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:48:56: | scene->Preprocess - [cpu time: avg 0.359 ms, total 982.805 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:48:56: | GPU download and conversion - [cpu time: avg 0.119 ms, total 327.6 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:48:56: | | flush - [cpu time: avg 0.057 ms, total 156 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:48:56: | | CopyResource - [cpu time: avg 0.034 ms, total 93.6 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:48:56: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [cpu time: avg 0 ms, total 0 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:48:56: Convert444Threads - [cpu time: avg 0.559 ms, total 3042.02 ms] [avg calls per frame: 2]
11:48:56: | Convert444toNV12 - [cpu time: avg 0.556 ms, total 3026.42 ms] [avg calls per frame: 2]
11:48:56: encoder thread frame - [cpu time: avg 0.033 ms, total 889.205 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
11:48:56: ==============================================================
11:48:56: 
11:48:56: =====Stream End: 2013-11-04, 11:48:56=================================================
11:54:25: =====Stream Start: 2013-11-04, 11:54:25===============================================
11:54:25:   Multithreaded optimizations: On
11:54:25:   Base resolution: 1920x1080
11:54:25:   Output resolution: 1280x720
11:54:25: ------------------------------------------
11:54:25: Loading up D3D10 on AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series...
11:54:25: ------------------------------------------
11:54:25: Audio Format: 48000hz
11:54:25: Playback device Default
11:54:25: ------------------------------------------
11:54:25: Using desktop audio input: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
11:54:25: ------------------------------------------
11:54:25: Using auxilary audio input: Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
11:54:25: ------------------------------------------
11:54:25: Audio Encoding: AAC
11:54:25:     bitrate: 128
11:54:25: Using Window Capture
11:54:25: Scene buffering time set to 200
11:54:25: ------------------------------------------
11:54:25: Video Encoding: x264
11:54:25:     fps: 60
11:54:25:     width: 1280, height: 720
11:54:25:     preset: veryfast
11:54:25:     profile: high
11:54:25:     keyint: 120
11:54:25:     CBR: yes
11:54:25:     CFR: yes
11:54:25:     max bitrate: 3500
11:54:25:     buffer size: 3500
11:54:25: ------------------------------------------
11:54:25: MMDeviceAudioSource: Frequency for device 'Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)' is 1536000, samples per sec is 192000
11:54:25: MMDeviceAudioSource: Frequency for device 'Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)' is 1536000, samples per sec is 192000
11:54:26: Using RTMP service: Twitch / Justin.tv
11:54:26:   Server selection: rtmp://live-iad.justin.tv/app
11:54:26:   Interface: Intel(R) 82579V Gigabit Network Connection (ethernet, 100 mbps)
11:54:26: Completed handshake with rtmp://live-iad.justin.tv/app in 217 ms.
11:54:27: SO_SNDBUF was at 8192
11:54:27: SO_SNDBUF is now 65536
12:18:16: Total frames encoded: 85839, total frames duplicated: 82912 (96.59%)
12:18:16: Total frames rendered: 3169, number of late frames: 65 (2.05%) (it's okay for some frames to be late)
12:18:16: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Graceful loop exit
12:18:16: Average send payload: 9468 bytes, average send interval: 21 ms
12:18:16: Number of times waited to send: 0, Waited for a total of 0 bytes
12:18:16: Number of b-frames dropped: 0 (0%), Number of p-frames dropped: 0 (0%), Total 0 (0%)
12:18:16: Number of bytes sent: 620742106
12:18:16: 
12:18:16: Profiler time results:
12:18:16: 
12:18:16: ==============================================================
12:18:16: video thread frame - [100%] [avg time: 438.028 ms] [children: 99.9%] [unaccounted: 0.0941%]
12:18:16: | scene->Preprocess - [99.8%] [avg time: 437.359 ms]
12:18:16: | GPU download and conversion - [0.0587%] [avg time: 0.257 ms] [children: 0.0536%] [unaccounted: 0.00502%]
12:18:16: | | flush - [0.0502%] [avg time: 0.22 ms]
12:18:16: | | CopyResource - [0.00183%] [avg time: 0.008 ms]
12:18:16: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [0.0016%] [avg time: 0.007 ms]
12:18:16: Convert444Threads - [100%] [avg time: 0.495 ms] [children: 99.4%] [unaccounted: 0.606%]
12:18:16: | Convert444toNV12 - [99.4%] [avg time: 0.492 ms]
12:18:16: encoder thread frame - [100%] [avg time: 0.777 ms]
12:18:16: ==============================================================
12:18:16: 
12:18:16: 
12:18:16: Profiler CPU results:
12:18:16: 
12:18:16: ==============================================================
12:18:16: video thread frame - [cpu time: avg 0.989 ms, total 3135.62 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
12:18:16: | scene->Preprocess - [cpu time: avg 0.763 ms, total 2418.01 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
12:18:16: | GPU download and conversion - [cpu time: avg 0.063 ms, total 202.801 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
12:18:16: | | flush - [cpu time: avg 0.063 ms, total 202.801 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
12:18:16: | | CopyResource - [cpu time: avg 0 ms, total 0 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
12:18:16: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [cpu time: avg 0 ms, total 0 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
12:18:16: Convert444Threads - [cpu time: avg 0.728 ms, total 4586.43 ms] [avg calls per frame: 2]
12:18:16: | Convert444toNV12 - [cpu time: avg 0.728 ms, total 4586.43 ms] [avg calls per frame: 2]
12:18:16: encoder thread frame - [cpu time: avg 0.02 ms, total 1794.01 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
12:18:16: ==============================================================
12:18:16: 
12:18:16: =====Stream End: 2013-11-04, 12:18:16=================================================

dodgepong · Nov 4, 2013

Streaming at 1080p60 is a very bad idea. Flash consumes an incredible amount of system resources when trying to decode 1080p60 video, and only high-end computers can watch it at all. I recommend streaming at 1080p30 or 720p60 instead.

As for the log, it shows you are having an insanely high duplicate frame count, and your scene preprocess time is through the roof. For some reason, OBS is having a hard time compositing your scene. It does seem odd to me, though, since you only have a Aero-enabled Window capture in your scene, which shouldn't exhibit this behavior.

I doubt this will help, but can you try increasing your Scene buffering time in Advanced settings to 1000ms?

R1CH · Nov 4, 2013

You should also try game capture instead of window capture.

Schwagbert · Nov 5, 2013

dodgepong said:
Streaming at 1080p60 is a very bad idea. Flash consumes an incredible amount of system resources when trying to decode 1080p60 video, and only high-end computers can watch it at all. I recommend streaming at 1080p30 or 720p60 instead.

As for the log, it shows you are having an insanely high duplicate frame count, and your scene preprocess time is through the roof. For some reason, OBS is having a hard time compositing your scene. It does seem odd to me, though, since you only have a Aero-enabled Window capture in your scene, which shouldn't exhibit this behavior.

I doubt this will help, but can you try increasing your Scene buffering time in Advanced settings to 1000ms?

I was in a hurry earlier and completely forgot to put my specs in the post. Haha, sorry.

I tried out the game source instead of window capture, and I have no issues at all now at any set up. I wonder if I would have the same issue between games, because window capture always worked perfectly fine with League. Hmm..

Anyway, thanks to you both! :D

FerretBomb · Nov 5, 2013

Just as a quick note... 3500 is the recommended maximum for streaming to Twitch (any higher and the ingest servers start having severe issues). However, the highest-recommended for a non-partnered streamer is 2000kbps; more than enough for a good-quality 720@30fps stream, or a passable 720@45. If your viewers are still getting lag/chop, you may need to drop your bitrate to make it more viewable to a larger audience.

Seconded as well on NOT streaming 1080@60. Even in the best-case scenario, very, very few people will be able to watch it at all due to the Flash player. 1080@30 or 720@60 is the general recommended maximums. Regardless of what YOUR specs are, the kind of throughput needed to swing 1080@60 will choke your viewers' systems to death trying to play it back.

Question / Help Really confused.. Stream video super choppy/freezing

Schwagbert

New Member

dodgepong

Administrator

R1CH

Schwagbert

New Member

FerretBomb

Active Member